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24th Jun 2025 Alpkit Lookout Roof Tent
Having been the lucky and proud owner of a campervan for nearly a decade it was with some sadness that I had to get rid of it. However the peripatetic lifestyle hasn’t stopped so it was back to...
5th Jun 2025 Grubs Bowline Boots
These are one of the more interesting outdoor products I have reviewed. They generate a lot of comments! Aimed at splashing around in rock pools and boulder hopping on the coast, they are a kind...
16th May 2025 Review
I get quite excited about my air mattresses. I think sleeping whilst camping can be hugely underrated. Sleeping in general essential to rest your body on mind and recharge yourself for What to...
28th Apr 2025 Thermarest NeoAir Therm
What can I say? Is this the perfect mattress? I've slept on dozens of different makes and models over the years, and I think this probably ranks as the best all rounder to date. It is...
23rd Apr 2025 Berghaus Ridge Seeker Waterproof Trousers
A decent pair of medium weight (360g), hard wearing Goretex waterproof trousers from a brand you can trust. Berghaus have been a leading maker of waterproof clothing since 1966 so you'd expect...
16th Apr 2025 Oboz Katabatic Low BDRY Shoes Goretex
Approach shoes are essentially a kind of half way house between a technical off-road running shoe, and a high ankle walking boot. I actually wear mine for pretty much all occasions. Before they...
2nd Oct 2024 Komperdell FX Lite Ti Vario Walking Poles
I've now had a few different sets of Komperdell walking poles. They have been consistently well made, with little or nothing to complain about. The FX Lite Ti Vario are aluminium as opposed to...
17th Jul 2024 Montane Trailblazer 30l Rucksack
The Montane website has a wealth of information about the features of this pack so I'd advise having a good read through that. What I was after was a bag suitable for day trips, long runs,...
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...
8th May 2024 Komperdell MTB-PRO Protectorpack
I recently got my hands on this amazing mountain biking bag. It's a game-changer! My mum and dad worry about me hurting myself so it's good to give them some peace of mind. The built-in spine...
14th Nov 2023 Review - Wideboyz Crack Gloves
Where would we be as climbers without sticky rubber? First came shoes. They truly revolutionized all aspects of climbing. The act of standing your toes on small holds lends itself well to...
21st Sep 2023 Sprayway Hallin Jacket Review
Having owned this jacket for a couple of months over the summer it is now seeing increasing use as the temperatures fall and the wind and rain picks up. Such is the versatility of a decent...
1st Aug 2023 Oboz Katabatic Low Waterproof Approach Shoes
Oboz are a US brand little-known in the UK, but looking to change that. I've reviewed a pair of their approach shoes before and was happy with them. They lasted very well. The Katabatic...
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...
10th Nov 2022 Moon Cirrus Crash Pad
Over the years I've seen enough twisted and broken ankles due to poor matting that I'm actually surprised how long it’s taken me to get around to getting hold of a Blubber pad. I've no idea if...
13th Oct 2022 DMM WallDO Karibiner
Last summer I had a week in Pembroke trad climbing above the sea. A bit out of practice at selecting the right protection I think I lost three wires over the week, fumbling them before watching...
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...
28th Apr 2022 Wild Guide To Central England
Adventures un the Peak District, Midlands, Cotswolds and Wye Valley. If you read my reviews then you will know that I've reviewed a lot of Wild Things Publishing's guides over the years. A...
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....
1st Feb 2022 DMM Puma Climbing Harness
The Puma fills a fairly niche space in the world of climbing harnesses 13 year old (12 when we got this harness) boy is on the small side. He loves all types of climbing and has recently taken to...
27th Jan 2022 Alpkit Waffa Pad
I was after a small, thin, versatile pad to take out alongside my regular bouldering mat. Something to use as another place to stand in my rock shoes on muddy ground, to span gaps between pads, to...
18th Nov 2021 Wild Guide to The French Alps
Wild Guides to the UK have been around for a few years now and proved to be an excellent extension to the original series of Wild Swimming books. Essentially they feature may of the same wild...
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...
11th Nov 2021 7 & 8 - 3748 Straight Ups In Fontainebleau
Now on its fourth edition, and growing ever fatter as more and more problems and areas are added, this is still unquestionably the go-to guide for any upper-grade or aspiring boulderer in Font....
20th Sep 2021 Ocun Crack Gloves
Ethical decisions and choices have long been a central tenet of British trad climbing. The advent of rubber crack climbing gloves has provided yet another choice to have to make. Moving to the...
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...
13th Sep 2021 Scottish Island Bagging
This is one of my favourite books of the year. A beautifully illustrated guide to around 150 of Scotland's outstanding islands. Whilst it doesn't cover every single island, it features all of...
10th Sep 2021 Bleau Blocs
I think it's fair to say that there can't actually be too many books about Fontainebleau. I was sat on a beach this summer chatting about the magic of Font, and how literally incredible it is...
10th May 2021 Hidden Beaches Spain
Wild swimming has been one of the success stories during the pandemic with tens of thousands turning to cold water dips and swims and discovering that you don't need a gym membership or a...
29th Apr 2021 Wild Swimming France - Second Edition
The 2012 Wild Swim France guide is one of the most well thumbed books on our shelves. It's been with us to France at least once every year that we’ve had it and provided us with countless...
26th Apr 2021 Peak District Gritstone - Graham Hoey
Peak District Gritstone Over 2,000 classic trad routes on Eastern, Western ad Moorland grit. Grahm Hoey, Vertebrate Publishing If there's one thing I've learned over the years that I've been...
24th Feb 2021 Gibbon Slackline
I've had a few slack lines over the years. The early ones were simply lengths of webbing that we would tension between two anchors using pulley systems and karabiners. There was always a...
27th Jan 2021 The Book Of Trespass - Nick Hayes
I usually review books that have been sent to me. This one arrived via a more unusual route. I found it in a carrier bag on my front door handle with a note from a neighbour saying he thought I...
9th Nov 2020 VAUDE Proof 28 Backpack
A day out on the gravel in the Austrian Alps. VAUDE have always been renowned for their design sensibilities and the Proof 28 does not disappoint on this front at all. A heavily...
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...
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...
9th Oct 2020 Ocun Jett QC Rock Shoes
Isn't it nice when you ask somebody's advice, they listen to what you are after, and then give a considered answer that results in you getting exactly what you were after? So it went with my...
6th Jul 2020 Peak Limestone - Rockfax
It doesn't seem too many years ago that Northern Limestone was published, but it was clearly time to up the ante and produce a guide to limestone just in the Peak District. With bouldering...
26th Jun 2020 Beta Climbing Designs Clip Stick
If you're not sure what a clip stick is I'll give you a brief intro. It's a portable sport climbing aid which allows you to pre-clip your rope into the lower bolts of a sport climb before...
29th Nov 2019 Islandeering - Adventures Around The edge Of Britain's Hidden Islands
I do love the fact that new sports, hobbies and pastimes are regularly thrown into my world. I saw this book and was immediately enchanted by both the cover image and the word - ISLANDEERING. ...
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...
14th Nov 2019 Ocun Paddy Dominator Bouldering Mat
It’s funny how a brand can become so prevalent in a relatively short space of time. A few years ago I think if you’d asked me to tell you what I knew about Ocun I’d have guessed that they...
11th Nov 2019 Mylio - Photo Management Software
For years I used to use Picasa, a Google-owned piece of software for managing my photos on my computer. Initially on a PC, and later on a Mac as I switched platforms. About three years ago...
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...
26th Jul 2019 OverBoard 20l Kayak Deck Bag
We've done a number of sea kayaking trips over recent years, but it wasn’t until this year that we got a second tandem kayak and managed to fit the whole family in two boats. A one-week...
25th Jul 2019 Moon Warrior Bouldering Pad
Ben Moon's parents will have had no idea what a cool surname their son was going to bring to the world of climbing. As one of the leading sport climbers and boulderers of the 90s Ben gained a...
7th Jun 2019 Sprayway Selen Jacket
You know when your coat is comfy and lightweight when you realise you are still wearing it hours after getting home (I have a cold house). The Sprayway Selen is a lightweight, simple but...
6th Jun 2019 Boreal Joker Velcro Climbing Shoes - Women's
With two growing boys who are into their rock climbing it's a fairly constant battle to keep them in decent rock shoes. My eldest is now 12 and has grown out of the kids models which aren't really...
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....
3rd Apr 2019 Edelrid Ace Harness
A super lightweight harness that’s surprisingly comfortable. This comfy yet minimalist harness, with 4 gear loops and fixed leg loops, is one I’d choose for pretty much any and all climbing...
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...
13th Nov 2018 Boreal Diabolo Rock Shoes
It's been some time since I have climbed in Boreal shoes. I think I still have one of the iconic pairs of Ninja slippers somewhere in a cupboard. The Diabolo is a far cry from it's aged cousin....
6th Nov 2018 Mountain Fuel Jellies
I read about Mountain Fuel's new Jellies online recently so thought I’d try some out. Marketed as a more easily stomachable alternative to the now ubiquitous gels they look very similar to...
30th Oct 2018 Thermarest Questar Sleeping Bag
It may come as a surprise to learn that Therm-a-rest don't only make sleeping mattresses. So successful has their brand awareness campaign for what is generally seen as the original mattresses,...
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...
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,...
5th Sep 2018 Classic Routes Of The Ecrins -0 Sbastian Constant
This is a delight of a guidebook. It's A5 portrait and 200 pages (but only 75mm thick) so fits into a rucksack pocket pretty easily. The cover is plastic laminated so it will stand up to a bit...
4th Sep 2018 Edelrid OHM - Assisted Braking Device
I'm a big guy. I'm well used to being belayed by people who are lighter than me and have had my share of exciting falls / drops in my time. I now also have two boys who climb. They are both...
19th Jul 2018 Therm-a-Rest Mondo King 3D Sleeping Mattress
I've reviewed quite a few mattresses over the years, but never anything on this scale. The Mondo King 3D is a giant. First off it's big before it's even inflated. I am testing the Large which...
25th Jun 2018 The Oboz Women’s Sapphire Mid B Dry
Designed specifically for the woman’s foot, as soon as I put this shoe on I knew I wouldn’t have any problems with fit. The fit is slim, so a person with a wider foot might not enjoy the...
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...
19th Jun 2018 Zamberlan 125 Intrepid RR
I reckon I'd be pretty chuffed if I were allowed the name of these shoes in a game of Scrabble! Zamberlan are one of the premier walking book manufacturers on the planet and have sensibly...
23rd May 2018 Berghaus Ridgemaster Jacket
The Ridgemaster is a medium-weight waterproof jacket suitable for the harshest weather. It's a GORE-TEX membrane so works as you'd expect to keep the rain out, but also keep you ventilated....
21st May 2018 Rab Polartec Powerstretch Ladies’ leggings
User’s review of Rab Polartec Powerstretch Ladies’ leggings What an absolute delight it is to contemplate composing this review, knowing in advance that I will not have to use...
17th May 2018 Berghaus Pro Bib Shell Pant
Let's get some terminology sorted out first. Bib is an Americanism for salopettes, which is in turn European. Dungarees is now a pretty old fashioned term. Essentially they are all the same...
16th May 2018 Wild Guide Portugal
It's quite a while since I last went to Portugal. Nearly 30 years I think! Looking at this guide it'll definitely be less than 30 before I go again :-) Reviewing a guide when you haven't...
15th May 2018 Mountain Adventures In The Maurienne
The full title of this book is Mountain Adventures In The Maurienne, The Vanoise and Dauphine Alps. It features day walks. Walking tours, scrambles, rock climbs, via ferratas, mountaineering...
14th May 2018 Wild Guide To Scotland
Wild Guides are now coming thick and fast from Wild Things Publishing. The latest to arrive through my door is the Wild Guide to Scotland. It's the same format as the previous ones: basically...
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...
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...
26th Jul 2018 Wild Guide - Wales
UPDATE Wild Things Publishing have now made most of their books available as interactive apps via Itunes and Google Play. The apps work pretty nicely featuring a navigable map, as well as...
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,...
18th Mar 2018 VAUDE Bormio Gloves
Whilst I've had ski and mountaineering gloves with an extra long cuff in the past I've never had a pair of light weight gloves which go much beyond my wrist. The Bormio I have in an extra large...
19th Mar 2018 Kids Snow Cup Gloves - VAUDE
For years my kids had complained of snow getting between the end of their jacket and the end of their gloves, so when it came time to get some new gloves I decided to find a pair that would...
1st Feb 2018 Canyoning In The Alps - Northern Italy And Ticino
The size of this book, and the relatively small area of the Alps that it covers, is testament to the wealth and breadth of the sport of canyoning. Initially I thought I'd hit paydirt...
31st Jan 2018 Walks & Treks In The Maritime Alps
Another pocket sized guide from Cicerone who have definitely cornered the market when it comes to continental Europe. This guide features 220 pages (that's 18 walks of between 6km and 20km as...
19th Jan 2018 Mountain Adventures In Chamonix
It seems apt that I am writing this review on the same morning as watching a short video a friend sent me of some very adventurous looking conditions in the French Alps. I also went...
3rd Jan 2018 Freeloader Sixer & Supercharger (Solar Charger)
The Freeloader Sixer is a genuinely cool bit of kit. It's a 6,000mAh power pack for charging your phone, tablet, or other device, but has a built in mini solar panel array so that it can charge...
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...
19th Dec 2017 Kids Escape Pants - VAUDE
Kids waterproof trousers come and go in our family pretty quickly. When they were younger we bought pair after pair of cheap, thin, no-frills versions for a few quid. They'd last a few months...
5th Dec 2017 Mobile Solar Charger Kit
On a recent trip to Cliffbase in Croatia I was in need of some power. Cliffbase is an amazing place, but has no mains electricity, so is totally reliant on the sun. Last time we went there was...
4th Dec 2017 North Wales Bouldering
I can safely say that this is the biggest climbing guide I have yet reviewed. At 668 pages it's a mighty tome that comes with a hefty price tag of £36.95. It may sound expensive, but it's...
22nd Nov 2017 Power Traveller Extreme Solar Powered Charger
powertraveller are a brand name I recognise who have helped produce a decent competitive range of solar powered kit available for the average outdoor user. The 'Extreme' kit - actually titled...
16th Nov 2017 Exploring Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way
I've been reviewing guide books by Wild Things Publishing for a few years now, but they have by no means cornered the market. David Flanagan and Richard Creagh have produced a lovely guide to...
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...
1st Nov 2017 Berghaus GTX Gaiters
It's a bit of a bug-bear of mine to see people out on perfectly good paths with no rain forecast, wearing sparkling gaiters when there's simply no need (it's almost as bad as the pair I once...
31st Oct 2017 Kids Escape Light Jacket II - VAUDE
I've said it in numerous previous reviews, but I will say it again; too many of us kit ourselves out with funky technical kit, but neglect our kids. VAUDE produce a decent range of junior...
6th Oct 2017 Montane Primino 140 Long Sleeved Tshirt
A very good, light weight thermal top for using whilst active. I first used it on a 12 our race around the Glen Coe Skyline. It was a bit of a risk, running for so long with something I had...
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...
4th Oct 2017 100 Hut Walks In The Alps - Cicerone
Cicerone have an army of guidebooks to adventurous stuff in Europe (they do cover other parts of the world too, but Europe is their main focus). This guide is a welcome addition to our...
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...
2nd Oct 2017 The Push - Tommy Caldwell
I've grown out of the habit of reading books about famous climbers so it was with trepidation that I started reading The Push. I felt as though I knew enough about tommy Caldwell's life through...
29th Sep 2017 Wild Guide To The Lake District & Yorkshire Dales
If you read my reviews you'll know that I am a big fan of Wild Things Publishing. They started out with Wild Swimming and have since gone on to produce a whole raft of other titles, the latest...
28th Sep 2017 Hoopie Collar - Ruffwear
There's not a whole lot to say about a dog collar, but this one is certainly the best one we've owned / used. It's sturdy, but lightweight. The V-ring is attached in such a way that it doesn't...