Cosy insulator Quickly deployed lightweight tent

Paramo Torres Alturo £225

Spring may be on its way, but the mountains will be cold for a while yet, which is why my Paramo Torres

Alturo jacket won’t be packed away any time soon.

This is a jacket built for cold, wet weather, making it perfect for our British climate. When it first arrived it felt a little too heavy and bulky to be a replacement for my down jacket and make its way into my backpack regularly. However, over the winter I found myself wearing it more and more, over and above my usual beloved down puffer. Why? Because it’s super warm and protective but doesn’t feel bulky when worn. The fit is streamlined and articulated for good movement, but there’s still plenty of room for layers. Unlike down, it is water-resistant, and it is designed to retain warmth when thrown over the top of a Paramo waterproof in proper rain without having to remove layers. The pockets are cavernous, as is the hood, which also has loads of adjustment, and it’s quite long in the body which gives an extra feeling of cosiness. It’s supposed to pack down into its own pocket, which I struggled to do, but as an extra layer for cold mountain-top pit stops or overnight adventures, outside of summer, this jacket is bomber.

Verdict

A snuggly cold weather insulating layer that will perform even in the wet.

USED BY Jenna Maryniak, Trail deputy editor USED FOR 6 months

Nordisc Telemark 1 ULW £600

I love this tent and I’ve spent many nights in it. I keep the inner clipped into the outer, and putting it up takes just minutes and can be done in the rain without compromising the inner. It is tight on space, so push against the sides and you will get water ingress if it’s wet outside. One major thing to watch is ventilation. It vents primarily at the bottom of each end, and it’s very easy for vegetation or snow to obscure this. And because the outer of the tent fits low on the sides, serious sleeping bag-wetting condensation can build up. I’ve taken to propping up the bottom of the flysheet at the sides if I think it will be an issue. My version has a main carbon pole. This has splintered over time, leading to the sharp carbon edges of the pole splitting the fabric of the pole sleeve. I’ve had to tape up both the pole and the sleeve to remedy this. I’ve ditched most of the ‘toothpick’ pegs supplied too, and carry my own varying collection of pegs. This tent is all about getting the four corners pitched correctly, and sometimes you just need more substantial pegs to achieve this. I also find it more convenient to pack it in a separate drybag, rather than use the fiddly built-in pocket for storage. The newer green version of the tent is a great choice of colour for those who want to blend in to their surroundings.

Verdict

Sure it’s got its foibles, but once you understand them you’ll love using this tent. There’s nothing more empowering in the mountains than knowing you have a sleep system that can take on most situations.

USED BY Tom Bailey, Trail photographer USED FOR 5 years+