Running
18th Jul 2023 VJ Sports Ultra Running Shoes
My second pair of VJ Sports running shoes. I reviewed a pair of I-Rock 3s a month or so back and have been very happy with them. One of the points I made in that review was that the soles feel...
24th Apr 2023 VJ Sports I-Rock 3 Trail Running Shoes
I first came across a pair of VJ Sports shoes whilst running with a friend on a freezing afternoon in the Cairngorms about five years ago. We were plodding along a fire track through the...
6th Apr 2022 Komperdell Carbon FXP Team Green
I've reviewed quite a few pairs of walking poles over the years and have watched with interest as they’ve developed, not just in terms of materials / weight, but also in their functionality....
17th Nov 2021 Montane Dragon Shorts
Shorts are shorts right? Pretty much, but it turns out it is possible to make shorts that better than others. Principally the Dragon's, as well as having a cool name which will always be favoured...
15th Sep 2021 Montane Minimus Stretch Jacket
Lightweight kit has been one of the biggest revolutions in outdoor kit of recent years. I watched a video recently of a climber in the States preparing his bag for a multi day expedition into...
20th Oct 2020 Salomon Cross Pro Running Shoes
For running in the Peak District my number one criterion is a good grip. Salomon do a number of different rubber compounds, but I find that the Contragrip TA is the best compromise between...
28th Nov 2019 Salomon Supercross Running Shoes
The Supercross is the latest pair of Salomons I've run in, and is probably the best looking pair of shoes I've owned. They tread a confident line between smart and aggressive. The quick lace...
21st Nov 2019 Leki Micro Vario Ti System Walking Poles
We were originally attracted by these poles because of their compactness, observing that there would be no problem in packing them for a flight when taking hand luggage only. Measuring less than...
26th Sep 2019 Komperdell Trailstick Carbon C4 Vario Compact Walking Poles
I've used plenty of sticks over the years, primarily whilst walking, and often in the snow. One of the main issues with them is that if you are out with a small bag, whilst running or on a day...
7th May 2019 Fastpacking - Multi-Day Running Adventures - Guidebook
It seems that every other week there is a new sport or activity evolving from the outdoor world. If it's not stand up paddleboarding or wild swimming, it's bike packing and now fastpacking....
13th Mar 2019 Kalenji Kiprun Trail XT7 Running Shoes
Stand on the start line of a local fell race and there are precious few runners wearing Kalenji shoes, one of Decathlon's myriad of own-brand lines. Having been working closely with the local...
10th Oct 2018 Title: VJ Sport XTRM – A true mountain running shoe
True mountain running shoes are hard to come by. You need them to be good on rock, so not too heavily studded and able to grip in the wet. They need to hold firm on wet grassy and...
26th Jun 2018 Inov-8 X-Talon 230s
The Inov-8 X-Talon 230s are a great lightweight fell running shoe. The lightness has not resulted in compromise in shock absorption or foot support. They really are a comfortable shoe. I...
9th May 2018 Salomon Snowcross Shoes
Sadly these babies arrived the day after the last snow of the season melted (surely there's no more to come?) so I haven’t given them a true test and won't do so for some time. However that...
21st Mar 2018 Montane Cordillera Thermal Tights
Last Saturday was one of those magical weather days that don’t come around very often. Snowy, windy, sunny, windy, cold and windy. I was out for the best part of five hours, running our local...
20th Mar 2018 Salomon Speedtrak Running Shoes
It’s not often that you can say a pair of shoes got you to a meeting on time. The Speedtraks arrived on the day of the said meeting. I work from home and juggle squeezing out for a run,...
21st Dec 2017 Salomon S Lab Wings 8 Running Shoes
I got these shoes primarily for a single event. That may seem frivolous, but given that the event was the pinnacle of my running 'career' to date I figured it was fair. The shoes are...
3rd Nov 2017 Montane Minimus Stretch Jacket
Weighing in at 257g this is definitely in the realm of lightweight waterproof jackets. It's made from a very thin Pertex with the usual and expected properties of being waterproof, windproof...
5th Oct 2017 Salomon Skin Pro 15 Set Running Backpack
I have previously tested a Skin S-Lab Salomon bag, but though it is ace, it's not big enough for runs which require full winter kit. Well, it is big enough, but stopping to get something out of...
21st Sep 2017 Ordos 2 Lightweight Tent - Alpkit
Lightweight tents have been around for some time. Driven by two-day mountain marathon events where pairs of competitors race in teams carrying all of their kit and food weight became paramount...
3rd Aug 2017 Carbon Ultralite Vario 4 Compact Walking Poles from Komperdell
Having reviewed a few sets of walking poles over the years it's always interesting when a new design comes along. The Ultralite Vario, which weigh an impressively light 181g each, comprise...
2nd Aug 2017 Salomon Speedcross Kids Running Shoes
Review by Bryn, aged 11. These shoes are perfect for a lot of different things, running being the best. This is a list of things that I like about these shoes: My favorite thing...
14th Jun 2017 Ruffwear Roamer Leash
So we got a dog. It's been a long time in coming, but we finally took the plunge and found an awesome rescue dog a month ago. This is not the place to wax lyrical about it having been a good...
12th Jun 2017 Berghaus Fastpacking Extrem Shell
Part of Berghaus's Extrem lightweight range the Fastpacking Shell retails at £170 and weighs 250g. 250g for a fully waterproof jacket suitable for extreme mountain weather is impressive. It...
17th May 2017 New Balance Fresh Foam 1080v7 Running Shoes
I was signed up to run the London Marathon in April so it was time for some new road shoes. Sadly a week before the event I learned that due to an administrative error my place had not been...
16th May 2017 Montane Featherlite 30 Rucksack
I own a very snazzy backpack and also a bum bag for racing and can't really fault them. However I was after something a little bigger that is still designed for running with. Enter the...
5th May 2017 VauDe Men's Larice Jacket
Weighing in at just 270g this isn’t the lightest fully waterproof jacket on the market, but it's a decent contender. It has been designed for ski touring, but obviously will work for any...
23rd Mar 2017 Komperdell Explorer Contour Walking Pole
I've had a few walking poles over the years, but this one stands out as different thanks to the locking mechanisms. All my previous poles have featured the standard twist-to-lock which are...
5th Oct 2016 LED Lenser XEO19R Head Torch & Bike Light
The LED XEO19R is a beast of a torch. Boasting up to 2,000 lumens and a throw distance of 300m it’s the most powerful light I've yet owned. Not only that, but it comes with more accessories...
29th Sep 2016 Sea To Summit UltraLight Mattress
Sleeping mattresses seem to be getting smaller and smaller. This one from Sea To Summit is a teeny 7.5cm by 17cm when rolled up and weighs in at just 395g. That's seriously small and...
6th May 2016 Berghaus Hypershell Waterproof Jacket
Weighing in at 100g this is now one of my lightest bits of kit. It’s waterproof, though I wouldn’t choose to wear it for full day out in the hills, and windproof, and very, very packable. It...
5th May 2016 Inov-8 Race Elite Racepant
If you’ve ever done a fell race that requires full waterproofs then you’ll know that those waterproofs need to be fully taped along the seams. I have a few pairs of very lightweight waterproof...
26th Apr 2016 Salomon Speedcross Pro
I’ve reviewed most iterations of the Speedcross range over the past three or four years, almost always opting for them as my favoured shoe for training and longer racing. The Pro is no...
14th Oct 2015 Berghaus Vapour Claw Running Shoes
The Berghaus Vapour Light Claw is a running shoe aimed at trail and long distance runners. I have worked them hard by running in all weathers and over some distances, used them as approach shoes...
18th Apr 2016 Salomon Fast Wing Hoodie
I recently arrived at my folks house after a long bike ride. My Dad asked where my waterproof was so I tossed him the little tennis ball sized stuff-sack that contained the Salomon Fast Wing...
18th Mar 2016 Ultimate Performance Runner’s Glove
Retailing at around a tenner these get a thumbs up from me on the simple basis that I tend to lose at least one pair of running gloves a year! They are very thin, elasticated gloves that fire...
25th Nov 2015 Inov-8 X-Talon 200 Running Shoes
Just like 5.10 are my favourite rock climbing shoes because they have the stickiest rubber, Inov-8 are my go-to running shoes for the same reason. Perhaps it says something about my climbing and...
12th Oct 2015 Montrail Bajada II #UTMB Limited Edition
Montrail are a new brand to me. Accelerate in Sheffield are now stocking this particular model which I understand is the only one available in the UK at present. It's come about thanks to Columbia...
23rd Sep 2015 VauDe Power Lizard Lightweight Tent
VauDe Power Lizard Review Before starting on the review I have to say that I love the name. Power Lizard! Tents seem to have a long history of cool names. Perhaps it's a factor of them having...
15th Jul 2015 Rab 406 Person Bothy (Group Shelter)
Rab Goup Shelter (Bothy) 4-6 Writing a review for a bothy was always going to be a bit of a weird one, as generally it's a piece of kit that you'll hopefully rarely use. However, whilst this is...
7th Jul 2015 Camaro Uto Pulsor Swim Run Wetsuit
It's an interesting moment when a development of equipment opens up an entire new sport. Of course there's nothing new about combining running and swimming - in fact on a trip to Denmark last...
30th Jun 2015 LED Lenser NEO Headtorch
This isn't a torch to run or cycle with, but it's one I often take running and cycling, as well as camping, and most other occasions when I know a torch is going to come in handy. Why? Because...
23rd Jun 2015 Sealskinz Socks
I'd heard mixed reviews about Sealskinz socks. Some said they work, some said they don't. Essentially the are waterproof socks. They keep the water out by means of a Goretex-like membrane which (,...
28th Apr 2015 Terra Nova Ultralight Bothy 4
Essentially an emergency shelter this bothy is one of those bits of kit that you may well never use, and you certainly won't want to, but it's useful to have one in your pack if you are out in...
27th Apr 2015 Peak District Trail Running - Vertebrate Publishing
I've long held the view that there aren't enough fell running guide books out there. We are inundated with cycling guides and climbing guides, but running is arguably more popular, but there are...
21st Apr 2015 Salomon Bonatti WP Jacket
I got the Bonatti to replace a well-aged Mountain Hardware Quark jacket. The Quark jacket had some good features, but its durability had let it down a little, it currently has no material between...
20th Apr 2015 Alpkit Factory Visit & Head Torch Product Testing
A month or so back I popped into the Alpkit offices and warehouse which is based just outside of Nottingham. Despite having a good working relationship with the guys who run Alpkit - they started...
20th Apr 2015 Sealskinz All Season Gloves
Introduction Sealskinz have been one of those brands that I've (not deliberately) somehow avoided over the years so I thought I'd best try them out. A month or so back I took part in an overnight...
17th Apr 2015 Salomon S-Lab Running Gloves
Sadly I managed to lose these glove after wearing them only a handful of times ('suce the pun). However that was enough time to assess them fairly well. I was after a pair of lightweight gloves to...
14th Apr 2015 Salomon Trail Gaiter - Low
Having done a fair amount of running in the snow this winter I wanted to try a system to keep the said cold stuff out of my shoes, and in particular, to keep it from balling up on top of the...
27th Mar 2015 Mud Claw 300 - Inov-8
Just as Five Ten make the stickiest rubber in the climbing shoe world, Inov-8 seem to have mastered the art for running shoes. This latest pair give more confidence on a variety of surfaces around...
25th Nov 2014 Raidlight LED Running Vest
I had a conversation with a friend a few weeks back about the merging of technical kit with fashion and we quickly moved on to discuss the combining of 'real' technology such as AI, nano-computer...
3rd Nov 2014 Rab Atmos Maya Jacket
Introduction I'll dispense with the intro about lightweight gear as it's a recurring theme in many of my reviews. Suffice to say that this one fits the bill neatly. A minimalist waterproof jacket...