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TRAIL MAGAZINE: Review Though there's obviously more to a down jacket than big baffles alone, the Fitz Roy's boxy silhouette promises plenty of warmth.The 800 fill power down delivers in spades, but luckily its other features generally stack up too. We particularly like the no-fuss cuff design, which seals out draughts but also stretches easily over winter gloves. The long, adjustable hem offers …

TRAIL MAGAZINE: Review Boasting the best warmth for weight of any jacket here, this highly efficient layer would work well for winter camping, bothying and even ultralight backpacking, as well as Alpine-style mountaineering. It stuffs into its own inner pocket, and though cramming it in there is a bit of an art, oncecompressed it is so small that you could carry it almost anywhere. Wearing the Me …

This jacket is a maverick with a unique approach. The first time you pull it on, you're immediately struck by how different it feels to others. It has more of a fleece-like texture across the hood and arms. This comes from the use of 125g of PrimaLoft Active, an intricate mesh grid topped with fluffypolyester tufts - a special type of synthetic insulation that might polarise opinion. Personally I …

TRAIL MAGAZINE: Review Rab's new synthetic Xenair range features three models: the Xenair Alpine, Xenair and Xenair Light. The latter is the lightest (and cheapest) of the trio, and it works better as a streamlined mid layer than any others on test. This is because the synthetic fill is like a sheet of flat, low-profile, wadded insulation, rather than a plumper, loftier, cluster-like fill in baff …

The Montane Prism is a strange beast. In some ways, it's all a bit mid-range and underwhelming: at 385g it's the heaviest jacket in this review, the materials are good but not class-leading (PrimaLoft Silver rather than Gold), and it's certainly not super- technical. You don't get body mapping orstretch panels, and it's arguably too warm for higher-intensity activities. Yet there is something abou …

TRAIL MAGAZINE: Review The rise of ultralight backpacking has also created a new breed of 'trekking pole tents' which utilize one or two trekking poles to create the tent frame. This is a great weight-saver but does require a set of robust and reliable trekking poles - which is exactly what specialist tentmaker Hilleberg has produced here. If they seem a little over-built, that's because they're …

TRAIL MAGAZINE: Review Designed for travellers, hikers and backpackers, the Point Peak Trail pants are slim-fitting but stretchy soft shell trousers. Made from a midweight nylon-elastane blend they're burly enough for life on the trail, and don't feel too thick or heavy either. To further increase durability, the seat and front (from mid-thigh down) use ripstop panelling. Commendably, all the mat …

TRAIL MAGAZINE: ReviewThe latest addition to Montane's highly- regarded Terra pants range is the Terra Edge - a lighter, more streamlined version of the brand's ultra-rugged Super Terra trousers. These are made from the same hard- wearing 'GRANITE' nylon, but without the reinforced panels in the knee, seat and instep. There's some elastane in the fabric blend and they have a water-repellent finish …

TRAIL MAGAZINE: ReviewIn the competitive, crowded market of canister-top stoves, the Windmaster from Japanese brand SOTO stands out. Firstly, the burner head has a concave shape with a protective lip, providing better wind protection la common flaw of canister-top designs). Secondly, you get four-pot support arms - unlike most other three-pronged stoves - thus ensuring improved pot stability with …

TRAIL MAGAZINE: ReviewOur judges waxed lyrical about this 10cm-thick, warm and comfortable sleeping mat, which features Air Sprung Cell technology and boasts an R-value of over 6. Judge David Lintern said: "No corners are cut with the Ether Light - the high R value ensures protection from the ground in truly sub-zero temperatures and the regular size is wide enough that your arms don't fall off th …

TRAIL MAGAZINE: ReviewThe one-person High Route 3000 is a lightweight, versatile tent erected with trekking poles. It is a solid, practical shelter with a clever design, good interior space, and lots of features. It weighs 898g (excluding pegs and bags) and compresses down to slightly larger than a Nalgene bottle. Judge Chris Townsend said: “This European version is a beefed-up, stronger model of …

TRAIL MAGAZINE: Review"This is extraordinary,' said judge Chris Townsend, after testing this jacket in the Cairngorms. “It weighs only 115g and is as warm as a heavyweight fleece, as long as you wear a shell over it in wind. It's so breathable that just walking about in still air you lose heat. My only concern is over long-term durability, but on initial testing this is very impressive.” The OMM C …