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Alpkit Pipedream 400 (2012)

£150.00

Alpkit is well-known for producing great kit at great prices, sold via its online store. The Pipedream 400 is an extremely popular down bag, thanks to its price and weight. It’s not quite as warm as some other bags here though and it does not get some of the extra bonus features, such as a more water-resistant shell. But it ...

  • LFTO.com rating rating is 0
  • Owners' rating rating is 0
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First test: Columbia Compounder Shell jacket

£195.00

Omni-Dry is Columbia’s latest waterproof and breathable fabric, and on paper it appears to stand beside the best that money can buy. With the proud claim that it is ‘more air-permeable than Gore-Tex’ and that it is ‘the ultimate in waterproof technology for the outdoors’, Columbia has clearly set out its stall. The question is, does it actually help hillwalkers ...

  • LFTO.com rating rating is 4
  • Owners' rating rating is 0
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Páramo Torres Jacket (2012)

£140.00

When it comes to insulating layers, Páramo says: why put it on under your waterproof when you can simply throw it over everything? But the question for a walker who will only use a jacket like this ‘just in case’ or when they stop for lunch is this: is it really worth the extra weight and bulk in their backpack? ...

  • LFTO.com rating rating is 4
  • Owners' rating rating is 0
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Mountain Equipment Alpamayo Jacket (2012)

£160.00

Designed primarily as a belay jacket to go over other layers, the Mountain Equipment Alpamayo is, as expected, generously sized as well as water- and wind-resistant. It’s very warm too – second warmest on test after the Páramo jacket – but then with extra warmth comes extra weight (526g, size 10 – third heaviest here) so it really depends on ...

  • LFTO.com rating rating is 4
  • Owners' rating rating is 0
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Vango Deluxe Cork Walking Poles (2012)

£40.00

The handle is one of the most important areas of a trekking pole, as if this is not right then sore hands are almost guaranteed. To improve comfort, the Vango Deluxe Cork Walking Pole has a cork handle, which is not quite as comfy as a softer padded handle, but it is better than a rubber or plastic handle. The ...

  • LFTO.com rating rating is 3
  • Owners' rating rating is 0
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Pennine Fastlock 260 (2012)

£35.00

Probably the most common complaint walkers have with trekking poles is that the internal locking mechanism becomes impossible to lock or unlock and is difficult at the best of times with wet, cold or gloved hands. A popular alternative to the internal expansion lock is an external snaplock, where a lever is flipped closed to lock the pole sections in ...

  • LFTO.com rating rating is 4
  • Owners' rating rating is 0
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Sprayway Zao (2012)

£160.00

Of all the jackets on test, the Sprayway Zao is the only one to have a Gore-Tex outer shell, making it waterproof – rather than simply water-resistant. An insulating jacket suitable for use even in heavy rain or snow will keep you warm, and it means the insulation is well-protected against the wet too. But the problem for walkers is ...

  • LFTO.com rating rating is 3
  • Owners' rating rating is 0
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MSR SureLock TR-3 2012 (2012)

£113.00

The SureLock range of poles is MSR’s first entry into the competitive trekking pole market. It aims to tackle the classic problem of trekking poles – namely poor locking mechanism – by having a unique SureLock adjustment system, which relies on an internal pin that locates into a series of apertures on the inside of the tubes. The locking pins ...

  • LFTO.com rating rating is 4
  • Owners' rating rating is 0
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Finisterre Sastruga III (2012)

£185.00

As with everything made by Finisterre, environmental concerns are high in the designers’ minds. The synthetic fill is PrimaLoft Eco, made from recycled plastic bottles and the face fabric is also made from recycled polyester. The jacket has a tight, long fit. Even in a large it’s quite a snug fit and won’t suit those who prefer a more relaxed ...

  • LFTO.com rating rating is 4
  • Owners' rating rating is 0
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Columbia Prarion (2012)

£150.00

Although it uses 700-fill down, the jacket has added insulation in the form of Columbia’s Omni-Heat reflective technology. Silver dots are added to the lining to help bounce radiated heat back inside. In use it does seem to add extra warmth to the top, without making things too stuffy. However, the jacket still remains quite heavy for a down-filled mid-layer ...

  • LFTO.com rating rating is 3
  • Owners' rating rating is 0
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Craghoppers Risor Half-Zip (2012)

£60.00

A fleece for walkers who don’t want to be seen in a fleece. Has the feel of a comfy pullover, but is still highly practical. The outer fabric feels a bit more like thick wool than fleece, which makes it a little more resilient to abrasion and resists the dreading pilling of the fabric over time. The inner fabric retains ...

  • LFTO.com rating rating is 3
  • Owners' rating rating is 0
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Rab Double Pile (2012)

£60.00

A heavy fleece and therefore very warm. Double-pile fabric really traps the heat in. That also makes it bulky, however, and this certainly isn’t the kind of garment to tuck away in your pack for emergency use. Although it may not look like it, the face fabric has a water-repellent treatment which means that you can wear the top in ...

  • LFTO.com rating rating is 4
  • Owners' rating rating is 0
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Outdoor Research Exit Hoodie (2012)

£90.00

Thick, warm and rugged. A stylish jacket, that really looks more casual than it should. Performance-wise it’s great, offering plenty of warmth with its dual-texture Alpin-wool fabric. The tough wool outer fabric couples with a microfleece lining on the inside to trap warmth next to the skin. The top certainly is warm, although bulky with it. Pound-for-pound this isn’t the ...

  • LFTO.com rating rating is 3
  • Owners' rating rating is 0
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Sprayway W.N.W (2012)

£110.00

This jacket is new for 2011, although it’s actually an update of a classic model from the Sprayway line. It’s a straightforward, midweight fleece with an added Windstopper membrane. This wind protection boosts the warmth rating of the top without adding to the bulk, in a similar way to many soft shells. That extra layer of material also makes it ...

  • LFTO.com rating rating is 5
  • Owners' rating rating is 0

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