The Great Oudoors February Issue: ice axes, Rohan Bags, OEX down jacket

The February issue of  The Great Outdoors is out now and unsurprisingly has a wintry feel. On that theme I review ten ice axes and Judy Armstrong reviews six pairs of crampons. I also review the OEX Zenon Ultralight Down Jacket, which has kept me warm on some freezing days in the Cairngorms.

The featured winter mountain in this issue is Helvellyn, with a feature by Felltop Assessor Graham Uney including six ascent routes. Other seasonal features, all with mouth-watering photos, involve Phoebe Smith on a winter night alone on the summit of Ben Nevis; Dan Aspel undertaking a snowy scramble on the Y Gribin ridge in Snowdonia; and David Lintern on the wonderful Ballachulish Horseshoe on the edge of Glen Coe. There's a guide to winter conditions too, from Glenmore Lodge Senior Instructor Derek Bain.

Away from winter, I tell the story of Rohan Bags, the trousers that started the lightweight legwear revolution. The piece is illustrated with some pictures of me wearing Bags on the Continental Divide Trail back in 1985. In two of them I'm on snow and holding an ice axe so I guess there is a winter connection!

Away from the snow for those looking for warm sunshine rather than winter hills Vivienne Crowe goes walking on Gran Canaria. In his Mountain Portrait column Jim Perrin looks at Pen-y-ghent in the Yorkshire Dales. Alex Roddie reviews Hamish Brown's Walking the Song and Roger Smith reviews Ashie Brebner's Beyond the Secret Howff, a book I'm looking forward to reading. Roger Smith also looks at the Thirlmere zipwire proposal, concluding that 'commercialisation such as this cannot be permitted'.

This year The Great Outdoors turns forty. This will be celebrated through the year. There's a reader survey so you can tell us what you want from the magazine, either online or via the cut-out form.

Out Now - The Great Outdoors December issue: the story of the Therm-A-Rest, trousers for winter, Macpac tent review ....

The December issue of The Great Outdoors is in the shops now. In it I tell the story of how two redundant engineers who also happened to be mountaineers brought comfort to wild camping with the first self-inflating mat. I also review eleven pairs of winter hillwalking trousers and the Macpac Minaret tent. Elsewhere in the gear pages Judy Armstrong looks at three down jackets at different price points.

The issue opens with a glorious photo of dawn on Pen y Fan by Drew Buckley. There are more stunning images in a piece by Dougie Cunningham about his favourite pictures  from his new book Photographing Scotland, which sounds superb, and by David Lintern in Stefan Durkacz's interesting story of an autumn walk across Ardgour.

Also in this issue Jim Perrin walks on Cnicht in his Mountain Portrait series; James Forrest avoids the crowds by going Back o'Skiddaw; Rudolf Abraham introduces a new long-distance trail in the Balkans; Andrew Galloway explores the Staffordshire Moorlands; and there's an exclusive extract from Richard Else's new book Wainwright Revealed, another book that sounds unmissable.

In books there are also reviews of Chris Bonington's Ascent by Noel Dawson and Christopher Nicholson's Among the Summer Snows. I've just finished the latter book myself and will be posting a review here soon.

The Great Outdoors November Issue: headlamps, Hilleberg Niak & M.A.Harper book review

In the latest issue of The Great Outdoors, just published, I've tested ten headlamps and the Hilleberg Niak tent and also reviewed M.A. Harper's Lured By Mountains.

The theme of this issue is autumn walks and Jim Perrin recalls a glorious October day on Brandon Mountain in Ireland's County Kerry; Ronald Turnbull says Dalmally to Ben Nevis is a perfect autumn backpacking route; Vivienne Crow takes a colourful low level autumn walk through the Lake District; Ed Byrne goes on a hunt for the last of the snow on Braeriach just before it melts; and Mark Waring explores the autumnal forests and lakes along the border of Norway and Sweden.

Also in this issue there's a superb photo essay on cloud inversions by Andrew Terrill - some mouth-watering pictures here; Hannah Lindon interviews James Forrest about his round of the Nuttalls - 446 peaks in England and Wales; David Lintern reviews Art of Freedom:the life and climbs of Voytek Kurtyka by Bernadette McDonald, which sounds well worth reading; Roger Smith looks at the problems facing farmers; Hannah Lindon tackles the Bochlwyd Horseshoe in Snowdonia; outdoor instructor Myles Farnbank looks at leaving no trace in the hills; and Judy Armstrong reviews three windshirts at different price points.

The Great Outdoors October issue: boots, classic Polartec fleece, Primus stove, & a book review

The latest issue of The Great Outdoors is out now. In it there are reviews of three-season boots for men and women by me and Judy Armstrong. I also try the Primus PrimeTech stove unit; look at the history of  Polartec fleece; and review John D.Burns excellent book The Last Hillwalker.

This issue has details of the 2018 TGO Challenge along with pictures from this year's event. Staying with the Highlands Robert Wight celebrates the Munros after completing them and Jim Perrin argues the case for Sgurr nan Gillean being the finest British mountain. Drew Collins starts in the Highlands too with Ben Nevis but then walks south to Scafell Pike and Snowdon, much the best way to do the Three Peaks.

English and Welsh hills turn up again with Vivienne Crow describing a four-day circular walk in the Yorkshire Dales; David Lintern traversing the Carneddau; and Nick Hunt looking for the Helm Wind on Cross Fell.

Far from Britain and British weather Ian R. Mitchell describes the rugged landscapes of West Texas, a fascinating sounding region.

The Hill Skills section is a guide to scrambling by Carl McKeating, co-author of the updated Scrambles in Snowdonia from Cicerone.

Also in this issue Hannah Lindon interviews Kerran Traynor and Graham Donald about their upcoming swim across Scotland; and Roger Smith looks at how legislation meant to protect wild places is failing and reviews Peter Fiennes interesting-sounding Oak and Ash and Thorn.

Recent Gear I've Reviewed On The TGO Website

Here's what I've been trying for TGO over the last few months, with links to the reviews.

Inov8 Roclite 325

Keen Uneek 02 Sandals

PHD Waferlite Down Jacket

Lightwave s20 Sigma tent

Care Plus Travel Set & Netspex

Montane Minimus Stretch Waterproof Jacket

Primus PrimeTech Stove Set 1.3L

RuitBag Crush Daypack

Lifeventure Ultralight Dry Bags

The Great Outdoors June Issue: Trail shoes, the Nikwax story, headlamps, Paramo jackets, book review

The June issue of The Great Outdoors has just been published. My big review this month covers fifteen pairs of the latest trail shoes. I also tell the story of Nikwax, which celebrates its fortieth anniversary this year, plus review three headlamps and the Paramo Bentu windproof and fleece combination. Away from gear I review Alan Rowan's A Mountain Before Breakfast.

The long days of summer are with us now, along, at least for the moment, with sunny weather. Appropriately this issue describes ten big day walks for long days. I've done nine of them and they're all excellent, though I must admit that five of them took me two days with an overnight camp.

Much, much longer than these walks is an amazing winter round of the Corbetts by Will Copestake, which he finished shortly before writing this feature.

Also in this issue Jim Perrin gives a portrait of Great Gable; Andrew McCloy describes a new long-distance path round the perimeter of the Peak District National Park; Scottish Bothy Bible author Geoff Allan has a bothying adventure on the Isle of Rum; Sean McFarlane scrambles up Innderdalstarnet in Norway; Daniel Neilson, author of CAMRA's new guide Wild Pub Walks, visits Cadair Idris and a pub; and David Lintern goes climbing at Stanage with the owners of Outside in Hathersage

The Hill Skills section is all about sharing your outdoor experience with interviews with Terry Abraham, four outdoor bloggers, and self-published author Mark Horrell; plus Alex Roddie on using social networks, a look at Instagram,  and suggested video and photo editing apps.

Finally I must mention Lizzie Shepher's stunning photo of the sunset from Cnicht in Snowdonia.

The Great Outdoors May Issue: gear for leaders, walking trousers, PFC-free waterproofs.

The latest issue of The Great Outdoors is bigger than usual as it includes a 50 page Gear Guide. For this guide I've written a piece on the PFC DWR controversy and what companies are doing about it, with some examples of those who are taking the lead. In the main magazine I review 13 pairs of walking trousers, look at the gear a group leader should carry, review the Fjallraven Abisko Friluft 35, and tell the story of the classic Primus stove.

The theme of this issue is overnight adventures. TGO Editor Emily Rodway meets Geoff Allan, author of The Scottish Bothy Bible. Hannah Lindon goes scrambling, swimming and wild camping in the Langdale Pikes. Alan Rowan sees the sunrise from Braeriach. Graham Bradshaw watches the Northern Lights from a camp on the summit of Stac Pollaidh. Roger Butler calls for support for two remote hostels in Mid Wales. And Hamish Brown recalls long treks in Morocco and how they inspired the TGO Challenge.

Access rights are important for overnight trips of course and there is controversy surrounding these in Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park due to a byelaw that makes wild camping in some areas illegal. David Lintern went out to test this and describes what happened in a very interesting article.

David Lintern also goes for a walk on Hadrians Wall with a team from the LD Mountain Centre in Newcastle; Carey Davies considers time in the hills on a trip to Snowdonia;  Roger Smith wonders why increasing woodlands seems so difficult; and Jim Perrin praises Kilvert's Diary.

The Great Outdoors April issue - base layers, gaiters, pack history

In the latest issue of The Great Outdoors I review fourteen base layer tops, three gaiters at different price points, and look at the history of the first ever internal frame pack, the Lowe Alpine Expedition. Oh, and I review a Berghaus fleece jacket too.

The issue opens with some tremendous dramatic images - the Aonach Eagach in winter by Ed Smith and the Milky Way above Snowdon by Alyn Wallace. Away from photography there's an interview with artist Andy Beck and his project of painting watercolours of every view in Wainwright's seven Pictorial Guides to the Lakeland Fells along with a small selection of the final 1509 pictures.

Elsewhere in the magazine Alex Kendall describes a long-distance route through Snowdonia from Machynlleth to Conwy; Alan Rowan experiences seasonal changes on Lochnagar; Alex Roddie goes backpacking in the Yorkshire Dales; and Judy Armstrong visits the Ecrins, France's largest national park.

The regular columnists have very varied stuff this month. The ever adventurous Ed Byrne tries bothying in the Cairngorms and ends up as a news story after helping a walker in trouble. Carey Davies has a hard time too when he's assaulted on the way home from the Pyrenees. Roger Smith ponders EU funding for access and what could happen if it disappears. Jim Perrin likes Paul Evans' Field Notes from the Edge, about Shropshire's hill country.

The Hill Skills section is about Walking with Wildlife with advice from James Roddie on not disturbing the creatures of the wild; a look at Wildlife Trust nature reserves; what you might see after dark; and a guide to upland birds from Jamie Wyver of the RSPB.

The Great Outdoors latest issue - sleeping under the stars, insulated jackets, solar panel

My last camp on my walk from Yosemite Valley to Death Valley

In my backpacking column in the November issue of The Great Outdoors, in the shops now, I write about my love of sleeping under the stars and how much I was looking forward to not needing a shelter on my walk from Yosemite Valley to Death Valley, which I was about to set off on when I wrote the piece. In fact I slept out on thirteen nights and used my tarp on thirteen more, either to cut the wind or for privacy on campgrounds. Another six nights were spent indoors.

In the gear reviews I look at the Powertraveler Extreme solar panel and power pack. I used this on the walk and submitted the review after a week or so. I'm pleased to say the unit continued to work well for the rest of the trip, powering my phone, cameras, watch and e-reader. I also review eighteen insulated jackets, including one I took on the walk. Elsewhere in the gear pages Will Renwick reviews twelve pairs of softshell trousers.

The rest of the magazine contains an interesting mix of material. The Hill Skills pages are about digital navigation with a good piece about navigating with a smartphone by Alex Roddie. On my walk I used ViewRanger on my smartphone frequently for navigating in pathless desert terrain.

Cameron McNeish praises Glen Affric, a wonderful place at any time of year but especially specatacular in autumn, while Paul Beasley visits the Lake District with Wordsworth in mind. Peter Aylmer arrives in Berwick and describes his long walks across England, Wales and Scotland and the fourteen years it took to complete them. Further afield Mike MacEacheran enjoys the Tour du Mont Blanc. Staying in one place Jim Crumley contemplates the Buachaille Etive Mor, one of Scotland's great mountains, in an excerpt from his latest book, The Nature of Autumn, a book I am really looking forward to reading. Another book that sounds essential reading is Simon McCartney's The Bond, about what happened on two climbs in Alaska many years ago, which is praised highly in a review by Jim Perrin, who also discusses Jon Krakauer's books Into Thin Air and Into The Wild, both well worth reading.

Montane Air Jacket reviewed for The Great Outdoors

On recent rainy days I've been testing the new Montane Air Jacket. I've now written up my thoughts for my column on the The Great Outdoors website. You can read about the jacket and how I got on with it here.

Rab Neutrino 800 review for The Great Outdoors

At last week's camp on the Moine Mhor (see this post) I used the Rab Neutrino 800 sleeping bag. I've just posted a review of this superb bag on The Great Outdoors redesigned website. I'll be posting reviews, views and comments on the site every week from now on.

The Great Outdoors January issue: winter camping, headtorches, packing a winter daysack, stormy Lakeland

The January edition of The Great Outdoors is out now, with a theme of winter adventure. To that end I've contributed pieces on gear for winter camping and packing a winter daysack plus reviewed eleven headtorches, a vital piece of equipment (I used one to descend from a snowy Cairngorm Plateau on a pitch black night just a few days ago). There are also winter features on how much you should carry and on navigation by Mountain Council of Scotland Safety Advisor Heather Morning and on walking in winter boots, choosing and using an ice axe, and fitting crampons by Glenmore Lodge instructor Giles Trussell. Will Renwick reviews seven pairs of waterproof overtrousers, something I often wear in winter for extra warmth rather than to keep out rain - it's much easier to pull on overtrousers than long johns if your legs feel a bit chilly!

Inspiration for the winter hills comes from Dan Bailey who describes a snowy round of the magnificent Ring of Steall in the Mamores, and Eric Whitehead who goes in search of Brocken Spectres, cloud inversions and fogbows on the Fairfield Horseshoe. Far away from Britain Paul Beasley goes dogsledding in Arctic Norway.

This issue isn't all wintry though. My backpacking column describes my failed wild camp with Terry Abraham in the Lake District - a failure due to high winds and heavy rain. We'd have welcomed snow. Much more successfully Jon Sparks explores the new extensions to the Lake District and Yorkshire Dales National Parks. In their respective columns Carey Davies spends a sunny day on Cnicht with his dad, Roger Smith welcomes a shift towards protecting wild land in planning decisions, and Jim Perrin praises George Schallers excellent book Stones of Silence. In the reviews section Andy Howell looks at Terry Abraham's latest wonderful  DVD The Lake District Upper Eskdale and Roger Smith reviews the fascinating sounding Weatherland by Alexandra Harris, a book that looks at how the weather has influenced our culture.

The Great Outdoors October Issue out now: The Great Outdoors Challenge, big packs, Grisport trail shoes, Wild Camping book review

Camp on the 2009 The Great Outdoors Challenge

As always the October issue of The Great Outdoors is the Challenge issue and there's a nine-page section with accounts from this year's event plus of course the all important entry form. My backpacking column is about the Challenge too. I'll be doing my sixteenth next year.

There's much about Scotland elsewhere in this issue. Alex Roddie gives an excellent account of his Cape Wrath Trail walk, a tough walk made even tougher by June's stormy weather, while Ronald Turnbull recommends the Munro Tops in his usual entertaining style. Ed Byrne goes canyoning near Fort William and finds it more exciting than he expected. Roger Smith considers Glen Roy and the tangle of countryside designations in Scotland (NNR, SSSI, SAC, LNR etc) and calls for a simpler system (yes, please!). In The Hillwalkers' Library Jim Perrin praises Argyll: The Enduring Heartland by Marion Campbell.

Away from Scotland Will Renwick visits a collection of interesting little hills on the fringes of the Brecon Beacons; Craig Weldon goes farther afield to climb the hills of the Faroe Islands;  Karen Lloyd looks for golden eagles on the Riggindale Horseshoe in the Lake District; and Carey Davies does some serious scrambling on Milestone Buttress in Snowdonia. The Hill Skills section is a special on outdoor photography by Dougie Cunningham with some excellent advice. On the books page I review Stephen Neale's Wild Camping.

In the Almanac section there's a report on archaeological discoveries in the Peak District and an interview with UK Adventurer of the Year Ash Dykes plan to walk the length of Madagascar. This section also includes details of The Great Outdoors Awards - nominations for the reader awards are now open.

In the gear pages I review twelve 60+ litre packs and a nice pair of trail shoes from Grisport. With winter coming on Kirk Watson reviews reports on seven waterproofs suitable for severe weather.

Terra Nova Elite 250 Sleeping Bag & Marmot Precip Jacket Reviews

On my last few wild camps I used Terra Nova's new lightweight Elite 250 down sleeping bag. My review of this reasonably priced bag has just appeared on the TGO website here.

 My review of the lightweight low cost Marmot Precip waterproof jacket is also now on the TGO website.

The Great Outdoors Latest Issue: Ski touring, winter camping in the Cairngorms, insulated vests and more

Ski tourers on the Moine Mhor in the Cairngorms

The February issue of The Great Outdoors is in the shops now. I have a feature on ski touring, appropriately as I went on my first short tour of the season yesterday (see last post), plus a backpacking column piece on a winter camp in the Cairngorms, a review of ten insulated gilets/vests and a review of Jim Crumley's excellent book The Eagle's Way. The winter camp also produced two photos in the magazine - the frontispiece and a double-page spread taken at night at Loch Etchachan.

This issue also features two other spectacular double-page winter photographs - one from David Lintern of the Sneck in the Cairngorms and one from Stewart Smith of Grisedale Tarn in the Lake District. More great pictures appear in Colin Henderson's photo essay on hillwalking and scrambling in the Scottish winter hills. The first image of a hillwalker climbing Mayar in the Cairngorms in clouds of snow and spindrift really captures the Scottish winter experience. Perhaps the most atmospheric picture though is Terry Abraham's sunset one of a winter camp on Bowfell that opens a feature on Lakeland in winter. Carey Davies is also in the winter Lake District, writing about a playful day on Crinkle Crags with ice axes for his Mountain Magic column.

Far away from snow and winter Tony Howard visits the Manas National Park on the India-Bhutan border. This follows my ski touring feature and I found it quite startling to turn the page from my snowy pictures to see elephants and a langur. Elsewhere Jim Perrin explores the hills of Shropshire and, in his Hillwalkers' Library, recommends Neil Gunn's Highland River. In his Environment column Roger Smith warns how a recent new planning policy could have a negative effect on the countryside in England and calls on outdoor lovers to ask questions of candidates for the general election. In the Hill Skills section Mark Chadwick of Glenmore Lodge gives advice on avalanches and there are also tips on ice axe self-arrest, understanding snow and mountain weather, and a recap on compass use.

As well as my gilets test the gear section has a review of eighteen base layers and the Sherpa Nangpala Primaloft Down Blend jacket, both by Daniel Neilson.

Down vest in use at a chilly camp in the San Francisco Mountains on the Arizona Trail

Favourite New Outdoor Gear 2014

The Nordisk Telemark 2 ULW Tent in the Cairngorms

In 2014 I tried a large range of outdoor gear for review in The Great Outdoors. Here are the items that stood out for me. These don’t necessarily replace old favourites of course and most have not been tested long-term for durability. However I have used them all and been impressed.

Keen Marshall Mid WP Boots

I found these lightweight boots comfortable and supportive and great to wear outside of summer when the membrane makes them a bit warm for me (there is a non-waterproof version). The wide fit is just right for my feet. My full review is on The Great Outdoors website here.

Berghaus VapourLight HyperTherm FZ Jacket

For ultralight synthetic insulation this top with the rather long-winded name can’t be beaten as it weighs an astonishing 163 grams in the medium size. That’s less than most base layers. The warmth is the same as a lightweight fleece and windshirt combination. Features are minimal but this top is all about minimum weight.

The North Face Thermoball Hoodie Jacket

Thermoball, a joint design by The North Face and Primaloft, is the closest to down of any synthetic insulation. Instead of sheets of insulation Thermoball consists of small balls of fibres that resemble down clusters. I used this lightweight jacket for ski-touring and hillwalking last winter and found it very warm for the weight and also quite breathable.

Mountain Laurel Designs Exodus Pack

I used this ultralight pack when making the Backpacking In The Lake District video with Terry Abraham last summer. With loads up to 13kg it was very comfortable. The weight of just 573 grams with the optional lid and hipbelt pockets is very low.

Mountain Hardwear Stretch Plasmic Overtrousers

Overtrousers are one of those essential but boring items of gear that most walkers avoid wearing unless absolutely necessary. Few pairs are very comfortable. These are an exception. The fabric is soft and flexible and barely rustles at all, unlike most overtrousers. They’re very breathable too and have more features than most overtrousers – zipped fly, full-length size zips, zipped pocket. In my review in The Great Outdoors (see here) I wrote ‘these are superb overtrousers …. some of the best I’ve ever tested’.

Mountain Laurel Designs Duomid XL Tent

The latest version of MLD’s Duomid pyramid tent is 30% larger and has an asymmetrical shape that means there is more space behind the pole than in front and the main zip only overhangs the front section. It’s also very light for the size at 680 grams for the silicone version, which makes it very roomy as a solo tent for winter camping.

Nordisk Telemark 2 ULW Tent

Nordisk’s take on the popular single hoop tent design is very light at 880 grams (994 grams after I’d added extra guylines, pegs and stuffsacks) and roomy for one person. It pitches quickly and has an adjustable area porch that is very useful when cooking. I used it quite a few times last year and it stood up to some really harsh weather, including 50mph winds (it did move a fair bit but stayed up). Full review here.

Force Ten Mtn2 Tent

Geodesic domes aren’t ultralight or even lightweight but well-designed ones are extremely strong and stable and suitable for wild winter weather.  Force Ten’s Mtn2 is an excellent example and at 3.4kg isn’t as heavy as some similar tents. I used it in storms last winter, including  during the winter camping sequence for Terry Abraham’s Life of a Mountain: Scafell Pike film, and it felt very secure. For one it’s palatial and there’s ample room for two. Full review here.

Force Ten Nitro Lite 200 Tent

As tunnel tents go the Nitro Lite is very light at 1380 grams (1500 grams when I added better pegs), which makes it okay for solo use. It’s roomy enough inside for two though and has good headroom at the front. In strong winds it proved reasonably stable. There’s a big porch for gear storage and cooking and overall I think this is one of the best tunnel tents around.

Montane Further Faster Waterproof Jacket

Polartec Neoshell has been my favourite fabric for waterproofs since it appeared due to the good breathability. Montane launched its first Neoshell jackets in 2014 and the Further Faster model is an ideal one for hillwalking and backpacking. It’s quite light at 424 grams (medium size) and has an excellent hood and pockets.

Montane Featherlite Sleeping Bag

Montane launched their first sleeping bags in 2014, the lightest one being the down-filled Featherlite. It’s lightweight at 747 grams and kept me warm on the TGO Challenge in temperatures down to -2°C. I found it comfortable too and I liked the snug shaped hood and the chunky zip with glow-in-the-dark zip pulls and thick baffle.

PHD Filler Sleeping Bag Liner

At 234 grams this simple down sleeping bag really is ultralight. It’s designed to boost the warmth of another sleeping bag – PHD reckon it can add 10° - but it can be used on its own in warm weather. It’s rated to +15°C. The packed size is minute and the weight so low it could easily be carried in case nights were colder than expected and would be excellent for boosting a summer or three-season bag for winter use.

Berghaus Ramche Hyper Down Jacket

Ultralight down jackets are excellent for three-season and mild winter use and this is one of the best I’ve tried.  It weighs just 193 grams (size Large) and packs into a tiny bundle. The 850 fill power down is hydrophobic and the construction is zoned  so there’s more down over the torso and less under the arms and in the sleeves. Initial use in temperatures around zero suggest it’s very warm indeed for the weight. I’ll be using it much more this winter.

Patagonia Ultralight Down Vest

I find vests great for those times when an extra warm layer might be needed as they are lightweight and pack small. This one weighs 177 grams (size L) and packs into a fist size bundle. It’s excellent for boosting the weight of a light insulated jacket or fleece as well as for packing just in case. The down is ethically sourced and traceable too.

Six Moons Design Fusion 65

I took this new lightweight pack on the 2014 TGO Challenge and was very impressed. It has a much more sophisticated back system than most lightweight packs but still only weighs 1200 grams. In particular it has a thick supportive

hipbelt. I carried 15-18kg in it and it was comfortable and stable. My full review is here.

Sawyer Mini Water Filter

I don’t often treat water in the British hills. In fact I often don’t carry any treatment method at all. However I was supplied with this tiny 65 gram filter for the Backpacking In The Lake District video and I did use it when taking water from the outlets of popular tarns like Angle Tarn where even I think the water might be suspect. It fits into a Sawyer bottle or one with the same size opening such as a Platypus and is easy to use. Anytime I think I might need to treat water I’ll carry it now.

The Great Outdoors latest issue - Backpacking in the Lakes, new gear, hats and gloves, first aid kits & emergency shelters

Camp on Grey Knotts in the Lake District

The November issue of The Great Outdoors is out now. In my backpacking column I've written about filming with Terry Abraham for the Backpacking in the Lake District video. Elsewhere my stuff in this issue is all about gear with reviews of thirteen pairs of gloves and ten hats - items that are needed regularly now the weather is turning colder - plus seven emergency shelters and eight first aid kits - items that are useful year round. There's also a run-down of the most interesting new gear I saw at the Outdoor Trade Show in September.

The issue starts with the now usual splendid double-page photographs - this month the Pinnacles of Liathach by David Lintern, Glaramara by Terry Abraham and Lose Hill, Peak District by Ed Rhodes. More photographs, some of them mine, follow in a feature on the Highlands in Autumn while photographer Nick Livesey shows some wonderful dawn and dusk images of Snowdonia in a piece entitled The Call of the Mountain. Ronald Turnbull praises Upper Eskdale in the Lake District and the possibilities for exploration there. Much further afield Ed Byrne takes part in the Fjallraven Classic backpacking event in Arctic Sweden. Away from mountains Lenny Antonelli exlores Ireland's western seaboard, which looks dramatic.

In shorter pieces Carey Davies writes about how history has shaped the nature of the Scottish outdoors and our experience of it. Staying in Scotland Roger Smith considers the implications for the outdoors of the fallout from the independence referendum while Jim Perrin recommends John Lister-Kaye's At the Water's Edge: A Walk in the Wild. Roger Smith also looks at fracking and its effect on the environment.