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9-22 May 2025 Portavadie to Arbroath Total distance 331km Elevation 6300m Precipitation 0% Midges >1% Ticks 3 The TGO Challenge is steeped in history. It started in 1980 when mountaineer Hamish Brown presented the idea of a coast-to-coast, self-guided challenge to Roger Smith, the then Editor at The Great Outdoors Magazine. Many challengers return year after year to join the pilgrimage from …

Eight years ago, I first hiked the West Highland Way. Since then, I’ve clocked up thousands of miles on trails all across the UK, learning, refining, and stripping back my kit with each trip. So, returning to the Way this summer, I’m walking it with more experienced legs and a much more dialled-in, ultralight setup. For a full, itemised breakdown of my kit, including weights and catego …

Having been given the opportunity to attempt the TGO challenge, a two week coast-to-coast backpacking hike across Scotland, it seemed a great opportunity to give the Hyperlite Mountain Gear Unbound 55 litre rucksack a good workout. This being my first foray into the larger ultralight rucksacks, I was a little apprehensive about committing to a new bag for such a long trek. Would it be comfortable …

We have loved Mountain Equipment’s Extreme Light range of sleeping bags at UOG for years. Designed with input from Matt Fuller, Mountain Equipment’s Dr Down (one of the only people on the planet to have a PhD in down) to maximise performance whilst minimising weight, this range just got a significant overhaul for 2025. Some elements have remained the same, why change things if they alr …

HyperBead™ is a proprietary waterproof coating currently being applied to a handful of our Ultralight tent fabrics. Its highly specialised chemistry and application process makes it the most technically advanced and effective water proofing treatment we’ve ever utilised. Starting in our Spring 2025 product line, you can look forward to seeing HyperBead™ in our updated&n …

Introducing the Nemo Ultralight Sleep System — engineered for hikers who count grams and crave comfort. With the revolutionary Tensor Elite sleeping mat and Pulse UL quilt, you’ll experience trail-ready sleep without the bulk. Here's why your next backcountry adventure deserves an upgrade.... The lightest Tensor ever made, Tensor™ Elite is NEMO`s sleeping pad solution for hyper-s …

The NEMO Pulse quilt offers standout cold-weather performance in a refined ultralight design. With 1,000 fill power, a sculpted cut, and a snug, enclosed footbox, it's an ideal companion for early spring, late autumn, and fast and light long-distance trips throughout the year. I had the chance to put the NEMO Pulse quilt through its paces during a week of mixed camping in March—first at a f …

We stock the key ranges of Big Agnes tents, find out which they are and what they do here. — It's a straightforward pitch, just one pole. The bivvy can be secured with five peg-out points, though only three pegs are provided, unless in strong winds, once your matt is inside, that will give the bivvy most of its structure. I'm assuming the "three wire" in the Three wire hooped …

In September 2024 I took the new Big Agnes Fly Creek UL1 on the Fjallraven Classic, a 3 day back-packing event in Lake District with 2 overnight camps. The weather was remarkable for the time of year, with daytime temperatures pushing into the mid-20s, so the benefit of having light kit made for easy hiking. Weighing in at just over 900g and with a slim pack-size of around 12cm diameter, the …

Sea to Summit have redesigned its renowned Spark sleeping bag line. The Spark series continues to be made with high-quality materials, using 850+ ethically sourced down treated with Sea to Summit's Dry Down coating. This coating enhances the down's ability to loft effectively in moist conditions, repel water, and dry rapidly. The baffle configuration remains the same, featuring vertical baffl …