Gear

review by Tony Lourens Also available are the new Hydro Flask screw top jars, which although may be a tad heavy for lightweight hiking, is a super useful addition to the range. If you need to store something at really cold or hot temperatures in the outdoors, like certain foodstuffs (yogurt, cheese, etc) or medical …

review by Tony Lourens Petzl has been in the headlamp game for over three decades, and it shows. I mean, who can forget that iconic headlamp each and every one of us proudly owned – the Petzl Zoom – brilliant for its time. And headlamp technology is seemingly unstoppable – every model outdoing its predecessor …

review by Tony Lourens Although the Sea to Summit Pot/Kettle has been on the market for some time now, I haven’t seen many in actual use outdoors. And I ask myself, “Why not?” Simply put, it is a great piece of kit – light, collapsible and very effective.The Pot/Kettle comes in two sizes: the 1.3 …

review by Tony Lourens A lot of hype is made about first layers, wicking sweat away from your skin and keeping you dry, etc. And while this is obviously critical when out on the hill, the all-important mid layer is sometimes overlooked in its role as a protective garment, in less than severe conditions.Regulating your …

review by Tony Lourens For South African conditions, whether you’re hiking, scrambling, peak bagging or rock climbing, the TNF Explorer Trousers do a really outstanding job.Constructed from a lightweight stretch fabric, you actually hardly feel that you are wearing any trousers at all. They lightly hug your waist, bum and thighs and taper loosely down …

review by Tony Lourens Keeping in the light and small mould, Vango’s new Aotrom (which means light in Scottish Gaelic) is also something to consider if you are looking to shave some grams off your overnight pack, and also reduce bulkiness.The Aotrom is one of the lightest and most technically advanced sleeping mats to come …

review by Tony Lourens Let’s face it, carrying a heavy pack up a mountain sucks! It takes all the fun out of being in the hills. Back in the day, you didn’t have many options, but today, with modern materials and advanced technology, outdoor kit is getting lighter and lighter, and more efficient.These days it’s …

reviews by Tony Lourens Mountain footwear has certainly evolved in leaps and bounds over the last few decades and particularly the last few years. Although one can still find those stiff and hardy full grain leather boots, most people today want instant gratification and opt for the more modern padded boots, which need little or …

Review by Tony Lourens As fleeces jackets go, the Glacier Pro is near perfect. It can be worn as an outer fleece in chilly conditions, and as a mid-layer when things start getting nasty. It has a great, slim fit that is super comfy and cosy. Manufactured from recycled Polartec fleece, the Glacier Pro is …

Review by Patsy Lourens For its size and weight, you would be hard pushed to find another jacket that does a better job than the Eco Hoodie. It’s a synthetic jacket that feels and behaves like a down jacket – keeps you just as warm, and compresses really small. But, with the added advantage of …