Designed for winter conditions, the Fjällräven Keb Agile are seriously burly mountain hiking pants made from the brand’s G-1000 Stretch fabric, which is a form of heavyweight softshell. There’s a good degree of stretch here, and the soft backing makes the fabric warm enough for all but the most extreme winter conditions. I haven’t felt the need to layer long johns under them. Alex Roddie’s Best in TestFor winter use, it’s hard to fault these. But they are high in price, and I’d find them too warm from spring through to early autumn. Pros High waist Warm enough for winter Fit over big boots ..read more

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A light vest is a useful item when you just need a touch of extra warmth and I often carry one as a spare layer though it rarely leaves the pack. However I’ve been wearing Patagonia’s Nano Air light regularly in recent months as it’s proved much more versatile than most vests. That’s because it’s made from air permeable fabrics that are very breathable whilst still providing protection from breezes. Chris Townsend Highly RecommendsI like the Nano Air Light Vest very much. It is expensive for a vest though. Pros Lightweight Compact Breathable Warm Recycled materials Cons Expensive ..read more

The Freeflow has been a popular staple of Berghaus’s backpack range since it was launched in 1996 and was one of the first packs with a ventilated back system. There have been several updates over the years but this 2024 version is a much bigger change than any previous ones because Berghaus has set out to create a pack with the advantages of both ventilated back and close-fitting pack systems. I think they’ve succeeded. Chris Townsend Highly Recommends The 3D Freeflow 30+5L lives up to its claims to combine the advantages of ventilated and body-hugging packs and is an excellent day pack. Pr ..read more

The new TX4 Evo from Sportiva is probably the best all-rounder in our guide to scrambling shoes, providing more walking support at the expense of just a touch of precision when on more technical terrain – but only just. David Lintern Highly Recommends For me, these are smart looking, tough, and more than technical enough for anything with a scrambling grade. Pros Excellent build quality Good braking Can resole Cons A little less precise than others Quick specs Price: £170 Weight: 924g (pair size 10.5) Materials: Suede leather + rubber protective edge and protective rubber toe ..read more

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Unparallel is pretty new on the scene and started with climbing shoes, but have now branched out to approach and biking shoes. The Unparallel Rock Guide has a very similar feel to an old Five Tennie approach shoe, being soft and comfortable. The sole is made from Unparallel’s RH rubber compound, which is used on some of their climbing shoes, so it’s a guaranteed grippy sole. The climbing zone extends along the length of your big toe, allowing you to use it on small edges sideways, as well as straight on. The tread pattern is small and shallow, so while it doesn’t get in the way for scrambling ..read more

In this review Alex Roddie takes a look at the Summit to Eat Beef and Potato Stew backpacking meal The packaging provides all of the essential information, including both a file line and fill volume in millilitres, although the instructions are tiny and hard to read. The ingredients list shows few obvious additives beyond rapeseed oil. However, there is added salt, and it’s also relatively high in sugar. Alex Roddie’s verdictAlthough the experience of eating this wasn’t as pleasant as the other meals tested, Summit to Eat is still worth considering for an affordable option. Pros Excellent v ..read more

In this review Alex Roddie takes a look at the Adventure Nutrition Chicken and Vegetable Pasta backpacking meal The packaging gains points here for very clear pictorial instructions, including an obvious fill scale marked in millilitres. There are added palm oil and rapeseed oil in the ingredients. You do get peas, onions, mushrooms, and red bell peppers along with your pasta, though – and it’s another meal with added protein, this time from soya. Alex Roddie’s VerdictI would have preferred larger chunks. I found it to be a tasty meal, although the sauce was slightly oily. Pros High in ..read more

In this review Alex Roddie takes a look at the REAL Turmat Taco Bowl backpacking meal and gives his full thoughts. REAL Turmat backpacking meals are freeze-dried, which means that the ingredients retain their shape and structure better than other forms of dehydration. The end result: meals that taste a bit more like real meals, and often have better texture and mouthfeel. REAL Turmat’s taco bowl is a good example of this, as I often forgot that I was eating a dehydrated meal when enjoying it. Alex Roddie’s Verdict Pros Great flavour Creamy texture Cons Additives Fewer calories than some ..read more