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Micro puff down jackets are nothing new, Rab seems to have broken into the mainstream with their micro alpine over the yeast few years, a walk along most UK high streets on even a slightly cool day will demonstrate that. It seems there are two types of gear junkies, those who cry a silent tear when in a downpour they pass someone who has yet to be introduced to how to adequately look after down an …

Extensively tested by Cairngorm Treks guides in the Highlands of Scotland throughout Autumn and Winter 2017/18Trying to find the right pair of outdoor trousers to suit all year round use in Scotland can often be very tricky. There are some great products available but often when you wander away from the main trails and onto rougher ground, they can frequently let you down. This is by either …

This trip was another chance to use the  Granite Gear Crown 2 60L rucksack. Having found the Crown 2 so comfortable on an earlier trip to the Howgill Fells, I was very happy to use it on the Affric Kintail Way. The  Granite Gear Crown 2 is designed as a lightweight multi-day backpack. The previous version, the Crown V.C. 60 had long been one of our ‘Top Pick’ backpacks. We we …

MSR Ceramic Cooking PotsNon-stick coatings have a chequered history with camping pans, traditionally they are, well.. not very good. Titanium is the worst offender with non stick coatings being easily damaged and not that effective - the problem is that we are used to the real 'non stickiness' we get on the pans we use at home.Aluminium non stick is a lot better than Titanium but it still lacks th …

This is the warmest, most comfortable sleeping bag I have ever used. After a long day trekking in the cold I knew that I would have a warm night’s sleep. The bag didn’t require any layers to be worn inside during the night. After the initial cold period, the bag would warm up to a comfortable temperature within 10 minutes.The bag has a half-zip in the centre of the bag which was great for ventilat …

The Nemo GoGo Elite is midway between a bivy bag and a tent, it has an inflatable frame at the shoulders which gives you room to move about and organise your gear.If I can dispel the first couple of assumptions you might be making:1. It is easy to blow up using the featherweight pump included and takes very little effort; the pressure is created by your hand not by trying to blow hard into it.2. T …

UOG Review of Exped Hyperlite and Winterlite MatI've been using Exped sleeping mats for a number of years now and really like them, until now every one has been rectangular in shape, which is the obvious shape to make them. The new series of Exped mats break this mould and are 'mummy' shaped. Mummy shaped mats more closely match the human body shape, so the maximum width is at the shoulders and th …

Positive:LightweightFeatures - side pockets adequate size - cannot fit large bottle in though.Additional chest pocket - useful and recommended for extra space & easy accessCentral zip - good for access from top or bottom but need to pack organised for this to be effective.Negative:Not very durable - Alex's got a hole in itStraps - compromised comfort for lightweight - could have more padding and/o …

The Sea to Summit Air Chair Kit was worth its weight in gold...To be honest I've always avoided Chair kits because I didn't want to risk puncturing my sleeping mat - somehow it seemed a bit brutal to fold it up then sit on it and you can always sit on a rock - can't you? While preparing for my last trip though I was persuaded to take the Sea to Summit Air Chair Kit as a test item, I tried it befor …

A very comfortable jacket that allows easy movement when walkingI really loved this jacket with its ability to keep me warm, but it was breathable enough to ensure that I wasn’t sweating whilst walking.I took this piece of kit with me to Iceland as my primary jacket to use when trekking. It was perfect for when the conditions were a little cold and an extra layer was needed, usually around 10°C. H …

The Exped Mira 1P is a two skin tent for one person. It has a single hoop that runs the full length of the tent with a central cross pole to maximise head height. There's a smaller pole at the head end that adds stability, ensuring the tent doesn't flop around your head due to uneven ground; it has great internal space, head height and a decent porch.PitchingSome people won't use tents that pitch …