Lightweight
17th Jul 2024 Montane Men's Spirit Lite Waterproof Trousers
Weighing in at a paltry 245g these waterproof trousers are definitely what I would consider lightweight. Obviously they have fully taped seams so would qualify for mountain marathons and any...
17th Jul 2024 Montane Phase XPD Waterproof Jacket
Billed as a "technical, breathable waterproof jacket for extreme mountain adventures" by Montane I'd say this is a pretty good description. I've owned, worn, used, reviewed and abused a good...
29th Sep 2022 Alpkit Elan Bivvy Bag / Tent
I've had a bivvy bag of some description since I was a teenager. My first trips were with orange survival bags which invariably ended up full of holes as they doubled as awesome sledges! I was...
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...
5th Nov 2020 Montane Prism Jacket
Love this jacket. It very confidently treads the right line between a smart jacket I am happy to wear to work or out in town, as well as my go to choice for cragging and being out and about...
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....
8th Oct 2018 Crux B1 Recce Bivvi Bag
Bivvi bags come in all shapes and sizes, but this is one of the smallest I've come across so far. It's a full length bag with a half length zip down one side. It is a straight bag, no hoop or...
20th Sep 2018 Review - Ajax Waterproof Jacket from Montane
Montane Women’s Ajax Jacket Review I’ve had my previous waterproof jacket for 15 years before it fell apart, I know this is likely past most manufacturers expected lifetimes for a jacket,...
18th Apr 2018 Platypus Water Filter - Gravity Works 2l Complete Kit
Last summer we found ourselves in California visiting friends. During the trip we spent some time in the Sierra Nevada mountains, a stunningly beautiful area crammed full of rivers and lakes....
16th Apr 2018 Rab Latok Hat
It's been a tough winter so I've done a lot of hat-wearing over the last six months. Years ago I had a decent mountain hat with ear flaps and a peak, but somewhere aliong the line it got lost...
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...
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...
3rd Oct 2017 Edelrid Shield Light Climbing Helmet
Weighing 220g the Edelrid Shield Lite helmet is amongst the lightest on the market. It's a single-piece moulded foam construction with a hard outer shell. Inside there is a removable lattice of...
26th Sep 2017 Climbing Ropes - Edelrid Apus Pro Dry 7.9 60m
Climbing with new ropes is a great feeling. One of security I guess. When I started out climbing a half rope was usually 9mm, with full ropes coming in at 10mm+. Obviously technology has...
22nd Sep 2017 Kitchen Sink - Sea To Summit
A very handy addition to our camping kit. It's been used for water carrying, washing up, crabbing, muscle filtration (of the shellfish variety!), water collection, and as a shopping bag! It...
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...
4th Jul 2017 MSR Flex 3 System - Cookware
MSR have a certain genius for designing clever kit. The Flex Systems are essentially nesting sets of cooking pans, plates / bowls, and cups. I'd intended to get the Flex 4 System as we are a...
16th Jun 2017 Mashk Portable Camping Sink from Alpkit
On a recent sea kayaking trip to Loch Hourn we took a couple of these sinks with us. They are awesome. Long handles mean that they are easy to carry, even when full of dishes. Having two...
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...
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...
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...
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...
27th Nov 2015 Alpkit Numo Sleeping Mattress
Retailing at £35 this inflatable sleeping mattress from Alpkit epitomizes the company's approach to outdoor kit. It weighs 454g and at 180cm is long enough for most adults. It's the last of four...
20th Jun 2016 Berghaus Expedition Light 80 Rucksack
I remember the days as a teenager, hefting stuff around on overnight camping trips in Scotland, Wales, Spain and even Greenland. There was a fair amount of stuff to carry - sleeping bag, foam...
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...
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...
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...
4th Apr 2017 Lightweight Folding Chair - Mountain Warehouse
I love the fact that a piece of kit seems to have run its development course, and arrived at something that can't really be bettered, and then some bright spark has an idea. Sometimes these...