Founded in Scotland in the 1980s, Highlander Outdoor started with a simple mission: that everyone should be able to explore the world their way. From weekend hikers to multi-day trekkers and everything in between, Highlander Outdoor has been kitting us out for generations.
Home of affordable performance hiking, camping, navigation and survival gear, Highlander leans on a proven history of enthusiasm and dedication to their craft.
Built on humble beginnings, Highlander planned to curate gear that made outdoor exploring safe and accessible from the outset. A high order? Perhaps. But four decades on, that same ethos still drives Highlander, and they’ve got a few big moments under their (rucksack) belt to prove it.
From the Scottish Highlands to the world stage
Highlander’s roots may be in the rugged beauty of Scotland’s landscapes, but their journey has taken them far beyond the glens and lochs. Over the past 40 years, they’ve grown steadily and with purpose.
Staying true to core principles of innovation, quality, and value has been key to Highlander’s enduring success. Gear from waterproof jackets to rucksacks and tents to torches is all built to endure the rugged Scottish wilderness.
As a crowning moment, Highlander Outdoor became an official licensee at the London 2012 Olympic Games. Not long after, the brand repeated the feat closer to home at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games. Impressive accolades, but what this means in real talk is that Highlander has become a steadfast outdoors brand that we can trust to deliver.
Win £230 of Highlander gear for your next adventure, including the Novar 60+5L Rucksack and Respite 1 Person Tunnel Tent. Click here to jump straight to the competition.
Performance without the price tag
If you’re reading this, then you’re likely an outdoors lover at heart. Us too, and while we love a bells-and-whistles bit of outdoors tech, the prices tend to add up fast. Highlander takes a different approach, one that prioritises accessible adventure because they believe that performance shouldn’t be a luxury, but a given.
Their range of hiking clothing, camping gear, outdoor equipment and navigation essentials is designed to do the job reliably and affordably. This translates to investing in quality materials and smart production processes that favour value, without sacrificing function.
And it’s not just marketing. Take it from us, Highlander’s Novar 65L Rucksack is “proof that you don’t need to drop hundreds to get a functional, feature-packed rucksack”, according to our expert tester.
Likewise, the Munro V2 Jacket held its own against bigger names for its weatherproofing and weight, and the Tiree Pro Trekking Poles earned high marks for grip and stability.
Join a proud family ethos
In an industry dominated by corporate behemoths, second-generation, family-owned Highlander Outdoor breaks the mould. The brand says this ethos is fundamental to their operations, affording them a long-term, community-focused vision.
Out in nature and at the mercy of the elements, it’s incredibly important to use gear you can trust. Being family-run means Highlander has the ability to remain nimble, responsive and deeply human. They’re also a team of expert gear testers and fellow outdoor lovers, with years of experience exploring the Scottish mountains in Highlander gear.
“As son of the founder, in a 2nd generation family business that was created out of a love for the outdoors, my message to you is that building relationships and engaging in new ones are at the heart of our ethos at Highlander," says Director Ramin Golzari.
“One of our key missions is to make it easy and enjoyable for everybody to get outdoors by designing and providing performance outdoor gear at great value, and this is something we will always strive towards."
Find out more about Highlander Outdoor and their range of outdoor adventure gear.
The ultimate Highlander Outdoor kit list
Here's a look at some of Highlander Outdoor’s standout tent and pack essentials, trusted by hikers, campers, and hardened explorers across the UK and beyond.
Novar 60+5L Rucksack – £99.99
With versatility at its core, the Novar is a generous 65L pack primed for multi-day hikes, wild camping, or simply long weekends in nature.
The rucksack features an adjustable back system to fit hikers with an average to larger build. Weighing in at 2kg, it strikes a solid balance between durability and manageable carry weight.
Thoughtful design features include multiple compartments, gear loops, a built-in rain cover and hydration bladder compatibility.
Made from tough ripstop fabric with reinforced panels, it’s designed to handle rough conditions, optimised for Duke of Edinburgh and expedition use.
Scoring four stars in our recent review, we were “pleasantly surprised by the overall levels of durability, functionality and performance. You get a really comprehensive set of features”.
Respite 1 Person Tunnel Tent – £129.99
The Respite is a waterproof, one-person tunnel tent designed to be lightweight, functional and compact.
Built to offer ample space for the solo adventurer, there are also some nice touches, including a front porch, an internal clothes line, a mesh window at the entrance and an inbuilt ground sheet for faff-free assembly.
Weatherproofing is in the form of a polyester ripstop outer shell, with 4,000mm HH waterproofing and taped seams. Crafted with durable alloy poles and pegs, all this rolls up into a drybag to complete the lightweight 1.9kg package.
Vulkan 45L Mountain Rucksack – £119.99
Tough, lightweight and built for all-season use, the Vulkan 45L is primed for winter hikes and lightweight mountaineering.
With dedicated attachment points for an ice axe, rope and poles, it keeps technical gear secure and close at hand. A pack ready for serious days on the mountain.
Falcon Bivvy Tent – £89.99
Optimised for self-supported solo missions, the Falcon Bivvy Tent is a rugged, waterproof micro-shelter coming in at a mere 950g.
Built with alloy poles and pegs for strength and a weatherproof construction, this hopped bivvy tent should have you covered even in the harshest of environments.
It scores bonus points for packing down small into a heavy-duty drybag after use.
Hauler Duffel 65L – £69.99
Built for rough travel and gear-heavy adventures, the 65L capacity Hauler Duffel combines water-resistant fabric, reinforced stitching and a 3-way carry system for maximum versatility.
With internal compression straps and a spacious main compartment, gear should be easy to secure and quick to access when needed. Also available in 30L, 45L, 90L and 120L capacity options.
Blackthorn 1+ Person – £74.99
The Blackthorn 1+ is a solo tent with a touch more breathing room than the Highlander’s 1-person Respite and Falcon. Weighing just 1.6kg, it’s ideal for backpackers, bikepackers and wild campers who need reliable shelter without the extra bulk.
Taped seams, a 2,000mm HH waterproof flysheet and an integrated bug net keep the elements and insects out, while the compact design packs into a heavy-duty stuff sack when on the go.
Ivar Rucksack – From £49.99
Designed for day hikes and short adventures, the Ivar Rucksack offers a balance of comfort, durability and function.
Whether you're just getting into hillwalking or heading out on regular weekend trails, this all-rounder rucksack range aims to deliver on what matters most in a hiking pack: a supportive back system, practical storage solutions and a fit that works.
With sizes from 25L to 40L to choose from, along with male- and female-specific fits, there’s an Ivar for every kind of trip and every type of hiker.
WIN a Novar 60+5L Rucksack and Respite 1 Person Tunnel Tent!
TERMS AND CONDITIONS for “Highlander Outdoor” (the “Competition”).
These terms and conditions (the “Specific Terms”) for the Competition should be read alongside our general competition terms and conditions at: http://www.bauerlegal.co.uk/ (the “General Terms”) which will also apply to this Competition. Where there is any conflict between these Specific Terms and the General Terms, the Specific Terms shall prevail.
Entries are restricted to one entry per person.
Entry to the Competition is available via the following routes:
Online at https://www.livefortheoutdoors.com/outdoor-features/discover/highlander-outdoor-gear-showcase
There will be one winner of the Competition. All valid entries will be pooled and [the winner/winners will be chosen by electronic random draw on 05.08.25.
Entries must be submitted during the following entry period:
From 9am on 07.07.25 (the “Start Time”) to 11:59pm on 04.08.25 (“End Time”).
Entries received before the Start Time or after the End Time will be invalid.
However if the winner cannot be contacted within 7 days from the date of the initial attempt to contact them then we will re-draw until we draw a winner that we are satisfied (in our sole discretion) fulfils all of the eligibility criteria and is in compliance with these Terms.
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Open to UK residents aged 18 years or over on date of entry.
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Our employees (and their family members) or employees of any company involved in the Competition, including any Prize Provider, are not permitted to enter.
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We reserve the right to disqualify any entrant or winner who does not comply with any of the eligibility criteria and/or is in breach of these Terms. We reserve the right to repeat the competition mechanic or any stage of it in order to draw a winner that fulfils all of the eligibility criteria and is in compliance with these Terms.
Other entry restrictions are as follows:
One winner will receive the following prize (the “Prize”):
One Novar 60+5L Rucksack and One Respite 1 Person Tunnel Tent in Pine Green.
The Prize is provided by Highlander Outdoor (the “Prize Provider”). We are not responsible for any aspect of the Prize, including unsatisfactory quality or late delivery or a prize winner being unable to take up any aspect, or the entirety of the prize due to their own circumstances or restrictions.
Prizes are non-transferable, non-refundable and no cash alternative will be offered.
OTHER CONDITIONS
Data Protection. Names, email addresses, and /or telephone numbers (which, for all SMS competitions, will be shared with our SMS provider) will be collected and used to process entries. Winner’s details may be given to a Prize Provider to arrange delivery of the prize. Your details may remain stored after the End Date but will not be used for marketing unless you have ticked an opt-in box on entry. For SMS entries you automatically consent to receive marketing. You may opt out at any time by texting the word STOP to the relevant text shortcode number. If you have opted in to receive marketing communications, then your details will be used in accordance with the information given when you ticked the opt-in box and gave your consent. For more details, see: http://www.bauerdatapromise.co.uk/.
Intellectual Property And Consents. By entering this Competition, you are consenting to our use of your entry both to publicise this Competition, the magazine or any other magazines or media platforms which we own or control. This means that we may use all names, images, descriptions, photographs video footage, and other information, which you have submitted on entry, in any media, without paying you any remuneration therefore and without any time restriction. You also agree that we may film, record or photograph you in connection with the competition and /or the Prize if applicable. We will own these films, recordings or photographs and we may use them publicly, including on the internet, in any of our magazines and/or for any promotional purposes. You will also have waived any moral rights or right to payment that you may have had.
Miscellaneous.
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Entries which do not comply with these Terms or the General Competition Terms and Conditions will not be accepted and any entries may be disqualified if we have any reason to suspect that there is a breach of, or non-compliance with, these Terms.
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Where a competition mechanic involves the answering of questions, the correct answers to questions must match our answers to win (or be sufficiently close in our sole reasonable opinion) to be acceptable. In the event of any dispute about any answers given and whether they are correct, we reserve the right to amend what we deem a correct answer, however we are not obliged to, and our decision in either case is final and no correspondence will be entered into.
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We are not responsible if you fail to get through when you call / text to enter, or if you lose signal during a call.
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You are responsible for all costs of entry and where necessary, obtaining the bill payer’s permission. Please refer to your tariff with your network provider for information about charges you may incur for entry into our competitions via any SMS or phone call entry route.
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We accept no liability for network, technical or signal errors, issues or failures experienced by entrants when entering the competition or at any stage during the mechanic of the competition.
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As part of your entry or playing of the Competition you must not make any inappropriate, profane, indecent, harmful or offensive statements. If you do so we reserve the right to disqualify you from the competition. You may be also disqualified from the competition at any time if you are incomprehensible, inaudible or if you appear to be driving, intoxicated or likely to offend listeners. Any prize already won may be withdrawn and re-awarded to another entrant.
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As far as it is lawful to do so we exclude our liability for any losses suffered in connection with the Competition or any element of the Prize.
We may cancel, end or suspend the Competition where we are required to do so in circumstances outside our control. We reserve the right to amend these Terms at any stage during the Competition if such amendment is necessary to facilitate the administration of the Competition.
Contact Details. Any concerns? Please email: outdoorpm@bauermedia.co.uk. Correspondence will not be entered into regarding any competition which has closed more than 14 days prior to correspondence being received.
H Bauer Publishing is the promoter of this Competition, see: http://www.bauerlegal.co.uk/ for details of our registered office and company number.