New boutique brands worth knowing about and some old classics that might not have made it onto your radar yet Running is a sport with incredibly low barriers to entry. All you really need is a pair of running shoes, some running shorts and a t-shirt and that’s enough to get you going. As you start to progress in your running journey however, you might want to start picking up some gear that’ll keep up with your ambitions – tops that’ll keep you cool, running socks to wick your sweat away, trail running shoes to take your adventures off-road and insulation to keep you out all year-round. There ..read more

From ultralight ankle socks, to protective crew socks. Here’s what to look for when buy a pair of running socks Make no mistake, choosing the right running sock could make or break a great day on the road or out in the hills. If you’re someone who, quite rightly, invested a lot of money into a decent pair of trail running shoes, then ensuring your feet are wrapped up in an equally high performing pair of running socks is the key to comfort over long distances in the hills. What Makes a Great Running Sock? Although running socks provide cushioning and comfort while you’re pounding mile after m ..read more

Get planning some bikepacking trips, hiking adventures and more with these handy hiking apps designed for navigation and route plotting and sharing While paper maps are important – essential some might say – on hiking adventures in wild places, a good navigational app can be incredibly handy for those times when you’ve taken a wrong turn on the trail, or have misread your map coordinates, and need to quickly get your bearings. There are some that also offer ways to discover and follow routes that other people have created, taking away the need for lots of careful plotting.  There are, ho ..read more

We’ve tested a variety of camping chairs, ranging from super light options small enough for a backpack, to super comfy options for sinking into outside of your camper Photo: kelty.com/ @ournorthernworld For campsite holidays, beach trips or even wild camping adventures alike, a camping chair is the item you always thank yourself for bringing. Easily forgotten, but rarely regretted; after a long day of outdoor activities such as hiking, kayaking or mountain biking, a seat to sink into and rest your weary limbs can feel like a luxury. This is certainly true when t ..read more

Heading for warmer climes for your adventures? Take on land and sea with our roundup of the best walking sandals for 2023 Now might be a good time to get a pair of the best walking sandals. With summery adventures beckoning on the hazy horizon, the versatility offered by the finest adventure sandals will come into its own. Whether you’ve got your eyes on rocky scrambles or are planning to embark on some water sports, you’ll be surprised at just how well a walking sandal performs across a range of demanding activities. The best walking sandals are designed to give you the breathability and goo ..read more

‘An essential safety tool for travelling through winter mountains’ – here are some of the best ice axes on the market, including options from Black Diamond, DMM, Salewa and more Ice axes are an essential safety tool for travelling through winter mountains. They provide stability, enable you to cut steps in hard snow or test the depth of a snow drift. If you fall, you can (hopefully) use your ice axe to stop your slide to doom. And in steeper winter mountaineering routes, they become necessary tools to get you up your route.  There are many types of ice axes for a whole spectrum of winter ..read more

For active women, choosing the right sports bra is arguably more important than getting the right footwear. What to opt for depends on the activity, chest size, and of course personal preference. Here’s how to choose, and 10 of the best, tried and tested Any woman who has exercised in an inadequate, old sports bra (or worse, without a sports bra at all), will understand the importance of supporting your chest during exercise. Without one, sport is painful, but it goes deeper than that. Wearing the wrong sports bra causes breast sagging, and damages the connective tissue and Cooper’s ligaments ..read more

With unique body mapped constructions, impressive technical features and variety of different colours and sizes – here’s our round-up of some of the best walking trousers for women on the market right now A good pair of walking trousers will be able to stand up to constant abrasion, changes in conditions and they’ll also provide conveniences like storage for things like your phone, compass and map. But there’s no point in having a high performance pair that tick all of these boxes if they’re not going to feel comfortable to walk in. And that’s why we’ve put together this test of the best wome ..read more

Perfect for hiking, walking, skiing and more – here’s our favourite hand warmers on the market this winter. The winter months are often the best months to appreciate our unique landscapes here in the UK. Popular hikes that are otherwise famous for their green valleys, spiky-grey ridge lines and wildflower backdrops, become seas of white fields, snow-capped peaks and hardy winter shrubs. Our local walks quickly become whole new worlds to explore. They also open up a whole host of different technical adventures like winter mountaineering, skiing, ice climbing and more. Whilst exciting and reward ..read more

Don’t let the cold ruin your winter runs – keep your hands and fingers cosy with 8 of the best running gloves for 2023 Freezing hands and numb fingers will ruin the pleasure of your winter run – so when the cold weather arrives, a high quality pair of running gloves are essential. They will keep your hands cosy, block the effects of wind and rain, wick away sweat and – in many cases – enable you to continue using the touchscreens of your phone and GPS smartwatch.  Gone are the days of glove-buying being a simple procedure. There are a myriad of different styles, materials and designs on ..read more