Blog

Backpacking quilts are rapidly increasing in popularity especially amongst lightweight backpackers. So, what is a backpacking quilt? Essentially, it’s half a sleeping bag with no bottom layer (although there might be a footbox) and in most cases no zip or hood. The down in a sleeping bag gets compressed underneath you so do you really need it? So why would you choose a quilt over a …

Glare - Glare is apparent when one object in your field of vision is much brighter than the rest and that brightness interferes with your ability to see other objects in your field of vision. It is concentrated light reflecting off a horizontal shiny surface, such as a car windscreen, sand, water, snow or asphalt roads. It reduces visibility and can make it uncomfortable, painful and even dangerou …

With a very low pack size and weight of just 150 grams (medium) the Montane Litespeed jacket is said to be a versatile item perfect for fast paced activities in which a saving of weight is paramount. The entire jacket is made up of a super thin Pertex Quantum ECO 100% recycled nylon outer with DWR. We found the Litespeed to be a great outer layer for knocking away moderate windspeed …

Having previously tested and reviewed the original Kinetic Alpine pant we were eager to see what alterations Rab had made to the newly updated 2.0 version. It’s instantly noticeable that Rab have not held back with making changes and have instead nearly completely redesigned the Kinetic Alpine. We often use our original pair, so having them side by side gave us a great insight into …

The Kebab Stew from Real Turmat is another unique freeze dried meal option with a high calorie count of 705kcal and a low carry weight of 180 grams. This is part of their field meal range which has a good nutritional balance of fats (28 grams), carbs (85 grams), and protein (24 grams). It is also gluten free! Our Verdict First of all we have to mention how much we admire the large va …

As the weight and appearance would suggest the High Side 3000 1P tent from Sierra Designs is built with fast travel in mind, making its way into our pack for packrafting, bikepacking, and wild camping amongst some of Scotland’s remote mountain areas. At just over 1kg (110 grams extra with footprint) it fits into the lightweight category rather than ultralight. It might then seem odd …

This breakfast option from Real Turmat has a high calorie count of 706kcal, in a low carry weight of 204 grams. The Blueberry and Vanilla Muesli is focused mostly towards carbs (121 grams), with also high protein (32grams) and fibre (10.4) intake per pouch. It is vegetarian friendly and has a quick re-hydration time of 3 mins. Our Verdict Real Turmat have produced some great tasting …

The Jetboil Stash is the lightest option in their range of well-established stove systems. This all-in-one system containing a FluxRing cook pot, titanium burner, lid and stand, fits neatly together weighing only 232 grams. With an added 100-gram gas canister and a lighter, the total carried weight comes in at 456 grams. This can certainly be regarded as a compact option for lightw …

The Ridge Raider Bivi was one of our earliest pieces of kit we tested and reviewed for UOG. This was also our first venture into a hooped bivy bag having before very much adopted a very basic bivy tactic. We viewed the Ridge Raider to strike a mark between a tent and a bivy bag. The overall weight and pack size baffled us as to its use, but there was no denying it was simply a joy to us …

We’ve spent most of this season taking a minimalist approach in either a lightweight bivy bag or single skin tent, so it made for a nice change to receive a more comfortable option from Sea to Summit with their new and highly innovative Telos TR2 Plus tent. Weighing in a just over 1.6 kg this is a freestanding, two-person, 3+ season shelter that, in pack size and weight, is very sim …

“Meet the Helium Gaiters, our best-selling and award-winning Helium fabric recreated into a gaiter design to keep out pesky rocks, dirt, rain, snow, and any other debris you kick up on the move.” Outdoor Research have really kept the weight down for the Helium gaiters which come in at a mere 144 grams in a size large, with a pack size comparable to a lighter weight pair of gloves, …

‘Reindeer with potato, mushroom, and lingonberries. Hunter’s favourite. Reindeer meat, mushrooms and berries all contributes to the unmistakable gamy flavour.’ 578kcal / 390ml hot water / 8 min wait time Our Verdict Reindeer stew is another meal idea from Real Turmat which sets itself aside from the norm regarding dehydrated choices typically found in the UK. Packed full of meat, …