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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Welcome to heaven, by way of Devon. If you could dream up the perfect place to escape for a weekend with all your friends, it would definitely look rather like Higher Brownstone Farm, one of the National Trust‘s lovely collection…
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Want to ski somewhere a little different next winter? Head east to the mountains of Bulgaria. Bansko is not your average ski town, and fun, friendly Snomads is definitely not your average chalet.
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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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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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Magic is thick in the air in Boscastle, a picture-perfect fishing village hidden on the Cornish coast. And a stay in its heart at Beach Retreats’ wonderful Harbourside Cottage is the perfect way to discover its secrets.
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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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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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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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Ever wondered what explorers and athletes have squirrelled away in their rucksacks? I picked ten classics must-haves for the Red Bull Adventure blog – they’re the first thing to chuck in your kit bag for any adventure. Cult outdoor kit: Read…
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Shade your peepers from the sun with awesome, adventure proof and fully customisable SunGod sunglasses, from £45.
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Sleeping under the stars is a delight in the Robens Fairbanks Tipi, £399 from Outdoor World Direct. This spacious canvas tipi is a canvas home to be proud of – be warned, it might ruin you for all other tents.…
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In my quest for the ultimate all-rounder rucksack I review the Berghaus Remote 25l backpack, £55, modelled here by the gorgeous Florence.
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An escape to Westbrook Court, a characterful farmhouse B&B on the tip of the Brecon Beacons which makes the perfect cosy base from which to explore the glorious hills and bookish villages of the Black Mountains.
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I spent a month gadding about with the Polar A360 fitness tracker, £149.50, attached to my wrist. Here’s my review of a gadget which feels a bit like having a small, waterproof personal trainer on your person at all times.
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They say there’s no such thing as bad weather, just bad gear. But good clothing which can’t stand up to showers is going to kill your outdoors buzz pretty fast. Enter Nikwax, here to waterproof and protect your kit like…
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If you conjured up the perfect cottage it couldn’t be much more charming than Little Holme, one of English Country Cottage‘s properties nestled in the heart of Dartmoor. Take a thatch, roaring fire and roses round the door and add…
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In my quest for outdoors-ready gear that you can wear down the pub I review the fully waterproof Berghaus Ancroft parka, stocked by GO Outdoors. Stormproof, furry-hooded and a bit of a looker, it’s now reduced to only £140.
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Need a dose of sea and serious calm? Head to Chapel House, a light-filled sanctuary in pretty Penzance that feels more stylish home from home than stuffy hotel. This lovely place to stay is the perfect base for hunting out…
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On the hunt for a comfortable, warm winter wetsuit? The entry-level 5/4/3 Animal Amp, £120, promises flexibility and strength in the face of the freezing sea. And it’s got nice purple arms.
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Testing out Arcteryx’s new Atom SL Hoody (£170). Super light at just 235 grams and compact enough to fit in a pocket, this is an efficient and reliably warm mid layer. But is it worth the hefty price tag?
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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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A weekend escape to the quirky charms of Portmeirion village, a wonderfully odd architectural gem which is perfectly positioned on the glorious coast of Snowdonia.
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I’ve been tearing around the Austrian pistes and the Welsh mountains in Odlo’s Blackcomb Evolution range of winter sport underwear, partly made from recyclable materials. I tested out the long baselayer pants (£65) and baselayer shirt (£65). Cosy, comfy and…
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A totally charming weekend at Groves Cottage in Talybont-On-Usk, one of Brecon Cottages’ handpicked places to stay in the National Park. We curled up by the wood stove, wandered in the woods and drank hefty amounts of mulled wine.
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Adventuring in hot and cold climates with the female-specific fit Osprey Talon Tempest 20 litre daysack, £80.
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Cycling kit so lovely you’ll be desperate to head out on your bike on sub-zero mornings just so you can show it off. My picks include bargainous jerseys, lustworthy coordinated kit and a jacket that could well save your life.…
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My penchant for men’s jackets continues with this pumpkin-orange Arete waterproof jacket, £90 from Sprayway at Blacks. It’s been all the way up Mount Kenya and back with me and we’ve both lived to tell the tale.
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My Teva Terra walking sandals, £29.99 from SportsShoes, have been out on many an adventure with me this summer, and I am a big big fan. Dad sandals are officially cool now, you know.
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Grisport’s bright and bold Typhoon, £49, proves a decent entry-level walking boot that’s pocket friendly too.
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New brand on the block Bowhurst make handcrafted backpacks for “the brave and the bold”. I tested out their classic pack, £60, designed with explorers in mind.
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Testing out dhb’s Flashlight Highline jacket, £84.99, designed to keep you snug in all weathers AND make you glow in the dark. Magic!
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Intrepid TV director Ben Anderson reviews Casio’s hardwearing unisex G-LIDE watch 8900 sports watch.
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Adidas launched an awesome new trail shoe, designed for mountain runners and urban explorers. And then they threw a nice party for it.
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Weather you’re planning a season of rock climbing or rock pooling, it’s worth investing now in the right kicks for all your sunshiny adventures. Cotswold Outdoor stock all the footwear you need for the spring and summer.
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Up epic hills, down coastal paths, falling over a lot into bogs – I love trail running, but it takes tough gear to withstand an outing into the wild. Here’s my favourite tried-and-tested rugged kit for getting off the tarmac…
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