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Walking poles are must have items for our days out in the hills and we are always keen to try out something that promises versatility, lightness, low pack volume, robustness and ease of use in a variety of condition.The first impression of the poles was in their collapsed state, allowing them to be stashed on the side of a pack easily or inside if needs be,as well as into hold luggage if flying. T …

When the OR Ascendant Hoody arrived we were very excited as OR have laid down a big claim saying this jacket would be “your new favourite layer for fall, winter and spring.” Active Insulation, Water-Resistant, Wind-Resistant, Breathable, Lightweight, Movement-Mirroring Stretch Fabric, Adjustable Helmet-Compatible Hood, are all qualities that sound like a winner but when it arrived we were a little …

The instantly noticeable feature when receiving the Kinetic Alpine jacket and pants is certainly the fabric. Rab’s own Proflex fabric has the feel of a softshell yet claims to be fully waterproof. Rab explain “the outer and inner layers of Proflex are engineered” with high gauge knits – “the outer treated for water repellency and the inner wicking to move moisture.” It’s certainly true that the Ki …

Mention the words “Polartec Alpha Direct” and you instantly have us hooked. Having used this type of insulation in various summer and winter jackets you can be guaranteed that this is a jacket in which unrivaled breathability, comfort, and warmth is matched with a low bulk and low weight in an item designed for high activity adventures. Paired with an outer fabric of Pertex Quantum AIR, which has …

For the team at Cairngorm Treks there are certain items we always carry, with gloves being a huge part of our kit and used on a daily basis, so we are always keen to test new items when they come to market.The Shiftup Sensor Gloves are made from lightweight synthetic materials, mainly a mix of polyester and nylon, with an average weight of 44g for a large pair. 

Vargo are a company we didn’t know much about up until recently. Building up a reputation as a specialist in lightweight minimalist gear we have been very impressed with the items we received up to now. The Bot 700, it has to be said, was top of our list in terms of interest. Essentially, it’s a titanium cooking pot with a few extra features added on. Reading reviews from hikers abroad i …

We've selected our favourite NEW Sleeping Bags introduced for 2019, READ THE FULL ARTICLE or JUMP to the relevant BRAND using the links below:Updated Spark series - New bags, New Fabrics and Updated construction Sea to Summit's SPARK series of sleeping bags are their lightest bags with a warmth to weight ratio that's among the best available. For 2019 they have introduced an SP0 bag aimed at summe …

Two members of the Ultralight team got to test the Rab Pulsar Down Jacket that was new for Autumn/Winter 20.As the newest piece of ultralight down insulation from Rab, I received the new Pulsar with high expectations. I’m pleased to report that it has proved to be a fantastic winter jacket, a versatile all-rounder that has quickly become essential to any and all adventures. I’ve personally us …

A table isn’t the first piece of kit on our mind for lightweight wild-camping. In fact we’ve never even considered a table outside of family camping so we were confused, although slightly curious, to find out we were receiving one to test and review. Our usual approach would be to lay out a dry bag to keep items away from wet ground, whilst a rock or part of a fallen tree makes for a nat …

Zoned InsulationThe concept of zoned insulation is nothing new. A number of brands have created jackets that combine both down and synthetic areas of insulation, some include different, breathable fabrics to create the zoning instead. This is most commonly done with lighter, more breathable fabrics under the arms and down the sides of jackets with the majority of the warmth covering the core. Rab' …

The Rab Pulse Long Sleeve Tee is designed for active use and we certainly tested it over 7 months of use. We found it highly breathable and, with its Motiv fabric, extremely comfortable against the skin whilst also wicking away moisture on the sweatiest of days. Moreover, when worn as a single layer it had a cooling effect on the hottest summer days and the deep venting YKK chest zip all …

First impressions of the Hyperion are striking. The pack weight in its stuff bag of just over 600g and with its stuffed size of 15 x 20 cm is mind blowingly light and small [Regular Size]. Once out of the bag the lofting starts to take place. This is somewhat magical and once the Hyperion is fully lofted you wonder how it ever fitted into such a small space. When totally lofted it looks …