Blog

What's in a Name? Exped have named their mats in a way that identifies the key features of the mat. Some examples are dissected here.

On this page we look at Rab's Xenair range of jackets and vests which are designed for active outdoor users explaining the function and features of the garments and pointing out the differences between them.

We stock the key ranges of Nemo sleeping mats, find out which they are and what they do here.

We stock the key ranges of Sea to Summit sleeping bags, find out which they are, our opinion and what they do on this page.

Rab's new fabric, TILT (Thermo Ionic Lining Technology), is used in the inner lining of their top-of-the-line sleeping bags, sleeping mats and down jackets. This technology reflects heat back toward the body, reducing radiative heat loss and increasing warmth. It significantly improves the warmth-to-weight ratio without altering the fabric's original properties or adding weight. At Ultralight Outd …

We stock all the key MSR tent models and on this page we look at what they are and how they differ from each other. We also give our opinion.

Sweater Weight Warmth: Light in weight and highly compressible these garments travel well, but when needed deploy easily yielding lofty down sweaters of surprising warmth. Versatile thermal components, these pieces’ shine as a middle layers in shoulder seasons, while proving essential on their own in cool backcountry conditions. Mid-Weight Warmth: Compact and portable these pieces p …

Sleeping bags are where it all began for Rab, and they remain a core part of our range to this day. From ultralight sleeping bags designed for hut-to-hut trekking, to high fill power Down Bags for arctic sleeping with a limit rating of -40°C (-40°F), our collection strategically balances warmth, weight, and pack size for a range of activities.Choose from Synthetic Insulation, which offers dur …

Late in 2021, I decided that with travel opening up I wanted to walk a GR route and having looked at the Cicerone book by Paddy Dillon it seemed to be perfect. Originally, I was planning to go in late March or Early April 2022 but due to the launch of our new website and a few issues with that (apologies if you experienced any problems when it launched in April 2022) this had to b …

Whilst trekking the GR221, I suffered from heat exhaustion and the early stages of heatstroke. With the benefit of hindsight, I was showing the signs of severe heat exhaustion for some time before things went seriously downhill. Towards the end of the previous day, I had been struggling with the heat and wasn’t feeling too good. What I didn’t know was that heat exhaustion can build over mu …

It was an exciting day when the new MSR Hubba Hubba 1P Bikepacking tent arrived at the Ultralight Outdoor Gear HQ prior to its 2024 launch. Yes, it is a single occupancy Hubba Hubba, moving away from MSR’s historic names where the Hubba Hubba was a 2-person, Mutha Hubba, 3-person etc. This bikepacking tent will also be available in a 2-person version, which has 2 entrances, but it …

2023 was an excellent year for new ultralight equipment and clothing, and we wanted to highlight some of our favourite gear that hit the market this year. Some pieces, like the Montbell Plasma 1000, pushed the limits of what it means to be ultralight even further. Others, like the Nemo Tensor Extreme Conditions sleeping pad, showed real innovation by raising their R-value to an industry-leading 8. …