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There are three things you want from your trekking poles, useability, adaptability and great build quality. Well, it’s safe to say I found all three boxes ticked when using the Trail Vista Shock Poles by Black Diamond. I took these poles with me on an 8-day hike through Scotland where they battled in numerous ground and weather conditions. From boggy moors, rushing rivers and sand these tre …

Backpacking quilts are rapidly increasing in popularity, especially amongst lightweight backpackers. So, what is a backpacking quilt? Essentially, it’s half a sleeping bag with no bottom layer (although there might be a footbox) and in most cases no zip or hood. The down in a sleeping bag gets compressed underneath you so do you really need it? Here are some of the key positives and negative …

In order to make the right decision about what gear to take on a trip, it's imperative that you weigh everything and record it. That not only lets you know which of your two bits of similar gear are the lightest, but it also enables you to track your total pack weight as you swap in and out different pieces of gear. If you know your way around a spreadsheet — even better, because adding up a …