Berghaus Ignite Vest Review

What is a 'vest' or gilet in relation to outdoors stuff and kit?

Basically it's a layer without sleeves. It gives (usually) a measure of insulation but without the puffiness around the arms that you may get with other layers, especially those that use the same level of fill across the whole item.

It's quick and easy to put on and light to pack down in the bag. They're usually not so puffy that they make you feel like the Michelin Man but just give that added extra layer of warmth you may want, whether it be on stops or around camp.

Of course there are different types of fill (down or synthetic), different levels of fill (whether it be 60, 100 etc) or and different types of fill (goose down or duck down, Primaloft One, Primaloft Eco or an own brand fill etc).

Enter the Berghaus Ignite Vest. Now this is just a helpful review simply from one I ordered but had to return (due to a fault which probably came as a result of its delivery). So this has not been tested in the field, unlike most of my gear which has travelled about a fair bit. So that's my 'caveat emptor' !

Out in the 'wilds'... medium Berghaus Ignite Vest over medium OR Ferrosi hoody

I have tried on a few different vests in shops. I found one brand fine but a bit too baggy (North Ridge) and a Montane Prism a bit tight on the shoulders in medium and slightly restrictive in the arms (large was fine). The Ignite Vest in medium seemed to be a pretty good fit although as you can see in the pics, the length comes just about to my belt on my waist. (The very best fitting for me is the Paramo Torres Lightweight Gilet with no restriction around the shoulders in medium and a longer length - but no drawcord on the 'hem').

Aerial view of the front of the Berghaus Ignite Vest

I am 5'11" and an athletic medium build (just over 10 stone). I'm wearing a medium OR Ferrosi hoody underneath to vest, just to give some help, as I hate reviews that say "this fitted me fine" but fail to mention their height, their build or the size of the top etc! Aaagh!

The weight of the Ignite Vest is about 250g according to one listing I found on ebay. This seems about right considering the weights of other similar tops.

The Berghaus Spec I've gleaned from various sites as for some unknown reason, Berghaus refuse to put the full information on their website for products, despite having been

PRIMALOFT ONE insulation 

PERTEX Outer shell 

Exposed reversed coil front zip

Two zipped hand warmer pockets 

Technical fit

Size: L

MATERIAL: PERTEX Microlight

WEIGHT: 250 g

FILL: 60

The fit of the top as I've mentioned is just about right. If you have any padding or want to over layer the smock on other thickish items you'd probably best go up a size. The medium is just about right - it's not fitted but is on the slightly snug side (certainly compared to the 'medium' Ferrosi hoody with its extra American sizing!) I didn't find the top getting in the way when moving my arms around much so it's not a restrictive fit, at least not for me.

Unlike some tops which seem to delight in mass branding across their clothing like you're some piece of cattle in a mass Coloradon branding project, the back of the Ignite Vest is plain black. Nice.

The top as you'll see has a main strong zip down the front and two zipped pockets which is I think perfect for a vest / gilet. There is a 'beard guard' to some extent under the chin and a a zip guard behind the zip to avoid snagging when doing up the zip.

Berghaus Ignite Vest showing the collar

The top of the vest has a collar which can get in the face a touch but is actually very soft and doesn't get in the way, at least not when briefly testing the top. it will provide a lovely snug fit in colder temperatures!

Showing the drop tail and hem drawcords of the Berghaus Ignite Vest

So the feel of the fill. Well here we are on a June Summer's day where the temperature has dropped to 18C from a mini heatwave and the monsoon rains are arriving.... Perhaps not an ideal time to be buying, let alone using a Primaloft insulation layer. However, in my brief 2 day 'testing' (if that's what you can call it) saw me feel perfectly comfortable with the Ignite Vest on. So I'd say it may be breathable but not sure that it would add a great amount of warmth.

The outer surface of the Ignite Vest is Pertex Microlight (ripstop). With any lightweight fabric, the payoff is durability. I certainly wouldn't want to wear the Ignite Vest under an abrasive pack or for use when scrambling too much etc (despite microlight being stronger than pertex quantum). The reason I had to return my vest was because of a tug that was there when I got the jacket. This had actually cut into the fabric. Of course for considerable extra (£25-£40) cost, things like the Arcteryx LT Atom Vest or the Paramo Torres Vest have a stronger face fabric.

Macro shot of the rip in the vest (1cm from top left to bottom right). Ripstop doing its job!

Of course a 60g level of insulation isn't huge but I think it would be excellent for Spring-Autumn use and as an extra layer in Winter. The great thing with a vest is that you can pack it into your bag and hardly know it's there. If I were wanting something for winter I'd certainly be looking at something like the Rab Generator Vest which has a 100 fill of Primaloft One (or a jacket with more fill). But the great thing about the Ignite Vest is that you'd hardly know it was there. Extra warmth, lightweight, breathable, just £54 (what I paid) and hardly noticeable - what's not to like!

Oh and this is the best looking gilet / vest I've seen... If that makes any difference to you!

Paramo Torres Smock - Review

Need a solid, very hard-wearing, over layering belay style jacket...? If so, welcome the Paramo Torres Smock...

Paramo Torres Smock

As you'd expect from Paramo, this thing is a bit of a beast. The outer layer (same as the one used on the Paramo Fuera) is extremely hard-wearing and durable. It will go through brambles and other mere mortal things without fear basically. The inner is 100g of their proprietary Analogy Insulator which is also a very breathable water-drawing fabric that will move moisture away from the inside of the fabric and transport it to the outer. Magic.

However the pay-off for this hardcore bit of kit is the weight. If you compare the Torres with for example the Montane Flux, you'll find it's 800g as opposed to the Flux's 550. OK it's not that much but it's a significant whack more, especially as the synthetic layer Montane Ice Guide with 210g of Primaloft Eco fill is only 635g. But this is because of the durable nature of the Paramo fabric.

Me wearing the Torres. I'm wearing a regular medium t-shirt under and I have an athletic build. Not that you'd realise this from the box style 'fit' of the Torres which makes me look fat! Notice how my t-shirt is poking out from underneath. The Torres smock is not long and there's no drop tail at the back.

The, er, 'design' of the Torres won't win any awards for anything except 'box fit' of the year. But then again, we know this about Paramo. In fact I think only their recent Helki jacket can be described as having any kind of fitted design from Paramo's entire range... It is very boxy and functional. (*Note this was true at the time of writing - Paramo have since released some more 'fitted' style jackets)

Unlike the Flux, there is no drop tail at the back for example. Unlike the Flux, the sleeves don't have any velcro on them, instead relying on an elasticated cuff.

Elasticated cuff on the Torres Smock

The waist of the Torres has a toggle drawcord to lock the warmth in. The fabric you can see is the inner insulated fabric.

Torres hem drawcord and insulating inside layer

There is a half zip to enable you to get the top on and off, as well as being there for venting. This is one advantage of the box fit - the waist is so big it helps with venting! There is also a top pocket for something like a phone, although this isn't a venting pocket. There is one further mesh pocket on the inside of the Torres (underneath the top pocket). This is probably to stash things like baselayer/liner gloves etc. The main (two) zips, zip both ways to give you venting options which is helpful.

The two-way zips on the smock and top pocket

The Paramo Torres smock has an oversized hood which is more than capable of going on top of a helmet. The hood is huge! Fortunately it has a couple of drawcords either side of the hood (as you can see in the first picture below). There is also a drawcord on the top of the hood which cinches things down and I've found that you need! (See lower picture).

Hood of the Torres Smock, with wired peak

Back of the smock (camera has got colour wrong). Notice the top drawcord which has been tightened

In practice, I've used this on cold winters on Dartmoor, on top of fells like Coniston when it was blowing an absolute hoolie (I nearly lost the thing putting it on with winds of over 60mph as you commonly get up around there) and elsewhere. It's performed pretty well and has been very breathable too. When it rains, the movement of moisture from inner to outer is just phenomenal. I also treat it with Nikwax TX Direct wash-in.

On a recent trip to Scafell from Eskdale in 5 degree C temps and a fair old wind on a claggy, low cloud drizzling day, one of our team got cold and two of them headed down. I took a decision to go back down (hey the views would have been awful anyway!!) and I was glad I had done so as my friend's waterproof had wetted through and so her fleece was beginning to get a bit wet and she was getting a bit worryingly cold. I got her to take off her waterproof and stash it on her pack (actually it's my pack, think she still has it...!) Anyhoo on went the Torres smock which was very oversized for her petite figure but it really did the trick as we moved and really helped her warm up while keeping her dry on the inside.

For me as someone who gets pretty cold when I stop, the Torres actually wouldn't be enough in pretty cold and long stops, or actual belaying. For others it would be too much insulation. So decide what you need and what your priorities are... The Torres would be ideal for you if you need a breathable, heavyweight, durable over layer. It fits over your gear without any problems being designed to do that. I actually managed to put my down jacket on underneath the Torres Smock !!!

Final pic is the Torres next to my Montane Flux. Hard to see but the Flux is way more fitted and definitely more flattering !!

Montane Flux (left) and Paramo Torres Smock (right)

Update from December 2014... The Torres in action on a gale force style snow and hail storm on Dartmoor making easy work of the crazy weather and the hailstones! Great jacket when you don't need to worry about weight and need something pretty hardcore.

Wicking / Breathable Boxer Shorts - Mini Review - M&S, Under Armour, Paramo

Ah, I've taken some stick from friends for my purchase of wicking boxer shorts but if you buy breathable clothing and don't get breathable underwear it seems a bit strange to me!

Breathable underwear will help you maintain a balanced temperature and make you feel more comfortable - however 'uncomfortable' you may feel talking about it... They'll also dry quickly when you're wet which is well worth considering.

So here are a few pairs of boxers I've used or recommended to others, as a mini review to help you!

OK, so here are a few things to consider when buying:

1. Are they comfortable?!
2. Are they breathable?
3. Do they 'ride up' your waist?
4. Do they have any 'anti-pong' treatments?
5. Do they have a 'working fly'?


All the pics are done with a 12" (30cm) ruler at the top to give you a consistent measurement.


First up the 3" Original 'boxerjock' boxer shorts from Under Armour

Without a doubt these are the most fully featured breathable boxer shorts - with both a 'working fly' (a gap to use to go to the toilet!) and anti-pong treatments.

These are the 3" version (in terms of length down the leg). I have personally found these to be great but like many boxer shorts they do tend to ride up the waist a bit. If I were to get another pair of these excellent boxers I'd go for the longer 6" ones without a doubt, to stop them riding up so much. Material is soft, comfy and thin but tough-feeling. Stretchy in a good way.

The anti-pong does work to some extent for sure. The fit is regular and I love having the working fly. I cannot understand why manufacturer's make boxer shorts without a working fly...

Update from Lakes / Scotland Summer 2014 - these things continue to ride up and I think it's partially because of the nice to touch but slidey material they're made of.

My rating: 8/10


Second, the Paramo Cambria boxer shorts

Made by the legendary Paramo, these things will probably last longer than a lifetime. They are certainly much shorter than the Under Armour boxer shorts. (NB In the pic the boxers are inside out!)

They are very breathable, dry very quickly and are extremely resilient. They are a little more uncomfortable to wear than the Under Armour, but also come with the working fly to help when out on the trail! No anti-pong treatment. These stretch but aren't what I'd call overly stretchy. Great regular fit.

Update from Lakes / Scotland Summer 2014 - these things have been promoted to first place above all the other pieces of kit. Only ones that don't spend half their time strangling your legs or riding up your waist!

My new rating: 9/10


Third, the M&S (Marks & Spencer) Sport breathable boxers

These don't appear to be made any longer but should give you an overview of general breathable boxers like this. These are fairly long (probably slightly longer than the Under Armour ones). They are fairly tough and stretchy. No 'working fly' bizarrely and the best in terms of length. However, they are tight across the tops of the thighs so that's not ideal. They won't cut off circulation but a bit more 'give' would've been nice.

The 'ultra fit active' range from M&S was the similar although slightly shorter range which is now also discontinued. Again, the lack of a working fly and the tendency to ride up the legs made these only half as useful as they could have been.

Overall score for both of these M&S boxers... 5/10


So here's the conclusion...

1. They should be comfortable and slightly stretchy
2. They must be breathable
3. Get ones that don't ride up the waist
4. Get ones with anti-pong treatments if you can
5. Definitely get ones with working flys!

Winners from my admittedly limited test - the Paramo ones.

Bridgedale WoolFusion® Summit Socks

Not a huge review but there's not much to say except these are an excellent pair of warm socks!

Overview picture of one of my socks!

These are the Bridgedale WoolFusion Summit Socks which are designed for colder temperatures...

These are heavyweight socks which uses a wool and synthetic fusion to produce a cracking sock that will help your feet stay warm at higher altitudes and lower temperatures. According to Bridgedale's own figures these are near maximum warmth and above average padding. They certainly are!

I wear these when it's very cold and generally only with my boots as my approach shoes don't fit very well with these socks on compared to the Trekker socks, such is the thickness of these socks.

In terms of performance and durability they are fantastic but just a note that you may have to go up half a size in a shoe if you're thinking of wearing these. As ever, try on these socks with your boots - or take them with you when trying on a new pair of shoes or boots!

Bridgedale WoolFusion Trekker Socks

Bridgedale is synonymous with socks and 'darned' good ones too (bad humour, sorry...)

Front of one of my socks showing durability

I've had my Bridgedales for 6 years and they have been with me on a number of journeys across the UK and the USA. 

If you don't have a pair of specific walking socks then you need a pair, especially if you intend to cover any serious distance... These make a huge difference to your feet because they're padded around key areas of your foot, namely your heel and underneath the balls of the front of your feet.

There's not much to say about these socks except they're brilliant. In use, they wick moisture and they provide just the right amount of support for 4 season use in the UK. The wool fusion is incredibly durable and after 100+ of walks they show no sign of any real wear whatsoever! They also stretch just enough - really can't fault them. These have been worn in very warm temps as well as temps down to below zero (celsius).

Underside of the sock. Stain is from an insole and nothing to do with the sock!

In terms of drying the socks, just don't wash them on a high temperature and don't dry them on a radiator etc! If you do, they'll shrink...

Review of Life Of A Mountain: Scafell Pike (DVD) - by Terry Abraham

Life Of A Mountain; Scafell Pike is a year-round film celebration of England's highest fell. When I saw this was being produced (via crowd-source website Indiegogo), I was one of many who helped fund the project in my humble little way. So I was waiting with some interest to see what the film would look like.

Life Of A Mountain: Scafell Pike DVD

Here's my mini review from Outdoorsmagic:

Just thought I'd add my thoughts to this... I thought it was a great piece of work and really enjoyed it. Found it quite moving at times to be honest. Lots of great lingering mountain shots between scenes (and within scenes!) which was great. Didn't feel the movie was too slow or dragged at all, as clearly it's not an 'action' documentary. Really captured the emotion of the people featured and the score helped with this too. Completely agree with the review that the new age guy could have been axed. Nothing personal but it just seemed totally out of place and nothing to do with Scafell Pike. Other than that it was a real step up from the Cairngorms edit (which was in itself pretty good). So I'd give it 9/10 without hesitation :)

So let's look at things in a bit more detail...

First thing that needs to be commended is simply the labour of love and time that Terry Abraham clearly put into the DVD (and evidenced by his Facebook updates throughout). Absolutely incredible level of investment that shows through the DVD. As a video editor I also understand the level of work that has gone in and the excellent edits throughout the film. Brilliant and a real step-up from the less-refined edits that were on the Cairngorms film where Terry Abraham 'cut his teeth' so to speak!

The Scenery and overall edit

The film has a huge number of lingering shots of Scafell Pike. The review on outdoorsmagic is perhaps slightly unconvinced by this but for me, these inspiring shots from several locations around the Pike and from Scafell Pike itself were breathtaking and awesome. Many scenes begin and end with these shots but with such incredible camera work, who wouldn't want to see this!!

Menu

There is a top menu. Then you can play the movie or choose the four scenes... 'Spring' - 'Summer' - 'Autumn' - 'Winter' which is a very useful way of navigating around the DVD.

The Score

Magnificent. Cinematic, moving, uplifting, full of depth and meaning. Incredible

Spring

The cinematic score mixed with night shots into day shots of the Pike is an uplifting opening. We also start off with the highly interesting and caring thoughts of shepherdess Allison O'Neill. We move onto a local farmer lambing and then onto the work of the National Trust. David Powell-Thompson fascinates us, telling why he loves the Lakes and we journey up the Pike with him. His love for the Lakes is infectious.

Summer

Again we start with a number of inspiring shots of the Lakes. There's a short piece with Carey Davies of the BMC and trying to keep hillwalking sustainable and minimising environmental impact. There are interviews with regular hillwalkers on Scafell Pike, of which the standout is there Scottish guy telling us the views are amazing and asking why anyone would want to go abroad with views like that. (Good point but I can think of a few good reasons!) Then the legendary Joss Naylor features with his farm, his dogs, his life and fell running memories. Finally, Mark Richards shares a huge amount of his memories, his drawings and experiences regarding the legendary Alfred Wainwright.

Autumn

We start off at an intriguing look into the life of shepherding with a meet at Wasdale and all the animals, fell running and other activities. Some of the characters from the film feature. There's a feature with photographer Mark Gilligan and another walk and historical insights with David Powell-Thompson and some more shepherding.

Winter

Everyone's favourite walking season... surely...? We start with the Wasdale MRT where Terry films the guys practising, on a job and feature some brilliant insights from those currently active in the team and those who have been too. Really interesting. The next thing is the great scene with Chris Townsend, 'star' of the Cairngorms film. There is a momentous moment when Chris goes to sleep on a fairly overcast day and awakes the next day to a large amount of snowfall. It's something that is quite precious and Terry captures this. There's a great feature with Alan Hinkes with a bit of scrambling on Broad Stand and Mickledore. Great insights from a great mountaineer.

The last words are left to Allison O'Neill whose gentle voice belies some great insights and beautifully expresses the romantic nature of Scafell Pike and mountains as she explains how sitting around the Pike makes her feel close to heaven.

Terry ends with a kind of reprise to the opening sequence - some inspirational cinemascapes with Freddiehangoler's soundtrack. Wow!

Any Niggles?

Only a couple of very minor ones. The first one is the occasional slightly excessive volume of the violin on the soundtrack.

By far the biggest question is why the scene with the new age guy is in the film. He is slightly odd (and I say this as a spiritual guy myself as a Christian). He doesn't really say anything about Scafell Pike and I felt his interview actually detracted from the movie.

Conclusion

But these are trifles when taken in the context of the whole film which at 2 hours could have been too long but really isn't. Terry has captured Scafell Pike as the magnificent mountain / fell that it is and has brought it to life with those who live, work and play in and around the Pike and the Lake District. Compelling and inspiring. At times this film brought tears to my eyes to be honest - partly because I love the mountains and feel in awe of God - but partly because of Terry's edit and skills. Brilliant.

Craghoppers Compresslite Packaway Jacket Review

Having read a huge number of reviews on the Go Outdoors site and then one blogger's review of the jacket I thought I'd check it out. So I tootled down to the local Go to check out this insulated jacket which was in the sale (plus my Go Outdoors Price Match). Ended up getting this for £26.97!

NOTE that Craghoppers seem to have slightly updated this jacket (2016), although whether it's more than just a facelift and colour change I'm not sure as Craghoppers website doesn't seem to give much information which is very disappointing.

The deal is this - I get cold in winter when I stop. I get very hot when I'm on the move but quickly get cold. So the question was whether to get a thicker belay jacket, acquire a gilet/vest like the Haglofs Barrier or Rab Generator etc. Or get another insulated jacket.

The tasty price was the main temptation in checking this out. The cheap price also made me thought that if I were to wreck the jacket etc I wouldn't be as bothered as my £100 Flux jacket.

Craghoppers info here (updated 2016) - http://www.craghoppers.com/compresslite-packawy-jacket-spblu-dpcblu-0-9.html

UPDATE (26 June 2014) - I have now tried on, bought and regularly used the Compresslite in large (see below)

The Fit

Some of the reviews on Go Outdoors make mention that this top is a little on the small size. I would say this is a fairly accurate description but just to help focus that overview. You can definitely get a baselayer and softshell underneath, but the arms are where the top is too tight.

I'm a medium in most things and initially tried one of these in medium. While the fit is reasonable, like other Craghoppers items, the shoulder area feels a little tight and restricted. The rest of the body of the jacket is perfect except the slightly restricted shoulders also aren't articulated (for the price, you wouldn't expect this to be fair).

This is something I've also found on my Bear Grylls baselayers (and my Craghoppers shirt) and it's something I'd love to see changed, to benefit Craghoppers. The Montane fit can be a bit like this but for example trying on the Montane Prism (I guess the equivalent to the Compresslite), the fit was much better and more articulated and certainly a way more balanced fit generally than Craghoppers.

Sleeves

Most quality jackets come with more fill on the body than the arms but not so the Compresslite.  This meant that the sleeves were very tight due to the insulation packed into the arms. The arms were just too tight for me personally.

I did not keep a medium, but sized up to a large which has been a much better fit. If you intend to wear anything other than a baselayer underneath the Compresslite, you will definitely need to size up.

The Stuff Sack

A number of people have expressed difficulty in putting this jacket into the stuff sack. I must admit I've had absolutely no problems at all.

The Material

The material on the outer is polyester (as with the rest of the top) and feels pretty durable but isn't ripstop material.

On the inner, the polyester and the tightness of the sleeves made me wonder how breathable the top would be (I suggest not very), so if you get this it'll be more for stops than walking in. If you want an insulated top for walking in, I'd suggest you go for the (more pricey) Montane Alpha Guide or anything with Polartec Alpha in.

A shout to the zip which has a 'zip baffle' behind it to avoid it snagging. Nice one Craghoppers. The pocket also has a stuff sack to put the jacket into.

The Hood

The hood is elasticated and just about right. A drawcord would make a huge difference and it's something I'd recommend to Craghoppers to consider. However, the equivalent jackets like the Rab Xenon (three times the price) also has an elasticated hood. Never the best looking things and won't go over a helmet but not intended to so no worries! I have found that the hood isn't great at staying up in high winds!

The Cuffs

The cuffs are elasticated and have just the right amount of give in them. This was unlike the Montane Prism cuffs which felt like they were going to cut off the blood supply from my hands!

Conclusion

For the price that this jacket can be found for (around £30-£50) you won't find anything better. If you're after a great reasonably warm and reliable insulated jacket, you really can't go wrong. If you want to wear other layers than size up! For me this is not a true winter belay jacket for the mountains but it's a great backup and a very reasonable lightweight insulation jacket.

Suggestions

My advice to Craghoppers is to re-think their fit around the shoulder area and to consider reducing the fill on the arms to less than in the body. For example most similar tops if they have a 100 weight fill will have a 60 weight fill on the sleeves. Craghoppers probably need to do the same.

UPDATE (26 June 2014) - The Compresslite in large is much better for my medium frame on the arms (without being too long). It is also much better on the shoulders. However, the jacket is then a bit too large around the torso area and requires the toggles to be done up to avoid it flapping about. The hood is slightly too big and I'd be a bit concerned about it blowing down in our strong UK winds.

UPDATE (11 July 2014) - I've now used the Compresslite out and about in the field. It's a great and useful little jacket to keep the cool 30mph wind out and some sharp temperatures which I experienced on Yes Tor (pic below). It's not a breathable jacket (not designed for this) so this is a stop (belay, although pockets not located to go above a harness) type jacket and it did its job for this. I wouldn't use just this in the Winter personally as it wouldn't be warm enough but for what it is, it's perfect.

UPDATE (January 2015) - Having taken this out in more wintery weather, it's important to express the need for a warmer jacket in colder temperatures. I would say this is an excellent top for Spring and Autumn days when you need another layer for stops. Perfect for this and for slinging in the pack or in the car as a great extra layer.

Montane Flux Jacket Review

The Montane Flux is one of Montane's synthetic insulation jacket. For me it strikes the perfect balance of warmth, features, design, fit, pack weight and size that you can find for much of the UK's conditions most of the year round.

Update September 2018 - the latest version of the Flux is slightly different to the one reviewed here. Instead of an inside top pocket, the Flux now has a lower inside mesh stash pocket for gloves etc. The fit has also changed to become a tighter fit, especially on the shoulders and the arms. The tighter fit on the arms makes it feel warmer (to me at least). I'm an athletic fit and felt the shoulders on the latest Flux are just slightly too tight (have noticed this on other manufacturers like ME at times too). The Flux reviewed below has a slightly easier fit than the latest version. The latest Flux also has shorter sleeves which is a good thing as the Flux I have has sleeves that are a bit too long.

Is It For Me?

If you do find yourself getting very cold (as I do, having a very fast metabolism) then you'll need to consider other options with more fill (e.g. Montane Ice Guide Jacket) when it's colder, or take more layers. You'll also realise that Primaloft Eco has the lowest warmth ratio of all the Primaloft fills, with Primaloft One being the warmest and then Primaloft Sport (this is as of June 2014).

Synthetic vs Down

Synthetic insulation is of great importance in the UK with the mainly wet or humid conditions. Synthetic insulation loses less of its insulating properties when wet. Down is much warmer pound for pound but loses all of its insulation when wet through. However, it's good to compress synthetic insulation as little as you can as it will eventually lose its insulating properties (and certainly faster than down).

Montane Flux on a slightly chilly descent

Here is some of the manufacturer's info:

High performance synthetic mid-loft insulation
Warm when wet and fast dryingWind-resistant and water repellentCompresses like downFibres produced from post consumer and post industrial plastic wasteMinimum of 50% recycled content

Fill - Pimaloft Eco 100g (core) and 60g elsewhere
Weight - 550g
Outer - Pertex Microlight


Hood Area

Front side showing hood, drawcords etc

Rear of hood with volume adjuster (velcro for tying back hood)

The Montane Flux is loaded with many good features and one of those is the hood. At a push this will go over a helmet too. Great one handed pull drawcords to tighten the hood and a volume adjuster on the back to give a great fit! Don't under-estimate the warming effect of a good insulated hood such as this one. On one windy and cold day around Scafell and on Flattop Mountain in Colorado, this came in very handy!

Zip

Double zip

The zip is another great feature with a nice chunky zip and 'zip guard' to avoid the zip snagging as you do it up. A double-zip is also a very useful feature found on technical jackets like the Flux, meaning it can be opened up from top or bottom when done up. Great feature.

Pockets

Some of the Montane Flux's pockets

Aside from the two hand-warming pockets on the jacket, there are also two chest pockets (will take a folded map although probably not a laminated OS one that easily). You also have an inside secure pocket. All pockets have the very visible orange colouring and good zips with little zip pulls on too. As many pockets as you'll need and then some!

Inside / Hem

Inside the Montane Flux

The inside of the Flux continues in the orange colour - maybe Montane feel people will experience a placebo effect making themselves think they're warmer! Either way it's not too bad and I actually like the colour of the Flux.

The Flux also has drawcords on either side of the hem of the jacket to adjust. Very helpful to lock in the heat a bit more on windy days!

Cuffs

Montane Flux - Cuffs / Sleeves

The Flux has velcro cuffs to adjust to your delight! This is a very helpful feature to vent / keep the warmth in which is another useful feature found on technical tops.

The Material

Montane Logo and Pertex Microlight

This shows the pertex microlight up a little closer. I must say that it didn't look quite so 'bobbly' until I spun dried the top! You can do this and it won't affect the top or performance but it does look a bit more shabby than chic now! Pertex Microlight is pretty much windproof so this is an excellent choice of outer. It won't hold up to being dragged through brambles but is pretty resilient. Just take care!

Performance

The Flux is good for Britain and I'd say that unless you get pretty cold this will suffice for all your needs. I have worn this many a day. It packs up easily to stuff into your pack. Personally I do get a bit cold so I'd say that if you get cold / have high metabolism (I get hot fast and cold fast with no real body fat!) you may want to consider getting a warmer jacket for the winter months. The downside of that will be a heavier top (The Montane Ice Guide is almost double the weight). So for me the Flux has the perfect balance as a technical insulated jacket, esp here in the UK.

UPDATE (Oct 2015). As this review states, the Flux is great for a general Spring / Autumn day but in the cold (and if you're sitting around), I would recommend something with a bit more fill (perhaps a 100 fill). On a few days out in October 2015, I found the jacket just wasn't warm enough as a stop jacket - on days that I'd got very hot going uphill but where summits were fairly windy. So good for the slightly colder days. Other possibility is that the jacket has been compressed so much it's losing a bit of its warmth which happens with synthetic fill.

Primus Eta Express Review

The Primus Eta Express is a pretty lightweight and fast-working stove that I've been using for about the last 4 years on and off.

Note - This is not the updated Primus Eta Express but the pre-2013 version... The new one has a new 1 litre bowl with a windshield that clicks onto the stove with magnets

The first thing to mention is that it doesn't come with a gas canister so (a) buy one and (b) take it with you when you're off outdoors. Unlike the first time I took it out when I forgot... The second thing to remember is to take something to eat your meal with (a spork is an idea). The third thing is that you'll need some water to rehydrate dehydrated food... Not that I've ever made these mistakes (ahem...)

The Primus Eta Express version I have

The stove packs down in its own little bag - weighing around 545g in total.

The burner has a bowl (seen in the pic), a 'frying pan' which doubles as a lid, a burner (which screws on to the gas canister) and the windshield (which can be folded in on itself) to fit inside the pot. One thing to note about the version of windshield I have is that it's easy to scratch the inside of the pot, as despite having a strong 'liner' to protect the windshield from the inside of the main pot, it's not quite big enough for my liking. I've taken to either taking kitchen towel as extra protection or not taking the windshield.

The gas canister should also fit inside the main 'bowl' (a 100g canister that is) which is a nice touch and helps keep things together.

Lighting the burner is simple from the in-built piezo (or you could use a match or something if you wanted to for some reason).

Primus Eta Express in use on Chinkwell Tor, Dartmoor (Haytor in background)

The boil time is very quick (under 2mins) and the unit is most efficient if you don't fully fire up the burner to its highest setting. The optimum setting is around 80% of the highest setting I believe!

The windshield is fine but slightly gets in the way of lighting. The other small niggle is the main pot standing up on the burner part. For the most part it's absolutely fine but I'm not sure whether the new version helps this be a little bit more stable.

Minor niggles aside, I really like this burner and have used it for a range of boil in the bag meals while on the go. On that note, my favourite meals have been the ones from Wayfarer and Mountain House, although the one pictured is Bachelors Pasta meal (add 420g of water).

UPDATE (Oct 15) - Have since used this on MLT and just out on my own (day on Robinson in October 2015). Still working well though some of the non-stick is wearing off from where the gas can be stored (inside the 'cup'). Needs a good dry after use too!

SubZero Cool T Short Sleeve Cooling Base Layer Review

A weight of 130g, sun protection of factor 100, 100% polyamide (hard-wearing) fabric... Welcome to the SubZero short sleeve cooling base layer!

The tshirt works (as far as I can see) by moving the moisture rapidly across the baselayer (not just where the moisture is) and letting it escape very quickly indeed. One thing I noticed was that when your back gets sweaty, you'll find the short spreads that sweat across a wide area to maximise wicking.

Looking down over Thirlmere

The fabric is 'bi-component' which means something to someone. What it means to me is that the fabric is very porous and at the same time, very breathable.

The actual tshirt fit is exceptional too (close fitting across the whole top but most restrictive in any way) and quite flattering too, if that's important to you at all...

Not much more to say except this does what it says it will do brilliantly!

Scrambling around the rocks again

Outdoor Research Ferrosi Hoody Review

This is great thin softshell and one of my most recent purchases. I had looked at getting a Montane Litespeed but this just ticked all the right boxes for me at least. Read on to find out why...

The Outdoor Research site describes the Ferrosi hoody as:

"...the ideal rock climbing soft shell hoody; durability against abrasive rock, high breathability and ample stretch for free-flowing movement."

One of the things I liked about the top was simply the good blend of colours! So if this is important to you, the Ferrosi has a great colour scheme and fits well with most outdoors and other casual clothing.

Sizing - this isn't a full-on athletic fit. It has a great cut but I'd advise that you don't need to go up a size if you do (say for example with Montane or Rab). In my experience, US brands are slightly larger than their British equivalents. Not to say it's too big at all as it fits very well but it's not a close-fit.

Overview of the front of the Ferrosi Hoody (kind of clashes with sheet behind, sorry!)

The top itself from top to bottom includes a basic hood - under-helmet - as it's not huge. But it certainly helps when the wind is up. The hood has two drawcords to help you keep it tight (it does look a bit ridiculous when on but who cares hey!)

Ferrosi hood, hood toggles, zip and drawcord

The zip up the front of the Ferrosi offsets at the top, so as you zip up the hood, the zip moves to the right of your neck so as not to catch as you do it up and this is a neat touch. Good to have a small drawcord on the zip too.

At the top left of the top is a small pocket which takes something like a small phone or something. The pocket is about 14cm in length and 11cm in width.

Pocket on the top left of the Ferrosi

At the bottom of the Ferrosi there is a single drawcord to adjust the hem which is a nice touch and of course helps keep the wind out or in !

Drawcord on hem of Ferrosi and zip from left hand pocket

The material is very stretchy and the main fabric is 86% ripstop nylon and 14% spandex. The shoulders / arms are 91% Cordura and 9% spandex. This adds up to a durable, stretchy and lightweight mix that is the perfect balance for a Summer top, a dragging top or even an around-town top. Weight is just 399g - not ultra-lightweight if that's what you need, but light and packable enough!

I wouldn't say the top is fully harness-compatible as the very useful zipped pockets on the left and right of the jacket come down quite a way towards the hem of the jacket. Inside the top (behind the main two pockets) there are another two mesh pockets, which is a fantastic touch from OE.

Sleeves - I have average sized arms as far as I know! On my medium, the sleeves are quite long and would extend beyond the ends of my fingers if allowed to. Another good reason to stay within your normal sizing for this top.

The top does shrug off a very light amount of rain but again if that's your need then get the Montane Litespeed. It is wind-resistant to some extent (again the Litespeed would be better here). But it's the balance for what I need and I'll wash in Tech Wash. I guess you could apply some kind of DWR too.

What the top does is strike the perfect balance of weight and durability (something I'd worry about with the Litespeed). I have no worries about scrambling and clambering around with the Ferrosi. If this all sounds good, go pick one up!

Berghaus Mens Tech Tee Long Sleeve Zip (2011 version) Review

I have a few baselayers picked up in the last few years.

My favourite and 'go-to' baselayer is my Berghaus Long Sleeve Zip. I believe the updated version has a slightly different material.

Sometimes you have reviews that show the reviewer out in the field with the posed and other action shots. Not so with this review, sorry. But this is still a worthy review as this has travelled with me all over the place and been used under various items of gear and as a stand-alone top. It has stood the test of time.

The front of the baselayer and collar / zip

Like the current range, this top is a half-zip, two-toned affair. All using the same material (97% polyester, 3% nylon with silver 'argentium' lining). You can see that the fibre has a slightly 'porous' look which really does help with breathability (see pic below).

Looking close-up on the fabric

I do like the half-zip tops as it does allow more breathability (open those zips and show that hairy chest!) and of course the zip allows a bit more neck protection esp when those sun rays hit from behind. OK, so you still want a buff or sun hat but it helps!

The baselayer is a fairly basic affair but covers all the bases. I find that it dries very quickly and has served me very well under softshell, insulated layer or waterproof.

One thing that's worth noting is that I have read some reviews on baselayers where people have had problems with the baselayers tugging but I haven't experienced this. I say this from experience from mangling a HH baselayer Tugs and pulls often happen with rucksacks where the wearer lets the pack move around a lot or has a pack with an abrasive back (I got rid of an old Lowe Alpine pack because of this problem). So that may be a help to others...

The back of the baselayer with the arms folded

Montane Venture Waterproof Shell Review

The Montane Venture is an Event waterproof that I picked up in 2009-2010 for around £75 in an end of season sale.

Now discontinued, current Montane waterproofs carry on in a similar vein, hence the review (well, plus I have a few pics of it too)

Grinning inanely at the top of Striding Edge

So the Venture is an eVent 3-layer fabric with extra reinforced areas around the shoulder and the rear 'tail' of the jacket - basically the heavy wear areas of any item of clothing.

Fit as with most Montane items is athletic. I'm normally a medium in clothing but bought a large for the Venture which was the right choice (slightly tight around the shoulder areas on the medium).

The waterproof has a water resistant zip and a storm flap on the outside of the jacket. There are two waterproof pockets which aren't big enough to carry a map. The pockets are placed so as to be climbing harness compatible, although they are a little difficult to open despite the toggles. I know Montane have since addressed this issue.

The jacket also has reflective areas which is very helpful - front and back.

The Venture in action looking across a murky Buttermere to Fleetwith Pike

The hood is worthy of mention as this is pretty useless in some ways. I know this was a one-off as Montane have long since fixed this issue on their hoods. Basically it needed a volume adjuster toggle but has a flap and velcro combo. Not good and fixed thankfully!

Another thing you want in winter is a hood and adjusters around the tail of jackets that are easy to use in the cold conditions with gloves on. Many more modern jackets have single adjuster toggles. The Venture doesn't and so isn't as good in this way.

Seams are sealed around the jacket meaning I've never had any leakage. However, eVent does require an increased level of care and this jacket has been no exception. I have found eEvent extremely breathable and waaaaaay beyond my old Goretex Paclite jacket, which is akin to a plastic bag! I've had no leakage from the jacket, even in these typical British conditions...

Grimacing in a damp and very cold Lakeland

So that's the Montane Venture. I love Montane as a company and would recommend the new incarnation (and way better) jacket that's "replaced" this which is the Direct Ascent jacket.

Craghoppers Kiwi Pro Stretch (Pro Active) Trousers Review

I'm not sure whether there's a shortage of material worldwide, but with 2014 fashion continuing in its skinny, figure-hugging, breath-defying trend it's great to have a pair of walking trousers that actually don't restrict your movement.

The other extreme of this is the well-respected Craghoppers kiwi original polycotton trousers. These British classics have been worn by no doubt many thousands over the years by many: from myself across the Moors - to my friend while out in the Asian subcontinent and Africa (zip-off version) - to some friends wearing them for a canoeing trip. But to me they are a bit heavy and very restricting in movement.

Cue the Kiwi Pro Stretch trousers - now replaced for men at least by the 'Pro Active' trousers...

Fit

Anyhoo, mine are in black and fit very true to size. They dry out fairly quickly - as quickly as anything else to be honest. Material is polyamide elastene so that means pretty hard-wearing and with enough stretch for you to move without restriction (unlike the baggier and less well fitting kiwi classics).

Pockets

As you can see from my top quality photo, the right hand side pocket fits a map well but the downside of this (compared to the kiwi classics) is that while the map fits the pocket and while the pocket has two 'clickers' on either side of the top of the pocket, there is a problem... On the kiwi classics you can stash the map and be sure it will stay there. On the kiwi stretch, you can't guarantee the map will stay there. The pocket isn't 'long' enough (down the leg) to take enough of the map to store it well enough. My view is they should lengthen the pocket by an inch or two. Nor do the poppers give enough security to anything else you'd want to store in there.

Another issue is that the kiwi classics give you three 'waistline' pockets - one on the left and on the right pocket - an inner one with zip and an outer one. The kiwi stretch gives you just two pockets but they do both have a zip which is good.

Stretch

I've found the amount of stretch is perfect. One thing is that if you are between trouser sizes in terms of your waist, you may want to consider going up a size (check first). I am a 29ish waist and have the 30" waist version. There is lots of stretch in the material on the waist but it can be a little uncomfortable putting them on and I have had to re-sew the top button with double thread. And as I say it's not because my waist is too big or because there's not enough excess room in the trousers!

The stretch coming in useful on a mini climb

Overall

These are my go-to trousers. No, they don't have the extra reinforced patches that the much more expensive Montane Terra pants have (or the Bear Grylls ones). But I love the stretch and the cut. These (or the replacements) will be my go-to trousers for most of my walking. Only when climbing and scrambling more seriously will I use other trousers. These also have UPF40 properties, keeping out the UV rays that would ordinarily pass through clothing. With a couple of improvements to the pockets (and the button!) and possibly a small bit of reinforcement around the knees they'd be perfect!