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Hailing from Cheshire, Mountain Equipment should know a thing or two about wet weather and protecting you from it – and they do. One of the pioneers of British outdoor manufacturing, Mountain Equipment were one of the first outdoor brands to experiment with a new fabric membrane - Gore-Tex. Quickly gaining cult status in the UK outdoor scene, M.E became known for their burly Gore-Tex sh …

The GSI Microlite 500 Twist Vacuum Bottle is one of those items you might consider as a bit of a luxury, especially when going ultralight. Many will opt to carry a filter system over carrying liquid, so why do you need an insulated flask? The first thing to note is that the Microlite Twist can keep liquid cold for 20 hours and hot for 10 hours, so is suitable for both winter and summe …

Stoves have evolved much over the years with the new standard generally being a screw on stove which solely relies on a gas canister rather than alternative fuel. There are not many places in the UK where you won’t be able to source a range of canisters in various sizes, season ratings, and brands. So, is there still a place for a stove like the Polaris which covers a wide range of fuel …

After using a pyramid tent for the first time a few years ago this style of shelter quickly became a favoured choice of ours. Great for use with groups due to the abundance of headroom and space whilst keeping compact and fast to pitch. Used as simply a tarp over a bivy bag in bad weather, or a communal base for food prep and a chat of an evening. A walking pole can be used instead of a …

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 …

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 …

Daytime insulation is tricky when you’re Backpacking, especially if you’re moving through a mountainous region where you could be slogging up a steep incline one minute then traversing a windy ridge the next. I find the ideal insulation is ‘not very much’, but you do need something to keep the wind chill at bay. As far as  Montane’s Fireball Nano is concerned it seems pretty muc …

A number of people in our office are loyal Inov8 fans but I had never tried any of their kit before. However, I was in need of some new footwear and thought this could be the time to see what I was potentially missing out on. Having always gone for footwear with a Vibram sole I had planned, as ever, going to play safe with the same tried and tested but had heard some very positive thing …

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 …

Exped describes the Dura 5R M as a ‘durable, extra-warm mat for demanding adventures, including extended outings in alpine and polar regions, rugged paddling trips and overlanding.’ Compared to their Ultra range this is quite large in comparison with a weight of approx. 900 grams including the inflation bag and an R-value of 4.8. Having also been using the Exped Ultra 7R alon …

Big Agnes would not be a name that springs to mind when considering a proper expedition backpack. To be completely honest very similar to choosing footwear we often tend to stick to the brands we know are tried and tested. A backpack can be a very personal item and an ill-fitting pack that causes issues on route will inevitably ruin an otherwise enjoyable trip. To quickly skip to the e …

I converted to hiking poles in 2017 when I completed Wainwright’s coast-to-coast. They help you power up hills, take pressure off your knees, and stay balanced on uneven terrain. A mountain lead I know says, “There are two types of people who hike with poles, those with bad knees and those that don't want bad knees”. I use trekking poles to erect my tent, so they support me and my shelt …