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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 ...

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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 ...

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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 ...

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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 ...

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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 ...

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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 ...

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Terra Nova Bivi Tarp 2011

£200.00

Terra Nova has a history in expedition and mountain tents, but as the holder of the Guinness World Record for the world’s lightest tent with the 560g Laser Ultra 1, the brand is no stranger to lightweight shelters. They recently added several tarp models to their range, and the Bivi Tarp is something a little different. DesignThe Terra Nova Bivi ...

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Exped Scout Tarp Extreme 2011

£165.00

Exped kit tends to be robust, functional and ready for the worst of conditions. Expeditions need low weight too, and this tarp has a good balance between all these points, as well as being a multi-person shelter. DesignThe Exped Scout Tarp Extreme has the familiar plain rectangular outline of a tarp, but it’s actually quite complex. The edges have regularly ...

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Therm-a-Rest Haven Top Bag 2010

£190.00

The top bag sleeping system has been tried and tested many times as a way to reduce weight and bulk. The idea came from sleeping bag designers. They thought that when a sleeping bag was used on a sleeping mat, there would be no need for the bag to have insulation along its base, as the mat already provided plenty ...

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Vango Force Ten Helium Superlite 100 2010

£230.00

A bit like the new coalition government, Vango’s plan for easing the burden of carrying a one-person tent is to strip out wasted weight. According to the manufacturer, everything that is good in the classic Vango Force Ten Helium is apparent in the new Helium Superlite, but you now have a new lighter groundsheet and inner tent. The result of ...

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Tundra Pure -5 2010

£220.00

Staying warm is about placing the most efficient insulation in the right place around your body. Tundra places extra down at the foot so you don’t have to wear socks in this sleeping bag! Equally it uses down that is collected from the bird’s nests rather than being plucked. The end result is happy geese and warm campers. DesignThe Tundra ...

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Mountain Equipment Xero 550 2010

£270.00

The Xero range comprises Mountain Equipment’s lightest sub-zero sleeping bags. Comfort at minimum weight is the hallmark of the range. The EXL stretch baffle system ensures the bag hugs the body, so that the top quality down can keep you warm. For 2010 this bag gets even better down. DesignThe Xero range is made to be lightweight, so the latest ...

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Cumulus Quantum 350 2010

£225.00

Quantum bags are the lightest in the Cumulus range and they are designed to offer a superb warmth-to-weight ratio. So they use the best down available and combine this with superlight fabrics. To save a little more weight those in the Quantum range are slightly shorter and narrower than other Cumulus sleeping bags. DesignThe Cumulus Quantum 350 is designed to ...

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Montane Sabretooth Jacket 2009

£150.00

The grey area between soft shell and fleece is spanned by the Montane Sabretooth, which is described as a ‘highly technical soft shell’ jacket as it is more wind- and water-resistant than other fleece mid layers. But most importantly it does not have a membrane so it is far more breathable than most soft shells. DesignThe Montane Sabretooth is a ...

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Berghaus Mera Peak 2009

£240.00

What does your jacket say about you? Back in the late Nineties the name Mera Peak said mountaineer and serious skier. The Berghaus Mera Peak was the 2-layer Gore-Tex version of the 3-layer Berghaus Trango Extrem, a benchmark mountaineering jacket that allowed the casual observer to identify Brits in Chamonix at over 100 paces. But times change, designs evolve and ...

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Páramo Velez Adventure Light 2009

£180.00

For many, the word ‘Light’ that suffixes this new, slimmer riff on Páramo’s cracking Velez Adventure Smock will arch an interested eyebrow. Páramo waterproof products have always been love-’em-or-leave-’em affairs for many, with praise usually centring on their freakish waterproof/breathability powers (more of which later) and durability, and excuses typically involving the words ‘hot’ and ‘heavy’. The original Velez Adventure ...

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Millet Aerial Max 2008

£190.00

The Millet Aerial Max is made from a stretch version of Gore-Tex Paclite that feels very hard-wearing, while allowing a closer fit without restricting movement. There is also heat-sealed reinforcement on the shoulders. The body is quite short, which is good for climbers for example. The fabric is rated as extremely waterproof and extremely breathable so you should stay dry. ...

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Páramo Velez Adventure Smock 2008

£180.00

Páramo garments have a broad following thanks to their unique fabric, which controls condensation better than anything else, and keeps the rain out (and the performance can be maintained for life using Nikwax). Two zipped side vents on the Páramo Velez Adventure Smock add ventilation and give access to a zipped tunnel handwarmer pocket. The design is a smock, which ...

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Helly Hansen Volt 2008

£180.00

The Helly Hansen Volt multi-activity jacket is very waterproof, very breathable fabric; two large pockets; useful chest pocket; pit zips; short body is useful for climbers; good hood fit and movement. But 594g (men’s L) is quite heavy for this category; hood cannot be rolled down; hip pocket access is easily obscured by rucksacks; hood peak is soft and so ...

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Lowe Alpine Arete

£200.00

Good high collar and fleece chinguard, while the waist drawcord ensured a close fit. Adjustable peaked hood is great. The Gore-Tex Pro Shell fabric was a bit rustly, though. Although fairly heavy, the Arete was a joy to walk in. Four outer pockets means you can stow hat and gloves easily, while still having room to keep your hands warm. ...

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Sprayway Monsoon IA

£160.00

Long in the body. Deep, adjustable hood, which proved totally bomb-proof in a gale. Its bulk made the Monsoon quite warm. Comes with a useful array of deep pockets and wide opening pit zips. Lots of features make it quite heavy, however.VITAL STATSColours: Five including sunset/black and marine/blackSizes: 8-18Fabric: Gore-Tex PerformanceKey features: Zip and pack (ZAP) hood, interactive zip, drawcord ...

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Marmot Palisades

£170.00

Lovely and snug with soft, rustle-free fabric and fleece-lined collar. Has a wonderfully deep hood, too, but it was really hard to do up properly. An attractive jacket which will keep you totally dry. However, the hood was much too fiddly to do up securely in the wind, and it comes with features for skiing, which many won’t need.VITAL STATSColours: ...

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Paramo Cascada

£180.00

A great fit with well-designed sleeves and a good combination of Velcro and elastic at the cuffs. Hem and waist drawcords help fine-tune fit and hood was easy to adjust. Comfort-wise, it’s hard to knock the Cascada, which is cut from a wonderfully soft and rustle-free fabric making it a real pleasure to wear. Good breathability, making it really pleasant ...

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Berghaus Aura

£200.00

A good fit with superb sleeves and plenty of adjustment. The hood was spot-on, too, with enough room for a hat when needed. Superb in a downpour and the Gore-Tex Pro Shell fabric made it very breathable. Good hood and accessible pockets. A little pricey, though. VITAL STATSColours: Four including pillar box red/ash, mazarine blue/eclipseSizes: S-XXLFabric: Gore-Tex Pro ShellKey features: ...

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The North Face M All Terrain

£150.00

With a top-notch hood and deep storm flap, keeping rain out was no problem and the Gore-Tex fabric was notably more breathable than most. Let down by pockets that were difficult to access with a pack on. Roomy with long sleeves that were a little loose at the cuffs. A perfect hood, though, with excellent adjustment, and the soft two-layer ...