Hiking & Camping Gear

The Talon 22 is the day pack I'd point most walkers towards. At 22 litres it holds a full day's layers, food, water and a first-aid kit without tempting you to overpack. The AirScape back panel and adjustable harness and hipbelt are what reviewers praise most, and it sits close enough to the body to feel steady on scrambly ground.

For multi-day trails and wild camping, the Exos 48 is a lightweight pack that still carries properly. It weighs roughly 1.2 to 1.3 kg depending on size and version, has a lightweight 4 mm alloy frame, and its trampoline-style mesh back panel keeps airflow between you and the pack. Testers found it carries around 30 lb very well, which covers a typical three-season camping load.

The XTherm NXT is Therm-a-Rest's warmest inflatable mat, with an R-value of 7.3, and it's the one to take when nights drop towards freezing or below. The regular size weighs about 440 g and it's 3 inches thick, so you get serious insulation without a heavy pack penalty.

The XLite NXT is the lightweight all-rounder. It has an R-value of 4.5, weighs about 355 to 385 g in the regular size (independent testing found a little over the claimed 12.5 oz), and is 3 inches thick. It suits three-season camping and long walks where every gram counts.

If comfort matters more than weight, the NeoLoft is it. At about 4.6 inches thick it's the plushest mat in this list, with an R-value of 4.7. OutdoorGearLab scored its comfort 9.5 out of 10, and reviewers call it ideal for side sleepers and base camps. The trade-off is weight: about 700 g (24.9 oz) in the regular size.

The Corus is a down quilt that pairs well with a sleeping mat. Therm-a-Rest lists it with a comfort rating of about 0 degrees C (32 F) and a limit of -6 C (20 F), using 650-fill hydrophobic down. The regular size is listed at about 735 g, which is heavier than the Vesper but a more affordable way into quilts.

The Vesper is the lighter, higher-end quilt. It uses 900-fill hydrophobic goose down and weighs about 550 g in the regular size. Therm-a-Rest gives it a 20 F limit and a 32 F (0 C) comfort rating, though some reviewers say the 20 F figure is generous, so treat 0 C as the realistic comfort level.

The WindMaster is a tiny canister stove that copes with wind better than most. It weighs about 87 g with the four-prong pot support, or around 67 to 69 g with the lighter three-prong support, and OutdoorGearLab named it an Editors' Choice. It's what I'd put on a UK ridge where the wind never quite stops.

The Petrel is a hard-anodised aluminium pot with a built-in heat exchanger, which speeds up boiling and saves fuel. The 600 ml size weighs about 162 g and the 750 ml version about 184 g. One reviewer calls it one of the best solo pots around, held back only by a slightly narrow diameter.

The Zip is an all-in-one cooking system that boils water fast. It has a 0.8 litre cup, weighs about 340 g, and Jetboil quotes around 2 minutes 30 seconds to boil 0.5 litres. It's simple, quick and tidy, which makes it popular for camping trips and cold mornings.

The Stash is Jetboil's lightweight system, at about 200 g (7.1 oz), roughly 40 per cent lighter than the Zip according to retailers. It nests the stove, stabiliser and canister inside the pot and quotes the same sort of boil time, around 2 minutes 30 seconds per 0.5 litre. One reviewer found the burner light on wind protection.

The Helm Compact 1 is a one-person, three-season tent that weighs just under 2 kg (about 1.98 kg as listed). Owners say it stands up to wind and rain, and it packs small enough for a rucksack. It's a good value way to start wild camping solo.

The Helm Compact 2 is the two-person version, listed at roughly 2.24 to 2.38 kg depending on retailer. A 2020 independent review praised its value and small packed size for a two-person tent, which makes it easy to split between two people.

The Silva Classic is the simple, no-frills option. The Ordnance Survey lists it among the compasses suited to casual walking in the British countryside. A baseplate compass like this lets you set a bearing on your map and follow it, which is the core skill you need on a hill when the cloud comes down. It's the one I'd suggest if you're learning, or just want a reliable backup to carry.

The Expedition 4 is the step-up compass for people who want more from their navigation. It has map scales for 1:25,000, 1:40,000 and 1:50,000, a magnifier for fine detail, luminous markings, and a detachable lanyard. The Ordnance Survey describes it as suited to more advanced users and navigation courses, and notes that the Duke of Edinburgh's Award recommends it. Listings put it at about 36 g.

The Actik Core is a compact, rechargeable head torch that is bright enough for walking out after dark. It runs on Petzl's Core rechargeable battery and can also take three AAA batteries as a backup, which is handy if you forget to charge it. Reviewers describe it as almost identical in size and weight to the older Tikka XP2 but much brighter. Quoted output varies between about 450 and 600 lumens depending on the version, so check the listing for the one you are buying.

The Tikka is the simpler Petzl head torch. It looks almost the same as the Actik externally, and newer versions can run on either the Core rechargeable battery or three AAA batteries. Its output is lower than the Actik's, and one UK review put the current Tikka at 200 lumens, so check the version you are buying. That is plenty for walking a path and sorting kit, and it is a good, affordable spare to keep in your pack.

The inReach Mini 2 lets you send an SOS and text messages by satellite when there is no mobile signal. Its SOS button connects to a 24/7 response centre that can coordinate with local rescue services. Unlike the Messenger, it shows your track on a basic map page on the device itself, and it pairs with the Garmin Explore app. It is small enough to clip to a pack strap. It needs a paid satellite subscription to message and track, so factor that cost in.

The inReach Messenger gives you two-way satellite messaging and an SOS button for less money than the Mini 2. It has a longer battery life, nearly double the Mini 2's in some conditions according to reviewers, and it can give your phone a quick boost charge. It has no mapping on the device and uses the Garmin Messenger app rather than Garmin Explore, so you will want a separate map or phone app for navigation. It also needs a paid subscription, and the monthly cost is the same as for the Mini 2.

A bothy bag or storm shelter is a bag you and your group can pull over yourselves to get out of wind and rain. The Lifesystems 2 to 3 person Survival Shelter weighs roughly 345 to 350 g. Lifesystems also makes an Ultralight version at about 215 g with a 5,000 mm waterproof rating, which a Packstack review scored 7.5 out of 10 as a trade-off of comfort for pack weight. It could stop a stuck or injured walker getting dangerously cold while you wait for help.

The Lomo storm shelter does the same job at a lower price. The 2 to 3 person version weighs about 360 to 384 g depending on whether the stuff sack is included, and it is made from PU-coated polyester with a 3,000 mm waterproof rating. The Great Outdoors reviewer found that two people can sit inside cross-legged facing each other, and noted that although it is rated for three, that is emergency use only.

The Makalu FX Carbon is a folding carbon pole that packs down to about 40 cm. Reviewers praise the angled, rubberised grip, which makes bracing on descents comfortable. A pair weighs roughly 490 to 510 g depending on the source, so they are light for their length without being the lightest on the market. Carbon can be brittle under sideways pressure, so treat them with care on rocky ground.

The Black Diamond Trail is a mid-priced aluminium telescoping pole with FlickLock levers. A pair weighs about 489 g (around 1 lb 1 oz). Long-term users report that the FlickLocks have not failed, one reviewer described covering around 1,000 miles without trouble, and the locks work with gloves on. The trade-off is that it feels less sturdy than folding poles, and one reviewer did not like the long foam grip.

OutdoorsMagic, a UK outdoor site that tests boots on hill walks, scrambles and multi-day trips in places like the Lake District, Snowdonia and the Cairngorms, named the Terra GTX its best overall walking boot. It weighs about 570 g per boot with a Vibram Energy II outsole. The reviewer found it comfortable from the first wear, with a roomy toe box, and a midsole that blocks rocks and roots while still flexing for long distances. It suits three-season walking. It is not a winter mountain boot.

OutdoorsMagic rated the Trekker Lite III a close second to the Terra, and its text calls it an all-rounder that feels like a proper mountain boot without being too heavy. It weighs about 570 g per boot, with a Vibram Curcuma outsole and widely spaced lugs that shed mud. Reviewers praise the protection over rough ground and a reliable Gore-Tex membrane. The standard fit is slim and alpine in style, but a wide fit is available, and AKU says the wide fit suits a lot of British walkers.

The Moab 3 Mid GTX is the budget-friendly choice. It weighs roughly 495 to 510 g per boot, lighter than the average of 521 g that RunRepeat found across 44 hiking boots, and it sits around £150 to £160 in the UK. Advnture praises the comfort, the extra arch support and the chunky 5 mm lugs, while Switchback Travel and OutdoorGearLab found the traction only middling in some conditions.

Bridgedale is a British sock maker. The Hike Midweight Merino Comfort boot sock is a cushioned sock that The Great Outdoors found dries quickly and is very durable. Retailers list a blend of roughly 50% Coolmax polyester, 27% merino, 22% nylon and 1% elastane, so check the label on the pair you buy. The reviewer said the lower merino content makes it less effective at regulating temperature, and it can feel stuffy in hot weather, so it suits spring and autumn best. Warranty terms vary by retailer, from a lifetime guarantee to a minimum of four years.

The Downpour Plus 2.0 is Rab's hill-walking waterproof at a reasonable price. It uses 2.5-layer Pertex Shield with a recycled 40D face, a helmet-compatible hood, pit zips and articulated sleeves. The men's jacket weighs about 375 g. GearJunkie called it a good balance of performance and price, and UK retailers list it at around £165. I could not find a deep independent test of its waterproofing and breathability, so check current reviews for your size.

The Montane Spirit uses 75 denier Gore-Tex Paclite with fully taped seams, a storm flap behind the zip and two big pockets that take a folded map. Weights quoted vary from about 320 to 365 g. UK reviewers at T3 and Countryfile praised its weather protection, while noting it has no underarm zips, so it is less breathable than some. T3 found the hood snug and listed a UK price of £190. There is also a lighter Spirit Lite at about 285 g.

The Microlight Alpine is a 700-fill hydrophobic down jacket that reviewers call a versatile all-rounder. It weighs about 466 g (16.4 oz) according to Advnture, with a small stuff sack. The Pertex Quantum shell blocks wind while staying breathable, and Advnture found it a decent performer in damp British weather. Better Trail rates it as comfortable down to around freezing, depending on your other layers, and notes it is heavier than most lightweight down jackets.

The Fireball Lite is a hybrid insulated jacket with synthetic insulation in the body and hood, and stretchy fleece grid panels under the arms and along the torso. The men's jacket weighs around 338 to 360 g depending on the source. The shell blocks wind and some rain, which makes it a good layer to wear on the move, but The Great Outdoors found it not very breathable and another reviewer found it too warm for mountain walking in milder weather.

The Syncrino is a merino and synthetic base layer. Rab lists it as 47% merino and 53% polyester at 125 gsm. The Great Outdoors found its breathability extremely good, its odour control good and the seams comfortable, and called it the stretchiest top in its test. It was the slowest to dry in the same test, by a small margin, and the reviewer found the fit looser around the waist than the slim label suggests. Rab quotes about 117 g for the short-sleeve men's size medium.