Outdoor Walking and Camping Gear Reviews
Read all the latest Mud and Routes outdoor gear reviews, both walking and camping, split into handy sub categories for your convenience.
Our outdoor gear reviews include almost anything that has an outdoor slant, from waterproof jacket reviews and boot reviews, to outdoor tech and walking pack reviews, we’ve got you covered.
We always review outdoor gear honestly and we strongly believe in testing in proper conditions, on the hill, usually in Snowdonia, not on the side of some grassy car park. We prefer to review fewer items, in more detail, with the exception of anything edible.
Camping in winter takes a certain amount of challenge compared to summer. Nothing is particularly straightforward, even your water bottle and boots will freeze solid over night and trying to cook on your regular gas stove can be nigh on impossible. However, one essential piece of kit for winter camping has to be the sleeping […]
Snugpak Softie Chrysalis Winter Sleeping Bag Review Read More »
Sugru is a malleable material, similar to plasticine that cures into hard rubber overnight. It’s exceptionally easy to work with and sticks to almost anything it seems. You might be a little underwhelmed at first, but once you realise the potential for this stuff, it’ll be as much an essential as duct tape. Mould it
Sugru Review – What sorcery is this? Read More »
If you’ve read my Turbo Trainer review, then you’ll realise that I had to shell out for one of these in order to record my turbo trainer sessions. I like the idea of a cheap cycle computer, but a GPS is always my first choice. Unfortunately, a cheap computer just wouldn’t do as you need a rear wheel setup
Cateye Strada Cadence Cycle Computer Review Read More »
There’s only one ‘tache that still cuts it, and that’s got to be Tom Selleck. While other lesser men who’ve tried it have just looked like throwbacks to the 70s, he’s managed to carry it off with his timeless ‘tache. He really is the ‘tache god. There are still some arguments about the Merv Hughes, but
Air Hole Face Mask – Tom Selleck Read More »
While the long winter nights may be coming to an end, I’d found myself doing a few hours a week on an old exercise bike that I found propping up a load of clothing in the spare room. While getting out into the fresh air is always the best option, I’m no road cyclist, and the local cycle tracks
Bargain Turbo Trainer Read More »
On a multi day trip, lunches are always the most difficult meals to sort out. Bread isn’t a viable option for more than a day or two, and even then you’ll need some filling to go with it and possibly butter making oatcakes a much easier proposition. When I saw that you could get long
Bridgford Long Life Sandwiches Read More »
We’ve been lucky enough to get our hands on and our arms and legs eventually into some SUB Cold base-layers We tested the compression fit Mock Neck top and a pair of SUB COLD compression shorts during the recent cold snap. Top Long Sleeve This looks like some sort of action man top when you first take
SUB Sports Cold Compression Baselayers Read More »
Instant custard makes an interesting if rather bland pudding, so finding these for 19p at my local not-so-supermarket was a bargain I couldn’t refuse. Available in mint and chocolate flavours, they pack 150 calories for 25g in pack weight. I decided to initially test these out in the warmth of the Mud and Routes kitchen
Aero Chocolate Dessert Read More »
This is a self heating cup of hot chocolate from Rocketfuel, that includes Guarana, which according to my friend is also contained in the popular chocolate bar Boost. Which does make sense as the can does state Guarana should give you a supercharge energy boost. Read on – http://twcymru.mudandroutes.com/2012/12/27/to-infinity-and-beyond/
Rocketfuel Selfheating Hot Chocolate Read More »
The virtues of a thick, down jacket for winter walking is petty obvious. An uber warm top layer is one of the winter essentials on the hill that’s as likely to be left behind in the car as your boots, or bag of emergency Jelly Babies. Treating your pins to the same comfort as your
Paramo Torres Trousers Review Read More »
SiS GO Isotonic Gel is designed to be taken without water, to provide an energy boost during any intensive activity. They’re available in three flavours; Orange, Tropical and Blackcurrant.. The Orange variety tastes just like orange jelly, which for me is good, but it isn’t an overpowering taste. While many other gels I’ve tried are
SIS GO Isotonic Energy Gel Review Read More »
The Maxifuel ViperActive energy gel is designed to keep you energised on those long runs or cycles. It’s available in only two flavours, Lemon and Lime and Mixed Berry. The mixed berry flavour doesn’t taste as expected! It has a tart, youghurty flavour which unpleasant at first, only as it was unexpected. The tartness is rather refreshing,
Maxifuel Viper Active Sport Gel Read More »
The PowerBar Sports Gel provides energy for those longer runs or cycles, and is available in five flavours; Blackcurrant, Apple, Lemon Lime, Tropical Fruit and Vanilla I tried the Lemon and Lime flavour, and it really was a shock to the palate! It was extremely citrusy, as expected, but after the initial shock I realised
PowerBar Sports Gel Review Read More »
These running gels from High5 provide an impressive 92 calories in their slight 38g frame, and are available in a wide selection of flavours. The regular EnergyGel has the choice of Juicy Orange, Apple, Banana, Citrus Burst and Summer Fruits, while the EnergyGel+ has only Raspberry and Orange. The orange EnergyGel+ with caffeine has a
High5 EnergyGel and EnergyGel+ Review Read More »
Gu are better known for their puddings than sports nutrition (at least to me they are), and what I do know is that their puddings are some of the best pre-packaged sweets known to man. With such a tasty pedigree, I had high expectations as well as plentiful drool even before trying them out. Apparently,
Gu Energy Gel Review Read More »
Beans that improve your running? This sounds like something a lad called Jack would swap his cow for on the way to market. However, you don’t need to own a cow, or revert to the barter system in order to get your hands on the Jelly Belly Sports beans, though you will need to shell
Jelly Belly Sports Beans Review Read More »
While there are many sleeping bags that claim to be the lightest, the PHD Minimus is one with a decent claim to that crown. At least as the lightest practical summer bag in UK conditions. How light can a sleeping bag go? Well, it’s got to be a balance between weight and insulation. In theory, you could
PHD Minimus Sleeping Bag Review Read More »
If you’ve read our recent article on the Beauty of Bivvying, or better still got yourself a copy of Book of the Bivvy, then you’ll more than likely be after a bivvy bag. The Rab Survival Zone is the classic budget bag. You get the Rab name, and as always the high quality that goes
Classic Gear The Rab Survival Zone Read More »
With winter rapidly approaching, it’s essential to have a decent warm layer whether you’ll be camping out or just stopping for a bit to eat. It’s even better when that layer packs down to almost nothing and doesn’t weigh you down. The Montane Nitro Jacket ticks all those boxes, weighing in at 450g and packing
Montane Nitro Down Jacket Review Read More »
It’s that time of year again, when you need to be a little more visible during those twilight runs and cycles. The Smart Red LED light is a multipurpose clip on light that you can use both running and cycling. I find that clipping a rear light onto my bike can be difficult owing to
Smart Budget LED Red Light Read More »
Some kit is essential, yet un-glamorous. Socks are typically so. They serve a purpose, but will always be functional rather than desirable. Dry bags are in the same league. Hardly exciting bits of kit, but utterly essential if you’re out in all weather. You’ll only really notice them by their absence, whenever they fail or
Underrated Kit Exped Fold Drybags Read More »
You can get cheap gloves down the market for a few quid, which might be OK on a cold morning but next to useless when they get wet. The Sealskinz Ultragrip Waterproof gloves won’t give you this problem, but you’ll need to shell out more than a few quid. The Ultragrips are a close fitting
Sealskinz Ultragrip Waterproof Gloves Review Read More »
I’m always up for a bargain, and while the outdoor geek is strong in this one, so is the upbringing that a bargain isn’t to be ignored. The Note Android N8000 is a Star mobile, or a tablet if you’ve got small hands, that comes in at only £120 or so all in. Essentially, it’s modeled on the Samsung
Star N8000 The Ultimate Bargain Smartphone Read More »
We were excited when we tried out the Klymit X-Frame, as excited as you can get with a sleeping mat, so were keen to test out this multi-use seat pillow when it landed on our doormat. What do they mean by Multiuse? Well, by nature of it’s design it’s much more versatile than your typical
Klymit Cush Seat Pillow Read More »
You must be logged in to post a comment.