Country walking gear test 2017

Tried. Tested. Rated. Loved.

GEAR TEST YEARBOOK Part one

SPRING/ SUMMER 2017

YOUR COMPLETE GUIDE TO THIS YEAR’S OUTDOOR GEAR

WATERPROOFS

WALKING SHOES

RUCKSACKS

BASE LAYERS

ACCESSORIES

34 HELIUM ORT IRCOMF ior A R E T U DE uper fect fit, s d for a per rt and unrivalle o f carry com k ventilation bac pack to www.deutergb.co.uk

GEAR TEST YEARBOOK

Welcome FROM THE HIGH boulder fields of the Lake District (like this one, on Great Gable) to the swampiest, boggiest field-paths of Gloucestershire, the Country Walking team loves to give kit a good bashing about. If it’s rocky, soggy, mucky, murky, dusty or gloopy, we’ll be out in it – because it’s exactly what you’re doing, too. Tricky terrain? Bad weather?

Pah! CW readers are out there in the profound and beautiful belief that neither of those things should spoil a good walk. And if you’ve got the right kit for your needs, they never will. So this Yearbook is your at-a-glance guide to everything we’ve tested in 2016-17, with revisions and updates based on longer-term use. In each chapter you’ll find tips on what makes a great product, our favourite items from the year, and the complete archive of everything we tested.

Part 2 will follow in our November issue. In the meantime, we’ll be back out doing this kind of thing. We’ll see you out there.

CONTENTS 4 WATERPROOFS It rains occasionally. Get something that makes you not care about that. Like these.

10 WALKING SHOES Light and nimble footwear for days when a boot is too much.

16 BIG RUCKSACKS 30-60L packs that are perfect for summer trails when you want to be ready for anything.

22 BASE-LAYERS Technical tops and casual shirts for warm days (and a few for cold ones too).

29 ACCESSORIES Socks, GPS units, poles, shades: little things that have a big impact.

Nick Hallissey, Deputy Editor, Country Walking  In most cases the products we test come in both men’s and women’s styles, as indicated by these coloured dots Reviewers Rachel Broomhead, Nick Hallissey, Philip Thomas Art Editor Jane Frusher Photography Tom Bailey Production Editor Tim Unwin

GEAR TEST YEARBOOK 2017 3

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JACKETS I T O CC AS I O N A L LY R A I N S I N B R I TA I N .

B U T I N O N E O F T H E S E JAC K E TS , T H AT D O E S N ’ T M AT T E R

T

HE WATERPROOF JACKET is usually the most expensive item in a walker’s gear cupboard; a decent and reliable one costing anywhere between £100 and £300, depending on how much of an all-weather walker you are.

And even if you’re a grizzled multi-day trail-hiker come hell or high water, it’s still the item you hope will stay in your pack as long as possible. That said, when you’re caught out on a wild coastline or high on a Pennine moor (we always pick the Pennines for that analogy; apologies, Pennines), the rain is coming in sideways and you’ve got two more days of it ahead of you, a jacket that keeps you dry, snug and as warm as you want to be instantly earns every penny of that big spend. So here is our round-up of every jacket we’ve looked at in the past 12 months. We hope it’ll help you spend wisely and choose a jacket that will last you for years.

We start with the ingredients for a good ’un (in this case, the excellent Velez jacket from Páramo) – and what to look for when you’re out shopping for one…

POCKETS Where there’s a zip, there’s a chance of those sneaky little droplets getting in, so always make sure the pockets take as much precaution against that as possible. That might mean a strip of waterproof tape over the top of the zip or, on cheaper jackets, a flap of fabric above and/or below the zip. Also check whether the pockets are obscured by the hip-belt of your rucksack; chest pockets are often handier in that respect.

CUFFS A well-made cuff helps keep out water and wind when it’s awful, but unwraps neatly to help you vent heat in between the showers. Some jackets use a simple cinch-cuff but most use a Velcro tab to maximise adjustability.

LENGTH This jacket has a scooped back or drop-tail, i.e, the back is longer than the front. This ensures you can still lift your knees easily on steep ascents but that as you do so, the back doesn’t ride up, exposing your lower back. Other jackets can be long at the front too, giving protection to your thighs. Jackets like that usually have a two-way zip so you can unzip from the bottom to lift your knees.

4 GEAR TEST YEARBOOK 2017

H I STO RY I N THE MAKING Páramo was founded in 1984 by ecologist and entrepreneur Nick Brown.

It’s named after the rainy tundra area of the Andes where Nick tested his first products.

HOOD Heavy-duty waterproofs usually have three points of adjustment on the hood: two cords by the chin and one at the back of the head.

Lighter jackets usually only have one. This one has a good stiff peak, which shields your face from driving rain. Some hoods are removable or stowable in the collar, allowing the jacket to function more like a soft shell on dry, breezy days, but more specialist products will keep the hood fixed, as the makers assume that if you’ve put the jacket on, you need the hood ready and waiting.

FABRIC Most waterproof fabrics consist of a laminated hard shell exterior (often called the face fabric) with a waterproof and breathable membrane inside. The membrane could be the brand’s own or a ‘bought-in’ specialist membrane such as Gore-Tex or eVent. You’ll generally pay more for the latter options. But Páramo jackets like this one have a different approach: Nikwax Analogy fabric, which comprises two directional layers that transport moisture away from you.

VENTILATION Staying dry is really only part of the equation with a waterproof jacket – it also needs to manage heat. Very little feels worse on a walk than a jacket whose interior becomes hot, moist and clammy when it rains. Underarm pit-zips like these are the simplest way of venting heat; additionally this jacket also has an internal mesh layer to conduct heat and moisture to the outer surface.

VOLUME Sometimes you’ll be wearing your jacket just over a base-layer; sometimes you’ll have a thick fleece or soft shell on too. So make sure you try on your jacket with and without a mid-layer, to make sure the fit is generous enough to allow for it but slim enough to compress round your torso when you’re just in a base-layer.

GEAR TEST YEARBOOK 2017 5

A collapsible, fully featured cooking system

HEAT RESISTANT FOOD G RADE

A collapsible, two-person cook system featuring an award-winning 2.8L X-Pot for camp stove cooking, two X-Bowls and two X-Mugs.

Go to seatosummit.co.uk for the complete X-Series range.

Waterpr fs

OUR TOP FOUR COLUMBIA OUTDRY EX GOLD £120 This innovative waterproof uses a different approach to most.

OutDry is a waterproof/breathable membrane which is heat-bonded to the external shell of the jacket, rather than being sandwiched between two layers of fabric as happens normally. This makes it lighter and gives the face fabric a soft, vinyl feel. And it has been resolutely waterproof, even in the worst conditions. www.columbiasportswear.co.uk

RAB FIREWALL £200 The Firewall sets the benchmark for everything a £200 waterproof should be. Sleek, slimlined, utterly reliable and packed with sensible features, there isn’t much you can’t like about it. The materials are top-notch, underlined by the three-layer Pertex Shield fabric which is stretchy and very breathable. All three main zips are perfectly placed so that rucksack straps don’t obscure them. The only questionable feature is a pair of massive pit-zips. www.rab.equipment

BERGHAUS ISLAND PEAK GTX £220 A superb jacket with great ecological credentials: the Colourkind dyeing process uses 89% less water and 63% fewer chemicals than normal methods. The Gore-Tex membrane is never troubled by rain and breathes better than most of its kind. We also like the ventilation zips, which are placed up the torso rather than in the fiddly, rather irritating underarm placement more commonly found on jackets of this calibre. www.berghaus.com

Testers'

CHOICE

2017

PÁRAMO VELEZ £275 The Velez has been a bestseller for many years, but so far it has always been a pullover smock. This year we saw a new jacket version, and it’s every bit as good, with the added virtue of not having to wrestle it on over your head. It’s also a great insulator; even on cold days you can wear it over a thicker base-layer and not be too troubled by wind and cold. The scooped back keeps your behind dry, while the Nikwax Analogy fabric should last for ages with a bit of regular aftercare. www.paramo-clothing.com GEAR TEST YEARBOOK 2017 7

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CLASS OF 2017 QUECHUA FORCLAZ 100 £40

KARRIMOR SIERRA £65 A perfect ‘just in case’ jacket at a good price.

Lightweight thus very packable, it’s great as an emergency layer, but it lacks serious waterproof power so it struggles in persistent heavy rain. www.karrimor.com

An outstanding budget buy. Has most of the features you’d expect from a much pricier jacket; only let down by a cheap mesh interior, floppy hood and heavy, chunky zips. www.decathlon.co.uk

REGATTA GRISEDALE HYBRID £100

Best VALUE 2017

A perfectly priced, well-featured waterproof that uses Regatta’s own IsoTex fabric but also offers a good degree of insulation through the torso. Look for big discounts right now. www.regatta.com

SPRAYWAY NAXOS £100 Sprayway’s most popular waterproofs are the budget-friendly Nyx and the high-spec Zeus, but this is a new halfway house with a good mix of features. Only let down by a baggy mesh interior and an overlarge hood. www.sprayway.com

JACK WOLFSKIN CHILLY MORNING £110

PATAGONIA TORRENTSHELL £110

As its name suggests, this one offers insulation as well as waterproofing.

A joy to wear on very cold, wet days, but the main zip is unprotected and the jacket heats up quickly on sustained hill-climbs. www.jack-wolfskin.com

Sleek, packable and unpretentious say Patagonia, and for once it’s a marketing summary we can wholeheartedly vouch for. Not packed with features but absolutely reliable. www.patagonia.com

MOUNTAIN WAREHOUSE GLACIER EXTREME £120 The RRP is £120 but you will usually find this jacket for a lot less in MW’s high street stores. A longer-length cut and big, snuggly volume make this a real comforter on cold, wet days. www. mountainwarehouse.com 8 GEAR TEST YEARBOOK 2017

KEELA PROSPORT ADV £125 Superb option for fast-and-light walkers.

Face fabric has a soft, fuzzy feel and the polyester has a delicate, papery weave. Huge and well-placed pockets that easily take an OS map. www.keela.co.uk

YOUR GUIDE TO THE OTHER JACKETS WE TESTED IN 2016/17 (ARRANGED IN ASCENDING ORDER OF RETAIL PRICE)

BERGANS SUPER LETT £170

ROHAN FALL LINE £179

Comes in three lengths and offers well-placed pockets and a sturdy, wire-peaked hood. Lacks an internal lining so not as cosy as some, but the materials are high quality throughout the package. www.nordiclife.co.uk

The best insulating waterproof we’ve used this year; the Fall Line is polar-explorer cosy and reliable in heavy rain. Too warm for seasons other than autumn and winter – but perfect in those. www.rohan.co.uk

HELLY HANSEN JOLA £200

MAMMUT MASAO £235

A jacket designed with both walking and winter sports in mind, so it’s a bit heavy on skier features and the hood is overlarge.

And it’s heavier than most in its class. But the fit is generous and it doesn’t half keep the rain off. www.hellyhansen.com

A jacket for serious adventures in icy mountains, with a stiff, crinkly fabric that fends off hail and blizzard conditions with ease. Some will like the short, athletic cut; for others it will limit leg movement somewhat. www.mammut.ch

HAGL HAGLÖFS GRAM COMP £250

BERGANS EIDFJORD £280

The best fast/light jacket we tried all year. Weighs just 297g and the features are stripped down, but it packs real punch, including Gore-Tex Active membrane.

Superb, but it’s for sprinters not amblers. www.haglofs.com/gb

An absolutely stonking jacket: full of features, reliably waterproof and green cred: its production uses a waste byproduct of sugar rather than fossil fuels. It has everything, and it all works beautifully. www.nordiclife.co.uk

MONTANE SURGE £300

FJÄLLRÄVEN ABISKO ECO-SHELL £300

Articulation and tailoring make this feel like a second skin over tough terrain, and we especially like the totally adjustable hood.

It’s also very light (just 300g) even with Gore-Tex in the mix. All-weather hillwalkers should love it. www.montane.co.uk

Most Fjällräven jackets have to be rubbed with wax to make them waterproof, but not this one. The Abisko is fully waterproof from the outset. It’s also very light and well tailored, and the Eco-Shell recycled face fabric feels beautifully classy. www.fjallraven.co.uk GEAR TEST YEARBOOK 2017 9

Walking

SHOES L I G H T, AG I L E A N D F U N TO W E A R : WA L K I N G S H O E S A R E T H E S U M M E RT I M E A LT E R N AT I V E TO A B I G , H E AVY B O OT. . .

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OT EVERY DAY needs a boot. If you aren’t heading over a boulder field or across a lot of boggy moorland, a good shoe will often do just as well, and make you lighter, quicker and more nimble at the same time. They’re lighter, softer and less likely to make your feet overheat.

Plus, assuming your car doesn’t mind a bit of mud, you can drive home in them afterwards. And they’re often stylish and subtle enough to wear socially, too.

Walking shoes come under a variety of monikers such as ‘approach shoes’ (the idea being that rock climbers approach the rock in these then switch to rock-boots), trail shoes, moccasins and even – gasp – trainers. So it can be a befuddling market, but here we’ve pulled together the ones we think suit walkers best. And we start with the ingredients of a really good one: the Scarpa Zen Pro… to the shoes we’ve tested over the past year (including our favourites), and a guide to what to look for when you’re in the market for a good shoe.

LACING In theory, the further down the shoe the lacing goes, the better the fit will be.

Some lighter shoes use drawcords instead of laces; this saves weight and makes the process quicker and easier, but means you can’t do up the shoe as precisely as you would with laces. The Zen Pro’s laces are lightweight but still reassuringly chunky – be wary of ultra-thin laces as they can be fiddly to do up securely and may wear out more quickly.

FLEX Some shoes we’ve tested are more like sawn-off boots with all the rigidity you’d expect from that idea. Others are so light and flexible you can almost bend them in half. Even if you like tougher footwear, it’s worth trying a softer, suppler shoe when the weather heats up. They may not offer the same level of protection, but they can be a lot easier on the feet on a summer’s day.

There’s also a big market for leather walking shoes at the moment, offering toughness and support while also staying light enough to feel liberating.

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A WORD ON FIT As with all footwear, fit should be the clincher when you’re choosing your perfect pair. Our reviewers don’t usually consider fit as it is such a subjective matter; instead we focus on materials, sizing, design and functionality. Always get your feet measured properly before buying walking shoes; many dedicated outdoor stores (eg Cotswold) offer a six-point measurement which can help you find a much closer fit than the standard measurements from a Brannock device.

H I STO RY I N THE MAKING Scarpa was founded in Italy in 1930 as Calzaturieri Asolani Riuniti Pedemontana Anonima. By adding an ‘S’ at the start, the acronym became SCARPA – which is Italian for ‘shoe’!

WATER REPELLENCY

MIDSOLE/OUTSOLE The midsole contains the shank, a metal plate which gives the shoe its sturdiness, but it also helps to soak up the impact of foot placements.

The Scarpa Zen uses a directly-injected wedge to enhance shock absorbtion, and its Vibram Spyder outsole has sticky lugs for rocky paths.

Most shoes we test have a waterproofbreathable membrane to keep you dry and vent unwanted heat. The Zen Pro doesn’t, favouring a waterresistant suede instead. This means it runs cooler than shoes with a membrane, making it perfect for sunny days when you’re fairly sure you won’t be hit by rain.

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THE WORLDS ONLY 3 LAYER SOCK LAYER 3 Nylon layer for increased durability LAYER 2 A Hydrophilic yarn mid layer that absorbs the moisture and spreads it for faster drying LAYER 1 A Hydrophobic yarn in contact with the skin that wicks away moisture and keeps the skin dry

Used by Ueli Steck as his preferred socks for Extreme Alpinism.

Lorpen T3 socks will provide extreme comfort for everyone, they keep feet dry and healthy through superior moisture management and temperature regulation.

www.lorpen.co.uk

Available at Go Outdoors and Selected Independent Stores

Walking hoes

OUR TOP FOUR HI-TEC LIBERO II £60 A great option if you want a simple, reliable pair of walking shoes and don’t want to break the bank. The supple suede upper conceals Hi-Tec’s own Dri-Tec waterproof membrane, which works fine in most damp conditions. The upper isn’t as supportive as pricier shoes but they feel comfy from the box. Not really designed for rough ground, but great for country parks, farm tracks and coastlines. www.hi-tec.co.uk

MEINDL RESPOND GTX £120

Testers'

CHOICE

2017

These consummate all-rounders have proved hugely reliable over almost any terrain. They have a Gore-Tex membrane but still stay brilliantly breathable, even on a hot midsummer’s day on the South West Coast Path.

They’re sturdy too, with reinforcement on the underside and a chunky toe bumper that isn’t fazed by bumps and scuffs. They lack firm ankle support over bouldery ground but for everything else they work superbly. www.meindl.co.uk

SCARPA ZEN PRO £130 As mentioned on the previous page, the Zen Pros are one of the cleverest examples of a walking shoe for summer. There’s no waterproof membrane so they won’t keep your feet dry if it’s pelting down, but their water-resistant suede can cope with a little shower – but they absolutely excel on hot days, when they breathe far more easily than a membrane shoe.

Features and design cues are impeccable throughout. www.scarpa.co.uk

AKU W MIA GTX £140 Our favourite for women in 2016, the Mias are a masterclass in mountain shoes. They come with a stiff, confidence-boosting last, a superb Vibram outsole and an easy-breathing Gore-Tex membrane. They also offer outstanding support and ruggedness.

The stiffness means they aren’t quite so comfortable over long distances, and they’re too inflexible for simpler country walks when you just want to bounce along. But for hills? Magnificent. www.aku.it/en GEAR TEST YEARBOOK 2017 13

INTRODUCING

OUTDOOR CROSSOVER

4 WHEEL DRIVE FOR YOUR FEET

OX BELMONT LOW i WP

Available at

Walking hoes

OTHER PAIRS WE TESTED THIS YEAR (ARRANGED

BY RETAIL PRICE)

CLASS OF 2017

Best VALUE 2017

COLUMBIA VENTRAILIA RAZOR £85

ANATOM S1 SKYETRAIL £90

JACK WOLFSKIN MTN ATTACK 5 £90

Sleek and superlight, these make your feet breathe a sigh of relief on summer strolls. Water is kept out by the OutDry membrane. Not for high hills, but great on softer ground. www.columbiasportswear.co.uk

Fabulously comfortable straight from the box, and great on most terrain.

The tri.aria membrane is perfectly trustworthy too. Not the toughest or most supportive, but full of spark. www.anatomfootwear.co.uk

“The armoured vehicles of the walking shoe world,” says CW’s Rachel. A bit big and clunky, but they keep your toes ever so safe on the toughest rocky terrain. www.jack-wolfskin.co.uk

MAMMUT WALL GUIDE LOW £100

TEVA KIMTAH eVENT MESH £100

BERGHAUS EXPLORER ACTIVE GTX £110

A rigid mountain shoe with no waterproof membrane; ideal for hot days on high summits. Will need some breaking in before it feels really comfy, but great thereafter. www.mammut.ch

Teva’s Kimtah shoe evolves from an excellent boot of the same name, and while they are chunky and resolute, they’re an absolute dream to bowl along a country path in. Luxury. www.teva.co.uk

Another shoe that comes from an outstanding boot. Wonderfully light and flexible, giving confidence over most surfaces, even mountains. The Gore-Tex runs a bit hot, though. www.berghaus.com

KEEN DURAND LOW £125

HANWAG BELORADO LOW GTX £140

ZAMBERLAN ULTRALITE LOW GTX £155

These are just immense fun. Again a reduced version of a great boot, the Durands are built like bumper cars so they love rock-hopping but they are also comfy and relatively airy too. www.keenfootwear.com

A hugely refined shoe for mountain walks, with a biting heel and sticky grip. The midsole is flat, hard and unforgiving though, so you may feel an ache after a long day in the hills. www.hanwag.com

Leading the way in the burgeoning leather shoe market, these are upholstered like a luxury sports car.

A smart/casual shoe for gentler country walks; lacking ventilation. www.zamberlan.com GEAR TEST YEARBOOK 2017 15

Large

RUCKSACKS 3 0 - 5 0 L PAC KS T H AT W I L L TA K E E V E RY T H I N G YO U N E E D FO R A LO N G - D I STA N C E WA L K THIS SUMMER…

I

F YOU’RE PLANNING to take on a National Trail or other similar beast this summer, then unless you’re going to pay the most attentive sherpa service in the country, you’ll need a larger rucksack than you do for a day-walk. If you think about it, your rucksack is generally more stuffed with kit in summer anyway, because you’re likely to be carrying a fleece and a waterproof rather than actually wearing them. Add in a first aid kit, food and drink for two or more days, paper maps, a washbag and maybe a casual T-shirt and trousers for an evening in the pub (plus whatever you might sleep in) and suddenly that 25L day-pack just isn’t swallowing everything. And that’s where these beauties come in. Over the year we’ve tested over a dozen larger packs over many dozens of long-distance miles, and here you’ll find our verdicts on all of them, and our favourites from the heap. We start with a close look at a rucksack that gets the whole package absolutely bang-on: the Lowe Alpine AirZone Pro…

H I STO RY I N THE MAKING Lowe Alpine was founded in 1967 by brothers Greg, Jeff and Mike Lowe. Their Expedition rucksack set the template for modern packs, with its internal frame and compression straps.

STORAGE How much can it carry, and where can you put it? Some packs have one vast compartment (easy storage but also hard to find individual items) while some have as many as eight or nine (more organised and spreads the weight better, but it becomes easier to forget what went where). One tip is to check the colour of the interior: if it’s black it’s going to be very hard to find things inside; a lighter interior means your kit is a bit easier to see where that packet of Penguins is.

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OPENING Most larger packs use a buckle-closing lid and a drawcord to close the main compartment (rather than a zip, as on smaller packs). This makes it easier to open the pack wide and stuff in bulky items.

Some packs also allow zipped access to the main compartment from the bottom or front of the pack, a bit like a suitcase. Just check that any zips like that are well-protected from rainwater, as they are here.

HARNESS Look for ventilated straps (as seen here) which transmit heat away from your shoulders and torso, and for both a hip-belt and chest strap, as these will hold the weight firmly and prevent the pack from wobbling about. This pack offers adjustment at the top and bottom of the harness.

BACK SYSTEM At this size, most packs offer a suspended system which pushes the load away from your back, reducing the weight and allowing air to circulate, preventing your back from getting sweaty. The AirZone does this without affecting your centre of gravity too drastically.

COMPRESSION STRAPS These straps compress the pack around the load inside it. This ensures that the pack doesn’t flap around or affect your centre of gravity as you walk. This is particularly useful when you’re wearing all the extra layers it was carrying at first; a bottom-heavy bag really can weigh you down oddly. The AirZone slinks down beautifully.

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Skogsรถ Jacket W

NEXT STOP NATURE Wherever you are headed on your next outdoor adventure, the Skogsรถ Jacket provides practical and timeless protection from the elements. Made from our durable and adaptable g-1000 fabric, the Skogsรถ shields against cold winds and light rain while simultaneously offering defence against biting insects, uv rays and rough undergrowth.

Find your nearest retailer at www.fjallraven.co.uk/storelocator

Rucksacks

OUR TOP FOUR LOWE ALPINE AIRZONE PRO 35:45 £110

DEUTER ACT TRAIL PRO 38 £120

The AirZone really has been our pick of the year. It holds a simply immense amount of stuff (including a spare pair of boots I carried on a boot-testing trip) CHOICE and yet you will hardly notice it’s there. It’s stable, too: it barely wiggles or bounces as you walk, even on the most demanding terrain. And there’s a big side zip for easy access to the main hold.

Perfection. www. lowealpine. com/uk

Deuter’s ACT Trail range has been a firm favourite with walkers for many years, thanks to its precise engineering, stable load-carrying and superior comfort. As Rachel said of this one: ‘wearing it is like being hugged by a benign bear’. It’s slightly smaller than other packs of its capacity, and it doesn’t have as many clever storage options as the Lowe and Osprey options, but it still takes everything you might need for a two-day trail. www.deutergb. co.uk

OSPREY ATMOS AG 50 £170

FJÄLLRÄVEN LLRÄVEN ÄVEN Ä VEN KAIPAK 58 £200

Pennine Way? West Highland Way? Hadrian’s Wall? And carrying everything the whole way?

Then behold your pack.

The Atmos is packed to the brim with the great features and clever storage, and the AG (Anti-Gravity) harness system holds the whole load in some secret pocket of hyperspace. The stiff, inflexible shoulder straps can become a strain over long distances, but in all other respects this pack will take you to the ends of the Earth. Or Kirk Yetholm, whichever comes first. www.osprey europe.com

If all the other rucksacks in this roundup look a bit flashy and sassy for your liking, don’t worry.

First of all you’re not alone: CW photographer Tom Bailey feels exactly the same, and it’s for him and for you that Fjällräven make the Kaipak: the toughest, most hard-wearing and most no-nonsense rucksack on the market. Not only is it built to last as good as a lifetime, but it also expands and contracts really easily depending on how much you want to throw in it. Its skin is G-1000, which was originally a tent fabric, so it’s built to keep out the elements.

Not as cushy as most here, but utterly true to its function. www.fjallraven.co.uk

Testers' 2017

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Rucksacks

CLASS OF 2017 Best VALUE 2017

VANGO BOULDER 45 £45

QUECHUA FORCLAZ EASYFIT 50 £65

BERGHAUS TRAILHEAD 50 £80

45L, £45; can’t say fairer than that.

Has a simple padded back system so less bulky than most larger packs, and still holds a lot. Perfect for a gentler trail like the Thames Path. www.vango.co.uk

This one gets all the basics right; takes loads of kit, feels secure and stable, and spreads weight evenly.

But the foam padding gets a bit sweaty and the material is flimsy. www.decathlon.co.uk

Loads of storage in this, and it comes with BioFit which means you can slide the whole harness up and down while wearing it. Black interior and lack of storage are the downsides. www.berghaus.com

CRAGHOPPERS EXPEDITION 60 PLUS 10 £90

VAUDE BRENTA 50 £110

GREGORY ZULU 40 £115

Scores highly for ventilation and stability, but it lacks extra storage compartments and the mesh divider doesn’t hold the back system away from the torso as well as it should. www.vaude.com

Comes in two lengths (medium and large) and is very stable. It’s packed with cute storage ideas, although it’s over-complicated by too many access buckles and straps. www.gregorypacks.com

The marketing and styling of this are all linked to travel rather than hiking, but it’s as good on the Pennine Way as it is on a flight to Kathmandu. www.craghoppers.com 20 GEAR TEST YEARBOOK 2017

THE OTHER PACKS WE TESTED IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS (ARRANGED IN ASCENDING ORDER OF RETAIL PRICE)

PATAGONIA ASCENSIONIST 45 £130

BERGANS HELIUM 40 £140

BLACK DIAMOND ONYX 55 £170

Ultra-light at just a smidge over 1kg, this stripped-down pack foregoes bells and whistles for simplicity. No side panels or extra pockets, but can be customised with daisy-chain loops. www.patagonia.com

Comes with an adjustable torso system, lightweight weatherproof fabric and plenty of features, including a bottom-to-top front zip for maps, guidebooks or a pullover. www.nordlicife.co.uk

Has a pivoting hip-belt which (with the use of a supplied allen key) can be adjusted to your hips to avoid friction. Great when it works, but it’s too much faff to justify the price. www.blackdiamondequipment.com

JACK WOLFSKIN EDS DYNAMIC PRO 48 £170 Loads of ideas here, including a front-opening system and an interior that’s really an inbuilt drybag. It’s highly customisable but accessing anything is a bit of an ordeal. www.jack-wolfskin.co.uk GEAR TEST YEARBOOK 2017 21

Base

LAYERS N E X T-TO - S K I N L AY E R S T H AT W I L L K E E P YO U CO O L I N T H E S U N – A N D TO U G H E R O N E S FO R W I N DY DAYS …

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T’S A FUNNY WORD, isn’t it, base-layers? Even if you wear a technical base-layer on every walk you do, it’s unlikely you’ve ever seriously used the word. It basically means ‘shirt’, but you can’t blame the world’s gearmakers for wanting to distinguish their ingenuity-ridden, sweat-busting inner layers from the world of the humble cotton shirt. And thus we have base-layers; the word we don’t say but know and love when we wear it. In this roundup you’ll find summer tops that you would happily call shirts but are packed with clever touches like insectrepellent weave, UV sun protection and wicking materials to carry away moisture. You’ll also find some of our favourite warmer base-layers for those who crave high altitude, or are looking for an adaptable baselayer that can be used all year round. But the star of the show for Craghoppers our opener is the NosiLife Adventure shirt by Craghoppers.

Nosilife may be a truly dreadful marketing name, but when you know what it does, you’ll see why they’re so proud of it.

MATERIALS Cotton is bad. Cotton does nothing with sweat and lets it fester on your skin, while letting the draughts freeze you. The tops in this test are either polyester (like this one), merino wool, or a mix of both.

COLOUR Basic science tells you that black traps heat and lighter colours repel it, but we’ve mostly found that to be a rubbish argument with modern base-layers, because it’s all about the materials. A denser weave makes something warmer; a looser weave makes it cooler – even if the dye happens to be black. So colour is really a matter of taste.

EXTRA FEATURES This is where a good summer top like this one can really excel. It comes with both UV protection and an insectrepellent treatment in the weave, so if you’re taking it to exotic climes (or just Scotland in midgey June), the NosiLife element really comes into its own. Plus it provides hidden zip-pockets for when you’re in the souk and you want to keep your valuables safe.

22 GEAR TEST YEARBOOK 2017

FASTENING Casual-style shirts like this one will use buttons or poppers (though they tend to be heavy). Technical base-layers either come in crew-neck or half-zip formats. Crew tops are cooler and tend to look more casual. Half-zip tops provide greater insulation, although they can be unzipped for handy ventilation too.

SLEEVES Our roundup includes a mix of long and short sleeves to cover all the bases. If buying longsleeve, check for thumb-loops on the cuff. These can help anchor the sleeves and lock out nasty draughts.

MOISTURE MANAGEMENT A good base-layer wicks away sweat by drawing it through the fabric to the outer face of the garment, where it either evaporates into the air, or is drawn through your next layer (which hopefully is breathable too). You may also find extra-breathable panels on hot zones such as the underarm and lower back.

H I STO RY I N THE MAKING The NosiLife treatment is woven permanently into the fabric. Biting insects are instantly repelled by a biocide which will kill them if they hang around.

So they don’t.

GEAR TEST YEARBOOK 2017 23

Men’s Alta III Jacket £295 Mountain walking jacket with intelligent ventilation • Rucksack-friendly and designed for maps or GPS • Women’s Alta III Jacket also available

SUPERB VIEWS, NO SWEAT. The most rewarding mountain views demand steep climbs - and generate plenty of perspiration. The Páramo Men’s and Women’s Alta III Jackets use uniquely directional Nikwax Analogy fabric to remove moisture more effectively from your clothing system, so you can take in the view without feeling clammy and chilled.

The Alta III shrugs off the wildest weather. It is rucksack-friendly, handles navigation equipment efficiently and provides ventilation options that allow you to control your temperature without taking layers on and off. The Alta III achieves all this in a streamlined design which functions flawlessly on the hill.

Engineered for, and tested on, challenging mountain treks, the Alta III’s place in the Páramo range has been earned - just like your mountain view!

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Base Layers

OUR TOP FOUR CRAGHOPPERS NOSILIFE ADVENTURE £45 We’ve talked about the clever technology behind it (or in fact within it), but as a walking shirt the NosiLife Adventure performs admirably anyway. It’s an easy-care trek-and-travel shirt with a secret pocket and a hidden sunglasses wipe. The ladies’ version is beautifully cut around the hips, accepting (in fact, relishing) the fact that most lady explorers have curves. www.craghoppers.com

Testers'

CHOICE

2017

PÁRAMO SUSWA £50 The exceptional Suswa is made with a silky-soft polyester variant on the Párameta A fabric used in most of Páramo’s technical tops. It’s a neatly-tailored ladies’ walking shirt for hotter days, and it disperses moisture over a wide area to keep you cool and stop you feeling clammy. Comes with UV protection and security pockets too. www.paramo.co.uk

SMARTWOOL LIGHT £63 In our recent special on Hero Gear chosen by CW writers, three of us were queuing up to talk about Smartwool base-layers. If you need a technical top for high-energy walking; one that’s cool in hot weather and toasty-warm as soon as it cools down, it probably needs to be this one.

You just can’t beat the merino wool magnificence of it. www.smartwool.com

MAMMUT TROVAT PRO £80 Yes, the price of this is fairly eye-watering. But this fabulous wool-and-synthetic hybrid top really is an example of getting what you pay for. It has seen us right through every walk of the winter but, with sleeves rolled up, it’ll do fine in all but the hottest days of July too, especially if you’re going up a Lakeland, Snowdonian or Scottish mountain, when it will probably be the only outer layer you need until you reach the summit. www.mammut.ch

GEAR TEST YEARBOOK 2017 25

Base Layers

CLASS OF 2017 QUECHUA TECHWOOL 155 £15 High quality at a bafflingly low price.

You’ll usually pay a hefty premium for merino wool, but not here.

Not as great at handling moisture as pricier blends, but a good buy. www.decathlon. co.uk

Best VALUE 2017

CRAGHOPPERS VITALISE BASE T SHIRT £18 A gossamer-thin polyester top that manages moisture brilliantly; Rachel wore it up some of Scotland’s gnarliest peaks last summer and barely felt any overheating going on. The material also feels gorgeously soft against the skin. Lacks the adaptability to warm you up when the mercury drops, but still an outstanding product for the price. www.craghoppers.com

SNUGPAK 2ND SKINZ £20

HELLY HANSEN DRY ORIGINAL £30

A loose-fitting unisex top, with great wicking courtesy of its Coolmax fibre. It’s weightier than most but the fabric means you shouldn’t overheat.

A superb all-rounder. www.snugpak.com

As the name suggests, this is Helly Hansen’s ‘original’ base-layer, complete with trademark go-faster stripes.

Its Lifa Stay Dry fabric keeps the moisture off and it’s brilliantly stretchy and adaptable. Often heavily discounted, this is truly excellent value for money. www.hellyhansen.com

SHERPA RINCHEN £30

RAB AEON £32

One for hot and humid days when you want maximum breathability and freedom of movement.

Comes with an antimicrobial treatment from Polygiene. And its name means ‘treasure’ in Tibetan. www.sherpa adventuregear.co.uk

Another top with Polygiene treatment to stop it from smelling bad, plus UPF-30 sun protection woven into it. Weighs a mere 100g and the silky-soft fabric feels divine. Excels in hot conditions. www.rab. equipment/uk

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TO THE OTHER JACKETS WE TESTED THIS YEAR (ARRANGED IN ASCENDING ORDER OF PRICE)

ROHAN STRATA £39

BERGHAUS ORTLER £45

We liked it at first, and now we love it. The smooth and soft Strata works all year round but it really loves the summer; its nautical lines are made for coast walks. www.rohan.co.uk

A durable, smart-looking shirt (we’ve even worn it to work as well as up a hill in summer) with UPF50+ protection and born of an eco-friendly manufacturing process called Colourkind.

Has a neat back venting system. Also comes in a long-sleeve version for both genders (£55). www.berghaus.com

SUB-ZERO FACTOR 1 PLUS £45

ROYAL ROBBINS PLAYA PLAID £55

As the name implies, Sub-Zero are heavily focused on cold weather, so this is one to buy now and keep for the autumn.

The trim, athletic cut won’t suit everyone but come the winter, when it works under a mid-layer, it shouldn’t let you down when you need next-to-skin warmth. www.subzero.co.uk

A brilliant fun-and-function shirt with UPF50+ protection loomed in, and a hidden mesh panel across the upper back which helps to keep you cool and dry. And security pockets of course. On a long summer hike, it’s one of the few casual-style shirts which has been genuinely as good as a technical base-layer. www.royalrobbins.co.uk

ICEBREAKER OASIS CREWE £60

FJÄLLRÄVEN ABISKO COOL £90

Like the Smartwool top mentioned earlier, this merino masterpiece really can be taken anywhere, on any day, and still know how warm you want to be.

Materials are outstanding, cut is beautiful. www. icebreaker.com

Rarely does a technical walking top disguise itself as a smart casual shirt so splendidly. It’s made with lyocell, a fibre that wicks away moisture and feels great against the skin. It all comes at a high price though. www.fjallraven. co.uk

GEAR TEST YEARBOOK 2017 27

SUMMIT READY, TRUSTWORTHY. SAMARIS MID WATERPROOF/BREATHABLE HIKER

Kindred Spirits • Unique Fusion technologies • Exceptional performance and durability • Balanced insulation and moisture wicking • Expedition heavyweight to Ultra light run • Blister free, day long dryness and comfort

Don’t forget your @BridgedaleSocks

www.bridgedale.com

Bridgedale socks!

Walking

ACCESSORIES F R O M S L E E K S O C KS TO G A L L A N T G A D G E TS : T H E L I T T L E WO N D E R S T H AT M A K E A BIG DIFFERENCE

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T’S VERY OFTEN the little things that make walking a pleasure. The socks that never rub, sweat or slip. The GPS app that always manages to locate you even when you’re in a dark pine forest next to an MoD electronic warfare area. The poles that just will not break no matter how many times your child whacks one of them on a rock playing lightsabers (we’ve been there). Country Walking tests dozens of accessories, so here we’ve pulled together all the items we’ve looked at over the past 16 months, with a particular focus on summer walking. We start off with socks, because while some other accessories could be filed under ‘nice but not essential’, we think a good sock is one of the must-haves of any great walk. So here is our guide to what makes a good ’un, courtesy of Bridgedale…

H I STO RY I N THE MAKING Socks have been knitted at Bridgedale’s factory in Newtownards, Northern Ireland, since the First World War, when it supplied them for the British Army.

FABRIC Walking socks are usually a blend of wool (often merino, which is soft and breathable) and polyester for added stretch.

Bridgedale divides its socks into three blends: MerinoFusion, WoolFusion and CoolFusion.

LENGTH

PADDING In summer you don’t need too much of this as it can make you overheat, but you still need slightly thicker fabric around the heel, Achilles and toes.

Look for stronger fabric supporting the arch, too.

The most common length for walking socks is crew crew,, which comes midway up the calf.

Ankle socks and liner socks are great in summer as they allow more of your foot to breathe.

Liner socks can then be used as a next-to-skin layer beneath a thicker sock in winter, transferring moisture to the outer layer and reducing the risk of your skin rubbing on the inside of your boot.

FEATURED SOCK Bridgedale WoolFusion Trail Light £14

www.bridgedale.com GEAR TEST YEARBOOK 2017 29

Acce ories

OUR TOP FOUR BRIDGEDALE WOOLFUSION TRAIL LIGHT SOCK £15 In truth we could say nice things about any of Bridgedale’s summer socks, thanks to their three different blends which use merino, Enduro Wool, CoolMax and Lycra in varying degrees.

But the Trail Light is the best one for all-round walking, whether you’re sliding around in the mud of a Sussex farmyard or skipping over the rocky knobbles of a Lakeland fell. It supports the ankle and forefoot like a cradle, and keeps your foot nice and still in the boot, lessening the risk of rubs and blisters.

Best of all, it lasts and lasts and lasts. www.bridgedale.com

OS MAPS APP PRICES VARY As you might expect from the people who invented the very mapping it uses, the OS Maps app just loves helping you navigate.

Functionality is excellent, and improving all the time with occasional well-considered updates. It’s so easy to buy the mapping you need and then plot, follow, share and archive a route, using phone, tablet or desktop. www. ordnancesurvey.co.uk

Testers'

CHOICE

2017

TEVA TOACHI 2 SANDALS £70 This is our go-to sandal for rocky coast walks. The padded side-strap gives you protection where the upper part of your foot is most vulnerable, the sticky outsole grips rock like a Pritt Stick and the footbed feels gorgeously squishy. www.teva.co.uk

GARMIN VÍVOSMART HR £140 Activity trackers are an awkward topic for CW because they are geared to step, heart-rate and calorie goals rather than walking miles (their mileage accuracy can be very variable). But Garmin’s vívo range is the best we’ve found. We also like the tone of its Garmin Connect app, which provides sensible goals and warm encouragement without being US-style jingoistic, as the Fitbit interface tends to be. And it’s reliably tough and weatherproof too. www.garmin.com 30 GEAR TEST YEARBOOK 2017

Acce ories

CLASS OF 2017

ARRANGED IN ASCENDING ORDER OF RETAIL PRICE

1000 MILE BREEZE SOCK £12

WIGWAM MERINO LIGHT HIKER SOCK £19

PUNC BOTTLE £23

A gossamerthin sock that works beautifully if you’re in walking shoes. And comes with a promise that it will last 1000 miles or your money back. www.1000mile.co.uk

Wigwam make an outstanding range of socks; this low-calf variant uses its soft merino to magnificent effect on long summer hill walks. www.wigwamsocks.com

Irish brand Punc burst onto the scene this year with a range of bottles that compete with market-leader Sigg for storage times (24 hours cold, 12 hot), and possibly beat Sigg for funky, quirky looks. www.puncbottles.com

TREKMATES CAIRNGORM GTX GAITER £30

HI-TEC LITE TRACKER £50

BERGHAUS BAGGY SHORTS £65

If you don’t want to shell out for a Garmin or Fitbit tracker, the Hi-Tec range is an affordable and easy-to-use alternative. Its app interface isn’t the best but it does the basics well. www.hi-tec.co.uk

Fun and functional; perfect all-rounders for hot and happy summer days. Plenty of storage, a relaxed but streamlined fit and as an added bonus, waterrepellency built in.

(For waves, rather than rain, probably). www.berghaus.com

Easily the winner of our gaiter test and still going strong, lapping up the mucky mud of March.

Great design and Gore-Tex too. www.trekmates. co.uk

MERRELL ALL OUT BLAZE SIEVE CONVERTIBLE £75

Best VALUE 2017

GOAL ZERO VENTURE 30 CHARGER £100

POWERTRAVELLER MINI-G CHARGER £110

An excellent, hard-wearing walking sandal with a soft footbed and an absurdly long name. www.merrell.com/uk

Waterproof and easy to use, this compact unit will juice up an iPhone three times when fully juiced itself. www.goalzero.com

Another neat, simple and lightweight charger; will juice a smartphone or DSLR camera three times or an iPad twice. Only one button, but the range of powering strengths is oddly baffling. www.powertraveller.com/en

LEKI MICRO VARIO POLES £145 (pair)

FITBIT SURGE WATCH £200

SATMAP ACTIVE 12 GPS £320

You can get good poles for £50, but these superlight foldaway ones are great for trails: un-noticeable when you carry them; robust when you use them. www.leki.com/uk

Multi-functional tracker watch with a jaunty “Go you!” app interface.

Fine for step counting; mileage not so reliable though. www.fibit.com/uk

Simply the most robust, reliable outdoor GPS we know of. Uses buttons rather than touchscreen, but this means moisture never harms the interface. www.satmap.co.uk GEAR TEST YEARBOOK 2017 31

KAILASH PRO

STEP FREE Kailash Pro is the perfect choice for walkers looking for a traditional style of boot built with modern materials and techniques. Based on Scarpa’s legendary BX last, the Pro versions utilises a rich 1.8mm calf leather, weather protection from Gore-Tex, and a protective rand for added durability. All this sits on top of a Vibram outsole meaning the Kailash Pro is perfectly at home on the British fells and hills

WWW.SCARPA.CO.UK