The Great Outdoors April issue

The April issue of The Great Outdoors is out now. Yes, I know it's not quite March but there's a Spring issue to be squeezed between April and May.

In this issue I review three pairs of dark glasses and goggles, the Inov-8 Roclite Pro G400 shoes, and the Land Rover Explore R phone, and have a first look at the new Jetboil Stash stove system. 

In the first piece of a guide to backpacking tents sponsored by Hilleberg I discuss the advantages and disadvantages of different types of tents. Sponsered by Hilleberg? That's the way magazine advertising is going at present and it's advertising that keeps magazines alive. I think it's okay as long as it's clearly labelled, as this piece is, and as long as the editorial section is independent, which mine is. 

Also in the gear pages Lucy Wallace reviews nine head torches. 

Away from gear there's a glorious opening spread of Tryfan and the Ogwen Valley by Alan Novelli.  Hannah Lindon describes the Dubhs scramble in the Cuillin, a route recently descended by Danny MacAskill on a mountain bike, which is astounding. Hannah Lindon also asks virologist Muge Cevik about the risks of Covid-19 transmission in the outdoors. The answers are very reassuring. TGO Challenge co-ordinators Sue Oxley and Ali Ogden look at the magic of winter camping, something I'm really missing at the moment. Jim Perrin is captivated by Caer Caradoc in Shropshire.

In longer features Quintin Lake describes the three inland diversions to the highest summits of England, Wales and Scotland that he made during his five year walk round the coast of mainland Britain, Jessie Leong describes how she became a Mountain Leader, David Lintern takes on the scrambly south ridge of Ben More Assynt, and Kristen Thue takes on a much bigger scramble, Corsica's GR20.