Dartmoor: what is it and where is it? Located in the southwest of England, Dartmoor National Park spans 954 square kilometers in southwest England and is renowned for its rugged landscapes and rich history. Home to ancient granite tors, expansive moorlands, and winding rivers, Dartmoor offers diverse terrain for outdoor enthusiasts. The park features an array of walking and cycling trails, with highlights including the iconic Dartmoor Way and the challenging Ten Tors expedition. When you’re done reading this, be sure to check out our second favourite hiking destination. Our pick of the best wa ..read more

If you’re doing any mountain hiking in the UK around this time of year, especially in Scotland, you’re almost certain to end up hiking in snow. Climbing snowy mountains is one of the most exciting and invigorating kinds of hiking you can do, in my opinion. However, it can be intimidating and sometimes dangerous, with risks that are far greater than in warm, snow-free conditions. Those risks can be mitigated with experience and training, good forward-planning, and taking the right equipment. This post isn’t a substitute for experience, training and planning – but it is going to focus on some o ..read more

This Vango Nitestar 375 review comes courtesy of one of our subscribers, Zak. This sleeping bag is, we feel, a less costly alternative to the likes of the Thermarest Saros and Rab Ascent 700 although it’s also less capable. He recently took the sleeping bag on a series of expeditions as part of the Duke of Edinburgh’s award scheme (if you have kids, and you’re in the UK, I recommend you look at enrolling them – I completed the silver award many moons ago and it is one the most fun and challenging activities I took part in at that age). Here goes, the Vango Nitestar 375 as reviewed by 15 year-o ..read more

Hey there, fellow trail blazers! If you’re like us here at TrekSumo, you’re always on the hunt for the next best piece of hiking gear. Well, we might’ve just discovered something for you. Say hello to the Ortovox Traverse 30 – an all-rounder backpack. I’ve been looking for a replacement for my trusted Deuter Guide 35+ and it was love at first orange-tinged sight, so I put this little beast through its paces on challenging terrains, and it’s time to share what we found. Strap in folks, this is an adventure review you don’t want to miss! Table Of Contents The Ortovox 30 'in a nutshell' Why t ..read more

Finding a good quality sleeping mat that will keep you warm on those chill nights filling your rucksack to the brim, and leaving only enough room for a pair of gloves, has long been hit and miss. Get it wrong and you’ll be either cold or hungry (or you’ll have to scrimp on a change of clothing). Jake and I have trialled several sleeping mats over the years, from dense foam mats to self-inflating (and, when you lay on a sharp rock, deflating) including the likes of Therm-a-Rest and Nemo and we find it hard to beat ME’s offerings (which is why I’m writing this review of the Mountain Equipment He ..read more

Jöttnar – despite the Scandinavian-sounding name, are a British brand that are a relative newcomer to the world of high-end outdoors gear. They have an excellent pedigree, having been founded by former UKSF operators, and produce a relatively small, focused range of serious outdoors kit. Everything in the range makes sense and fits into a well-ordered layering system – which I find satisfying, personally. Style, purpose and construction This particular item is a fleece mid-layer and, specifically, a hoodless quarter-zip (or, really, more of a half-zip), although similar full-zip and full-zip-w ..read more

Spending time exploring the great outdoors allows you to connect with nature, challenge yourself physically and create unforgettable memories which can be an incredibly rewarding experience. At the same time, the great outdoors can present a variety of challenges and potential risks, from changing weather conditions to rugged terrain and wildlife encounters. Whether you’re embarking on a short day hike or planning a multi-day trek in the backcountry, prioritizing trekking safety is crucial to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience. With proper planning, knowledge, and awareness, you may be ab ..read more

What is rucking? Rucking is an outdoor activity similar to hiking, but usually carried out at a faster pace and originated in the military where there is a requirement to move formations of troops over rugged terrain carrying all warfighting equipment in a rucksack. Participants wear a rucksack which can be loaded with varying weights dependent on the individual’s strength and fitness. For a fuller explanation, see this post: what is rucking? In summary, rucking is simply walking with a weighted backpack but is typically conducted at a pace aimed at improving your overall fitness. Table Of C ..read more

We’ve finally decided to review one of Mammut’s hooded jackets. How does it stack up against the competition? The Mammut logo, minus the mammoth (which I think is pretty cool) Given the above statement, you might think we are not fans of Mammut, that we don’t like the company or their gear. This isn’t the case as we recently bought a hardshell jacket from the same company and the review will be up soon. Jake and I have so many jackets to review and we often find it hard to get time to fit them all in, but when we do every single jacket, or other piece of outdoor gear, is worked hard (sometimes ..read more

The Caldera lineage The Brooks Caldera 6 running shoe is the latest iteration in a line of trail running shoes that originated in December 2016. This is the first pair of Brooks shoes I’ve owned (I’m a massive fan of Hoka and Altra – more on those later) and, as you’d expect, I put them through a rigorous testing plan to ensure the information is in this review is both accurate and fair. As they’re designed for trails, I ran across various terrains – deep mud, loose gravel and tracks – to ensure they were put through their paces. Brooks Caldera 6 first impressions As with any running shoes, I ..read more