Okay, so I’m a tiny bit in love with my new stove. Much of the outdoor gear I test and use is functional, but it’s a real pleasure when something comes along that is both practical and a real joy…
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Oh hello Storm Emma! Feeling the cold bite? Get cosy in the snow in Fjallraven’s Nuuk parka, £420.
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Expensive they may me (at a quite eye-watering £195.41) but you get what you pay for with the rugged, waterproof and fantastically comfortable Aotea GTX® boot from Hanwag.
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Fancy some shiny new stuff for spring? I’ve acquired a lot of gear in my kit cupboard over the past few years, so I’ve decided to make a selection of the best bits into an amazing outdoors goody bag to…
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Wondering what to wear on your feet in the dark bitter days of winter? I’ve been out in rain and snow testing out Sorel’s Cozy Joan snow boots, £129.99 from Ellis Brigham. Cosy by both name and nature, they’re an…
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My latest review is of a wear-anywhere light jacket from one of my favourite brands – Fjallraven’s Räven jacket from Taunton Leisure, £99. First designed in the 1970s, this classic is still going strong.
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Is your winter wardrobe missing a great padded mid-layer? Montane’s Phoenix, £140, might be the answer – this versatile and adventure-ready jacket is comfortable, water-resistant and seriously warm.
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‘Tis the season to be jolly! And to give these lovely presents to your outdoors-mad friends and family. This year my gift guide has a bit of a beachy, country vibe to it – expect cosy woolly blankets and jumpers,…
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Hellooooo beautiful. You may recognise these gorgeous hiking boots – they played a starring role on Reece Witherspoon’s feet in Wild. So how does Danner’s much-coveted Mountain Light Cascade, £287, measure up off-screen? Danner Mountain Light Cascade review Product description:…
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Ready to hit the pistes? I’ve been testing out the best snow jackets, salopettes and base layers for The Independent. My top picks will keep your warm and happy in the mountains all winter. Snowsports kit isn’t cheap, so if…
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Hitting the trails of Nova Scotia in the smart, waterproof leather Terradora boot from Keen, £119.99, a versatile hiking boot that is ready for the elements.
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Stomping about in icy weather in Keen’s adorable Elsa snow boots, £99.99. Outdoor-ready and very nice to look at, these tribal-printed delights are perfect for miserable winter days.
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Meet the adventurous traveller’s new best mate. The perfectly sized new Osprey Fairview 40 litre rucksack, £100, is roomy enough for all your kit but still small enough to sail through airport security and to work as an excellent hiking…
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SPONSORED POST Winter is coming. But that’s no reason to hibernate – on dark, chilly days we need fresh air and exercise more than ever. Wrap up warm in cosy and practical Dickies Workwear kit and get outdoors more often…
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The great outdoors is an extremely beautiful place – but it can also be pretty inhospitable. Any adventurer worth their Himalayan rock salt should prepare for the worst by carrying the gear that could save lives in a pinch. From…
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A backpacking-worthy tent is pretty simple to define – you should be able to carry it with you in your rucksack on a hike without a struggle. I’ve chosen the ten best backpacking tents on the market for The Independent…
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Hello intrepid travellers! In my latest video I’m talking you through my favourite bits of kit for international travel – this is the gear I’ve had for years and always chuck in my bag wherever I’m travelling.
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Rugged, water resistant and allergic to rips and tears, North Face’s Base Camp duffels are a staple bit of kit for far-flung adventures. Here’s my review of the large duffel, £86.25 from Millets.
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Cycling around town in the Bern Parker (£74.99)helmet, a good-looking and comfortable lid ideal for city commuters.
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Heading for the great outdoors? Make sure you know where you’re going to stash all your gear first. A daysack, as the name implies, is a backpack large enough to fit all the essentials you’ll need for a ramble in…
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Messing around on the moors in the Abisko trekking tights from Fjallraven, £130. Are these the dream walking leggings? Review Fjallraven Abisko Trekking tights Product description: “Technical and durable trekking tights in a highly functional stretch fabric. They combine the freedom…
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Rocking out in the Scarpa Velocity V, an easy and fuss-free climbing shoe aimed at beginners and available at the very purse-friendly price of £59 from GO Outdoors.
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Hello sunshine! It’s been a while. Celebrate the clocks going forward and the beginning of adventure-appropriate weather with my favourite pieces for outdoor living and a bit of bike spring cleaning.
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A bag that can switch from backpack to case on wheels in the blink of an eye, Eagle Creek’s EC Lync, £342, aims to be as useful on the runway as it is over rough ground. So is this the…
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If Little Red Riding Hood were wandering through rainy forests today I reckon she’d wear Finisterre’s beautifully made Litus jacket, £150.
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I’ve reviewed a lot of gear over the past years, and whilst I try to put new kit through the toughest situations possible (sometimes desperately hoping it’ll thunderstorm so I can get out in a new waterproof) there’s nothing like…
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Hitting the slopes to test out Electric’s EG3.5 ski and snowboard goggles, £109 from The Board Basement. Product Description: “All new for 2016 Electric just released the EG 3.5 which is a smaller version of last years huge success the…
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Know your goggles from your goose fat? I’ve chosen the 10 items you should have in your swimming kit bag for Red Bull. Whether you’re training for the gruelling Red Bull Neptune Steps event or just dipping your toe into…
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Picking a new pair of hiking boots can be a complicated endeavour. There’s a lot of choice out there, as well as a lot of jargon, so if you’re on the hunt for one pair of trusty boots it’s worth…
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If you’re lacking motivation to get out and exercise in the cold and rain, I hear you – I’m currently mainlining chocolate digestives and watching another storm approaching on the horizon. However help is to hand! Try togging yourself up…
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If one of your 2017 resolutions is to get on the trails on your mountain bike no matter what the weather, this lovely lot of warm and hardy kit will go the distance with you.
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Win a snuggly pair of Hi-Tec’s Kono Espresso boot, £79.99. Versatile and cosy, these babies were made with winter in mind.
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Strap this beauty to your back and you’ll immediately look like someone off on very big adventures. Here’s my review of Deuter’s Futura Vario 45+10l rucksack, £145. Could it be the Goldilocks size of trekking bags?
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Hello hello festive friends! It’s that very exciting time of year when I share the loveliest outward-bound gifts in the land with you, just in time for Christmas. Find the perfect present for surfers, sailors, cyclists, explorers, wild camper wannabes…
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Newbie in the world of sport climbing? I pretty much still am too, and all the gear I took with me to the crags of Mallorca makes the perfect starter pack if you’re a beginner after decent kit to get…
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Testng out Tatonka’s versatile, travel-friendly Storm hiking rucksack (£110) in the Mexican mountains.
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One question I get asked a lot is whether the perfect versatile and affordable first hiking boot exists. Could these Jack Wolfskin MTN Storm Texapore boots from Cotswold Outdoor (£90) be a contender for the title?
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Ah, autumn, a time of contemplation, colour and really confusing weather. The trick to dressing for the chill is to make like an onion and layer up, and the UNIQLO Heattech range of baselayers matched with their gorgeous flannel shirts,…
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