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This is the lightest jacket that I tried, and I had some doubts as to whether it could be classed as an all-season waterproof; but having had it on extended test all through the winter season, I'm happy that it is more than substantial and waterproof enough for the job. Made from 100% recycled Gore-Tex Paclite Plus, it's tough and packable, whilst being fairly breathable. The hood is well shaped a …

The Arc Eco won Gold in last year's TGO awards in the sustainability category, and it is the standout jacket in that capacity here, too. The jacket's face fabric, membrane and backer are all made up of a single polymer, which makes it much easier to recycle at the end of its life, whilst the impacts of production are also reduced. I've been using it since that initial test in autumn last year, and …

Made from Patagonia's proprietary H2NO fabric, the Dual Aspect is lighter-weight and less durable than some, but it does have plenty of winter-friendly features. Firstly, this is another jacket with a fabulous hood that includes both stiffening and a wire to the peak. The main pockets are waterproof with water-resistant zips, and just about roomy enough to take a laminated OS map. Underarm zips ar …

As a gear reviewer, I get to test some fantastic gear, but it's always very pleasing when the best item in the test is not the most expensive. Sure, £270is still a sizable wedge for quite a simple garment; but you do get a waterproof with tried and tested features plus strong build quality that means it should last several seasons. It's made with standard Gore-Tex - not the highest-specification f …

THE GREAT OUTDOORS: MAGAZINEThis mat is astonishingly light and packs down astonishingly small. Inflated it's quite thick and very comfortable. I find that not blowing it up really hard is best. A little 'give' means I'm less likely to roll off. Whilst not insulated, the UberLite has an internal construction of stacked triangular baffles that reduce heat loss, which is why it has a high R-value fo …

THE GREAT OUTDOORS: MAGAZINE Blå Band is a stalwart Scandinavian brand that has been offering dehydrated backpacking meals for many years. One quirk - some might call it the brand's trademark - is that the packs are wider than they are tall, unlike the more typical vertical format used by almost every other brand. This doesn't make much difference when it comes to packing meals inside your rucksa …

THE GREAT OUTDOORS: MAGAZINE Firepot specialises in a small range of meals hand-made from high-quality ingredients, cooked and then dehydrated after cooking. The entire range is free from artificial additives, flavourings and preservatives, as well as palm oil, making them worth a look if you value quality. Like many of their meals, the spicy pork noodles I tasted are available in both standard a …

THE GREAT OUTDOORS: MAGAZINE This year Black Diamond has launched four new headlamps with rechargeable batteries, the R series. The Spot R 400 is the one of the more powerful models whilst being light and compact. You can't use standard batteries so on any long trip a battery pack is needed for recharging the headlamp. I carry one anyway for my phone and other items. Surprisingly the recharging p …

THE GREAT OUTDOORS: MAGAZINE The Montebianco 2 (and women's Monterosa) sunglasses from Julbo are Category 3 sunglasses fitted with 'spectron 3' lenses and designed to be general-purpose, mountain sports sunglasses. As a rule, Cat. 3 eye protection cuts around two-thirds of the light, but the visible light transmission (VLT) measure here is about average for European sun protection at 12%, and for …

THE GREAT OUTDOORS: MAGAZINESea to Summit releases its 'warmest ever' sleeping mat Sea to Summit's latest mat, the Etherlight XT Extreme, is the thickest and warmest the company has ever made. With an R-value of over 6 it should be warm at -30°C, whilst the 10cm thickness makes it very comfortable. The mat features Sea to Summit's air-sprung cells, which deform independently to allow the mat to co …

THE GREAT OUTDOORS: MAGAZINE These are spot on for comfort, fit, function and durability, the only downside being the price. However, they are by far the most hard-wearing of the models tested: after a summer of heavy use, there is no sign of wear and tear on these tough trousers. I would expect them to outlast many other models, and for this reason they are good value. Built from mixed fabrics, …

THE GREAT OUTDOORS: MAGAZINE For more technical two-to-three season trips, these are my trousers of choice. The matrix fabricis exceptionally comfortable and stretchy, and seems to manage a wide range of temperatures, with the just the right amount of wind and weather resistance. They dry fast and the reinforced areas on the knee and ankle mean less worry about wear or tear. The slim fit feels 'j …