Gearguide

Putting the latest outdoor clothing, accessories and equipment to test

1. Primus Firestick Stove, £80

This nifty wee gadget is the ultimate space-saver for wild camping, and I was impressed with its effectiveness, given its small stature. At only 4in x 1.4in, the Firestick comes in a handy wool storage pouch, and can be slipped into a pocket or bike pannier. Primus do a smaller stove – the Express Spider – but the Firestick is sturdier and supports your pots and pans well, even in the wind. It comes with a Piezo lighter – another space-saving gadget. Of course, you’ll need a gas canister too, but Primus do 100g ones – also saving space in your pack.

Katrina Patrick

2. Vango Radiate Double Sleeping Bag, £159,99

My first impression of this sleeping bag was how thick and comfy it looked. I wanted to get into it immediately! So I did, on the living room floor. It took a while for the heat to take effect after plugging in my power bank and, as the heating element is at the bottom of the bag, my short stature meant I had to shimmy down to feel it. But once warmed up it was promising. We took it on our trip to Harris and, in May, the nights were cold. The heating element got the bed cosy before we got in but, even without the heat, it’s a very warm and great-quality sleeping bag.

Rachel Mcconachie

3. Berghaus 24/7 Long Sleeve Zip Baselayer, £35

Made from Argentium, this top is described by the manufacturer as “lightweight, quick wicking and drying, odour-resistant, highly breathable and very stretchy”. And, to be fair, it ticks all those boxes. There’s a crew neck version but I like the wee collar on this as it gives extra UV protection to your neck and the zip’s handy for ventilation. I got a medium but it seems made bigger – long sleeves. Although it’s stretchy, the cuffs annoyingly stop you pulling the sleeves up. Comfy wear, no rubbing seams but material catches easily and I’ve a couple of wee snags already.

Robert Wight

4. Fjällräven Abisko Lite Trekking Trousers, £165

Love these trousers. They look great on and are super-comfy – all down to their articulated cut and pre-shaped fit. Made for warmer conditions, I felt they were cooling when required with long (maybe a little exposing for some!) ventilation zips down each thigh. Their extremely robust G-1,000 fabric is married with stretchy panels in key movement areas and I found any rainwater beaded off nicely and was quick-drying after. They washed well in the machine with a Pfc-free tech wash and there’s the option to wax them if desired. Adjustable boot straps were also a nice addition for a snug fit around my footwear. Top breeks! Ailsa Smart