Summer Essentials
CLASS OF 2022
LIFESYSTEMS
MOUNTAIN SUN CREAM £9
At factor 50+, this cream has been specifically designed to protect your skin from the extra-harmful rays you get at high altitude. Once applied, the skin
protection lasts for up to six hours, although you’ll need to reapply every two hours when up high or when it’s really humid. lifesystems.co.uk
TREKMATES ORCHY DRY GAITERS £20
These lightweight ankle gaiters from
Trekmates (official partners of #walk1000miles) are not only waterproof, but are made of tough material that’s also breathable. They
work with shoes or boots and come with a replaceable underfoot strap and metal hook for attaching to laces. trekmates.co.uk
PRIMUS KLUNKEN BOTTLE 0.5ML DOUBLE WALL INSULATION £33
Made from stainless steel and vacuum insulated with a double wall, this sturdy bottle will keep your drinks well chilled over summer. Then come winter, it’ll keep your coffee piping hot. Primus are stablemates with Fjällräven, so the Klunken’s colour schemes match those of the all-conquering Kånken backpack. ldmountaincentre.com
SILVA SCOUT 3XT HEAD TORCH £35
A lightweight, take-it-anywhere headtorch at a great price. There’s a powerful light output of 350 lumens, delivered via Silva Intelligent Light, which is a combination of long-reach spotlight and close-in floodlight. silvasweden.uk
FJÄLLRÄVEN
ABISKO WOOL HEADBAND £18
As well as ensuring your hair behaves itself, this headband wicks away moisture, so you feel more refreshed in the heat. It’s made from the leftover material from the Abisko Wool Tank Top, so you’ll be helping to reduce wastage too. fjallraven.co.uk
CROSSFLY IKON X 6” BOXERS £25
We already love three brands when it comes to walking underwear for men (Saxx, BAM and Páramo), but new kids on the block Crossfly might just be the most impressive of the lot. Super-smooth and super-supportive where you need it, yet brilliantly breathable, these are just absurdly comfortable after hours on the go. crossfly.com
OUTDOOR RESEARCH
HELIOS SUNHAT £35
This is a favourite of CW writer Philip Thomas. It has a UPF 50+ rating and a wide brim, so your whole head is well protected. The drawcord keeps the hat snug and well anchored to your head. cotswoldoutdoor.com
HYDRO FLASK 24OZ BOTTLE £38.95
This will keep a drink nice and cold for up to 24 hour, and hot for up to 12 hours. It’s made from practically indestructible pro-grade stainless steel (which prevents flavour transfer) and has a leak-proof cap. It also has a limited lifetime warranty against manufacturer defects. Hydro Flask are a
great brand but sadly they don’t sell direct or deliver to the UK, although you can find their wares courtesy of Mr Bezos at amazon.co.uk
CAMELBAK FUSION 2L RESERVOIR £60
Camelbak have managed to make this brand new reservoir (and the three-litre version) 30% lighter than their previous models. And the valve delivers 20% more water on each sip. It’s also easy to fill and its on/off lever prevents leakage. camelbak.co.uk
LEATHERMAN BOND MULTITOOL £60
As with the original Leatherman, this is minimalist in design but has loads of features. These include a knife, pliers, wire cutters, screwdrivers and the ‘thank God for the Leatherman’ bottle opener. You can’t argue with a 25-year warranty either. And the suggestion that someone called Bond might use it is just the
icing on the cake. leatherman.co.uk
SMARTWOOL
SEAMLESS RACERBACK BRA £60
A bra of two layers – the inner layer is made from seamless merino, so it feels comfortable on the skin, while the outer layer offers support. The cups are designed to provide shape and lift, and come with removable padding, so you can get the feel just right. smartwool.co.uk
HELINOX SPEED STOOL £85
An ideal piece of kit for if you like to stop for civilised, dry-bottomed breaks as you go. It weighs just 470g and when it’s packed it’s just 42cm long, so it’s easy to carry with you. Then when you need it, it just pops open and is ready in an instant. helinox.eu
JULBO CAMINO SUNGLASSES £60
You won’t miss a thing with these on – they have ultra-wide vision to take in the full view, they’re scratch resistant and they have removable side shields to protect against glare. You’ll also look amazing, quite frankly. julbo.com
PETZL ACTIK CORE HEAD TORCH £60
The Actik Core is a perfect watch for keen night walkers, from the renowned head torch specialists of old. Adjustable beams with a maximum of 450 lumens, red light for night vision, USB chargeable but able to take AAA batteries too. cotswold outdoor.com
CRAGHOPPERS
TREKLITE CARBON WALKING POLES £85 (PAIR)
Taking these with you adds very little to your pack weight but offers a lot of support when you need it. They’re made from carbon fibre, which is whythey’re strong and light, and they have a really comfortable grip. They’re suitable both for normal and Nordic walking. And often heavily discounted, making them a bargain. craghoppers.com
LEKI MAKALU FX CARBON / CRESSIDA FX CARBON WALKING POLES £190 (PAIR)
Anew high-end, superlight version of Leki’s top-selling trekking poles, these offer a supremely eronomic Aergon Air grip, a Speed Lock system for fast adjustment, and a ‘guiding nose’ for downhill use. leki.com