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THE GREAT OUTDOORS: MAGAZINEThis top is as basic as they come, with ultralight shell fabric, top-quality down filling, no hood and few'extras'. It's marketed as highly water-resistant, suitable for use as a mid-layer in cold conditions; and thanks to a good fit, big enough to fit over a thin fleece, superb freedom of movement, and no faffy external cords or toggles to snag inside your jacket, it c …

THE GREAT OUTDOORS: MAGAZINE Rab's Microlight series has been a mainstay of our down jacket reviews for years now. This iteration is described as the 'most protective version' of the Microlight range, thanks to the use of a Gore-Tex Infinium Windstopper outer shell. This is a highly windproof and breathable soft-touch fabric, although it didn't seem much more windproof than other jackets tested. …

THE GREAT OUTDOORS: MAGAZINEThe Forge is one of two'true' liner gloves in my selection. This one is a mix of (non mulesed) merino wool and polyester, at a ratio of 46/54%, of which 35% of the polyester is recycled. As a result, it dries slightly more slowly than a fully synthetic equivalent but is much warmer for its weight. At any rate, it's so thin that it should dry in a sleeping bag or jacket …

This lightweight merino-blend top has the most athletic fit of all the garments I tested. So it's efficient at wicking moisture, and it's good at thermal regulation too, in a wide range of temperatures. However, I found the fit a little too snug. Amen's Medium usually fits me perfectly in most products but this was uncomfortably tight around the chest and upper arms. The fabric's stretchy, so it d …

Patagonia's Capilene base layers have been around for many years, through multiple redesigns and generations, and are available in a range of weights from light to heavy. The Capilene Midweight is, in my opinion, the Goldilocks base layer. Despite being a slightly thicker and heavier garment than the others tested, it's light enough to perform well in warmer conditions (although the black colour o …

The Dart Thermo is new from Montane this season. The fibre combination of nylon and spandex gives this fabric a denser feeling than polyester and a surprising degree of warmth given the low garment weight. It's close-fitting without being spray- on and has four-way stretch although less than I expected given 12% spandex (I could have done with slightly more on the forearms). The inner face feels b …

THE GREAT OUTDOORS: MAGAZINEThe Dart Thermo is new from Montane this season. The fibre combination of nylon and spandex gives this fabric a denser feeling than polyester and a surprising degree of warmth given the low garment weight. It's close-fitting without being spray- on and has four-way stretch although less than I expected given 12% spandex (I could have done with slightly more on the forea …

THE GREAT OUTDOORS: MAGAZINEAt 490g, this is not something that most backpackers will want to carry on multi-day trips, but it has some unique features that make it superb at what it does. The purifier contains a large hollowfibre filter with a pore size of 0.02 microns, which means that it will filter out viruses. Instead of squeezing, there's a large handle that is used to pump water through the …

THE GREAT OUTDOORS: MAGAZINEThe Katadyn Be Free came out several years ago, but is worth taking a look at again as in some respects it still hasn't been surpassed. This is a hollowfibre filter that screws into a standard softflask (600ml and 1 litre versions available). You fill up the flask from any water source, then either drink through the filter or squeeze into another container. The filter w …

THE GREAT OUTDOORS: MAGAZINEThe Shape-Shift Reservoir is a practical and adaptable hydration system that ticks all the boxes. The design is tall and narrow - which helps it to fit in the hydration sleeves of most packs - and the entire top of the bladder opens for filling or cleaning. It's secured by folding over and sliding a separate piece across. I've found this closure method more foolproof th …

THE GREAT OUTDOORS: MAGAZINEI've used this jacket extensively since last autumn, and the more I've used it the morellike it. It's warm for the weight with an excellent wired hood and roomy pockets. The fill is soft and comfortable, and the shell is tough. Being synthetic, the jacket doesn't absorb much moisture and keeps its thickness when wet. This property wasn't needed on this dry trip, but it …

THE GREAT OUTDOORS: light, durable, good gripAfter a year and half's use of these boots (except in summer, when they are a little warm) I'm still as impressed as I was when I reviewed them back in January 2021. Theyare lightweight, comfortable, supportive and have good cushioning and great grip. They're tough too, with little sign of wear. The graphene in the sole is there to enhancedurability, an …