Blog

Ultralight Outdoor Gear Awards 2024

Posted by Andy Neil on Dec 13, 2024

At Ultralight, we’ve tested and reviewed the very best in hiking, camping, and outdoor gear to compile this definitive list. This year’s winners feature cutting-edge technologies, eco-friendly innovations, and user-focused designs that represent the pinnacle of outdoor excellence. Whether you’re a weekend warrior or a seasoned adventurer, these award-winning products are sure to inspire your …
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Wild Camping for Beginners: A Comprehensive Guide for the UK

Posted by Andy Neil on Sep 05, 2024

Wild camping is more than just a hobby; it’s an enriching and deeply rewarding experience that allows you to reconnect with nature in its most unfiltered form. Whether waking up to a breathtaking mountain sunrise, listening to the soothing sounds of a forest at night, or simply enjoying the solitude that only the wilderness can offer wild camping provides a unique escape from the everyday hus …
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NEMO Equipment Founder & CEO Cam Brensinger Interview

Posted by Andy Neil on Jul 08, 2024

Last month, we had the privilege of hosting Cam Brensinger, the founder and CEO of Nemo. Cam, who established Nemo in 2002, was kind enough to sit down with us and answer a few questions on the company's origins, the process of bringing ideas to market, and the vital role of brands in championing sustainable design. 1. What inspired your decision to start NEMO? How did your upbringing influen …
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Condensation in Single Skin Tents: Causes and Mitigation

Posted by Andy Neil on Jun 04, 2024

Single-walled tents offer significant benefits compared to double-walled ones in weight and size reduction. They are considerably lighter and more compact. Utilising trekking poles for structure, they provide ample headroom in liveable space, and often have spacious vestibules. However, single-walled tents are infamous for excessive condensation due to the lack of a barrier between the …
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Gossamer Gear’s The Two Review - “The Two allowed me to complete the TGO challenge with a lighter pack load while enjoying enough room to spread out at camp.”

Posted by Andy Neil on Jun 04, 2024

For this year's TGO challenge, a demanding two-week coast-to-coast journey across Scotland, I sought to reduce the weight of my pack without sacrificing the headroom, living space, and large vestibules I have come to enjoy with my trusty Hilleberg Anaris. Having traversed the country with the Anaris on four previous occasions, I decided to try a different trekking pole tent, Goss …
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MSR FreeLite Range

Posted by Andy Neil on May 16, 2024

MSR has gone back to the drawing board with one of their market-leading tents, the MSR FreeLite. Originally released back in 2018 the new 2022 FreeLite is lighter (226g lighter in fact), has more headroom (3 inches), and is overall a more enjoyable, liveable space to relax and take shelter in than its predecessor. For context, we are comparing the 2 person versions of the FreeL …
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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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Exped's Lightest Ever Kit List

Posted by Andy Neil on Apr 30, 2024

Exped has been crafting cutting-edge camping and backpacking gear in the great Swiss outdoors since 1983. Two students passionate about adventure founded the company, and sustainability remains a central focus. Exped has become renowned for its ultra-lightweight and compact designs, delivering exceptional performance without compromise. Summer is the perfect time to escape into nature on a mu …
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Nemo Equipment Tent Ranges Explained

Posted by Mark Richardson on Mar 27, 2024

We stock the key ranges of Nemo tents, find out which they are and what they do on this page. Delivering 4x more lasting water repellency and 3x less stretch when wet, our new OSMO tent fabric is also made from 100% recycled yarns free from any PFC or PFAS. The first of its kind, it was carefully designed for both exceptional performance and reduced impact on the planet. The Elite monike …
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Big Agnes Tent Guide

Mar 04, 2024

We stock the key ranges of Big Agnes tents, find out which they are and what they do here. — It's a straightforward pitch, just one pole. The bivvy can be secured with five peg-out points, though only three pegs are provided, unless in strong winds, once your matt is inside, that will give the bivvy most of its structure. I'm assuming the "three wire" in the Three wire hooped bivvy refer …
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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 Tent Buying Guide

Posted by Mark Richardson on Feb 02, 2024

We stock all the key MSR tent models and on this page we look at what they are and how they differ from each other. We also give our opinion. — So compact and light, it’s hardly noticeable in your pack, the Front Range tarp shelter lets parties of four move faster on giant alpine missions and ski traverses, with all-season protection from the elements. Supremely versatile—it makes a featherwe …
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