CLASS OF 2017
… AND THE OTHERS THAT REALLY IMPRESSED US ON OUR WALKS.
CRAGHOPPERS BROMPTON HAT £12
You can get more fun and weird headgear for your walks, but this simple, classy and, erm, ‘heritage-inspired’ beanie has been an understated treat in 2017. www.craghoppers.com
BRIDGEDALE WOOLFUSION ULTRA LIGHT SOCK £15.49
Bridgedale will make you a sock of any thickness for any season, but this is a terrific all-rounder. It’s a blend of Enduro-Wool, Lycra and elastane, with subtle padding where you really need it. www. bridgedale.com
BLACK DIAMOND IOTA HEADTORCH £40
A simple USB-chargeable torch, great for winter wanders. www. blackdiamondequipment.com
MAMMUT CREON TOUR £75
Pip loves the 28-litre Creon for its clean design and simple features. It just lacks a place to secure a hydration system inside. www.mammut.ch
EDZ GLOVES MERINO TOUCH GLOVES £12.50
A good close fit and delectable merino wool make these lovely to wear on a cold day. The grippy digits and touchscreenloving fingerpads are great too. www.edzlayering.com
WIGWAM BROKEN ARROW PRO SOCK £22
Part of Wigwam’s brilliantly-named Peak to Pub range, the Broken Arrow is a mix of merino, Nylon, Tencel and Spandex, and it feels fab either on peak or in pub. www.wigwam.com
ICETREKKERS DIAMOND GRIPS £40
Attach easily to any shoe and give you sure and steady grip over icy surfaces. Not a replacement for crampons on hills, but fine in fields and lanes. www.icegripper.co.uk
DIDRIKSONS OKUDA WATERPROOF TROUSERS £70
Hate overtrousers? Then try these – waterproof troobs that can actually be worn as your main trousers. Fly, pockets and a high, sturdy back all included. www. didriksons.com
GP BATTERIES POWERBANK FP05M £15
A smart, slimline charger that easily juices up a dead smartphone twice (if fully charged itself) and brings an iPad back to life once. It’s light and unobtrusive, with an easy-to-read LED display. uk.gpbatteries.com
REGATTA PADDED IGNITER HAT £25
OK, so you’re never going to wear this in the pub, but as a toasty-warm bit of winter headgear, the highly adjustable Igniter has been a winner on the hills. www.regatta.com
STANLEY MASTER SERIES FLASK £44.50
The slogan is ‘hotter longer tougher’. If you’re going out in serious cold for 10+ hours, trust this to keep your tea hot. www.stanley -pmi.com
OSPREY TEMPEST 30 £100
Rucksack royalty. The Tempest has a careful space for everything and the coolest back system on the market. Annoyingly strappy, but otherwise a thing of joy. www.ospreyeurope.com