Gear Guide
We put the latest outdoor clothing and equipment to the test
1. Bundle Bed, £199.99
ITHINK Bundle Beds are a fantastic idea. A self-inflating mattress with a built-in duvet and pillow and 100 per cent jersey cotton sheets – which all rolls into a “bundle” that can be clipped together and carried. It’s completely comfortable and nice and cosy. It makes quite a bundle when rolled up and is far too bulky and heavy to take on a hiking or backpacking trip, but a Bundle Bed is ideal for sleepovers, unexpected guests, extra sleeping quarters in a caravan or motorhome, glamping, camping at a festival or sleeping in the back of a Transit van at a motorcycle race meeting – something which I can personally vouch for!
2. Women’s Freeflow 25-litre Rucksack, £75
THIS new Freeflow rucksack collection from Berghaus has a curved back – designed to maximise airflow between your back and the rucksack. Once the many straps are adjusted for your height, the bag feels comfortable and wellsupported all day, with wide and padded shoulder straps. The only downside of the curved back is that this curve translates into the interior space, making it feel smaller. The main compartment is fairly narrow as it is, and this curve makes the space less practical. It’s perfect for keeping you comfortable on energetic day excursions, but to store your overnight kit you’ll need the Freeflow 35-litre for an extra £20.
3. Helly Hansen Verglas Light Down Jacket, £160
WITH the vagaries of a Scottish summer, you sometimes have to layer up then layer down to cope with sudden changes of temperature. With this excellent jacket, you need no such rigmarole. Its lightweight fabric, down-filled softshell is ideal on top of a T-shirt or base layer as it offers perfect protection from any sudden nip in the air and allows for maximum breathability and the quick release of excess heat during exertion. There are two deep inside pockets ideal for map, compass or camera and the outside pockets are equally spacious. However, if the weather worsens it can be used as a midlayer with suitable waterproof on top. Definitely a worthwhile addition to my summer hiking kit.
4. Scarpa Trek Boots, £200
ISWEAR by leather boots. I find them much easier to maintain than synthetic and they stay waterproof longer. My old boots were Scarpa Rangers – they lasted three years of serious use. So I was really keen to try out this new offering from Scarpa. I’ve used them for a couple of months on some very big days, including the TGO Challenge, and I reckon they beat the Rangers. They’re a tad lighter and offer a firmer fit round the ankle, making for excellent support. I’ve used them on 16 hill days and only dubbed them once – no issues with water ingress. I swapped the insole for an after-market cushioned running sole as I found the original a bit thin – it gives the boots all-day comfort, day after day.