GEAR GUIDE

Putting the latest outdoor clothing, accessories and equipment to test

1.

Columbia Caldorado Running Pack, £70

Neat wee trail pack that manages to squeeze a seven litre capacity into something a little bigger than a postage stamp. It’s unisex and comes in sizes s/m and m/l. Sits very high, so you barely notice any load, close-fitting, so you won’t wear much more than a running top. Enough room for a spare layer, lightweight waterproofs, a three-litre water bladder, snacks and odds and ends like keys and wallet. Loads of compartments which means more material and zips that I feel adds unnecessary weight. Has only waterproof panels, so you might want to use a drybag too. Not a lot of bag for your buck.

Robert Wight

1.

Helly Hansen Phantom Mesh Midlayer, £75

As a tall person, finding the right cut in clothes is the deciding factor in whether something becomes an overused favourite or gets forgotten in the back of the wardrobe. The Phantom Mesh is a perfect fit – close cut, but long in length and sleeves – with a soft fleece lining and effective back ventilation panel. Cherry tomato makes a nice change from high-vis yellow and the short zip offers simple on-off cooling from the front. An ideal midlayer for winter and top layer for the shoulder seasons. Only one minor complaint

– it could do with another, roomier pocket somewhere for a phone.

Alex Corlett

3.

Teva Arrowood Riva Walking Boots, £155

Comfortable and light walking boots are a prerequisite for a happy day in the mountains so I had high hopes for this pair of the Teva

Arrowood Riva. And I wasn’t disappointed. I wanted to test the boots on some of Scotland’s most rugged and rocky terrain so a seven-mile hike across Bidean nam Bian seemed ideal. Throughout the eight hours walking I almost forgot I had a big pair of boots on my feet, the soft leather never weighing me down. At times the ground was wet but my socks stayed dry. Not the cheapest on the market but for a regular hillwalker they’ll be worth it.

Keith Fergus

4.

Mountain Warehouse Running Shoes, £34.99

These Annapurna running trainers from Mountain Warehouse are a good halfway shoe between road running and trail shoes. They look and feel great, with good arch support and comfortable padding. The grip is tough enough for light trail running, but regular hill runners might want something with deeper lugs and regular runners of tarmac will want more support. If, like me, you do a bit of both every now and then, this shoe is perfect. The shoe isn’t as breathable as others I’ve tried, though, which is a shame and there’s a lack of grip on the laces, which come undone rather easily.

Katrina Patrick