Thrash it Ultralight vs Fiordland
Jamie McAulay tries to shred a new Kiwi brand of ultralight pack.
Real Gear Reviews
Photography The End of Camera Dangle?
The last thing you want to worry about when you’re lugging yourself and a heavy pack around the mountains is a wildly dangling camera. Anthony Behrens may have found a solution.
DIY Build your own Packraft
Is building your own Packraft worth it? Stefan Warnaar finds out.
Cheap, simple, effective: Choose any three. DIY alcohol stoves
I prefer a pikau to a pack, a tarp to a tent, and a simple one-piece stove to a pressurised blast furnace. Tiny alcohol burners fit this bill. They are easy to make and don't require expensive tools or project stock. A couple of soft-drink cans, a craft knife and some patience are all you need.
Grand Trunk Single Parachute Nylon hammock Getting the hang of it
Hammock camping offers a consistent sleeping platform, regardless of terrain and weather. If you have two strong mounting points, you're well on your way to life on a higher plane.
Sea to Summit Poncho Tarp A tiny shelter in a tiny package
Having gone to the bother of getting out into 'nature', this small square of nylon protects me from the wet, windy bits, while letting all the rest in.
Wood-gassifier stove challenge Home-made vs fancy unobtanium
Can a stove made from three tin cans and an hour of muttering compete with a hi-tech titanium marvel? There's more to it than a scale and a stopwatch.
True Utility Scarab A tiny tool that punches beyond its weight
In the hard-fought competition for space in our pockets, sometimes 'just good enough' can be just about perfect.
The BioLite CampStove My brief, conflicted relationship with a fan-forced wood stove
In my day job, I tend to enjoy complexity and ingenuity, but sometimes I have to get what I wish for, in order to work out what I want.
Macpac Torre pack and Fairydown Scorpion sleeping bag Any colour you like, as long as it’s red
Outdoorsy types often rely completely on their gear, so our gear needs to be completely reliable. Our core equipment includes a pack and sleeping bag.
MSR WhisperLite stove Putting the mighty WhisperLite through its paces
Since 1984, the MSR WhisperLite has been reliably turning your solvent of choice into fumes, noise and blistering heat.
Macpac Mesh Coffee Filter An addict’s guide to caffeine in the mountains
It took a while, but I think I’ve found the ultimate backcountry coffee maker.
Exped Synmat Basic UL 7 Feeling a little let down
What makes a good sleeping mat? The ability to stay inflated for a night is a good start.
Asolo TPS 535 These boots are made for trekking
Buying a pair of boots can be a tricky business, but once you've found ones you like you may as well stick with them.
