Blog

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 …

The Foray Jacket comes in at 390 grams for the size medium, which puts it into a bracket of being a midrange waterproof. To the touch it certainly isn't as rugged as it is with a heavier 3L mountain jacket but it also isn't as flimsy as a super light active sports waterproofs. The Foray hits the 'go anywhere' category and it is instantly clear that OR have created a waterproof jacket tha …

Rab kindly supplied a couple of their new jackets for me to test on my recent Knoydart trip. They sent an Arc jacket, which is a slimmed down version of their Firewall waterproof jacket, and the widely acclaimed Rab Kinetic Plus waterproof softshell. Continue reading to find out how I got on with both of the jackets. Rab Kinetic Plus Jacket Review When Rab announced the release of the Ki …

After walking Hadrian’s wall in 2019, I found that by day 4 my feet were crying out for something with more cushioning. My boots were soft and light but you could feel every lump and bump through the sole. We didn’t stock Hoka but the Hoka One One range seemed to offer the cushioning I wanted. I decided to buy a pair of Sky Toa Mid boots to wear on the 2019 TGO Challenge. I now wear Hok …

Marmot Hydrogen Sleeping Bag ReviewPart of Marmot's ultralight range of sleeping bags, the Hydrogen offers a superb balance of quality, low weight, packability, and performance versus cost. It's comparable to many more expensive products, as it is lighter and more compressible than almost all of its competitors. The Marmot Hydrogen uses 800+ fill power down protected with Marmot's Down Defender to …

This article aims to provide some simple advice for anyone who wants to start running doing more mountain and remote trail running. It is not a comprehensive guide and is just built on our experiences of running mountain marathon events, ultra-distance races and general trail, fell and mountain running.We've broken our guide down into 4 key areas you need to look at before you start running in mor …

History in the MakingGround-breaking technologyOne atom thick carbon sheet200 x stronger than steelThin, light, flexible, with limitless potentialA revolutionary range of sports shoes featuring graphene-infused rubber outsoles that deliver the world’s toughest grip, with the strength and durability of graphene.Just one atom thick and 200 times stronger than steel, wonder-material graphene has been …

12 items that ALWAYS make the gear list I've done a lot of backpacking routes over the years and there are some items that always make the gear list. No matter where, no matter when, I don't even need to think about them. Here they are: Gram Counter Gear Mini Firesteel - 12g Most people use gas stoves, a firesteel is more reliable than either matches or a Piezo Igniter (which can br …