It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Be the super-organised person you always wish you were and buy all your Christmas gifts early this winter, with a little help from my extremely handy gift guide. There’s something for everyone,…
View Post
It’s the most wonderful time of the year… the snow season. Winter is coming – and if you’re planning on heading to cold climes for a snowsports holiday or to work a season, you’ll need to kit yourself out with…
View Post
Testing out the expensive but deliciously comfortable Jottnar Fenrir down jacket, £295, in the wild – I reckon this beautiful bit of outdoor kit is worth the spend. Review: Jottnar Fenrir jacket Product description: “The Fenrir is stuffed with 850…
View Post
Are you heading for the magical high mountains of the Himalayas? The mountain range spanning India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, China, Bhutan and Nepal is one of the wonders of the world, and an incredible place to go trekking. I spent the…
View Post
Kathmandu reckon their Benmore 5-in-1 jacket, £223, is the ultimate travel jacket. Time to put it to the test. Product description: “It’s a rain jacket with a down bomber jacket/vest inside. Zip in the bomber or zip off the sleeves…
View Post
I took the rugged, waterproof Land Rover Explore phone (£600) on three months of adventures to see how if it lived up to its claims of being bombproof in the great outdoors. Land Rover Explore phone review In the wild:…
View Post
On my neverending quest for the perfect backpack I put Thule’s 45l, female-specific AllTrail, £145, through its paces. Thule AllTrail rucksack review Product description: “A versatile, all-around pack built to withstand any season and countless activities. It’s the one pack…
View Post
Oh hello, have you met the Fjällräven Kånken? I’m sure you’ll recognize this iconic little backpack – it’s been having a bit of a hipster moment recently, but its design heritage goes way back to the 1970s. The cheerfully coloured…
View Post
Meet my all-time favourite backpacking tent, the MSR Hubba Hubba two-man tent, £300. I’ve had a few people comment on the sudden explosion of photos of my shiny new tent on Instagram, and it’s true that my Hubba Hubba has…
View Post
Morning sunshine! Getting ready for a spring and summer of little adventures? Pack the best new camping kit in my favourite new rucksack, get on my new go-to bike and go exploring. COVETABLE KIT Trakke Assynt 17 rucksack, £175 Ooh,…
View Post
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…
View Post
Oh hello Storm Emma! Feeling the cold bite? Get cosy in the snow in Fjallraven’s Nuuk parka, £420.
View Post
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.
View Post
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…
View Post
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…
View Post
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.
View Post
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.
View Post
‘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,…
View Post
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:…
View Post
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…
View Post
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.
View Post
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.
View Post
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…
View Post
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…
View Post
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…
View Post
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…
View Post
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.
View Post
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.
View Post
Cycling around town in the Bern Parker (£74.99)helmet, a good-looking and comfortable lid ideal for city commuters.
View Post
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…
View Post
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…
View Post
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.
View Post
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.
View Post
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…
View Post
If Little Red Riding Hood were wandering through rainy forests today I reckon she’d wear Finisterre’s beautifully made Litus jacket, £150.
View Post
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…
View Post
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…
View Post
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…
View Post