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Recently, I got the chance to test the Hoka Speedgoat 7 GTX over 110 miles of mixed terrain on Tour du Mont Blanc (TMB), covering long days on rocky, technical trails with plenty of climbing, scrambling and descents – and from what I could see, I wasn’t the only one – the Speedgoat was probably the most spotted shoe on foot on the TMB. I flew to Geneva the same week the Speedgoa …

My Mont Blanc kit list was meticulously thought-through, so anything that went into my pack was carefully considered and absolutely had to have purpose – keeping my pack weight low was at the forefront of my decisions. Paired with the fact the weather forecast over the next couple of weeks looked mostly dry, warm and sunny, I knew my waterproof shell was an area where I could save weight, b …

When shirts are mentioned in the office, my mind is instantly drawn to memories of sweaty 2010’s nightclubs or 90’s sitcoms or Steve Irwin the Crocodile Hunter, rather than active outdoor pursuits. The Trekking Shirt world has intrigued me in recent times – How can they be comfortable? How will they keep me cool? From a buying perspective - we sell plenty. The button closures ma …

I often read people's posts on social media anytime an inner pitch first tent is shown, stating with absolute authority – “You can’t use one of them in the UK." The reality is that simply isn’t true. We sell more inner pitch first tents than anything else at Ultralight Outdoor Gear. They are usually lighter, have more head height than external poled tents and can be pitche …

Petrel Pot  The pot is over 750ml, and gives a working capacity of 750ml, manufacturers often quote the full capacity of the pot even though you can’t use it to the full. This is a brilliant size for the solo backpacker, you can boil enough water for a freeze dried meal and a cuppa at the same time. If you were trying to cook things like stews, or warm through tinned meals this would s …

The Nemo Eclipse All-Season Regular Wide is the comfiest sleeping mat I have used, which is why it has become my go-to choice for most of my recent trips. I was lucky enough to get hold of it in March before its release, so thanks to Nemo for the early sample. It has seen some proper use since then. I used it at the Outdoor And Social event, then took it on a 50-mile section of the Pennine Way. S …

It is not often when you have a piece of clothing that really impresses you with not only looks but also its performance. The Norste XT 3L jacket is a simply stunning piece of kit. Rain? No problem. The main function of a waterproof jacket is that you want to remain dry, or in challenging weather conditions, as dry as possible. Keeping the water out is the outer fabric ‘Pertex Shield 3L&rsq …

Nnormal wasn’t a brand that had been on my radar before but within a couple of miles of running in a pair of the Tomir 2.0 GTX I felt comfortable and confident that I would enjoy using these. I baptised the shoes quickly as I had to contend with some long stretches of wet, sloppy singletrack mud over some undulating ground. To begin with I did try avoiding getting the shoes submerged, mainl …

The Montane Featherlite Hoodie became one of my most-used layers on this year’s TGO Challenge. It was a very windy crossing, and other than my baselayer and trousers, which I had to keep on or risk being arrested, this was probably the item I wore most. I have used lighter windproof layers before, but what I like about the Featherlite is that it does not feel too stripped back. At 115g (med …

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 …

The Outdoor Research Helium UL Bivy makes the most sense when you want the smallest possible weatherproof shelter, a quick pitch and a really low-profile camp. It is more livable than most bivy bags I’ve tried, thanks to the hoop, which elevates and provides welcome space, but it is still very much a bivy. That means limited living space, careful venting and being realistic about condensati …

My introduction to trekking poles came courtesy of Black Diamond a few years ago when completing the Yorkshire 3 Peaks so I was very interested in trying the new Pursuit Carbon FLZ, this time I put these to the test along the Cleveland Way. Having now used the poles over rolling hills, rocky uneven descents, open bridleways and steady inclines I have yet to find fault with them. The Pursuit serie …