Blog

Rain, maybe hail, and a touch of sun in the forecast? Oh, we know what that’s like in North East England. That’s when we reach for the Ridge-Roamer Softshell Jacket. It’s comfy thanks to the four-way stretch and also highly breathable. Wind-resistance helps keep out the breeze. And we tackle moisture three ways: three layers of softshell fabric, taped seams, and waterproof zips. There’s also a hoo …

Our thoughts on packagingAt Ultralight Outdoor Gear, we want to minimise our impact on the planet. That means we have a duty to look at our packaging and its impact on the environment.The most important part of the process is what happens to these materials once they have fulfilled their purpose of safely transporting your order to your door. These materials become waste and what happens to that w …

Costs As always we give details of what we spent for the whole trip, due to accommodation costs it could be done more cheaply or more expensively depending on the choices you make. Spending Essential Insurance Mark £57 Insurance Jacqui £57 Lateral Fl …

Getting there We left the house at 7.30am on the 17th September and drove to Manchester Airport for a 9.00am Easyjet flight to Geneva. Progress through the airport was fairly normal, I think fewer travellers offset any additional time for Covid checks and the flight left on time at 11.00am. A new policy at Easyjet specified cabin luggage as only 45 x 30 x 20cm so we booked a hold bag …

In September 2021 I would have loved to travel to Nepal, I’ve backpacked in many places around the world but never been there – it’s a serious omission that I was determined to sort out, but that was before the pandemic. September 2021 then was allocated to a trip to Scotland. In August a window of opportunity opened to visit Switzerland, my partner and I were both double jabbed and we …

The Mammut Kento HS claims to be a hard-shell jacket that is ready for changing conditions in the mountains. Weighing in at 452 grams in a size medium this can be considered a mid to lightweight jacket. It packs down small so made for an easy addition to our kit for days when the weather could not quite make its mind up.

The Mountain PeopleTheir story began in 1981 in the attic of a small, terraced house in Sheffield where Rab Carrington made the first sleeping bag to bear his name. Hand-stitched and devised with his own ingenious eye, Rab's experience from years spent in the mountains was apparent in his designs, and soon there was popular demand from Rab's friends and the growing local climbing community.But thi …

The Haglofs StoryThere are plenty of brands that want to offer the best gear for those who love challenging adventures. Gear and clothing that can handle the wear and tear, that will keep you dry and warm and make the effort worthwhile. This isn’t anything unique for Haglöfs. But the unique thing about us is that we offer more than that. We want to challenge ourselves to win over even the not-so …

Patagonia’s MissionBuild the best product, cause no unnecessary harm, use business to inspire and implement solutions to the environmental crisis. Our Reason for BeingPatagonia grew out of a small company that made tools for climbers. Alpinism remains at the heart of a worldwide business that still makes clothes for climbing – as well as for skiing, snowboarding, surfing, fly fishing, paddling and …

Innovative, lightweight, breathable clothing and equipment for endurance sports and activities in extreme environmentsBritish outdoor brand Montane has become synonymous with lightweight and breathable clothing and equipment. For over 25 years Montane has worked closely with serious mountain professionals working in hostile conditions across the globe as a proving ground for garment design. From t …

Very packable. Very durable. The ultimate back-up for unexpected adventures.Hope for the best, prepare for the worst. Being serious about your mountaineering adventure means carrying a back-up shell that’s exceptionally packable and lightweight, very breathable, and protects you with the GUARANTEED TO KEEP YOU DRY™ promise. Proven to be abrasion resistant and very durable, with GORE-TEX PACLITE® P …

Looking at the price of a footprint that goes with the lightweight tent you've just ordered can bring tears to your eyes. Is it just a money spinner for the brand or do you actually need it and if you do why doesn't it come with the tent in the first place? We've listed some of the reasons why you might want to get the footprint for your tent and some reasons why you might not.