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The Blaze A.C. 60 pack has been a stalwart of Granite Gear’s range for a number of years. Ideal for those people who wanted a lightweight but well featured pack which is capable of carrying a bit more weight. For 2019, the new Blaze 60 has been updated with several new ideas plus a few taken from Granite Gear’s successful Crown 2. The new Blaze is no minimalist pack, it’s brimming with f …

Selecting a mid-layer is often tricky and this decision was even harder for the TGO Challenge. The weather can vary so much across northern Scotland over a 2 week period, it might snow one day and be 20C+ the next. I tend to get quite hot and sweaty so I wanted something fast drying and highly wicking. A bonus would be some wind protection in the torso so that it could be worn as an outer lay …

The Rab Muztag DV jacket is completely new for winter 2018 and is designed for the harsh conditions you might expect in the Scottish mountains during winter. When you know that the weather is likely to be extreme, then the choice of waterproof shell is always at the forefront your mind. If you are going on multi-day treks then your waterproof shell is vitally important. We love ultral …

SOTO Pocket Torch XT Review I’m a sucker for new gadgets and wanted a new windproof lighter. The  Soto Pocket Torch XT is so cool I just needed one. It’s a windproof lighter with an extremely intense blow torch style flame which is adjustable from a sensible small flame to a 3cm long beast of a flame. In addition to this the XT has an extending wand so you can keep the flame well aw …

Montane Alpine Trek Pants Review Given the changeable conditions in the Highlands in March I wanted to take a lightweight softshell trouser that would shed light precipitation, offer wind protection, and have plenty of stretch for climbing. Montane had just launched the Alpine Trek pant which seemed to tick all these boxes. I liked that it features a slimmer fit in the lower leg so they wo …