Blog

TGO Kit Lists for 2025

Posted by Lois Fife and Nick Brown on May 07, 2025

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 …
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Montane Women’s Protium Lite Hoodie Review - ''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''

Posted by Lois Fife on May 06, 2025

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 …
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Big Agnes Fly Creek UL Review - ''I was very impressed with the Fly Creek and I would highly recommend it as a versatile, compact, super lightweight, well ventilated, 3 season tent for one person.''

Posted by Lois Fife on Mar 24, 2025

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 …
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Silva Aluminium Cork Trekking Poles Review - ''A workhorse piece of equipment, not the lightest, but strong and highly reliable and offer very good value for money.''

Posted by Lois Fife on Feb 13, 2025

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 …
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Whisperlite Universal Multifuel Stove with Fuel Bottle Review - ''It really was impressively quick.''

Posted by Lois Fife on Feb 12, 2025

  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 …
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Montane Alpine 850 Nano Down Hoodie Review - “A highly technical, lightweight down hoodie, for active people with high demands for packable, performance”

Posted by Lois Fife on Oct 29, 2024

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 …
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Montane Cetus Lite Jacket Review - “My go-to jacket for the last 5 months (May to September)”

Posted by Lois Fife on Oct 02, 2024

This has been my go-to jacket for the last 5 months (May to September) and has performed well when needed, either as protection from a sudden summer shower or worn for a full day on the Lakeland fells in low cloud and constant drizzle. This Cetus ‘Lite’ jacket in Deep Forest, size UK12 weighs 290g and packs down pretty small for stashing in a backpack. The Montane 3-layer Pet …
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Fjallraven Classic UK 2024 – 18th-20th September

Posted by Lois Fife on Sep 26, 2024

It has been a privilege to attend the 20th Fjallraven Classic last week in the Lake District. This sold-out event saw the Classic return to UK soil for a second time, the first event being held in Scotland two years ago. The Classic events are held in various locations worldwide including Scandinavia, Europe, Asia, USA and even Chile will host later this year. With such a pedigree of previous su …
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TGO Kit List Highlights 2024

Posted by Andy Neil, Danny Pearson and Lois Fife on May 02, 2024

May means one thing in the Ultralight office: The Great Outdoors Challenge, or the TGO, for short. We are incredibly proud to sponsor this communal coast-to-coast crossing of Scotland. This year, Lois, Danny, and I are taking part in this years crossing. Lois is embarking on her first, and Danny and I are attempting our third TGO challenge.The TGO Challenge is a unique coast-to-coast trek across S …
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MSR's Lightweight Bikepacking Kit List

Posted by Lois Fife on Mar 01, 2024

Whether you are racing the length or breadth of the country or enjoying a scenic tour of coffee shops and stately homes, your basic needs for shelter, sleeping and making a brew won’t differ greatly so, here are a few items that are compact and lightweight enough to fit on the bike and not weigh you down, allowing you to enjoy your next adventure. The main characteristics of a bikepacking …
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MSR Hubba Hubba Bikepacking Tent Review - “A worthy competitor to the current bikepacking tents on the market.”

Posted by Lois Fife on Jan 22, 2024

It was an exciting day when the new MSR Hubba Hubba 1P Bikepacking tent arrived at the Ultralight Outdoor Gear HQ prior to its 2024 launch. Yes, it is a single occupancy Hubba Hubba, moving away from MSR’s historic names where the Hubba Hubba was a 2-person, Mutha Hubba, 3-person etc. This bikepacking tent will also be available in a 2-person version, which has 2 entrances, but it …
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Bikepacking to the Four Corners of the North York Moors National Park

Posted by Lois Fife on Oct 13, 2023

Bikepacking to the Four Corners of the North York Moors National Park with Apidura’s Expedition Range. Sometimes you get an idea that’s like an annoying itch that won’t go away until you give it a good old scratch. I am blessed to be living about 100m outside of the boundary of the North York Moors National Park. It’s very presence, beauty and characteristics are a huge part of my li …
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