In the latest issue of The Great Outdoors I review the excellent Ombraz Refugio sunglasses, two pairs of wide footwear that fit my wide feet (Gemma Palmer reviews two pairs of women's wide boots) and the Polar Grit X2 Pro outdoor watch. The last is one of four watches in a long-term side-by-side review, the others being the Garmin Enduro 3 reviewed by Fiona Russell, the Corus Nomad reviewed by David Lintern, and the Garmin Instinct 3 reviewed by Francesca Donovan.
Also in the Gear pages is a comparative review of outdoor trousers by Gemma Palmer and Alex Roddie, who test three pairs each, a review of the Outdoor Research Helium Down Jacket by Steph Wetherall, and in The Long ReView Lucy Wallace praises her 12 year old Lowe Alpine Mountain Attack ND 35-45 rucksack.
An unusual review comes from swim coach and outdoor journalist Rosie Woodland who suffers from arthritis in her knees. On a trip in Eryri (Snowdonia) she tried the Hypershell X Ultra exoskeleton to see if it would help. In a long piece she describes in the trip in detail and her conclusions.
In the big features James Forrest describes ten 'Superb Summits' as an intrepid tick-list to get you started with mountain planning in 2026. It's a great list and I certainly hope to do the four Scottish ones again this year.
There's a piece on people who've swapped the rat race for an outdoor-centred existence. Nick Livesey describes packing in his job in Northamptonshire and moving to Eryri to start life as a photographer and mountain leader. Alison and Jeremy O'Leary went from Central London to Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) which they say was life-changing. In a really drastic change Jen and Sim Benson moved out of their house with their two young children to spend a year in a bell tent as they travelled around the UK and became outdoor writers. Nic Roams ditched London and her home for a self-build van conversion and eventually a cabin in Eryri (Snowdonia). She now teaches bushcraft and women's wilderness skills.
In excerpts from his book In Green - Two Horses, Two Strangers, a journey to the End of the Land Louis D. Hall gives a glimpse of his trek from the Apennine Mountains to Cape Finisterre.
Back in Britain photographer Feargus Cooney describes two decades of learning how to thrive in the Scottish winter mountains and take stunning images, some of which illustrate the feature.
Abroad again but still in the snow Anna Richards takes a course on extreme cold survival in the Swiss Jura mountains.
In shorter pieces Francesca Donovan reviews the film Folktales by Rachel Grady and Heidi Ewing, Hanna Lindon looks at the story of Grubs Boots, Jim Perrin returns to France and Mont Canigou for his Mountain Portrait, and Juls Stodel looks at cheeses for elevating the bothy experience.
In the Skills section four industry experts look at ways to re-train for work in the outdoors in leading and coaching, access and conservation, media and communications, and gear design.
The Wild Walks section has seven walks in which geology takes centre stage. James Roddie takes a lesser-trodden path into the rocky Quiraing on the Isle of Skye and James Forrest climbs the mica schist of The Cobbler in the Arrochar Alps. In the limestone landscapes of the Yorkshire Dales Ian Battersby visits Whernside and Twisleton Scars and Vivienne Crow negotiates Conistone Pie and Conistone Dib. There's limestone on Whitbarrow Scar in the Lake District too, walked over by Norman Hadley. The rock changes to millstone grit for Andrew Galloway's trip to The Roaches and Hanging Stone in the Peak District. Limestone returns much further south for Zoe Tehrani on a walk from Weymouth to Lulworth Cove.
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