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The Ridge Raider Bivi was one of our earliest pieces of kit we tested and reviewed for UOG. This was also our first venture into a hooped bivy bag having before very much adopted a very basic bivy tactic. We viewed the Ridge Raider to strike a mark between a tent and a bivy bag. The overall weight and pack size baffled us as to its use, but there was no denying it was simply a joy to us …

“Meet the Helium Gaiters, our best-selling and award-winning Helium fabric recreated into a gaiter design to keep out pesky rocks, dirt, rain, snow, and any other debris you kick up on the move.” Outdoor Research have really kept the weight down for the Helium gaiters which come in at a mere 144 grams in a size large, with a pack size comparable to a lighter weight pair of gloves, …

‘Reindeer with potato, mushroom, and lingonberries. Hunter’s favourite. Reindeer meat, mushrooms and berries all contributes to the unmistakable gamy flavour.’ 578kcal / 390ml hot water / 8 min wait time Our Verdict Reindeer stew is another meal idea from Real Turmat which sets itself aside from the norm regarding dehydrated choices typically found in the UK. Packed full of meat, …

‘Arctic cod with potato and carrot in a tasty curry sauce. Good spicy dish with great taste of Norwegian fish. Makes it easy and enjoyable to eat more fish.’ 532kcal / 400ml hot water / 8 min wait time Our Verdict The Cod in Curry Sauce from Real Turmat turned out to be a surprisingly tasty meal. Packed full of flavour with juicy chunks of fish which was a real change from the …

A snow shovel is an essential piece of kit to have with you when travel out to not only avalanche prone environments but also any area in which snow may be present. A shovel comes into use for many situations including digging a snow shelter, creating a quick seating area for a group, analysing snowpack, and in the unfortunate situation if an avalanche was to occur and a rescue situat …

Bikepacking is a new concept for us with the Ortlieb packs being the first we have used. We have used this set up for over a year now and always for back country forest and high mountain trails, throughout Scotland. This review is probably best suited for anyone with a similar approach in mind

Walking poles are must have items for our days out in the hills and we are always keen to try out something that promises versatility, lightness, low pack volume, robustness and ease of use in a variety of condition.The first impression of the poles was in their collapsed state, allowing them to be stashed on the side of a pack easily or inside if needs be,as well as into hold luggage if flying. T …

Vargo are a company we didn’t know much about up until recently. Building up a reputation as a specialist in lightweight minimalist gear we have been very impressed with the items we received up to now. The Bot 700, it has to be said, was top of our list in terms of interest. Essentially, it’s a titanium cooking pot with a few extra features added on. Reading reviews from hikers abroad i …

A table isn’t the first piece of kit on our mind for lightweight wild-camping. In fact we’ve never even considered a table outside of family camping so we were confused, although slightly curious, to find out we were receiving one to test and review. Our usual approach would be to lay out a dry bag to keep items away from wet ground, whilst a rock or part of a fallen tree makes for a nat …

The Soto Stormbreaker is a multi-fuel stove that works from both gas and liquid fuel sources. Weighing in at 454 grams excluding the fuel bottle, it’s a weight and size we would look to use for group cooking rather than solo expeditions.Soto have certainly made a name for themselves offering high quality stoves without the added price tag attached. A personal favourite for lightweight so …

Meths stoves are one of the simplest ways to boil water or heat a meal. No working parts to worry about, compact and lightweight, and they work with a wide range of liquid fuels. There is a reason this style of stove has been used globally for many years. With the modern advancements of gas stoves offering a dependable, safe and versatile option, the good old meths stove has taken a back …

It’s fair to say I’m a big fan of Leki poles and have mostly been using Leki Thermolite XL poles for the last couple of years. For the TGO Challenge I wanted lighter poles but still wanted them to be adjustable to pitch my tent and have a shorter pack size to stow them inside my pack for the train journey to and from Scotland. The Leki Black Series MVC poles ticked all of these boxes and L …