Last Three Months | £150- £299 | translate:/Global/SiteRating: 4

This is a midweight jacket, yet still one of the most technical on the market. Gore-Tex Windstopper fabric has been used to block out the breeze, which really increases the warmth-to-weight ratio. With membrane technology, the fabric can get a little warm, but there are a couple of huge vents running right up the sides. The inside is mesh-lined, as ...

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Patagonia Guide Hoody (2012)

£155.00

A traditional soft shell made from a relatively simple polyester material, with no membrane to complicate things The Patagonia is one of the lighter tops on test and as such works well in a range of conditions. There’s no windproof membrane, so it’s very breathable, meaning it doubles up well as a mid-layer under a shell when the heavens open. ...

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Lowa Khumbu TC GTX (2012)

£170.00

The Lowa is a more rugged kind of boot than some of the multi-activity styles. It has a stiff sole unit that provides support on rougher terrain and a tough toe rand and heel counter to protect feet against wayward rocks and encounters with fence-posts. This stiffness is counteracted by the soft, mixed-material construction of the uppers, which makes the ...

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Zamberlan 540w Rise GT (2012)

£150.00

A tough and sturdy boot and as a consequence, heavy. It doesn’t feel cumbersome, though, thanks to a great fit – with a narrow heel and wide forefoot – and a nice rolling action that seems to spur you forward. They’re well padded, which makes them feel very comfortable and supportive, but quite warm, too. An excellent lacing system spreads ...

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Mammut Mt Centry GTX (2012)

£180.00

Outwardly Mammut Mt Centry GTX scrambling boots have a strong walking pedigree with a good rolling flex, plenty of comfortable padding and quick-lacing hooks; but lurking beneath their soft Labrador exterior is a hyperactive Border Collie just dying to scamper up some rocks. The tell-tale signs of this dual personality are fairly well-disguised, and come in the form of a ...

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Garmont Vetta Mnt GTX (2012)

£190.00

Garmont has done a great job with the Garmont Vetta Mnt GTX boot. In one package it has managed to pack in all the key scrambling features and yet still give a great level of walking comfort. What’s best though is that it manages to do this all for under £200. You wouldn’t really be able to stick a pair ...

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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 ...