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Weighing in at a miniscule 100 grams the Patagonia Houdini is a super lightweight/packable jacket. Although small in stature the Houdini has a lot of great features. Made entirely from 100% recycled rip stop nylon which, although very thin, is tougher than it first appears. The DWR finish surprised our guides as it holds up very well against light to moderate showers, although if caught …

As the title suggests the Fire Box is a compact, fold-away grill, whilst still being light enough for long expeditions in wilderness areas. Growing up, any movie featuring a bunch of people in the outdoors had them sitting around a campfire enjoying a freshly cooked meal, not huddled under a tarp eating from a foil pouch. The idea of a hot and smokey piece of food whilst out in the wilde …

A step away from plastic items is certainly a priority for most outdoors people preferring a more sustainable alternative that will stand the test of time. The Eagle Spork from Vargo offers a tough but lightweight (18 grams) option that is built to last. To help prolong the life of your spork Vargo have included an integrated locking system that makes sure your spork won’t accidently go …

Gossamer Gear was founded by Glen Van Peski, initially as GVP gear in March 2000 then as Gossamer Gear in 2007. It all started with ultralight backpacks which Glen was making for himself, as word got around he started making them for other people, and as his reputation grew so did the company.With Gossamer Gear its always been about ultra lightweight, functionality, durability and comfort, but kee …

We are always keen to try out new walking poles as they are a must for our guides and clients alike when multi day trekking. Key elements for us are poles that function on all types of mountain terrain, are robust, have low weight, easy to pack down with a low volume, and have some adjustability, including use with tarps.Our initial impression of the poles in their storage mode reinforced …

Any knife, no matter the size, is one of those items that can be used to solve a multitude of issues. It might sit in your pack for months but can be relied upon when needed the most. With a short blade length of 4cm and a total weight of 16 grams, True Utility describe it as “a knife that’s been stripped down to the bare essentials, to provide a strong yet lightweight design.” It’s …

Stretchy. Breathable. Waterproof. Choose Three.Forget everything you think you know - the Kinetic Alpine will change the way you dress in the mountains.Fully waterproof, highly breathable and stretchy, this is a radical re-approach to protective yet comfortable clothing systems. Perfectly combining the supple, flexible nature of a softshell with the protection and durability of a hardshell, gear u …

Selecting a mid-layer is often tricky and this decision was even harder for the TGO Challenge. The weather can vary so much across northern Scotland over a 2 week period, it might snow one day and be 20C+ the next. I tend to get quite hot and sweaty so I wanted something fast drying and highly wicking. A bonus would be some wind protection in the torso so that it could be worn as an outer lay …

What is Gore-Tex fabric?Protection and BreathabilityGORE-TEX INFINIUM is a Windstopper fabric designed to make garments that are durably windproof, water-resistant, and highly breathable. The combination of protection and breathability minimizes the wind's chilling effect while reducing the risk of overheating when you're active. A durable water repellent (DWR) fabric treatment provides additional …

The Rab Borealis is the lightest softshell jacket Rab have on offer. Weighing in at a minuscule 308grams in a medium size it has the weight and feel more associated with a base layer. Rab advertise the Borealis Jacket as wind resistant and highly breathable and state thatwhether your objective is climbing a big wall or a day cragging in the valley, it does everything you need it to in on …

The Rab eVENT Ridge Raider Bivi is a product that had us a little baffled at first. It weighs in at a little over 1kg and packs to about the size of a 3-season sleeping bag. This makes it quite a sizeable bivi bag with modern solo trekking tents coming in at a similar weight and size. So why would you choose a bivi bag over the comfort of a tent? With all good products the proof is in ho …

Every year we get sent through pieces of gear which may not be that common in the UK but are growing in popularity in other countries. The Silver Shadow Umbrella certainly fits this category. We have to say that we have never seen anyone in the high mountain ranges of the UK with an umbrella, and it did make us wonder why not? Walk around a city in a shower and you are constantly dodging …