As I worked my way into the heart east Africa in July this year I was utterly alone, with little knowledge about the country, its people or even the value of its currency. What I did know though, was that I had to remain flexible to an array of different situations and possibilities, ranging from the wickedly awesome to the wildly uncomfortable.

Jinja is a small, vibrant town located in the South East of Uganda, around 50 miles from the capital, Kampala. Due to its proximity to the Nile River at the … Read more

Colorado-based Osprey have been designing packs for the outdoors since 1974.  Maintaining a strong commitment to the environment, they support a number of North American conservation organization and even sew the 7 … Read more

Having planned several medium to long backpacking trips over the last 3 years, I have grown quite accustomed to a well established routine of ticking off vital and important items on my packing checklist. Since my very first traveling experience, the Silk Travel Liner, produced by Sea To Summit, has continually made it to the top of this list.

Having relied on Salomon products for freestyle skiing because of their reliability and quality, I was curious as to whether their footwear could achieve similar results. Selecting the XA Pro 3D Ultra 2. The trip would take me through a number of different environments, ranging from cities to arid steppe and snow-covered mountains to endless desert – a bunch of conditions that I thought the ‘run-hike’ model would really enjoy.

Now an established household name in outdoor equipment, Haglöfs is characterised by high usability, advanced construction and functional design. The P2 Velum Jacket certainly lives up to these lofty standards when providing me with an essential part of my pack on a trip through Central Asia and to the 4000m Molda-Too Range in Kyrgyzstan.

As technology takes a greater hold on the way we run our lives, it’s no surprise that adventure brands are jumping on the digital band wagon to enhance user experience. To bring their adventure software in line with established platforms from other watch manufacturers, Suunto released Movescount, their version of performance tracking. As well as updating training data features, Suunto introduced a neat social networking element to enhance the Movescount product. Here I’ll outline some of the key features, and guide you through the process of setting up an account.

The Suunto T6d is described by the manufacturer as a ‘sports laboratory on your wrist’ and it’s an apt description for a watch that is compatible with a variety of … Read more

After reviewing the Cita Bra earlier this month, I headed out with another recent addition to Arc’teryx’s trail running line. The new running legging, the Cita 3/4 tight, extends the brand’s focus on breathability for high intensity exercise. With this feature in mind I looked at the product’s general ability in handling a warm and heated environment – conditions at distance from Arc’teryx’s alpine heritage. Of course comfort would come into play as I assessed the material’s limits in the summer season.

The Columbia Mobex Sprint is a scaled down version of the original Mobex, a forerunner to Columbia’s trail running launch collection. If anything, the smaller nature of the Sprint has further … Read more

The Isle of Arran lies in the Firth of Clyde, nestled on the west coast of the Scotland. Often described as a “Scotland in Miniature”, Arran’s geography mirrors the Scottish … Read more

Haglöfs are recent nominees of Sweden’s ‘Fashion Export of The Year Award’ and as Scandinavia’s biggest outdoor equipment manufacturer they’ve got a reputation for pushing out top gear. Catering to the demands of discerning outdoors experts, Haglöfs have garnered a reputation for innovative, timeless design and a strong commitment to sustaining the environment their products are designed to be used within.

Following research into the therapeutic benefits of beetroot juice in reducing high blood pressure, scientists then looked at the advantages of nitrates as a sports supplement. The William Harvey Institute has conducted research in the area to find out the effects of vascular contraction and dilation, while Exeter University Sports Science have been testing athletes changes to their their oxygen efficiency and stamina levels when taking the shot itself. Find out more about this research on the Beet It Research Page.

I’m moving towards the core with this review, away from the shell garments discussed in the earlier ‘old favourites’ blogs. The Helly Hansen Lifa Stripe Crew is my favourite baselayer and in twenty years of running, mountaineering, climbing and cycling I’ve tried many alternatives, but none do everything a baselayer needs to do as well as the humble Lifa.

Weighing in a just 415 grammes, the Cierzo 25 Litre backpack from Arc’teryx builds upon the brand’s performance focus in an ultra minimalist design that takes lightweight to a new level. Despite … Read more

If you are looking for a pure adventure in the outdoors this summer then look no further than Arctic Norway. The Vesterålen National Park can be found within the Arctic circle, an unspoilt and little known area outside of Norway, recently coined as “Norway’s most beautiful natural attraction” in 2009 by the Norwegian outdoor magazine UTE. The Vesterålen archipelago neighbours Lofoten and at just a 30 minute boat trip from mainland Norway, an untouched mountain range, remoteness and exposure of exploring at 69 degrees North make up one of Europe’s local wildernesses.

An appetite for the mountains and a spare three weeks were all I needed to head cross the Swiss Alps in July 2010. Two friends and I chose to tackle the ‘Alpine Pass Route,’ a 15-part trail that goes over most of Switzerland’s most famous passes. In total the route covers some 350km, crossing from the town of Sargans in the East to Montreux in the West over nearly 20,000m of ascent. Travelling through such terrain on foot provides a unique ability to appreciate a stunning landscape and discover the smaller details of mountain life.

Floating off Norway’s northern coast, Sørøya is one of Norway’s hidden wilderness regions. It’s location is unique; 400km north of the Arctic Circle in the Finnmark region yet within spitting … Read more

Oslo’s natural capital is abundant and thanks to its northerly latitude, experienced in different ways throughout the year. Summer activities are charter in our Oslo City Guide, with winter items … Read more

In late November I headed out with Olly Worsley and Will Ross to the Scottish Highlands to do some winter walking. We caught the 0821 train from Glasgow on Friday morning, … Read more