Gear reviews

Gear review: Columbia Silver Ridge II convertible trousers

Posted on July 26, 2018 by Paul Webster

Recommended Price: £55 My past experience, years ago, with convertible trousers was not a good one – the zips that enable them to be converted into shorts were bulky and rubbed against my legs. Designs have improved greatly, however, and like most modern convertibles the zips in the Columbia Silver Ridge II are enclosed with fabric flaps that prevent any chafing. I’ve worn these trousers now on several Munro-bagging days and found them very comfortable in both trousers and shorts mode. The Silver Ridge II are made from a very lightweight ripstop nylon, making them especially suitable for hot weather…

Posted in Gear reviews, Trousers

Gear review: Summer base-layers

Posted on July 17, 2018 by Paul Webster

I’ve not known a Scottish summer to be as warm as this one so far… and it’s provided the ideal conditions to test out a range of lightweight baselayers. Summer t-shirts for walking are generally one of two fabrics these days: polyester and merino wool (it’s important to avoid cotton which traps moisture next to the skin, becoming cold and uncomfortable). Polyester and merino wool have their advantages and disadvantages; polyester is lighter, cooler, cheaper, quicker drying and more durable, whilst merino wool is softer to touch, requires more care when washing, is warmer, less durable, more comfortable when wet,…

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Gear Review: Keen Evofit sandals

Posted on July 10, 2018 by Helen Webster

RRP: £100 Weight: 300g (per sandal size 5.5) Keen are no strangers to making comfortable footwear designed around the actual shape of people’s feet. The Evofit is no exception providing a high level of comfort and support making them suitable for longer walks in hot weather than you might normally associate with a sandal – think of them more as an trail shoe with extra ventilation. The Evofit has a substantial sole with a lot of arch support, fitted with Keen’s trademark rand going all round the front toe box. This means there’s less issue with grit and sand getting…

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Gear review: Rab Longitude Pants

Posted on July 5, 2018 by Paul Webster

Recommeded Price: £65 Weight: 232g (32″ regular) I’m not sure I’ve ever known such a long spell of hot, dry weather in Scotland, and with the clegs biting what’s been needed is long trousers to give some protection, but that are very lightweight and cool to cope with the heat. It’s pretty fortunate then that I’ve been testing out these summer trousers from Rab. The trousers are made from a single weave Matrix SW fabric (100% polyamide) which is soft to touch, very lightweight and quick drying. There’s a diamond gusset and articulated knees which aid freedom of movement, and…

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Gear review: Berghaus Fellmaster Active GTX walking shoes

Posted on June 28, 2018 by Paul Webster

Recommended Price: £125 Weight: 490g per shoe UK size 11 Trail shoes have become an ever more popular alternative to boots over the last decade, and it’s often said that every 100g saved on your feet is equivalent to 500g in your pack. Without a doubt trail shoes make it easier for many people to walk both further and faster, and in more comfort, with the downsides that they do not last as long as boots nor can they provide as much support (though this largely depends on the torsional rigidity rather than the ankle cuffs). Personally I wear trail…

Posted in Footwear

Gear review – Alpkit Arro wind shell

Posted on June 22, 2018 by Paul Webster

Price: £35 Weight: 140g (men’s large) I never really understood the point of windproof jackets – until I actually tried one in the hills. Can’t your waterproof hardshell jacket do the job of keeping the wind out when needed? Well, yes, it will… but when it’s not raining, a dedicated windshell is so much lighter, less restricting and more breathable – especially on warm summer days – that it makes a huge difference to your comfort. The Alpkit Arro is made from nylon and has an admirable simplicity of design. The jacket has been treated with a durable water repellent…

Posted in Gear reviews, Jackets, Magazine

Gear review: Salomon Outpath GTX trailshoes

Posted on June 14, 2018 by Paul Webster

Recommended Price: £135 Weight: 365g per shoe (men’s size 11) If you think all trail shoes look pretty similar, check out the appearance of th Salomon Outpath GTX. Though not quite as strange looking as their space-age boot version cousins (the Outpath Pro), these are still pretty unusual shoes. The quick laces are in two parts, ending in loops on the lower shoe, whilst the striking one-piece ‘seamless sensifit’ uppers (also available in grey if you are feeling less brave) are made of a thin but surprisingly rigid synthetic material that sheds water well but has a tendency to crease…

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Review: Women’s Alpkit Chilkoot softshell trousers

Posted on June 11, 2018 by Helen Webster

Recommended Price: £60 Weight: 324g (size 10) The first thing you notice about these softshell trousers is their stretchiness. The fabric stretches in all directions, and in combination with an additional diamond panel in the crotch and articulated knees, this means these trousers really do move with you making them excellent for scrambling and shorter bike rides, as well as more general walking. The fit is fairly roomy, especially on the thighs but slimmer on the lower legs so that there is excess fabric to flap about. Certainly the sizing is more generous that on other women’s trousers I’ve had…

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Gear review: Teva Arrowhead Riva Mid WP boots

Posted on June 10, 2018 by Paul Webster

Recommended Price: £155 Weight: 555g per boot (size 11) Teva are best known for their sports sandals, so I was interested to get the chance to test out these leather boots over the spring. Teva say the Arrowhead Rivas are ‘built tough and technical for the most rugged terrain’, so I was suprised when I first tried them out to find that they are both very lightweight and extremely flexible for leather boots. I put Teva’s claims to the test by wearing them on long multi-day trips to both Knoydart and the Fisherfield Forest – taking in some of the…

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Gear Review: Alpkit Griffon women’s hooded mid-layer

Posted on June 1, 2018 by Helen Webster

RRP: £39 (non-Polygeine version currently discounted) Weight: 225g (size 10) Men’s version also available With base and mid-layer tops now regulary priced at well over £50, it’s refreshing to find something at the cheaper end of the spectrum, but wanted plenty of time to put it through its paces in different conditions to see if lower cost equals poor quality. The Griffon women’s hooded top is made from a lightweight, relatively-thin fleece with a grid pattern on the reverse which traps air. The material is stretchy and whilst the design is fitted, the sizing is fairly generous for a top…

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