~ Gear reviews ~
Grangers 2-in-1 cleaner and waterproofer
This 2-in-1 cleaner and waterproofer by Grangers offers a convenient solution for cleaning and reproofing your outdoor gear, addressing the challenge we all face in preserving waterproofness and maintaining fabric performance.
Inov-8 parkclaw 275 trail running shoes
The Inov-8 Parkclaw 275 trail running shoes are designed for different terrain, offering comfort and performance on both trails and roads – which is why I picked them for the Marathon des Sables in 2019.
Insta 360 X3 action camera and invisible selfie stick
The Insta360 X3 is a fantastic camera for adventurers venturing into the natural world, whether conquering the vast Atlantic Ocean during a rowing expedition, tackling rugged trails and deserts in multi-day endeavours, or pushing boundaries in gruelling bikepacking races.
Garmin Fenix 5x multisport watch
The Garmin Fenix 5X is a high-end, multi-sport GPS watch with advanced features for outdoor and fitness activities that you’ll probably see on just about every athlete in adventure these days!
Sidas snow walk crampons (from Decathlon)
The crampons are versatile and ideal for various activities, offering stability on both icy streets and short hikes in hard, packed snow. With nine non-slip metal spikes, they provide reliable grip on such terrains, ensuring safety during flat terrain treks.
Garmin Inreach mini satellite communicator
The Garmin Inreach Mini is a compact and lightweight satellite communication device that allows users to send and receive text messages and track their location in remote areas where cell service is not available.
Patagonia Atom 8L shoulder bag
With its 8L capacity, the bag proves to be spacious enough to accommodate essential items like phones, wallets, snacks, keys, and even light rain jackets, catering to the needs of the modern urban explorer. Boasting an outdoorsy aesthetic, the Atom Sling offers a variety of colour options, allowing users to choose a style that suits their preferences – from the bold Arrow Red to the classic Forge Grey.
Salewa mountain trainer boots review
The Salewa Mountain Trainer boots stand out as a favoured option among hikers and mountaineers seeking a blend of comfort and durability in challenging terrains.
Triban Waterproof Overgloves (by Decathlon)
These overgloves are designed to provide an extra layer of protection atop your non-waterproof winter gloves (such as the Rab Baltoro gloves we reviewed recently).
Rab Baltoro softshell gloves
The Baltoro Gloves by Rab are a reliable companion for alpine climbers, mountaineers and winter cyclists (like fatbikers) facing cold, dry conditions.
Ortleib Aqua Zoom Waterproof Camera Bag
The Ortlieb Aqua Zoom Waterproof DSLR Camera Bag caters to the needs of adventurers navigating challenging outdoor environments, ensuring comprehensive protection for their cameras or delicate gear.
Wild Country Rock protection Set 1-8
This set of Wild Country Rocks stands as the cornerstone of any climbing rack, forming a fundamental component alongside quick draws, slings, and karabiners to create a versatile starter rack. A must-have for trad leaders, these Rocks come in sizes 1-8, featuring a user-friendly colour-coded and anodised design.
Petzl Actik headtorch review
My track record with headtorches hasn’t been a great so far, with 2 Black Diamond headtorches stopped working annoyingly, however I’ve always had good experiences with Petzl for the last decade since starting out with their entry-level Tikka.
The Actik headtorch features a maximum brightness of 350 lumens (compared to the Tikka’s 300 lumens), which is more than enough for most expeditions. It also has a wide beam mode for when you need the extra light, and a red-light mode, which helps preserve night vision and is useful for reading maps or navigating in low-light conditions.
Grivel Ascender / descender - left and right hand
The Ascender Descender by Grivel is offered in both a left and right-hand version (as you can see here) and represents quite the innovation in climbing gear, offering the versatility of functioning as both an ascender and an abseiling device.
Fjallraven Keb G1000 men’s hiking jacket
The Keb Jacket by Fjallraven stands out as an unconventional softshell, relying on Fjallraven's Greenland Wax to toggle between weatherproofing and breathability – and we’re still somewhat divided by it!
By waxing the jacket, it gains weather resistance suitable for winter, sacrificing some breathability. Conversely, washing restores breathability, ideal for summer wear. Positioned as a trekking jacket, its durability makes it a go-to for technical activities like scrambling, climbing, or mountaineering. Despite weighing 700g and lacking lightness, its design emphasises durability.
DMM Fly (Adze) Ice Axe
Whilst it’s only been used on some light chalk practice, the DMM fly ice axe is presented as a versatile, well-balanced tool that caters to the demands of various climbing environments, from steep ice to traditional mountaineering terrain.
Key features highlighted include the ergonomic rubber handle, designed for comfort and insulation in wet or dry conditions.
‘Ride and Get Lost’ custom-made frame bag review
Taking up Bikepacking properly in 2022 with the aspiration of attempting the Silk Road Mountain race, I knew the next part of the puzzle for my load carriage challenge, would be making use of the centre triangle with a frame bag.
Wedze G500 winter sports goggles (from Decathlon)
Needing a new set of goggles for winter fatbiking adventures, I found these in a Decathlon store, and found them to be exactly what I needed at a decent price.
They are certified as 100% anti-UV, (meeting the EN-174 safety standard), effectively shielding the eyes from harmful UV rays and glare – which means everything has a slightly pinkish hue, however this doesn’t seem to affect my depth perception (even at night). This is particularly crucial during activities in snow where the brightness can be vast even on overcast days.
Black Diamond ATC-XP Belay device
Having dropped my original belay device on the Matterhorn, I was after a new one – and the ATC-XP by Black Diamond certainly delivers!
Distinguishing itself with high-friction grooves, the ATC-XP offers an impressive grip and stopping power in its friction mode. Additionally, a machined window within the device contributes to its lighter weight, resulting in the ATC-XP weighing just 64 grams.
Black Diamond express ice screw – 16 centimetres
The Express Ice Screw stands out as a specialised and indispensable climbing tool explicitly crafted for ice climbing and mountaineering. Vital for creating secure anchor points within ice, these screws serve as crucial safeguards for climbers and teams while navigating frozen terrains.
Specifically, the Black Diamond Express Ice Screw in its 16-centimetre iteration garners acclaim for its performance, user-friendly design, and exceptional durability.
Whether you're a seasoned climber seeking new mountains to conquer, an endurance runner craving the rush of Marathon des Sables, or a bikepacker in search of the perfect mult-day route, we've got you covered.
Check out our curated collection of articles, categorised to ensure you find the gear that speaks to the adventure you’re seeking to complete: