GEAR: LIGHTWEIGHT KIT
A selection of equipment for backpacking and hiking adventures
1 KOMPERDELL CARBON FXP.4 CLOUD WALKING POLES £189.95 komperdell.com
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These pop-up poles from Komperdell are strong and super-lightweight at just 173g and fold away to an extremely small size of just 45cm. The ergonomically designed cork grip has an extension, so grip positions can be changed depending on the terrain.
2 PRIMUS LITE PLUS STOVE SYSTEM £130 primus.eu
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This is a new and improved version of Primus’ Lite Plus Stove System, which the Swedish outdoor specialist says is more durable, efficient and eco-friendly than before. The burner fits perfectly into the hard-anodised aluminium pot (which doubles as a drinking cup), along with a 100g gas cartridge and its accessories. The pot’s sleeve is a durable fabric made from recycled polyester and organic cotton and has an insulating layer of cork underneath to keep the heat in.
3 LIFESAVER LIBERTY WATER PURIFIER
● £124.99
● iconlifesaver.com
This water purifying bottle uses advanced filter technology to remove a minimum of 99.99% of bacteria, cysts and even dangerous viruses from contaminated water. Just collect water from a lake, pond, fountain or dodgy-looking tap, pump the base and watch clean, safe drinking water flow out.
4 CAMPINGAZ TWISTER STOVE
● £19.99
● campingaz.com/uk
A compact, single-burner stove, the Twister Plus PZ won’t add much weight to your backpack and is perfect for boiling water for a restorative brew. It features piezo ignition, so no need for matches, and the Easy Clic system makes it simple to connect to a Campingaz CV valve cartridge.
5 GOAL ZERO YETI 200X POWER STATION £299.99 goalzero.co.uk
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Technology is an important part of most people’s camping kit these days, like it or not. If you’re on a campsite with electric hook-up, that’s fine, but how do you keep your devices going if you’re camping off-grid? A portable power station, like the new Yeti X range from Goal Zero, is a cleaner and quieter alternative to a traditional, petrol-fuelled generator. It runs off lithium batteries, so it’s safe to use in a tent, and you can charge it up on the mains at home, then use a solar panel to top it up while you’re away. Ideal for your basecamp and light enough for canoe camping.
6 CAMELBAK HORIZON CAMPING MUG £28 camelbak.com
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A double-walled, vacuum-insulated stainlesssteel mug that will keep your morning coffee piping hot. The non-slip silicone pad on the base is designed to prevent spills and, if you do have any accidents, the tumbler lid should keep everything contained.
7 SOL SURVIVAL MEDIC SURVIVAL KIT £22.99 surviveoutdoorslonger.com
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All the essentials you’ll need for exploring the wilderness in a watertight dry bag, including an emergency blanket, a micro firelighter, a rescue whistle to signal for help, some duct tape and bandaging.
8 HAN WAG TORSBY GTX WALKING BOOTS £189.99 hanwag.com
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For low-level hillwalking, these lightweight, mid-cut hiking boots are comfortable and reliable and have a modern look that means they won’t look out of place in the pub. The suede and nubuck upper has a waterproof Gore-Tex membrane and the Sure-grip outsole is made with 10% recycled rubber.