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Used throughout Autumn in the Cairngorms and surrounding areasBefore even handling these gloves, you can tell they are designed for comfort and to maximise dexterity. They lack the bulk that comes with many cold-weather gloves, and the cut of the Polartec Power Stretch Pro fabric alludes to a good fit with a focus on non-restrictive movement. At this point you may be sceptical that these non-cumbe …

Montane Alpine Trek Pants Review Given the changeable conditions in the Highlands in March I wanted to take a lightweight softshell trouser that would shed light precipitation, offer wind protection, and have plenty of stretch for climbing. Montane had just launched the Alpine Trek pant which seemed to tick all these boxes. I liked that it features a slimmer fit in the lower leg so they wo …

Picking the right socks for trekking can be tricky and once you find a certain brand you trust, you tend to stick with them. So when we were sent a very innovative product from X-socks we were very interested to see if they matched up or bettered our usual chosen brands. On arrival it was evident these are not just your average pair of socks but are the Swiss Army knife of the sock world …

If there was a chance of sustained rain day after day I'd hesitate to take one backpacking because I'd worry about getting it dry overnight - and they do tend to be heavier than hardshells - but I'm already looking forward to wearing this combo again, such is the level of excitement in my life.Epiphanys are in short supply these days - but I found one - only yesterday. I've flirted with softshell …

When Multi-day Trekking the choice of trouser we take out into the Cairngorms, and its varied weather conditions, is crucial so we were very keen to see what the Haglöfs' Clay Pant offered for our guides. As with most Haglöfs gear the first thing we noticed was the build quality, bombproof stitching and apparent robustness of the materials used.

The Rab Alpha Flash jacket is an extremely lightweight and simple mid-layer fleece made entirely from Polartec® Alpha™ Direct 120 insulation. This fabric was originally developed for the U.S. Special Forces in order to provide them with an ‘advanced’ insulation piece in their uniforms, which all sounds very impressive. The aim behind the fabric is to provide a highly breathable material that will …

Montane Primino 140 Zip Neck Baselayer ReviewI was mightily impressed with this baselayer. I tend to avoid all manmade fabrics on long trips because in my experience regardless of antibacterial treatments etc they always start to get whiffy way quicker than Merino fabrics.The downside of 100% merino is that it gets wet with sweat and doesn’t dry very quickly or wick well so you end up smelling ok …

Primino 140 T-ShirtThe new Primino baselayers come in a range of styles that include short and long sleeves, zip and crew neck, basic colour options and different weights.On a recent test trip to the Lake District I wore the Primino 140 SS T-Shirt. It’s not the lightest of baselayers but I was more than impressed with its performance. It combines the benefits of merino and synthetic to give great …

The Torque Pant is known to many as somewhat of a Rab cult classic. It has been around for a number of years now and is sold as a light-weight technical climbing pant made from a softshell fabric (Matrix) which comes in both a highly flexible form used in movement zones and a reinforced fabric used on knees. The combination of materials used in the Torque Pant results in a highly flexible yet dura …

I've used these on a few trips now and can say that they are a comfortable and durable option; perhaps more suited to adventure travel than a pure backpacking trip but you won't be disappointed using them for either. The first thing I like is the fabric - its very lightweight and extremely stretchy, thin and therefore highly breathable. This makes the Limantour pants ideal for trips to warm climat …

Used extensively by Cairngorm Treks throughout Autumn and Winter 2017/18 within the Cairngorm National Park, Skye, and surrounding areasThe Montane Limantour Pants promise to be lightweight, versatile and robust. On first inspection this certainly seems likely, as the subtle stretch to the fabric immediately suggests that flexibility during use will not be an issue. They feel light …

Extensively tested by Cairngorm Treks guides in the Highlands of Scotland throughout Autumn and Winter 2017/18Trying to find the right pair of outdoor trousers to suit all year round use in Scotland can often be very tricky. There are some great products available but often when you wander away from the main trails and onto rougher ground, they can frequently let you down. This is by either …