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TRAIL MAGAZINE: ReviewNew for 2021, the Montane Fireball is a warm, breathable and versatile jacket for hiking in colder conditions. Featuring synthetic insulation, which keeps you warm even if damp, the Fireball also comes with an insulated hood, articulated arms, elasticated cuffs, adjustable hem and a full- length zip with stormflap. Judge Chris Townsend said: “This is a nice insulated jacket w …

TRAIL MAGAZINE: ReviewThe Jetboil Stash is a fast, light and compact camping stove, weighing just 200g. It weighs 40% less than Jetboil's previous lightest models - the Zip and MicroMo (both 340 grams) - whilst having the same size pot. This has been achieved by simplifying the design and reducing the weight of components, but without losing what makes Jetboil special - the integrated cooking syst …

TRAIL MAGAZINE: reviewNeither an ultra-light, trainer-like modern boot nor a heavy, traditional leather boot, the Rush TRK GTX is instead a bit of a halfway house, striking a balance between the two. The aim is to give walkers the best of both worlds: a boot that is strong, waterproof and protective enough for genuine 3-season use in all conditions, but that simultaneously feels light, nimble and …

TRAIL MAGAZINEMontane Pac Plus XT £240 and 3-point adjustment. Shaped cuffs with secure Velcro closures cover the wrists superbly. As a result, it feels very protective, even in a full-on downpour. Last year, Montane's Pac Plus jacket managed to nab both Trail Best in Test and Best Value awards. All in all, we thought it was just about the best 3-season hillwalking jacket out there. So what's chan …

TRAIL MAGAZINE: ReviewThere is a lot to love about this new-for-2022 tent. It weighs just 1242g (the second lightest on test) and boasts a spacious interior, steep wallarchitecture, good features, hassle-free inner- first pitching and solid all-round stability. The eco credentials are top-notch too, courtesy of a manufacturing process that reduces water consumption by 50% and both chemical and ene …

THE GREAT OUTDOORS: MAGAZINEAt 490g, this is not something that most backpackers will want to carry on multi-day trips, but it has some unique features that make it superb at what it does. The purifier contains a large hollowfibre filter with a pore size of 0.02 microns, which means that it will filter out viruses. Instead of squeezing, there's a large handle that is used to pump water through the …

TRAIL MAGAZINE: Gear of the year 2022If you're serious about wild camping and backpacking. you can't beat this sleeping bag. High quality, 900 fill power goose down delivers an EN/ISO comfort rating of 0°C, despite weighing just 580g-so the overall warmth-to-weight ratio is top-notch. This is aided by the zoned design, with 70% of insulation placed on the top and sides (where you need it most) and …

TRAIL MAGAZINE: New for 2022New for 2022, MSR has updated the FreeLite series of tents to make them even lighter. At just 1.06kg, the 2-person FreeLite is now 270g lighter than the previous model, and includes added features for ease-of-use and durability, including no-curve door zippers, extra storage pockets and reinforced tension points (for when the weather inevitably turns). The 1-person vers …

THE GREAT OUTDOORS: MAGAZINEThe Katadyn Be Free came out several years ago, but is worth taking a look at again as in some respects it still hasn't been surpassed. This is a hollowfibre filter that screws into a standard softflask (600ml and 1 litre versions available). You fill up the flask from any water source, then either drink through the filter or squeeze into another container. The filter w …

THE GREAT OUTDOORS: MAGAZINEThe Shape-Shift Reservoir is a practical and adaptable hydration system that ticks all the boxes. The design is tall and narrow - which helps it to fit in the hydration sleeves of most packs - and the entire top of the bladder opens for filling or cleaning. It's secured by folding over and sliding a separate piece across. I've found this closure method more foolproof th …

TRAIL MAGAZINE: Best in testWith its generous headroom and floor space, plus twin doors and two spacious porches, the Dagger is great for weight-consciouscampers who appreciate plenty of room to spread out. It pitches inner-first but is super quick to set up. You also get great airflow that minimizes condensation, though this is a slight disadvantage in colder and breezier conditions.VERDICTNot qu …

THE GREAT OUTDOORS: MAGAZINEI've used this jacket extensively since last autumn, and the more I've used it the morellike it. It's warm for the weight with an excellent wired hood and roomy pockets. The fill is soft and comfortable, and the shell is tough. Being synthetic, the jacket doesn't absorb much moisture and keeps its thickness when wet. This property wasn't needed on this dry trip, but it …