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Why use aftermarket insoles for hiking and walking? The insoles that are supplied with most outdoor footwear are extremely cheap and are effectively just a flat sock liner. Usually nothing more than a flat foam pad offering basic cushioning and nothing else. Our feet are not flat but multi-dimensional so most people will benefit from a 3D insole. Aftermarket insoles like Super …

In their own words - Superfeet started in 1977 as the Sports Medicine Division of Northwest Podiatric Laboratory. Sparked by the simple idea that people deserve something better, today we continue to push the boundaries of podiatric science by combining biometric data, cutting-edge technology and innovative materials, all to help you get the most out of every step. The proprietary Superfeet s …

Late in 2021, I decided that with travel opening up I wanted to walk a GR route and having looked at the Cicerone book by Paddy Dillon it seemed to be perfect. Originally, I was planning to go in late March or Early April 2022 but due to the launch of our new website and a few issues with that (apologies if you experienced any problems when it launched in April 2022) this had to b …

Whilst trekking the GR221, I suffered from heat exhaustion and the early stages of heatstroke. With the benefit of hindsight, I was showing the signs of severe heat exhaustion for some time before things went seriously downhill. Towards the end of the previous day, I had been struggling with the heat and wasn’t feeling too good. What I didn’t know was that heat exhaustion can build over mu …

Surprisingly, Montane’s new Dart Lite T’s are made from recycled plastic bottles so are helping to reuse plastic waste. The resulting polyester fabric is quick drying as polyester doesn’t absorb water so is perfect for wicking away moisture. I have used the standard Dart long sleeve base layer before and prefer this new Lite version. I tend to get quite hot when hiking especially up hill …

Big Agnes Copper Spur tents have been bestsellers at Ultralight since their introduction in 2008 and with good reason. For 2022, the Copper Spur received some new updates and the TGO Challenge was a great opportunity to put them to the test. The Copper Spur has evolved from the original design over the years with improvements and new features. Big Agnes works closely with Jake La …

I am a self-confessed Hoka fan. Most of my distance walking has been in Hoka since discovering their trail shoes back in 2018. Since 2018 I have used  Speedgoat, Speedgoat Mid, Sky Toa, Sky Kaha, Challenger, Trail Code and Stinson to cover 1000’s of miles. When the original Kaha boot launched back in 2019 I immediately bought a pair. They offered a great …

Every so often a product arrives at the Ultralight office that we all get excited about. That was definitely the case with the  Enlightened Equipment Torrid Apex jacket. When our first Torrid Apex jacket arrived, we took one look and immediately knew that this jacket was something a bit special. Using a ridiculously light 7D fabric this jacket weighs about the same as a …

Blisters are usually caused by poorly fitting footwear, friction, warm or damp feet rubbing inside your shoes. If you are walking long distances then it’s likely that at some point you have experienced the discomfort of a blister. On multiday treks it can be a real problem not only due to the pain but also the risk of infection. Preventing blisters from forming in the first place is th …

Over the past 6 months, the Carbon Lite Trekking Poles have been through their paces in a variety of terrain and conditions from the English Lakes to rocky alpine trails in Mallorca. They have performed faultlessly throughout. Available in 2 lengths – 110cm and 120cm, they will work for a wide range of people but if you are particularly short or tall you might struggle. I usually …

When walking in hot and sunny conditions, a lightweight trekking shirt offers more comfort and sun protection than most baselayer tops and T-shirts. The collar helps to cover the neck and when using trekking poles long sleeves protect the arms from sun exposure. On a recent trip to Mallorca to trek the GR221, I used the Mammut Lenni Short-sleeve and Long-sleeve shirts in extremely hot and …

The Gorilla 40 rucksack has been in the Gossamer Gear line up for many years and had remained largely unchanged since 2015 but was updated for 2021. This has been the first opportunity to test the updated version, the Gorilla 50. There are several changes including: An increase in its capacity to 50 litres (without increasing weight, in fact we found Gorilla 50 to be slightly li …