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| Mountain Laurel Designs SoloMid XL, Atom Packs The Mo 60 |
Here's my annual favourite gear of the year roundup following another twelve months testing gear for The Great Outdoors. Not all the items were new for this year, just tested by me for the first time. As in previous years they don't necessarily replace ones from previous years or old favourites and they're in no particular order. More detailed reviews of some of the items can be found on the TGO website - I've given links to these reviews. For other items, a few of which I haven't reviewed yet but most of which appeared in the print magazine in trip reports or comparative reviews, the link is to the company page or a UK retailer.
Designed for mountaineering it's built to be "virtually indestructible". The single piece fabric is almost waterproof, which is great. There's no frame, just padding in the back, and this isn't shaped. There are no top tensions traps either but the shoulder straps and hipbelt are well padded. Despite this basic design it carries as well or better than manypacks with much more complex "technical designs".
It has no external pockets, just webbing straps and shockcord, and no lid, just a foldover top. Once I adapted my packing to this design I found it easy to use.
I've always liked lightweight simple fleece tops, finding them versatile because they aren't too warm and thus easy to layer with other garments without overheating. The Loki snap-neck pullover is one of the best I've tried in many years. The fleece is soft and comfortable and it has a big kangaroo pocket on the front which I love and which can be used when wearing a hipbelt. My review is scheduled for the March issue of The Great Outdoors.
Inov-8 Rocfly G 390
Described as hiking boots the Rocfly G are actually more like trail shoes with a high ankle as they're very light and very flexible. The wide fit is just right for my feet and I find them very comfortable. I used them on several trips, including the two-weeks in Knoydart, and they performed perfectly and look as though they should last well. They are well-cushioned and have good grip.
Rab Vapour-Rise Alpine Light
As an alternative for a fleece/windproof combination Vapour-Rise is excellent with its wind-resistant outer and wicking inner. The Alpine Light has the thinnest inner of Rab's Vapour-Rise range and so isn't too warm when walking in cool but not freezing weather. I wore it every day on a stormy October trip in the Eastern Cairngorms and it was superb. The jacket is very light and has a good hood and useful pockets.
Mountain Laurel Designs SoloMid XL
Pitching with a single trekking pole this ultralight pyramid shelter is roomy and easy to pitch. Headroom is great too. There's a mesh inner for bug season but most of the time I've used it with just a groundsheet.
The SoloMid Xl is made from silpoly rather than silnylon which has the advantage that it doesn't stretch and sag when wet.
Pacerpole Tops
Pacerpoles have been by far and away my favourite trekking poles since I first used a pair many, many years ago. I haven't done a long-distance walk without them since. The key to Pacerpoles is the shaped handle, which I find very comfortable and which make using the poles very efficient.
Pacerpole Tops are the handles and top sections with cam-based lever locks to attach them to the lower sections from other poles. I've tried them with several different poles and they work really well.
Back in 2016 I reviewed the Berghaus VapourLight HyperTherm Hoody and was very impressed with this ultralight insulated jacket. I wore it on my Yosemite Valley to Death Valley walk that year and have taken it on every long-distance walk since. It's astonishingly light and compact, very comfortable, wind resistant, and about as warm as a midweight fleece. I love it! Berghaus dropped it several years ago though, something I have bemoaned quite a few times.
Now, though, it's back. The name is different and there's a few design tweaks but essentially the MTN Arete LB is the same as the VapourLight HyperTherm. It's just as comfortable and performs just the same. Thank you Berghaus!
Keen WK400
It took me a little while to get used to these unusual shoes as they have soles that curve up at the front and the back. This give a rolling feel when walking. On hard fairly smooth surfaces like roads or well-made paths this really does have an effect. On rougher terrain it's less noticeable.
The shoes have good grip and thick cushioning and are very comfortable. My only gripe is that they don't come in Kenn's trademark wide fit and I had to go up a size and even then can only wear them with thin socks. I'd love a wider pair!
Gruezi Biopod DownWool Subzero 185 Sleeping Bag
This unusual sleeping bag is filled with a mix of down and wool.Gruezi says the wool absorbs any moisture, allowing the down to loft fully. I can't say just how well it works but I have used it on a succession of very damp nights and it kept me warm. It is adequate to just below zero but it's not a full winter bag.
The bag is comfortable. I like the zip design. It curves over the bag and across the base so you can stick your feet out if they get too hot.
This is the larger version of The Mo 50 that I included in my Favourite Gear of 2021 and reviewed here. Whilst I have used the 50 for overnight warm weather trips I prefer 60 litres for longer trips and ones where I need more or bulkier gear. For me it's the ideal size for backpacking.
The Mo 60 is lightweight and has plenty of pockets. I find it very comfortable and very stable.
Nortent Vern 1
I hadn't heard of Nortent until Valley and Peak asked if I would like to test the Vern 1. The tent only arrived in the autumn and has not had much use yet. So far I am impressed. It's a solo single hoop tent with a huge porch with doors that open both sides of the pole. The inner is very long and has good headroom in the centre. It's very easy to pitch as a unit. It comes with a second pole that runs the length of the tent for extra stability in strong winds and snowfall. I have't used this yet but will do so soon.
Outdoor Research Helium AscentShell
Lightweight and very breathable this waterproof jacket is ideal for year-round backpacking. I wore it on the wet two-week Knoydart trip mentioned in the Built to Send X3 review above and it was excellent. The membrane inside is Pertex Shield Air. This is slightly air-permeable, which aids breathability, but does mean the jacket isn't 100% windproof. However I've worn it in some very strong cold winds and not noticed this so I don't think it's significant.
Therm-A-Rest Parsec 20F/-6C Sleeping Bag
This is a very comfortable lightweight sleeping bag with an 800 fill power hydrophobic down fill and a recycled nylon shell. There are straps for attaching it to a sleeping mat on the bottom. I haven't used these
as the bag is roomy enough for me to turn over inside it, keeping the base, which has less fill, under me. I've been warm in it with no extra clothing at -5C so I reckon the rating is about right, at least for me (I am a warm sleeper).
Moggans Midweight Merino Crew Socks
Moggans was a new name in socks to me. It means woollen stocking in Scots and the company is Scottish. These socks are made from merino wool, recycled polyamide, and elastane. I find them very comfortable even when soaked. They breathe well and are quite warm.
Altra Lone Peak lightweight and flexible trail shoes have been a favourite for the last seven years and I've worn them on several long-distance walks. This latest version comes in two widths for the first time. Given my foot shape I went for the Wide fit, though I suspect the Original fit would have been fine. Lone Peaks have a wide toebox and a zero drop sole, both of which I like. The grip is excellent and the cushioning good.
Rab Mythic G
Down jackets are usually very light for the warmth provided. The Mythic G however is not just very light, it's astonishingly light. And very warm. This is due to 1000 fill power down and a reflective lining. The jacket feels instantly warm as soon as you pull it on and is very comfortable. It packs into a tiny bundle too - tiny even for a down jacket. It's designed for mountaineering but I think it's superb for backpacking.
Sierra Designs Flex Capacitor 40-60L
I've been impressed with the Flex Capacitor pack since I tested the original version back in 2018. I liked it so much that I took it on a 400 mile walk in the Colorado Rockies the next year. The supportive and comfortable back system hasn't changed and the volume can still easily be changed with adjustment straps. However the latest version has big stretch mesh pockets on each side.I think this is an improvement.
Keela Pinnacle
Big burly fully specified waterproof jackets designed for the winter mountains are usually expensive. The Pinnacle is an exception. It has all the features and performance of other jackets at a much lower cost. It has an excellent wired hood, roomy pockets, and underarm zips. Breathability isn't quite up to more expensive fabrics but I haven't notice this make a significant difference.
Nice roundup Chris. Happy New Year!
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