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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 …

I have been using the OMM Trail shoe for a couple of months now and have found them a comfy and versatile running shoe. It is always interesting to see a predominantly clothing and equipment brand like OMM venturing into the shoe market. On the outset it’s a risky business as shoe brands can take years of refinement and design to perfect a running shoe which is why we get constant re-incarn …

I tested the women’s Outdoor Research Helium UL jacket during early spring and I was very impressed with its performance. It will be a firm staple in my backpack for hikes during spring to autumn months for showery spells. I chose a size small, which is the size I would usually choose in a waterproof jacket. The jacket has a trim, streamlined fit but was loose enough to fit a base layer and …

I have been a big fan of freestanding tents due to their stability, convenience and ease of pitching for years. I wasn’t too interested in trekking pole tents until the arrival of the Drop Durston X-Mid back in early 2019. Single skin tents were something I tended to avoid due to concerns about condensation, but the additional internal space was appealing. The main downside of double skin f …

The Montane Phase Lite Gore-Tex Jacket is a high-performance, lightweight waterproof jacket built for fast-paced adventures, but is just as much suited for those that prefer long and slow exploits. It features a 40 Denier Gore-Tex performance shell, rated at 28,000 mm hydrostatic head with excellent breathability. Built with recycled nylon face and backer fabrics and Gore-Tex’s new ePE memb …

As we mostly work with groups in the outdoors, it rarely gives us the time to use super light and compact solo cooking equipment. We often use larger burners with the ability to boil water quickly and efficiently, whilst also relying on food options that have very little admin in terms of cleaning afterwards. It was great then to be sent a wee stove and pot set that was quite the opposite and som …

The Primus Micron III Piezo Stove and Trek Pot Set offer an appealing option for anyone wanting a compact setup that still lets you cook proper food in the hills. They sit in that interesting spot between ultra-minimal “boil water only” systems and heavier cookware that leans more towards basecamp or group cooking. Both items work perfectly well on their own, but I’ve been using …

Montane described this piece to me as a “Scottish belaying jacket”, and having used it since February, I’d say that’s pretty accurate. It’s been my go-to insulation piece on cold trips through the Highlands earlier in the year, and it came with me on a March section of the Pennine Way too, where nights were long, windy and properly cold. The Fortes XT’s real fo …

When a jacket is advertised as offering “unflinching protection for mountain missions in any weather”, it sets some very high expectations. Over the past few months, I have had every opportunity to see whether the Rab Latok Mountain GTX Jacket lives up to that promise. I picked it up back in August and, thanks to an unseasonably mild autumn, I found myself actively chasing rain clouds …

New to the market this season is Montane’s Kamen range of Down Jackets. These come in two variations. The standard Kamen and its bigger brother, the Kamen XT which is being reviewed. They both feature 800 fill ExpeDRY Goose down, designed to resist water and moisture so it stays lofty even in damp conditions, but the XT version has a box wall construction. This means rather than the baffles …

When I heard that SamBob were releasing a 120gsm Alpha Direct version of their classic oversized thru-hiking hoodie, I was instantly interested. I’ve used a lot of Alpha 90 over the years and always loved how breathable and versatile it is, so the idea of a warmer, loftier 120gsm version immediately grabbed my attention. When the box arrived at the warehouse, I grabbed one immediately and h …