Gear
Last-minute Christmas gifts guide: stocking fillers for the outdoor enthusiast
Christmas is fast approaching and we've been out trying some great items to help you choose festive gifts for the outdoors enthusiast in your life.
On test: midlayer tops reviewed
A midlayer top can either be used, as the name suggests, between a baselayer and an outer waterproof shell or, on dry cool days, as the outer of two layers.
On test: Keela ADS Long Sleeve Zip Top reviewed
Price: £24.95 Colour: yellow/grey Weight: 222g Material: polyester Country of manufacture: not stated Recommended wash: 40C This top is part of Keela’s range aimed at active pursuits.
On test: Keela Saxon lightweight waterproof jacket reviewed
Price: £104.95 Colour: black Weight: 251g Material: 54 per cent nylon; 46 per cent polyurethane coating Waterproofing: Flylite Aqua Country of manufacture: not stated Sizes: men’s XS-3XL; women’s 8-20 Women’s version: yes, Storm Jacket Recommended wash: 30C in pure soap The Saxon has been designed with runners and cyclists in mind, with features such as reflective piping on its back and sleeves, plus a zipped rear pocket.
On test: Olight RN3500 and RN180 TL Bike Lights reviewed
Price: £199.95 (for set) RN3500 front light Weight: lamp, mount and battery 414g Maximum brightness: 3,500 lumens Power supply: 7.2V 5200mAh lithium-ion battery pack Modes: flood beam; spot beam; hybrid beam, four levels in each, plus flashing Country of manufacture: China RN180 TL rear light Weight: lamp and mount 50g Maximum brightness: 180 lumens Power supply: built-in 3.7V 800mAh rechargeable battery Modes: constant, low, medium high; flash, three modes; smart, day, night; auto brake Country of manufacture: China This new cycle light set from Olight consists of a white front light and a red rear light.
On test: Komperdell Carbon Expedition FXP4 Vario walking poles reviewed
Price: £150 (pair) Country of manufacture: Austria Weight (pair): 504g without basket Colour: black/silver Length collapsed: 43cm Length range: 122cm-143cm Material: carbon fibre/Titanal aluminium alloy The z-style construction of these Komperdell poles makes them easy to stash when not in use – they fold up to a compact size, meaning it’s easy to tuck them under a rucksack strap when, for instance, you need to use your hands for a scrambly section of route, or when things flatten out and poles aren’t needed.
Christmas stocking fillers for the outdoor fan: here's our last-minute festive gift guide
Christmas is fast approaching. And you’re wracking your brain for ideas for gifts for your beloved outdoors type to enhance his or her outings to th...
On test: 15 to 35 litre daysacks reviewed
A daysack should be able to accommodate all the gear and clothing you need on your single-day walk on the hills or in the countryside.
On test: trail and approach shoes reviewed
Pulling on a pair of boots is a natural first step for a trip to the hills, but sometimes a lighter shoe suits the conditions better and will probably tire you out less.
On test: three- to four-season walking boots reviewed
First, it’s useful to explain what we mean by a three- to four-season boot. We’ve seen from time to time this term used to mean a boot that suitab...
On test: Unibank powerbank reviewed
Price: £89.95 (powerbank) £24.95 ambient light accessory 461g with USB lead (481g with ambient light attached) Battery capacity: 5,000mAh Input: 5V 2A Output: 5V 2a Size: 18.2cm x 8.4cm x 4.5cm Operating ambient temperature: -5C to 45C Country of manufacture: Great Britain The Unibank is an innovative powerbank that allows additional recharging of its internal 3.7V lithium-ion battery without plugging into an electricity source.
On test: 30-45 litre rucksacks reviewed
A rucksack with a capacity of between 30 and 45 litres should be able to serve as your sole pack for use in most circumstances, unless you’re planning a big multi-day trip.
On test: Keen Ridge Flex Waterproof Hiking Boots reviewed
Price: £155 Weight: 1,179g/pair Construction: leather/mesh uppers Country of manufacture: Thailand Waterproofing: Keen.Dry Sole stiffness: 4/10 Women’s version: yes Sizes: men’s 6-16; women’s 2½-9 The Ridge Flex is a lightweight walking boot that uses a combination of leather and synthetic mesh in its uppers.
On test: Olight Baton 3 Premium Edition torch set reviewed
Price: £99.95 Weight: torch 54g (charger and torch combined 167g) Maximum brightness: 1,200 lumens Power supply: built-in IMR 16340 550mAh 3.7V lithium-ion rechargeable battery Modes: low, medium, high; moonlight; turbo; strobe white light Country of manufacture: China This new torch kit from Chinese brand Olight consists of a compact LED torch and a neat charging case.
On test: insulated jackets reviewed
An insulated jacket is a winter essential if you’re heading for the hills or the open countryside. It will keep you warm when the temperature dro...
On test: Leatherman Free T4 multi-tool reviewed
Price: £74.95 Weight: 124g Size: 9.3cm x 2.1cm x 2.4cm Country of manufacture: USA Leatherman’s Free range of multi-tools feature a system that allows one-handed opening of the tools – useful if you need to keep hold of what you’re working on while selecting a different implement.
On test: Lomo Carbon Fibre Walking Poles reviewed
Price: £44.95 (pair) Country of manufacture: not stated Weight (pair): 440g Colour: black Length: collapsed: 62cm Maximum length: 135cm Material: carbon fibre These carbon fibre poles are part of the range from Glasgow-based Lomo, best known for its watersport gear.
On test: waterproof jackets reviewed
This test of waterproof jackets took place over an extended period, because it began before the imposition of the lockdown, which restricted access to routes we would normally use to evaluate clothing.
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Most recent
Commented
2 Olympian Chris Boardman takes lead of new Active Travel England body
3 Walkers' charity the Ramblers unveils new logo and corporate identity
4 Mountain rescuer Keith Hill to head to Beijing for Olympic ski patrol duties
5 Couple rescued from Helvellyn in dark after getting stuck on Striding Edge
6 'Shocked' Debbie Martin-Consani takes women's victory in Spine Race
7 Elderly walker guided to safety after getting lost on birthday ascent of Blencathra
8 Eoin Keith wins Montane Spine Race
9 Eoin Keith takes Spine Race lead after Eugeni Roselló Solé drops out
2 Muslim Hikers thank people for 'amazing' support after social media attacks (12)
3 Walkers' charity the Ramblers unveils new logo and corporate identity (10)
4 Fellrunner pledges to buy compass after mountain rescue call from misty Glaramara (6)
5 New Thames coast path stretch enables sea-to-source walkers' route (6)
6 Elderly walker guided to safety after getting lost on birthday ascent of Blencathra (5)
7 Couple rescued from Helvellyn in dark after getting stuck on Striding Edge (5)
8 'Nonplussed' sheep rescued from disused Lakeland mine ledge (4)
9 Publisher pays tribute after death of guidebook writer Kev Reynolds (3)
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