The Gear I Used On The Moray Way

Last camp of the walk by the river Spey

The weather on my week-long Moray Way walk in late May was pleasant. There was a strong wind the first four days but it wasn’t cold and although often cloudy there were only a few very short showers – my waterproofs never came out of the pack. The last two days were hot and sunny, making water and sunscreen the two most important items in my pack. I required copious amounts of both.

The weather was not challenging for gear. The Moray Way is a low-level walk. On the windiest days I had no problem finding sheltered places to camp. Nights were mild with the temperature only once falling below 10°C. Underfoot the ground was dry and often hard. Much of the route follows disused railway lines and too much is on tarmac or hard packed forest roads. I found it harder on the feet than mountain walking where there is more variety underfoot and much less regular pounding on a flat surface. Rougher terrain was actually welcome.

Here’s a breakdown of my gear.

Pack: Hyperlite Mountain Gear Junction 55

This was my first use of this pack and it was fine. At 910 grams it’s ultralight but still has an internal frame. It carried 12kg comfortably. At 16kg (when I had four litres of water) it did pull down on the shoulders and hips a bit but I didn’t have any soreness or aching. The design is fairly standard for lightweight packs – roll top, mesh front pocket, open-topped side pockets, hipbelt pockets, and compression/adjustment straps. The fabric is a Dyneema Composite one and it has taped seams. It’s probably waterproof – the few brief showers on the trip were not enough to test this.

Tent: Mountain Laurel Designs SoloMid Xl with InnerNet

The SoloMid pyramid tent has become a favourite shelter in recent years. I like the headroom, the space, and being able to pitch it with a trekking pole. I took the InnerNet, which effectively makes it a double-wall tent, in case the first midges were out. They weren’t and I never did up the inner doors. The total weight with pegs was 1020 grams, so still very light for such a roomy shelter. I only had one light shower in camp and the wind was never strong enough to be a problem so I never closed the outer door either.

I pitched the SoloMid with a Pacerpole and used a pair of these throughout the walk, as I have on every trip for many years.
 

Sleeping Bag: Rab Mythic Ultra 120

Launched just two years ago this down bag has already gone from Rab’s range, which is a shame as I find it excellent for summer use. (It is still available for now though). It’s ultralight at 330 grams and packs into a tiny bundle. There’s no fill on the bottom of the upper half, just thin nylon and straps to hold it in place on a sleeping mat. I don’t use these so I can sit up in the bag without the mat coming with me. The upper is wide enough that I can wrap it around me to stay warm and keep out drafts. The lower section is insulated top and bottom.

Sleeping Mats: Therm-A-Rest NeoAir XLite & MultiMatSuperlite 8

As has been my approach for several years now I took two mats – one for comfort, one for security. I’ve had too many failures to trust inflatable mats anymore. The inflatable XLite is comfortable enough and lightweight at 370 grams. The closed cell foam Superlite 8 is not very comfortable but can’t be punctured and weighs only 190 grams. The Superlite is bulky too. I couldn’t decide whether strapping it to one of the sides, which impedes the pocket, or on top, which impedes access to the main pack, so I alternated between the two. 

Stove & Pot: Fire Maple Petrel Titanium UltralightStove & Fire Maple Ramen 800ml Pot

These two items work together, the heat exchanger pot slotting onto the stove to give a stable unit. I took them because I’d be resupplying with food that needed simmering and I wanted to eat out of the pot. The Petrel stove simmers well and the Ramen pot is wide rather than tall and narrow and so much easier for stirring food and for eating from. Both are lightweight - the stove 96 grams, the pot 194 grams. They worked fine.

Mugs, Cups, Spoons, Bottles & More

I took two drinking vessels – the Snow Peak TitaniumBackpackers Cup (37 grams), which is the classic Sierra Cup design, and is useful for dipping water out of burns and could double as cooking pot if needed, and the Sea To Summit X-Mug (68g), which folds flat, holds more and keeps drinks warmer than the Cup. I didn’t really need both of them but I did use both.

I also took two titanium spoons – a standard one and a long-handled one. Again, one would have done but I like two in case of loss (it has happened). I also prefer the shorter one except when eating out of food packets.

The total weight of the pot, stove, mug, cup, spoons, lighter and fire steel, all carried in a mesh bag, was 520 grams.

One concern was water. Both how often there’d be sources and how clean these would be. With the first I ended up carrying four litres of water for the last few hours on several days, both for camp and to get me to the next source the following morning. For water that needed treating I took the LifeSystems Peak Series 650ml Collapsible Squeeze Bottle Water Filter System which I used enough to justify its 120-gram weight, especially on the coastal section where any running water had come through farmland, villages or both.

Otherwise, for day use I had my now twenty+ year-old GoLite 700ml hard plastic bottle. I like it because it’s light at 78 grams and has a wide mouth and so is easy to fill. For camp and when much water had to be carried, I had two collapsible water bags, a 2-litre Platypus (45 grams) and a 2-litre Hydropak (80 grams). These three are all I usually take on backpacking trips.

Clothing

Clothing was about comfort and staying cool rather than dealing with storms or cold. The first four days I walked in nylon trail pants (EddieBauer Guide Pro, 400 grams) and a polyester Rohan shirt (so old I’ve forgotten the name – the current Frontier shirt looks similar) that I like because it closes with studs not buttons and has big pockets. These kept off the wind and didn’t get sweaty. I did take a windshirt – I always do – a now well-worn PatagoniaHoudini (110g) but I only wore it a few times as the wind wasn’t cold.

Once the weather was warmer I changed to an old pair of shorts and a favourite BAM bamboo T-shirt, which is very soft, very comfortable, and after much wear somewhat disreputable.

I had one warm garment, which I wore in camp early and late when the temperature dropped to around 10°C. This was another favourite, the very light (220 grams) insulated Berghaus Hydroshell hooded jacket (now replaced by the very similar MTN Arete Synthetic Hoody). It was all I needed.

Waterproofs, unworn but I’d never leave them behind, were the 335-gram Montane Cetus Lite jacket and an old pair of Berghaus Paclite overtrousers (225 grams).

Shoes

Altra Lone Peak shoes have been my favourite hiking footwear for many years and they were fine for this trip as I expected. I wore them with thin Darn Tough socks the first four days and then without socks for the warmer last three days.

Other Stuff

I had a tiny headlamp (Petzl Bindi), Kindle, compass, first aid kit, repair kit, and various other items. Camera gear of course and smartphone and power banks and accessories. Lots of little things in fact that lived in some zipped bags.

Note: I am an Amazon Associate. If you buy from the Amazon links I receive a commission at no cost to you. Every click helps! Thank you if you do purchase something or click on one of my links. StoreID: christownse0c-21

Note 2: All photos were taken on the walk.

Note 3: After the walk I made a video about the gear I used.

The Moray Way: third of three videos, the Speyside Way

 

The Moray Way: second of three videos, the Moray Coast Trail

 

A Look At The July Issue Of The Great Outdoors

A belated look at the July issue of The Great Outdoors. A problem with the internet has stopped me posting for a while.

In this issue I and Steph Wetherall each review an ultralight big pack and a standard weight big pack. Also in the gear pages James Roddie reviews eight outdoor apps, Steph Wetherall reviews Maier Sports Lawa Shorts, Fiona Russell reviews the Berghaus Rain-Motion Jacket, and James Forrest reviews the Alpkit Atlas boots. Steph Wetherall also looks at sleeping bag ratings and why they don’t work for everyone.

In the main features there’s a look at big human-powered adventures ideal for summer months. David Myers describes setting the fastest known time on the South West Coast Path. Hannah Mitchell treks through the Fann Mountains of Tajikistan.

The Skills section sees the experts of Glenmore Lodge giving advice on navigation, refuelling, river crossings, and prepping for better hill days.

In shorter pieces Nadia Shaikh enthuses about bugs, in particular the shieldbug; the Peak District’s new wildfire engagement officer tells Claire Maxted what his job involves; Jim Perrin recalls his first ascent of Catbells; and Juls Stodel gives advice on navigation.

Wild Walks looks at routes reachable by public transport. James Roddie climbs Beinn Liath Mhor from Achnashellach railway station in the NW Highlands. Simon Stokes also takes the train, in this case to climb Ben More from Crianlarich in the Southern Highlands. It’s the bus to the Old Dungeon Ghyll Hotel in the Lake District for an ascent of Bow Fell for Vivienne Crow. Another bus in the Lake District takes James Forrest to the start of a walk up Red Screes. Also in the Lake District Norman Hadley takes the train to Windermere for Sallows and Sour Hawes. Down in Shropshire another train takes Andrew Galloway to Church Stretton for a walk over the Lond Mynd. In Wales Ian Battersby climbs Pen y Fan and Craig Cerrig-gleisiad from Pont ar Daf, which can be reached by bus.

The Moray Way: first of three videos, the Dava Way

Here's a link to the first of four videos I'll be posting about my Moray Way walk. One for each section of the walk and one on the gear I used.

This video covers the Dava Way and my first camp.

The Outdoor Trade Show 2026

Just back from this year's Outdoor Trade Show in Liverpool. To my surprise this was the 20th show. I didn't think there had been that many. As always there was plenty to see and plenty of people to chat with, often the only time I meet them face to face each year.

Three days in this vast hall with its temporary outdoor gear village.

Amidst all the new gear it was good to see Keela promoting its Legacy Project, which is about restoring, repairing, and reworking items so they last longer. 

Paramo has long been a leader in environmentally friendly gear. This year they showed a prototype jacket made with fully recyclable components. The jacket has no zips but all the features you'd expect. Production isn't planned to start until autumn 2028 though. However some of the design features such as zip-free waterproof pockets will appear on other garments as early as next winter. This sounds an excellent project.

Paramo prototype

Here's a look at a few new items I found interesting. I'm writing an over view of the show for The Great Outdoors magazine (last year's review here) and I'll be reviewing some of the gear over the next year. Many items won't be available until next spring or even later so don't expect to see them in the shops for a while.

The last few years have seen many new stoves arrive and there were two more good-looking ones at the show. Soto had a regulated stove that runs off plug-in horizontal canisters. The only stove I'm aware of that ran off these long narrow canisters was the Primus Grasshopper back in the 1970s. That stove used the canister as one of the stove legs. 

Primus itself had a winter/cold weather version of the new Lite Ultra  (which I'm currently testing). The Ulti Lite has a regulated radiant burner.

There were many new sleeping pads on display and some ultralight closed cell foam ones from Big Agnes caught my eye. There hasn't been anything new in this area for many years, all the attention going to inflatable mats. Big Agnes is a new lighter weight foam that is said to be as durable as heavier ones. Mats made from this are also more compact when packed, which will be excellent. An even lighter foam, is coming too. A full-length mat made from this will weigh just 99 grams!

The weights of some inflatable mats are coming down too. Sea to Summit's Ultralight Ion R5 mat only weighs 315g while having an R-Value of 5. It's also very compact.

Rab has revamped its sleeping bag range, something that seems to happen quite often. Completely new is a quilt in the ultralight Mythic range.

Of the many tents on display Robens has an ultralight trekking pole solo model, the Via 1, which is available now and which I have on test.

At the other extreme of backpacking tents Terra Nova had the Odyssey 1 and 2, which are designed for winter mountain use. The design is clearly derived from the Hilleberg Soulo, though with some different features. The solo Odyssey 1 is also lighter weight and less expensive (though by no means light and still costly).

Finally I liked Xtorm 3in1 Travel Charger, which combines a power bank and a wall charger. This looks excellent for long trips where both those are needed.

I wrote about last year's show here.

The Moray Way: some thoughts & pictures

First camp, on Dava Moor on the Dava Way.

The Moray Way is a 100 mile/160km walk linking the Dava Way, the Moray Coast Trail, and the Speyside Way. Forres on the coast is usually the starting point for the walk. However, as I live just a few kilometres from the Dava Way at Grantown-on-Spey it seemed logical to start there. Indeed, for the first time ever I set out on a long walk from my front door. Living so close by I really should have done this many years ago.

Crags at Huntly's Cave near the start of the Dava Way

The walk took a week. I camped on five nights, stayed in a hotel on one (in Forres). The weather ranged from cloudy and windy at the start to hot and windy at the finish. There were only a few light showers of rain. 

The Dava Way follows the old railway line from Grantown-on-Spey to Forres. This is the high point at 1052 feet/321 metres. All downhill from here!

With only a few days between finishing the walk and heading down to Liverpool for the annual Outdoor Trade Show I've barely had time to download my photos and videos, let alone process and edit them. Here are a few that show the different landscapes long the route. After my return from Liverpool I'll write longer pieces and post more pictures from each section of the route plus post a video or two.

The vast open space of Dava Moor covered in a white swathe of cotton grass.

The Divie Viaduct takes the railway line from Dava Moor into gentler, greener, fields and forestry.

Spring colours in a cutting on the Dava Way. The bright yellow of gorse was the colour of the walk.

One of the first views of Findhorn Bay on the Moray Coast Trail. The walk from the finish of the Dava Way in Forres to Findhorn on roads and roadside footpaths is not recommended!

A pine tree on the edge of sand cliffs above Burghead Bay, Moray Coast Trail. The forests of Scots Pine and Corsican Pine are to stabilise the sand and slow coastal erosion.

Second camp deep in the forest sheltered from the wind. Moray Coast Trail.

Beach, gulls, and Burghead. Moray Coast Trail.

The East Beach, Hopeman, Moray Coast Trail.

Heron on the rocks. I saw more birds on the Moray Coast Trail than on the other two sections.

Gorse corridor, Moray Coast Trail. You can't always see the sea.

Magnificent cliffs between Hopeman and Lossiemouth, my favourite section of the whole walk. Overall the Moray Coast Trail is one I would happily do again.

Some of many sea stacks and caves, Moray Coast Trail.

View from a cave to Covesea Skerries Lighthouse.

Camp with tank traps! These second world war defences would have been on the beach but are now stranded a little way inland. I was in the trees to keep out of the wind again.

The line of tank traps stretches out of the trees and along open ground behind some big shingle banks built by the sea. The tank traps line runs unbroken for 5 miles/8 kilometres.

The collapsed viaduct at Garmouth. The Moray Coast Path crossed this to link up with the Speyside Way. Now you have to road walk to Fochabers to reach the next bridge.

Fourth camp with a view of the river Spey and the now distant sea. Speyside Way.

The magnificent Thomas Telford Bridge at Craigellachie. Speyside Way/

Knockando Distillery. There are many whisky distilleries along the Speyside Way and the smell of malt is often in the air.

Fifth and last camp. Right by the river. The Speyside Way isn't often this close.

A green corridor as the Speyside Way follows the line of an old railway.

Endless gates, endless barbed wire imprisoning corridors. I hated this section of the Speyside Way.

Cromdale Station, the last of many old stations on the Moray Way.

Almost home! The bridge over the river Spey at Cromdale.