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PETZL Actik Core 600 Headlamp

Posted by Trail Magazine Review on Mar 01, 2023

The Actik is one of Petzl's best-selling headlamps, but it's been completely redesigned for winter 2022. The new model has sleek and angular looks with an integrated rubber bumper to help protect the LED array from impacts and scratches. A phosphorescent element inside the light unit also glows in the dark, making it easier to find your headtorch in a dim tent. And a new bracket design enables it …
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Silva Terra Scout

Posted by Trail Magazine Review on Mar 01, 2023

Silva Terra Scout H £65 Product sustainability is becoming more important in the outdoor industry, and increasingly this includes kit as well as clothing, Swedish brand Silva's new Terra Scout H headtorch uses recycled plastic and a hemp headband to give a carbon footprint reduction of 90% compared to the previous model. It's also very lightweight and comfy, thanks to a soft, wide strap and an ext …
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Mountain Equipment Makalu Gore-Tex Jacket

Posted by Trail Magazine Review on Mar 01, 2023

Mountain Equipment's Lhotse/Manaslu jacket has long been a Trail favourite (it won best waterproof jacket in our Gear of the Year 2021 awards), but for £130 cheaper the Makalu is another great option at an excellent price. Made from Gore-Tex Performance using both 50-denier and 75-denier fabrics, the Makalu has a minimum HH rating of 28,000mm and an RET breathability grade of <13. It has a full …
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Rab Generator Alpine Jacket

Posted by Trail Magazine Review on Mar 01, 2023

The holy grail of insulated jacket design is warmth, weather protection and durability with minimum weight and pack size. Usually, something has to give - but Rab's Generator Alpine squares the circle better than most. It uses cutting-edge synthetic PrimaLoft Gold with Crosscore fill to deliver plenty of warmth, all wrapped in a durable shell. Yet it also manages to be impressively light and packa …
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FJALLRAVEN Womens Abisko Tights

Posted by Trail Magazine on Sep 10, 2022

Tights or leggings are an increasingly popular choice for women's outdoor legwear. They're normally our reviewer Ellie's preferred option in the hills for comfort and flexibility. However, most are less well suited to colder conditions. But the Abisko Varm offer additional weather protection. The front and side panels feature a wind-blocking fabric backed with a waterproof membrane, and they also …
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MONTANE Terra Mission Pants

Posted by Trail Magazine on Sep 10, 2022

Montane seems to introduce a new type of Terra trousers every month. The latest addition is the Terra Mission for both men and women, which are technical mountaineering pants for cold conditions' - out just in time for autumn and winter adventures. As you might expect, they're warm and tough, being made from densely woven soft shell fabric with reinforced Cordura nylon. panels at the knees and in …
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Mountain Equipment's Ibex pants

Posted by Trail Magazine on Sep 10, 2022

Mountain Equipment's Ibex pants have long been a Trail favourite, but we've still moaned about their small pockets, lack of thigh vents and limited ankle adjustment. Happily, the brand has fixed all those niggles with the release of the new Ibex Pro. The fabric is burlier too. It's still a double-weave stretch soft shell, but in a heavier weight that makes these trousers slightly warmer and tough …
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RAB VR Summit Jacket

Posted by Trail Magazine on Sep 10, 2022

This is a technical, premium, ultralight jacket with a standout design. Unlike classic soft shells which all have that distinctive soft shell outer material, made from a stretchy, sturdy and wind-resistant nylon or polyester - the Vapour-Rise Summit does things differently. The outer is constructed from Pertex Quantum Air, a highly breathable, open woven fabric which prioritises air permeability a …
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MONTANE Krypton Hoodie

Posted by Trail Magazine on Sep 10, 2022

Montane's Dyno and Krypton ranges are classic soft shells - you'd pick them off the shelf and immediately think "this is a soft shell". There's none of that identity-crisis confusion you get with some of the hybrid crossover styles. While the Dyno is slightly tougher and beefier, the Krypton still feels mountain-ready, striking a nice balance between durability, flex, comfort and weather-resistanc …
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SCARPA Rush Trail GTX

Posted by Trail Magazine on Aug 18, 2022

TRAIL MAGAZINE: ReviewBased on the same platform as Scarpa's Rush Trek boot, the low-cut Rush Trail is no flimsy trainer-style hiker. It has the same durable suede uppersand structured sole unit as the boot, and there's also some clever on-board tech aimed at alleviating foot fatigue. Foremost among these isa dual density midsole, which is firmer at the forefoot for added stability, and spongier i …
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SIERRA DESIGNS Flex Capacitor 40-60L Rucksack

Posted by Trail Magazine on Aug 18, 2022

TRAIL MAGAZINE: Review With its quirky Back To The Future-inspired name, the Sierra Designs Flex Capacitor is a suitably quirky backpack, with an innovative design and eye-catching look. Its USP is the use of a double fold of material on the front of the pack which - when combined with a series of cinch cords - enables the pack's circumference to expand or contract between 40L and 60L. Other pack …
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GREGORY Focal 48 Rucksack

Posted by Trail Magazine on Aug 18, 2022

TRAIL MAGAZINE: ReviewWe tested the Gregory Focal 48 on a three-day, 107km hike from Saltburn-by-the-Sea to Flamborough Head on the Cleveland Way National Trail, and it performed admirably. It delivered a comfy carrying experience, providing top-notch suspension and load transfer. We'd credit this success to the huge amount of technology in the pack's FreeFloat harness: a ventilated mesh back pane …
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