Blog

Ultralight Outdoor Gear Awards 2023

Posted by Andy Neil on Dec 22, 2023

2023 was an excellent year for new ultralight equipment and clothing, and we wanted to highlight some of our favourite gear that hit the market this year. Some pieces, like the Montbell Plasma 1000, pushed the limits of what it means to be ultralight even further. Others, like the Nemo Tensor Extreme Conditions sleeping pad, showed real innovation by raising their R-value to an industry-leading 8. …
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Mastering Winter Hiking: A Layering Guide

Posted by Andy Neil on Nov 14, 2023

Hiking in the winter can be a magical experience, with pristine, snow-covered landscapes and crisp, invigorating air. However, it also comes with unique challenges, including fluctuating temperatures and unpredictable weather conditions. Mastering the art of layering your clothing is essential to ensure you stay warm, comfortable, and safe during your winter hikes. In this comprehensive guid …
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Montane Dynamic Nano Pants Review - ''An excellent pair of no-frills hiking pants that should last a long time''

Posted by Joel Brennan on Sep 07, 2023

The first thing to notice on the Montane Dynamic Nano Pants is their slim fit design, making them super versatile, as they can be used for walking or running. They fit well, hugging the legs without being too tight and the Raptor 4-way stretch fabric seems really durable and offers some protection in light rain too. The design is simple, but extremely effective. The slim, tapered fit …
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Montane's New Season: Autumn Collection

Posted by Fran O'Donnell on Aug 24, 2023

We know plans can change in the mountains, just as the weather can. Our new season gear has adaptability built in, so you’ll be prepared, no matter whatever you encounter. Discover lightweight, breathable clothing and equipment that doesn’t compromise on protection. From protective waterproof jackets to warm, down jackets, technical fleeces and durable legwear – our technical layers are designed t …
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Andy’s 2023 TGO Kit List

Posted by Andy Neil on May 09, 2023

May means one thing here in the Ultralight office, The Great Outdoors Challenge, or the TGO for short. We are incredibly proud to be a sponsor of this communal coast-to-coast crossing of Scotland. Three of our team, Danny, Chris and myself, are participating in this year’s TGO, so I thought I’d give you an insight into what’s in my pack and some of the gear I’ll be taking for this year’s chal …
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Rab Torque Mountain Pants Review - “Apart from winter conditions, these are my current favourite hiking pants.”

Posted by Mark Richardson on Oct 18, 2022

The  Rab Torque Mountain Pants (TMP) are a lighter weight version of the Torque Pants (TP) but there’s not much in it – for a medium size the TMPs are 30grams lighter so you perhaps wouldn’t choose the TMP over the TP because of the weight saving. The main fabric for both pants is the same but the reinforcement panels on the TPs are burlier than on the TMPs. The other main …
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Rugged Flex Pants Review - Ultralight Outdoor Gear

Posted by Andy Neil on Jul 29, 2022

I spent 2 whole weeks, day in, day out in  Haglofs rugged flex Pant, a soft shell, durable hiking trouser. I walked a coast-to-coast crossing of Scotland and, wanting to save weight, brought one pair of trousers to hike in, and a Marino woollen base layer to sleep in, so this pair of trousers and I became well acquainted, they come with one caveat, as I will get on to, but overall …
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Rab Kinetic Alpine 2.0 Pant Review - Trek Scotland

Posted by Trek Scotland on Apr 19, 2022

Having previously tested and reviewed the original Kinetic Alpine pant we were eager to see what alterations Rab had made to the newly updated 2.0 version. It’s instantly noticeable that Rab have not held back with making changes and have instead nearly completely redesigned the Kinetic Alpine. We often use our original pair, so having them side by side gave us a great insight into …
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Montane Terra Mission Pants Review - Trek Scotland

Posted by Trek Scotland on Apr 19, 2022

Montane for many years now have been one of the ‘go to’ brands we look for when purchasing a pair of technical walking trousers.The Terra pant being a common sight on many an outdoor adventurer throughout the UK. The Terra Mission is Montane’s answer for when the temperatures start to drop, with them describing the Terra Mission as “Technical winter mountaineering pants. The fabric co …
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