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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...
20th Oct 2014 Rab Boreas Pull-on Jacket
Introduction If you've read any of my other reviews you'll know that I am a keen advocate of lightweight kit. The Boreas Pull-on is just that. Weighing just 259g and packing down into a fist...
16th Oct 2014 Quickhiker Ultralight 4 Tent - Decathlon
Introduction It came as something of a surprise to discover that very few tent manufacturers make a lightweight 4 person tent. I discovered this ahead of a recent cycle touring trip to Denmark....
2nd Oct 2014 France En Velo, Hannah Reynolds and John Walsh
France en Vélo - The Ultimate Cycle Journey From Channel To Med - St Malo To Nice by John Walsh and Hannah Reynolds. Writing a guide book is a tricky beast. You need enough detail and...
29th Sep 2014 Smartwool PhD Support Bra
Smartwool Women’s PhD Support Bra* - My Initial Impressions. Following my glowing review of Smartwool’s ladies’ Merino NTS Baselayer, Matt asked if I fancied reviewing the Smartwool bra for...
5th Sep 2014 XA PRO 3D ULTRA 2 GTX® W Running Shoes - Salomon
At first I found the Saloman quite stiff to wear around the ankle but actually that is part of the durable nature of the shoe and has caused no problems. The lace system means there is always a...
4th Sep 2014 NTS Micro 150gm2 Tshirt - Smartwool
Review for the NTS Micro 150gm2 Tshirt The resounding characteristic of the smartwool thermal Tshirt is how hard wearing it is for such a light soft material. I have worn this day after day...
6th Aug 2014 Scottish Rock - Volume 1 - South
A while back I reviewed Scottish Rock Volume 2 very favourably so it's no surprise that Volume 1, though reviewd in reverse order, is also a cracker. The guide claims to cover the best mountai,...
4th Aug 2014 Rab Neutrino Endurance Down Jacket
Introduction For years I've sat around camp fires wearing various thermals, fleeces and jackets, but I've never had a properly warm down jacket. I managed for a few years with a light weight...
29th Jul 2014 Ranger 90 Folding Roof Box - Thule
Introduction A roof box might be used for two or three weeks of the year. For the rest of the time it needs a home. If you don't have a garage or a spare storage room in the house then this...
16th Jul 2014 The North Face Banchee 35 Litre Rucksack
The North Face Banchee 35 Litre rucksack Review By Dan Webber Introduction When I first received this sack to review I was somewhat disappointed. I was expecting a lightweight day sack ideal...
15th Jul 2014 Rab Neutrino 400 Sleeping Bag
Introduction It seems fitting that after writing a Blog piece on supporting local businesses I should now be writing a review of a company who, as one of their selling points, point out that...
14th Jul 2014 DMM Highball Bouldering Mat
Introduction A reassuringly tough, chunky and easily portable hinge style mat in a lovely shade of yellow (unless you get the green one). Landing I’m very impressed with this mat. As well...
11th Jul 2014 Salomon Trail Twinskin Short
Introduction Shorts are shorts right? Wrong. Whilst it's perfectly possible to run in pretty much any old shorts if you are running fast or light or far, or any combination of the three then it...
10th Jul 2014 Berghaus Vapour Shell Goretex Trousers
Introduction Also known as the Vapour Shell Pant (I still find it strange adopting this Americanism and like to call trousers trousers, and not pants!). Features It's pretty tricky writing in...
4th Jul 2014 Thule Wing Bar Edge Roof Bars
Introduction I recently reviewed a Thule bike rack so am familiar with the brand and build quality of their products. Our car (Skoda Octavia estate) has fitted roof rails (running the length of...
3rd Jul 2014 VR Lite Alpine Maya Jacket - RAB
Introduction I have two young boys so whenever we are out and about I am invariably carrying my kit and theirs, be it spare jackets on a day-walk, or full camping gear if out overnight. It means...
2nd Jul 2014 Salomon Advanced Skin S-Lab Hydro 5 Set + Hydration Backpack
Introduction I'd been on the look out for something that I could run in, with front pockets on the chest, for a while. When I'm running I generally don't like to stop, especially whilst racing,...
1st Jul 2014 Inflatable Kayak - Advanced Elements Convertible With Double Deck
Introduction We are a family of 4 and recently had a week on the Isle Of Mull of the West coast of Scotland. Armed with a 2 person inflatable kayak purchased from Decathlon a few years back it...
13th Jun 2014 Paclite Inflatable Kayak Review - Advanced Elements
I watch a large number of adventure films in my line of work and I've noticed an increasing number of expeditioners travelling on foot to remote parts of the world now carry lightweight kayaks...
12th Jun 2014 Smart Wool Merino NTS Baselayer
A Rambling Introduction on brand loyalty As event organisers Matt Heason and I spend oodles of time designing eye-catching documents to woo potential sponsors. We have solid stats on ticket...
10th Jun 2014 Challenger Wetsuit - Aqua Sphere
A Triathlon Last year I took part in my first triathlon (the Slateman in Llanberis, North Wales). I borrowed a wetsuit off a friend who is a little smaller than me and struggle to get out of it...
23rd May 2014 Men's Navigator Cargo Trousers - Berghaus
Website Description Men's Navigator Cargo Trousers by Berghaus - Classic Polycotton Walking Trousers In Practice Pretty much exactly what it says in the description above. Comfortable, with an...
16th May 2014 Didriksons Donau Pants - Waterproof Trousers Review
Who Are Didriksons? I'd not come across the brand Didriksons before, but they are apparently pretty big in their native country of Sweden where they've been going for 101 years! These Donau Pants...
15th May 2014 Wild Running Guidebook by Jen & Sim Benson
Introduction / The Authors Ironically yesterday I reviewed a book co-authored by Adrian Berry (Peak Bouldering by Rockfax), and today I am reviewing one with a picture on the front cover of his...
14th May 2014 Peak Bouldering Guidebook - Rockfax - Review
Introduction I've reviewed a fair number of Rockfax guides over the years, but this one sets some new records. Had they made the cover from high density foam it could almost have doubled as a...
12th May 2014 Men's Aiglun Stretch Climbing Trousers - Berghaus
I'd been in need of some new climbing trousers for a while, something I can climb and walk comfortably in. Enter the Aigluns. First off they look nice. In recent times Berghaus seem to have...
1st May 2014 Beinn 26 Small - Isla Bike & Ortlieb Panniers - Review
This is the second Isla Bike we've had. The first was a Beinn 20 Small and was reviewed here. That was for our youngest and since the review he has gone from strength to strength on the bike. I'd...
10th Apr 2014 Muc-Off Bike Cleaning Products
I was watching the new Steve Peat documentary film Won't Back Down last week and was somewhat taken aback to see a bottle of Muc-Off in some footage of Steve way back in the early nineties....
21st Mar 2014 Salomon Trail Tight Review
When I started running a couple of years ago I wouldn't be seen dead in a pair of tights. I think that was because the vast majority of tights on the market were slightly baggy Ron Hills (I don't...
10th Mar 2014 Otterbox Preserver Phone Case Review For Iphone 5s
Otterbox Preserver for Iphone 5s When you spend good money on a phone it's as well to take certain precautions to protect your investment. Insurance is all very well, but you may as well also put...
5th Mar 2014 Purple Harry Bike Cleaning Products
When I were a lad I remember sitting for (seemingly) hours after a ride polishing my bike clean and lubricating the moving parts. Currently my lads are too young to pass that sort of job onto...
28th Feb 2014 Berghaus Men's Cuesta Approach Shoe Review
A good solid pair of approach shoes that I have worn virtually every day since getting them and are showing very little signs of wear. They retail at £85. Approach shoes generally fit into two...
25th Feb 2014 Olympus Stylus Tough TG2 Compact Camera Review
Introduction I've had this camera on review for a while now so it's been through the mill and I can safely say that it has been thoroughly tested! I was fed up with a succession of digital...
4th Feb 2014 Cragghoppers Mosquito Repellent (Nosilife) Clothing
When I were a lad, Mam used to make us drink a spoonful of Syrup of Figs every day in the winter. When we grumbled, she said it was to keep the elephants away. It must of worked, ‘cos we never...
29th Jan 2014 Salomon Spikecross Running Shoes
I've run in both Speedcross and Fellcross, so it was a bit of a surprise to hear that Salomon had another varient on the shoe - the Spikecross. Essentially it's much the same as the Fellcross, but...
28th Jan 2014 Running Food - Chia Charge
I was half way through a 21 mile race a couple of months back and was struggling. Approaching a check point a friend caught me up and I managed to stay with her for about a mile at which point she...
11th Dec 2013 Isla Bike - Beinn 20 Small Review
Our kids first bikes were basic affairs, heavier than lead, ineffective brakes and with tiny wheels. They'd both actually started off on balance bikes (bikes with no pedals that teach them how to...
21st Nov 2013 Dixon Sport RX - Prescription Glasses
For years I've run and biked and struggled to see properly. It doesn't really matter on a nice day when you're pootling along, but when the light levels drop, you p;lunge into a copse of trees, or...
16th Oct 2013 SPI Running Pouch
There's not a whole lot that I can write about this belt apart from the fact that it's a great little idea. So it's a sunny day and you are heading out for a run. None of your articles of clothing...
11th Oct 2013 Valhalla - Ski Film
Just reviewed this amazing ski film from Sweetgrass Productions. Details here.
7th Oct 2013 Thule Euro Classic 929 G6 Bike Carrier
Thule Euro Classic 929 G6 I do love the fact that with billions of brains available every now and again one of them comes up with a new idea that revolutionises a previously saturated area or...
20th Sep 2013 Magicshine MJ886 Headtorch
A while back I tested a Magic Shine MJ880 bike light. I was impressed. It was very bright, well made, light weight and affordable to boot. So I had high expectations of this head torch. First off...
19th Sep 2013 Garmin Forerunner 910 XT Sportswatch
Garmin Forerunner 910 XT A month or two back I reviewed the Garmin Fenix GPS watch which was aimed at runners and outdoors folk (walkers, hunters, fisherman etc). It was great, but had its...
18th Sep 2013 MSR Windpro II Stove
I’d been on the lookout for a remote canister stove for a while as I was keen on the stability offered versus the likes of the MSR Pocket Rocket which sits on top of the gas canister. Plus I was...
17th Sep 2013 Inov-8 Windshell
I've run in a few windshells over the years and have to say that whist they may have provided a barrier between me and the wind, that's about all they have done. Generally speaking running tops do...
11th Sep 2013 Zamberlan Crosser Approach Shoe
Many moons ago my first ever pair of proper walking boots were a par of Zamberlans. I can't recall the actual model, but the brand name has stuck in my memory for nearly three decades! I remember...
10th Sep 2013 Raidlight Ultra Olmo 12 Hydration Rucksack
In a recent review for some Inov-8 shoes I mentioned an upcoming mountain marathon in the Pyrenees that I had been training for. Just as my runs started to really pick up in distance, to the...
9th Sep 2013 Wild Country Hoolie 4 - Tent
The Wild Country Hoolie 4 tent is a four man tunnel tent. Lightweight (at 3.6 kg), it is a great little tent for backpacking/touring and a quick overnight stay. It’s small when packed (44 cm x...
3rd Sep 2013 Berghaus Kanchenjunga Jacket
Retails £300 Website If you like pockets you will love this jacket. It has 7 of them! Two where you would expect them, although higher than standard waterproofs to enable access whilst wearing a...
30th Aug 2013 Multimat Superlight 25
Long gone are the days of having to strap giant sausage shaped packets to the outside of your rucksack and worrying about them getting wet in the rain and snagging on tree branches. Mats like the...
23rd Aug 2013 Book review: 'Adventures in Mind' by Heather Dawe
One of the advantages of being married to an adventure sports writer is all the hand-me-down kit I get. It means I look like a clown sometimes in an array of clashing colours - a purple...
25th Jul 2013 Garmin Edge 810 Bike Computer
Hot on the heels of my review of the Garmin Fenix GPS watch comes this review of the 810 cycle computer. Whilst reviewing the watch it quickly became evident that whilst it was up to the job of...
18th Jul 2013 Strava
Strava is a a piece of software that’s quite literally revolutionised my running and biking. I’ve had a smartphone for a while and had experimented with various GPS tracking devices which tell...
12th Jul 2013 Trailroc 245 Running Shoes - Inov-8
Back in April I went to a free natural running clinic and then as a result got some Trailroc 245’s to review. At the start of the year I started running much more consistently. I’ve always...
11th Jul 2013 Garmin Fenix GPS Watch
Garmin now offer a bewildering array of GPS sports watches. The Fenix is aimed at a cross section including runners, bikers, walkers, fishermen and hunters! OK, so I don’t really fall into the...
10th Jul 2013 Primus Eta Power
The Stove The Eta Power is one of a newish generation of super efficient stoves which incorporate a built-in wind shield and heat exchangers. It runs on gas, with a nicely adjustable plastic turn...
21st Jun 2013 The North Face Pursuit Jacket
The North Face Men's Pursuit jacket for me places itself as a mid-weight, multi-purpose, technical shell jacket. Not enough features to really satisfy my needs as a full winter mountain shell, but...
20th Jun 2013 Berghaus Arete II 45 Rucsack
Retails at £70. 45l capacity. Weight 950g. Berghaus have billed this as a No Fuss, Versatile Mountaineering Pack and I would say that they are bang on. It’s very well designed indeed. The...
13th Jun 2013 Thermarest Neo Air XLite
Slowly over the years I’ve been accumulating a set of super-light-weight kit that we use when actually carrying loads as opposed to car-boot camping where space and weight are not a big issue....
11th Jun 2013 Wild Swimming Second Edition by Daniel Start
Back in 2009 Daniel Start published a lovely new book called Wild Swimming. It was essentially a cross between a proper guide book and a coffee table book detailing some of the best wild swimming...
15th May 2013 Active Run (AR) Hybrid Jacket - Craft
I find it strange that a brand can remain pretty much under the radar (well my radar at least) yet be producing some top notch kit. I recently reviewed a pair of their gloves that were outstanding...
10th May 2013 Harvey Maps - BMC
It's a common issue that people have always faced, a little like Murphy's law which states that a dropped piece of toast will always land jam-side down, that when you really need a map the area...
1st May 2013 VauDe Kids Gaiters
I wrote a review yesterday for a pair of kids gloves and said that I am excited that my kids are now getting old enough to warrant having proper outdoor kit. In the recent snow we had it was all...
30th Apr 2013 Junior Stretch Grip Glove - Sprayway
It’s exciting that my kids are now getting old enough to warrant buying technical kit for. Before a recent trip to Scotland at Easter where we expected (and got) cold weather, I sourced a pair...
23rd Apr 2013 Scarpa Rebel Carbon GTX Mountaineering Boots
Scarpa Rebel Carbon GTX Review by Steve Hodges I had an end of winter trip coming up and needed some new boots. An arthritic toe and long walk-ins had made the thought of my rather dated and...
18th Apr 2013 Trango World Micro Lite Sleeping Mattress
Weighing in at 712g this mattress is all about weight. It’s called a Micro Lite, and it is indeed very light. I’ve certainly slept on lighter ones, but they’ve been lighter for two obvious...
17th Apr 2013 The North Face Single-Track GTX XCR Running Shoes
Most of the running I do is off road, and when I say off road, I mean wet, muddy, tussocky, snowy, damp, boggy, rocky, and did I mention wet, as opposed to nice dry and even trails. However,...
12th Apr 2013 Scarpa Crux Approach Shoe
Retailing at £99.99 the Crux are amongst my favourite approach shoes that I’ve worn in recent years. They’re reasonably lightweight (394g) but sturdy workhorses at the same time. I’m a big...
9th Apr 2013 Inov-8 Bear Grip 200
When speaking to Inov-8 about needing a pair of shoes to cope with the unusual amounts of snow we’ve been having, and the mud that is likely to follow during the thaw they mentioned the Bear...
27th Mar 2013 Craft Hybrid Gloves
Every now and then a bit of kit comes by that really stands out. These gloves fall into that category. So simple, yet so effective. They are a basic glove with a couple of very, very useful...
14th Mar 2013 Black Diamond EXL Rucsack
I’ve had this bag a while now and it’s proved to be a favourite on many fronts let down only by its volume. At 20 litres it’s really no more than a day pack with room only for your...
5th Mar 2013 Salomon Speedcross 3 Running Shoes
Salomon Speedcross 3 A while back I reviewed a pair of Salomon Fellcross running shoes. I complained in the review that the tread was not very good on wet rock. The guys at Salomon suggested I try...
26th Feb 2013 The North Face men’s Zephyrus hoodie
The North Face men’s Zephyrus hoodie The Zephyrus hoodie is a lightweight synthetic jacket. Part of The North Face's Summit Series™ aimed at people tackling extreme weather and terrain. The...
14th Feb 2013 Pacsafe RFID-Blocking Wallets
A few months ago my Dad emailed me an article about the risks of credit card fraud due to the recent introduction of RFID chips into some of our cards. Basically, if you see a little symbol on...
8th Feb 2013 ShAFF Climbing Expert Night Review - Women’s Climbing Symposium
A few months ago watched this video by local filmmakers Outcrop Films. It piqued my interest. I’d heard of the Women’s Climbing Symposium before, and was aware that it had run for a second...
31st Jan 2013 Patagonia Mens Northwall Pants
Patagonia call them pants. I call them salopettes. Only just been able to really test these out as the winter had been so mild up until a few weeks ago. When it finally did get cold and snow I...
30th Jan 2013 Arc'teryx SV Gloves
Arc’Teryx Alpha SV Gloves I’ve had these gloves ready to use for a few months, but it wasn’t until a fortnight ago when the temperature dropped and the snow finally came that got the...
17th Jan 2013 France: Ariege by Rockfax
Rockfax website. Retails at £24.95. 312 pages. This is a guidebook I have long been awaiting. I’ve been lucky enough to have known the co-authors John and Anne Arran for many years, and it...
14th Dec 2012 Adventure Windbreak - Vango
I honestly never thought that I would own a windbreak. Call me a snob, but the bright stripy ones that adorn our beaches every summer seem like something from a bygone era to me, a memory of happy...
16th Nov 2012 Fontainebleau Climbs – The Finest Bouldering And Circuits – A Review
Fontainebleau Climbs – The Finest Bouldering And Circuits – A Review J & Francoise Montchausse / Jacky Godoffe I’m beginning to wonder whether it is possible to have too many guidebooks to...
13th Nov 2012 What Is It About Kendal?
What is it about the Kendal Mountain Festival that makes it so good? I’m off up there again this Saturday. Going with Lissa who’s working more and more with me on my events, so that she can...
12th Nov 2012 Sprayway Firebird Women's Jacket
I don’t normally wear purple! This jacket was a bit of a step outside my comfort zone. Firstly because of the colour, and secondly because I am wedded to my ‘proper’ duvet jacket at this...
30th Oct 2012 Autana & Odyssey
I usually have a rule in that I don’t review books or films by mates, but I’m breaking the rule today as I’ve watched two pretty cool films in the last week and both deserve some plaudits....
25th Oct 2012 New Balance MTE101GH (the green ones!)
There are two things I don’t like about these shoes, but other than that they are fantastic. Firstly the name. Why oh why do they give names like this to shoes? It’s like trying to refer to...
24th Oct 2012 Echoes by Nick Bullock
Echoes by Nick Bullock Echoes has been an interesting book to read. On the one hand I’ve found it incredibly interesting and enjoyable, but it’s also frustrated me at times. A number of years...
11th Oct 2012 Review: Where The Trail Ends
I don’t usually write reviews about adventure films. I know too many filmmakers through organising ShAFF, and worry that I can’t be as impartial as I would like to be. I’m making an...
2nd Oct 2012 The North Face Single Track Hayasa Shoes
TNF's amazingly light weight Single Track Hayasa trainers perform really well. Their tread is good for trail running and I've been on all sorts of terrain on them and felt happy with flexibility...
14th Sep 2012 Day Walks In Snowdonia
Day Walks In Snowdonia 20 Circular Routes In North Wales Vertebrate Publishing I was born and grew up in Snowdonia so know the area pretty well indeed. My folks were avid mountain people so we...
11th Sep 2012 Assorted Energy Mars And Gels - Clif, Torq, Mule and Sesh
Until recently climbing had pretty much always been my sport of choice. I would still classify myself as a climber, but for most of this year I have been doing more running than anything else....
2nd Aug 2012 West Yorkshire Mountain Biking - Vertebrate Publishing
I’ve a neat little collection of these pocket sized guides on my shelf now. On a post card inserted inside the front cover Vertebrate Publishing claim to publish Britain’s best mountain bike...
1st Aug 2012 Dorset Rockfax
I’ve been climbing for more than twenty years now. I’ve climbed across much of the UK, but the south coast is somewhere I’ve only been three times. Don’t know why. It’s just panned out...
31st Jul 2012 Canoeing the Congo by Phil Hayward
Last year (2011) at ShAFF Phil Hayward came to the festival to introduce his film, a 20 minute short filmed and edited by himself, on his solo canoe expedition down the Congo river. A few months...
30th Jul 2012 Canyoning - Classic canyons in Spain, France and Italy
A selection of scrambling, aquatic and roped descents by John Bull. Cicerone are an unusual publishing house. They are an essential contributor to the world of outdoor guidebooks, primarily...
30th Jul 2012 Scarpa Vapour Velcro
Scarpa Vapour Velcro RRP £79.99 Until a year or two ago I was an avid 5.10 fan. I liked their rubber and that was that. I tried other shoes, but didn’t really feel that anything compared on...
26th Jul 2012 Patagonia Cord Pants
It’s pleasant owning a pair of Patagonia trousers as I know they’ve been sourced sensibly. I’ve not owned a pair of cords for probably 25 years, but am wondering why? They feel strangely...
20th Jul 2012 Salomon S-Lab Fellcross Running Shoes
Fed up with the saturated ground and resultant mud in the Peak this summer I contacted Salomon to see what beast they had that could cope with the conditions during the wettest summer on record....
3rd Jul 2012 New Balance MT876OR Running Shoes
Enjoyed running in these shoes, but the sizings are definitely on the small side. Very light weight at 350g. Plenty of cushioning. The tread is billed as suited to running off road but I’d say...
1st Jun 2012 5 and 6 - 3975 straight ups in central and southern Fontainebleau
Just over a month ago I went to Font for our annual Easter pilgrimage. I contacted Bart Van Raaij a week or two before going to see how his latest project was coming along, a similar guide to...
31st May 2012 Traversing Club - Climbing Games
My oldest lad goes to our local primary school. A couple of weeks ago local climbing wall builder Wallclimber installed a traversing wall in the playground and I offered to start running an...