Blog

It's turning dark, the winds are blowing and the temperature is certainly dropping, also it's wet! Welcome to winter in the UK. Fear not, we don’t have to hang our running shoes up until spring, the trails are still out there, even if they are hidden by a layer of snow. The same basic kit list will see us through most of the year; t-shirt, shorts, socks and trainers. …

Over the course of this year, I committed myself to a number of ultra marathon challenges and wanted to gear myself up with the best tools for the job. First on this list and most importantly was footwear… Considering plenty of options I wanted something that provided stability of changing terrain that prioritise comfort over long distances over some more rigid or minimalist. The key features …

Bikepacking has grown in popularity, with many specific bikepacking routes being developed over the past 10 years all over the word. Whether you fancy a 100 day adventure on the European Divide Trail, from the cold Arctic shores of Norway heading south through Europe to Portugal's Atlantic coastline, or, one or two nights on the C2C from England's North West coast to the North East coast (Whi …

With the ever-growing popularity of trail running and ultra marathons, events have become plentiful worldwide. One such event is the Silva Northern Traverse which follows Wainwright's 300 km Coast to Coast route beginning in St Bees, covering three National Parks in the north of England before finishing in Robin Hoods Bay. Aside from this multi-day race (5 days for competitors to complete), t …

Heading into Autumn, I was able to put the new Rab VR Ridgeline through its paces on Lakeland trail running adventure, testing out in the arena it was designed to excel in. What is Vapour-Rise™ Rab’s Vapour Rise (VR) range has been with us for some time now, designed as an ‘active insulation’ piece that can be worn through changing weather conditions. The original vision from Ra …

After a couple of days spent in the Lake District, I was able to gain my first impressions of Enlightened Equipment’s Enigma Quilt (20F). My first impressions were that it seemed well-made with an interesting angular U-shaped baffle design and fully sewn in footbox. The 850 fill allowed the bag to loft with ease and the bag packed down smaller than expected. Whilst it comes with a stu …

This year’s ‘The Great Outdoor Challenge’ (TGOC) allowed me to take the Gregory Focal 58L rucksack out into the Scottish Highlands, whilst I’d attempted to make it from Plockton in the West to Montrose on the East Coast. For the TGOC, most look for a pack size between 45 litres (minimalist, certainly compromises to be made on kit) to 70 litres (preparing for all eventualities with a few e …

Now, I’m not a total novice to using trekking poles having done multiple hikes with poles and long-distance trail runs using poles. However, using more budget choices, I was eager to see what a premium trekking/running pole has to offer over the cheaper alternatives. With all this in mind, Leki’s Cross Trail FX Superlite trekking poles, upon review, appeared to be perfect for my needs and spe …

Having completed this year's TGO challenge, one of my constant companions along the way was Pure Clears Collapsible Squeeze Water Filter Bottle. After 14 days use, here are my thoughts; Before using the water filter bottle, one of the biggest draws was the price, at £27.95 it is a much more attractive proposition compared to some of Pure Clears main rivals, which have RRP’s upwar …

High Street - Lake District Eastern Fells and my Border Collie Gaston The newest addition to the Phase range from Montane, the Phase Nano is the lightest and most breathable Gore-Tex Jacket from  Montane. Aimed at trail runners and anyone looking to move fast and light, the Phase Nano has a lot of features to offer, for such a lightweight jacket, two hand pockets, …

Bikepacking Travelling on two feet can require little more than a rucksack to carry your belongings and enable you to travel far. An ultralight journey on two wheels can require a bit more thought. Some of the main factors being the terrain and the duration of the ride. Gruelling miles off road can feel very different to those on the road, and take a lot longer, but the rewards when b …

What is the TGO Challenge? The Great Outdoor Challenge (TGO) has been attracting people wanting to explore the best of Scotland since 1980, after the idea for a non-competitive event was pitched to The Great Outdoors magazine by Hamish Brown. Hamish, having crossed Scotland coast to coast himself, believed this could be accomplished and enjoyed by others. Whilst the TGO has changed thro …