Hoka Speedgoat 7 GTX Review - ''Over 110 miles of mixed terrain on Tour du Mont Blanc.''
Posted by Mathew Garbutt on Sep 30, 2026
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
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7Mesh Guardian Air Gore-Tex Jacket Review - ''Like water off a duck’s back''
Posted by Mathew Garbutt on Sep 28, 2026
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
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Turbat Maya 2 LS Shirt Review - ''Are there lighter options to a Trekking Shirt? Certainly. But I would argue there are not many more versatile.''
Posted by Mathew Garbutt on Sep 23, 2026
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
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Montane Phase Lite Gore-Tex Jacket Review - ''For fast hikes through the hills, through later summer into autumn, the Phase Lite would be a more than capable companion.''
Posted by Mathew Garbutt on Dec 10, 2025
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
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Mountain Equipment Firefly Gore-Tex Jacket Review - ''An excellent choice for anyone looking for a basic, lightweight, high performance shell''
Posted by Mathew Garbutt on Aug 21, 2023
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
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Altra Olympus 5 Hike Low GTX Review - “Max stack height, max cushioning, zero drop.”
Posted by Mathew Garbutt on Nov 09, 2022
Since releasing their first shoe in 2012, Altras popularity
has soared - much like the millions of customers who choose to use their
products. Nowadays it’s rare for a seemingly unknown brand to enter the
somewhat saturated footwear market and make a success of it. But just what
were Altra doing that no-one else was? Quite simply, they were offering zero
drop running shoes, with
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