New hillwalking boots suitable for winter This is an unbiased review by our Gear Editor Chris Townsend, which Keen have supported with sponsorship. Keen says it’s latest European-made boot is ‘our most technical backpacking boot yet’. The Karraig is certainly…
An excellent ultralight solo tent Tarptent’s Moment began life as a single-walled ultralight solo tent a decade ago. Designer Henry Shires did the TGO Challenge with it in 2010 and based on that trip and feedback from users changed it…
A warm protective winter hat Cotton Tilley Hats have been my choice for long-distance walks and summer walking for nearly thirty years now. They’re very much sun hats though and I’ve always put them away come the autumn. However, Tilley…
How to reduce the noise of a roarer burner The Primus Omnilite TI is one of the lightest multi-fuel stoves there is but it’s still powerful and efficient. The stove itself weighs 222 grams and is all you need if…
A lightweight stretchy midlayer A thin light midlayer is useful year-round. A key for such a garment is that it’s not too warm so it can be worn under a shell without overheating in mild but stormy weather and with…
Excellent lightweight down jacket Rab launched the Microlight down jacket a decade ago and it proved very successful. Now there are three Microlight models. Recently I’ve been trying the top of the range Microlight Summit. This has a 750-fill power…
An amazing wrist computer The latest Casio Pro Trek watch, catchily named the WSD-F20, is a wrist computer with an amazing number of functions. Like similar watches it’s big and chunky. At 92 grams it’s not that heavy though. I…
A rugged smartphone for the hills Phones have become a standard piece of outdoor equipment over the last decade. I’ve taken a smartphone on every walk I’ve done since 2010 when I got one for my Pacific Northwest Trail hike.…
An innovative lightweight backpack Sierra Designs is an American company that has been making backpacking gear since 1965 but has never had much of a presence in the British market. There is now a European branch however and it supplied…
A lightweight headlamp with rechargeable batteries and distance sensor The long daylight hours of high summer are fading now. In the Highlands nights are dark again. Just a few days before writing this I wandered across the Moine Mhor in…
Cotton Sun Hat with Cooling Insert This has been a good summer for sun hats. The weather’s been great, and I’ve had four to test. The latest is the Tilley Hiker’s Hat, which is very similar to the Tilley AIRFLO…