A Look At The April Issue Of The Great Outdoors

The theme of the latest issue of The Great Outdoors is doing more with less, whether that's keeping gear in good repair so it lasts well or finding budget and second-hand gear. Peter Macfarlane combines the two, finding used items of clothing (Gore-Tex jacket, fleece jacket, fleece salopettes, baselayer) and a  daypack for a grand total of £53 and describing how he returned them to working order. He also writes this month's Long Review, describing how well his Fjallraven Keb Trousers have lasted and how he cares for them.

There's also a round-up of budget gear reviewed in TGO over the last year or so. The Skills section covers maintaining and repairing gear with some examples from TGO contributors including myself on patching torn mesh pockets on a pack.

Away from budget gear Steph Wetherall tests the Smartwool All Season Merino Base Layer and Francesca Donovan tests the Berghaus Farren leggings and trousers. In a comparative review Fiona Russell tries three women's hiking shirts and I try three men's. 

Back to the low cost theme there are 50 tips for hillwalking on a budget covering gear, transport, travelling overseas, accommodation, food, and more.

In the long features JB Smith finds solitude in the Rhinogs in Eryri/Snowdonia, Ailsa Sheldon explores St Patrick's Way in Northern Ireland, and David Myers hikes the Alpenpasse-Weg in the Swiss Alps.

Shorter pieces include Nadia Shaikh on the orange-tip butterfly, a review of the film H is for Hawk by Francesca Donovan, Rachel Hewitt on the dangerous precedent for women set by a rule change for the Spine Race, Jim Perrin on Y Berwyn, and Juls Stodel considering mountain rescue in her Uphill Struggles column.

Wild Walks looks at seven ridge walks. In the Highlands James Roddie relishes Conival and Ben More Assynt, Alex Roddie tackles Liathach, and Simon Stokes scrambles up Curved Ridge on Buachaille Etive Mor. The Lake District has Norman Hadley on the Wasdale Horseshoe, James Forrest on the Deepdale Horseshoe, and Vivienne Crow on the Kentmere Round. Finally in South Wales Ian Battersby walks Cribyn and Fan y Big.