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The new Big Agnes Copper Spur Bikepack tent has all the key features that define a bikepacking tent, i.e. short pole length and an ability to attach the tent to the bike, whilst performing well in the environment it is intended. It has many additional features that make life on two wheels even more enjoyable! I used the 2-person version of this tent from mid-summer through to autumn for local ove …

Merino is a natural material I am very keen on wearing as it is warm, yet regulates temperature, moves moisture well during exercise and doesn’t smell! The downside with merino has always been finding a product that is not itchy against the skin and that will not pull into holes after a short period of time. I have been wearing Montane’s Malli Long Sleeve Zip T-shirt and Leggings for …

The kit selection for my TGO was based on balancing warmth and comfort in potentially changing weather whilst keeping weight to a manageable level. Utilising technology to keep me on the right track, safe and powered for the duration. The weather for a two-week trip in Scotland is hard to predict, especially at some of the higher elevations and having versatile clothing to cover all eventualities …

Day 8 Balquhidder to Meall Odhar Friday 16 May Distance 22.4km Elevation 639m I woke to glorious sunshine beating down on the tent. Keen not to hang around in the tick infested glade too long, I quickly packed up and headed out without breakfast with the intention of stopping somewhere along the track and after about 3km I found a clear stream just off the track and a large bench, perfect to se …

9-22 May 2025 Portavadie to Arbroath Total distance 331km Elevation 6300m Precipitation 0% Midges >1% Ticks 3 The TGO Challenge is steeped in history. It started in 1980 when mountaineer Hamish Brown presented the idea of a coast-to-coast, self-guided challenge to Roger Smith, the then Editor at The Great Outdoors Magazine. Many challengers return year after year to join the pilgrimage from …

Bikepacking Travelling on two feet can require little more than a rucksack to carry your belongings and enable you to travel far. An ultralight journey on two wheels can require a bit more thought. Some of the main factors being the terrain and the duration of the ride. Gruelling miles off road can feel very different to those on the road, and take a lot longer, but the rewards when both road ri …

May means one thing here at the Ultralight office: The Great Outdoors Challenge, or TGO for short. We’re incredibly proud to sponsor this unique, communal coast-to-coast crossing of Scotland. This year, Lois from our Customer Service team and Nick from our Purchasing team are setting off on their own Scottish coast-to-coast adventures—and we’re excited to follow along. Read on fo …

This is an extremely comfortable and versatile zipped hoodie. The close-fitting design and 4-way stretch fabric help it move with the body. This has been the mid-layer I have turned to over the last few months whilst training for a coast-to-coast walk in May, coupled with a long or short sleeved base-layer and a waterproof when an outer layer is required. The gridded ‘Thermo-grid’ bru …

In September 2024 I took the new Big Agnes Fly Creek UL1 on the Fjallraven Classic, a 3 day back-packing event in Lake District with 2 overnight camps. The weather was remarkable for the time of year, with daytime temperatures pushing into the mid-20s, so the benefit of having light kit made for easy hiking. Weighing in at just over 900g and with a slim pack-size of around 12cm diameter, the …

I have been rigorously testing these Silva Trekking Poles Aluminium Cork over the past 12 months. They have joined me on numerous multi-day hikes in the Lake District, Yorkshire Dales, Peak District, Scotland and whilst on regular long day walks on the North York Moors. They have never let me down, adding confidence to steep descents, taken the load off the body when packed up and provided stabil …

  My first MSR Whisperlite was purchased around 25 years ago whilst on a bike-packing trip to Austria, where access to fuel canisters proved impossible outside of major towns. This hybrid-fuel stove has many familiar features to my original stove but with the added capability to connect a gas canister as well as burning white gas, Kerosene and unleaded fuel. On my recent outing the temperatu …

Montane Women’s Alpine 850 Nano Hoodie – with added GOLD!! Jacket tested in a UK12, (Eclipse Blue) weight: 196g The Montane Women’s Alpine 850 Nano Hoodie is a highly thermally efficient, technical down jacket. My first impression of this jacket is the weight - it is extremely light - weighing less than 200g. I have tested this jacket for six months, from late spring, throu …