walkhighlands

Gear reviews

Gear Review: Winter Trousers 2024

Keela: Scuffer Trousers RRP: £84.95Weight: 440g (Women’s 10S) Just about the stretchiest fabric on test, these trousers have proved to have a high level of wind resistance and good water repellency, whilst not being too hot when working hard. I’ve found them to been fairly quick drying too. The decent sized zipped side vents with mesh are easy to use while wearing. The women’s fit is on the slim side, but these trousers come in 6 sizes and 3 lengths so you should find something that suits. The design is well thought out with good knee shaping and velcro-adjustable ankles

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Posted in Gear reviews, Magazine, Trousers

Gear review: winter gloves and mitts

Gloves are an important pack item for hillwalkers all year round, but in the winter months multiple pairs to cover different conditions can be needed. Mitts provide the most warmth, keeping your fingers together, but also reduce dexterity compared to gloves. Many hikers carry thin liner gloves, perhaps mitts to wear over them, plus potentially a shell with a windproof and/or waterproof membrane (though in our experience none will keep completely dry). The gloves in this review all have at least windproof membranes. Highlander Mountain Glove RRP: £17.99Weight: 140g (S)Fabric: polyester with Taslan reinforcement on palm and underside, Ab-Tex waterproof/breathable

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Posted in Accessories, Gear reviews, Magazine

Gear Review: Headtorches

As the days get shorter it becomes essential to carry a headtorch on longer walks – you’ll either be starting in the dark for longer days, or need a torch in case you don’t make it back before dusk. They can also be a real boon in emergency situations to help rescuers locate you. In winter I tend to carry two, as I have experienced the failure of a torch out on the hill. Others are happy to rely on a fully-charged spare battery – though not all models allow battery swapping. As headtorches have advanced so have the features.

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Posted in Accessories, Gear reviews, Magazine

Gear Review: Waterproof Jackets for 2023

Waterproof jackets are one of the most important (and expensive) bits of outdoor kit. We’ve put a range of jackets through their paces during an increasingly wet Scottish spring and summer. All of them are made from layered fabric, basically an outer woven layer, usually treated with a water repellent coating, bonded to waterproof membrane (Gore-tex is the best known brand here; many of these products contain PFC/PTFE “forever chemicals”) – this construction is referred to as 2-layer and will normally have a liner to protect it. On 2.5-layer fabric an additional coating is applied to the membrane itself to

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Posted in Gear reviews, Jackets, Magazine

Gear Review: Best summer walking trousers 2023

Walking trousers tend to get little attention in gear discussions compared to waterproof jackets or rucksacks, but they are a vital part of being comfortable out on the hill or in the woods. Here we take a look at a wide range of trousers suitable for summer wear in the UK – some very light for the hotter months, some aimed more at three season use. The big advance in recent years is the improvement in fabrics, with stretchy, quick drying synthetics becoming the norm. Most offer good wind resistance, and durable water repellent coatings on some help with light

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Posted in Gear reviews, Magazine, News, Trousers

Gear Review: The best walking poles (2023)

Walking poles are a great addition to your kit. Taking some of the strain off your knees, particularly when heading downhill, becomes more important as those fragile joints age, and heading uphill using poles spreads the work onto your upper body. Avoiding slips and stumbles on loose or wet ground is also important, as is the stability of having an extra couple of “legs” for crossing rivers and testing the depth of ominous looking bogs. They can also be used as tent poles for some tarp-type tents as well as a camera tripod with the addition of a metal converter

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Posted in Accessories, Gear reviews, Magazine

Gear Review: The best walking socks (2023)

Socks are one of the most important bits of outdoor kit. Too often they are overlooked or poorly cared for – something of an afterthought. They can help enormously to keep feet warm, dry and blister free, essential for a comfortable day. Prices and technical features have been creeping up in recent years and with most people wanting a range of socks for different conditions/footwear, it’s important to get the choice right. Socks should fit well so that they don’t ruckle, and seams should be flat, or the sock should be as seam-free as possible to avoid rubbing points. Confusingly,

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Posted in Footwear, Gear reviews, Magazine

Gear Review: Water Filters

Staying hydrated is crucial for both enjoyable day walks and multi-day hikes. Getting hold of additional water on a walk in Scotland is often not a problem, but knowing whether it is safe to drink can be. The presence of animals (who will be defecating and sometimes dying near or in water sources) and humans who may be contributing chemicals as well as their own waste to the environment can result in nasty illness as a result of drinking contaminated water. People can also be worried about industrial, agricultural and sewage effulent as well as micro-plastics in water. Unless you

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Posted in Accessories, Camping, Gear reviews, Magazine

Gear Review – Midlayers

As winter approaches, layering becomes even more important. In the past we’ve reviewed a variety of synthetic and down layers that offer lots of insulation – but when it’s cold, I often also want a additional warm layer I can wear all day over my base, both for the additional warmth but also the flexibility – so that I can remove my padded insulating jacket when working hard on an ascent without getting too cold. The main things to consider are warmth, breathability and drying speed (both the material and venting features such as zips). Does the garment fit easily

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Posted in Features, Gear reviews, Magazine, Midlayers

Gear Review: Dried Backpacking Meals

Tasty, nutritious, filling food is as important as weather and scenery to the enjoyment of overnight camps. Exploring some long distance Scottish routes this year while researching a new guidebook has seen us try a number of dried camping meals alongside our “go to” staples of instant mash, cup-a-soups, noodles and couscous. We tried a selection of meals from most brands including meat and vegan, main meals, breakfast and dessert options where available. The selection included brands that dehydrate the whole meal (said to preserve flavour), meals where ingredients are dried separately and then combined, and freeze drying which prolongs

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Posted in Camping, Features, Gear reviews, Magazine


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You should always carry a backup means of navigation and not rely on a single phone, app or map. Walking can be dangerous and is done entirely at your own risk. Information is provided free of charge; it is every walker's responsibility to check it and to navigate safely.