If you’re looking for a balance of lightweight and breathability – the Paramo Velez Adventure Light Smock is one option. Perhaps it isn’t a lightweight option once you consider that it weighs in about 600g, but it’s certainly breathable. Constructed from Nikwax Analogy Light, this offers the same performance as the rest of the Paramo […]
Paramo Velez Adventure Light Smock – Long Term Review Read More »
There’s little doubt that one of the best materials available for baselayers is merino wool. Comfortable and stink-proof, this ideal fabric for multiday trips or those of you who’re just too skanky to wash your gear after use. Merino wool originates in New Zealand and on the Icebreraker website you can even identify from which
Icebreaker Mondo Zip Merino Baselayer Review Read More »
If you’ve read my disappointing review of solar chargers, or rather the poor summer that made them rather redundant, you’d know that I’m on the lookout for a different option. While I’d considered spare batteries for my phone, you’re still in the position where you need to leave your phone unattended if you manage to
New Trent iCruiser IMP1000 External Battery Pack Review Read More »
The Black Diamond Ion head-torch has to be one of the tiniest and lightest headtorches on the market Used on our recent superlightweight challenge, this has found its way into our emergency bag as a spare torch, many a wild camp and into small short pockets for those twilight runs you hope you can complete before it
Black Diamond Ion Torch Review Read More »
With the impending winter and the already fierce autumn fully with us, you’ll need to start layering up again. I find that gloves have always been a little problematic at this time of year as the thinner gloves tend not to be waterproof and bulky winter gloves are overkill. The Sealskinz Versatility glove doesn’t appear
Sealskinz Versatility Gloves Review Read More »
Of all the bits of gear I’ll carry on a day walk or longer trip, there’s not a single item that outperforms this gram for gram. At only 100g or so, the Montane Windproof packs down to barely the size of an apple and is perfect on breezy days when you’re working hard, but need
Classic Gear Review 6 – Montane Windproof Featherlite Smock Read More »
This is a combo pack that combines the Freeloader Solar Charger, Super Charger solar panel, carrying pouch and various charging tips (though curiously no new micro usb!). The Freeloader Solar Charger is a compact battery pack (capacity) that comes complete with a pair of built in solar panels that you can use to recharge the unit
Freeloader Globetrotter Solar Charger Review Read More »
If you’ve invested in one of these expensive bits of kit, then you’ll want to protect it if you take it outside or just want to read in the bath. The Aquapac iPad waterproof fits the iPad or any similarly sized 10″ screen tablet, the Asus eee Transformer fits perfectly, even if you include the
Aquapac iPad Waterproof Case Review Read More »
One of the big three bits of camping gear, you need to choose carefully. If you’ve got money to burn, then you’ll have no problem choosing the best bag, but expect little change from £400. If you’re a little more budget conscious then you’ll have your eye out for a bargain. Something that’ll keep you
Classic Gear Review 5 – Alpkit Pipedream 400 Read More »
Used on our recent Ultralight Challenge, this is more of an emergency bivvy than a full on mountain bivvy, but can still be useful. Made of shiny shiny Thermolite fabric it reflects a significant proportion of warmth back, 80% according to the specifications, and could conceivably be used as a very warm weather sleeping bag,
Adventure Medical Kits Thermo Lite 2 Bivvy Review Read More »
Just like the Titan kettle, the MSR Pocket Rocket is another classic piece of kit by this company. After over five years use, this hasn’t worn in but instead has developed a patina from the heat. When first released, it set the standard for lightweight stoves and acheived the holy grail of lightweight. It essentially
Classic Gear Review 4 – MSR Pocket Rocket Read More »
The least glamorous piece of gear you’ve got, bar a pair of Paramo Long Johns, is more than likely your cooking pot. Couple that with the fact that the MSR Titan Kettle is very limited in what you can cook with it and you’ll be asking why I’m raving about it as a classic piece
Classic Gear Review 3 – MSR Titan Kettle Read More »
When the Terra Nova Laser Competition was released many moons ago, it changed the definition of a lightweight tent. Weighing in at just over a kilo, it was revolutionary for a two skin tent. At the same time the less glamorous, frumpier older sibling was released, simply called the Laser at a whopping 1.3 kilos.
Classic Gear Review 2 – Terra Nova Laser Tent Read More »
Anyone who’s considered a trip to the Scottish Highlands during the summer, aka – “the midge season”, will be aware of the reputation this little blighter has. Anyone who’s actually been out there camping will still bear the scars. Even south of the border, while not as large, ravenous or numerous as their Scottish bretheren,
Sea to Summit Mosquito Headnet Review Read More »
The Klymit Inertia X Frame pad is the worlds lightest full size inflatable sleeping mat, measuring over 180cm in length and under 260g in weight. It packs down into a tiny package, invariably described as smaller than a “soda can” and takes up virtually no room in the pack. It’s also claimed to be one
Klymit Inertia X Frame Sleeping Pad Review Read More »
I’m usually torn when it comes to map cases. On some level, I think they’re useless and a waterproof map serves the purpose much better. On another, they work out cheaper if you need to buy loads of maps rather than just a couple. So when on home turf, I’m usually found with a waterproof
Berghaus Map Case Review Read More »
Berghaus is one of those brands that has a long history in hillwalking, being one of those brands that I’d aspire to as being the best when I started hillwalking *cough* years ago. But since gaining street cred in the late 90s, I’d been given the impression that they were no longer the serious brand
Berghaus Trek Stretch Baselayer Review Read More »
I wanted an anemometer to see how strong the winds really were that were rocking my tent. I want to be able to relate the speeds given on the forecast to something i can see on the hill. So i wanted one of these. Their basic model, XPlorer 1, is just a wind speed meter
SkyWatch Xplorer 4 Review Read More »
Ok, this is old news by now, but searching online for this piece of kit sees a few reviews that deride this as an impractical gimmick. Just search for the pack on Google Images and see how many people have actually taken a pic of this pack in the field! The nearest is on page
World’s Lightest day pack – Sea to Summit Ultra Sil Lightweight Day Pack Review Read More »
This is a decent budget synthetic bag from Gelert that makes an ideal entry level bag for summer wild camps or DofE. Filled with synthetic Pro Fibre™, it packs down into a pleasingly compact package, something you’d certainly not expect from a bag that’s both synthetic and cheap. Advertised at 1kg, we found it was considerably more at 1.25kg,
Gelert X-Treme Lite 1000 Sleeping Bag Review Read More »
I’ve owned the OMM Classic 32 Pack for a fair few years and this piece of kit has suffered hours of abuse under my skill-less needle in preparation for wild camps and never complained. The liner is about shot and one of the pouches won’t zip up and the other repaired by self to close.
OMM Classic 32 pack – Classic Gear Review Read More »
The Coleman Solo Cookset is a bargain. At half the price of a titanium kettle and with four pots you’ll have to expect some comprimised. Made of anodised aluminium, they’re reasonably light and obviously not titanium, so a comparison would be unfair. For your money you get a large pot that’s nearly a litre in
Coleman Solo Cook Kit Review Read More »
When we reviewed the Vango Ultralight Gas Stove we thought that it was a pleasant change to find any item that advertises itself, nay includes it in the name, as lightweight and falls at the lower end of the price scale. This offering from Vango, with flashes of their trademark orange impress on the scale
Vango Ultralite Gas Stove Review Read More »
To start with, you don’t get much for your outdoor pound when buying tents or anything else for that matter. So to find a tent that can get you out and about wild camping for about thirty quid can’t be bad. A quick google search will reveal that there’s a loyal fanbase for the Gelert
Gelert Solo Tent Review Read More »
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