Real-world gear reviews · tested across the UK
Hike. Camp.
Paddle. Repeat.
Buy the right paddleboard, tent or jacket first time. Every product here has been tested on UK rivers, campsites and hills, with clear verdicts and the best current prices.
Reviews & guides
Camping
Tents & shelters, sleeping gear, cooking gear, accessories and camping guides.
Reviews & guides
Sealskinz Raynham Waterproof Socks Review (2026)
The Sealskinz Raynham is a mid-length waterproof sock with a three-layer build: a stretchy outer, a waterproof Aquasealz membrane, and a merino-blend lining, designed…
Quechua MH500 Waterproof Jacket Review (2026)
The Quechua MH500 is Decathlon’s three-layer men’s waterproof jacket, and at £79.99 it packs 20,000mm waterproofing, 29cm pit zips and a three-point adjustable hood…
OEX Aonach II Review (2026)
The OEX Aonach II is a budget mountain jacket with a stretchy 70D two-layer shell, a YKK AquaGuard front zip and a fully adjustable…
Mountain Warehouse Seasons Padded Jacket Review (2026)
Warm and water-resistant, the Mountain Warehouse Seasons Padded Jacket is a no-frills synthetic puffer built for everyday cold-weather use. Its microfibre fill is lab-tested…
Wave Electric Pump Review (2026): Cordless SUP Pump
Most electric SUP pumps tie you to the car park. The Wave Electric Pump is cordless, runs from a rechargeable battery, and is small…
MSR Switch Stove System Review (2026)
A system stove no longer means being stuck with one pot. The MSR Switch Stove System boils fast in its own 1.0L pot, then…
Wave Electric Pump Review (2026): Cordless SUP Pump
Most electric SUP pumps tie you to the car park. The Wave Electric Pump is cordless, runs from a rechargeable battery, and is small…
Seashell Changing Robe Review (2026)
The Seashell Changing Robe wraps you in deep sherpa fleece behind a fully taped, windproof 10,000mm shell, so climbing out of cold water means…
Wave Recon 3.0 Review 2026 | Ultimate Adventure SUP
Wave kindly gifted the Recon 3.0 SUP for review. All opinions are my own. The Wave Recon 3.0 is a board built for adventure.…
Seashell Towelling Robe Review 2026 | Soft Organic Cotton
A full-on changing robe is brilliant for cold, wet winter sessions, but come summer it’s overkill. Unless you’re heading out for an early morning…
Bluefin Compact Lite SUP Review (2026)
If storage space or a small car boot has ever put you off buying a paddleboard, the Bluefin Compact Lite is built to solve…
Aquaplanet Max 10’6 Review 2026 | The SUP That Delivers
Most beginner paddle boards get the job done for a season or two, then start to feel limiting as your experience grows. At that…
MSR Switch Stove System Review (2026)
A system stove no longer means being stuck with one pot. The MSR Switch Stove System boils fast in its own 1.0L pot, then…
AeroPress Go Plus Review (2026)
The AeroPress Go has been the benchmark in travel coffee for years, let down only by the plastic mug it packs into. The AeroPress…
MSR Hubba Hubba Bikepack 1P Tent Review
The Hubba Hubba has been one of the best ultralight tents on the market for years. Now the MSR Hubba Hubba Bikepack 1-person tent…
Big Agnes Rapide SL Sleeping Mat Review (2026)
The Rapide SL is Big Agnes’s four-season air mat — superlight nylon double ripstop, two layers of heat-reflective film insulation, and an R-value of…
Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite NXT Review (2026) Ultralight Sleeping Mat
The Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite NXT is the mat that backpackers point at when someone asks what to save up for. It’s been the benchmark…
VSSL Rift Tumbler Review (2026)
The VSSL Rift Tumbler is a compact, double-wall vacuum insulated travel mug designed for outdoor use. Available in three sizes — 10oz, 16oz, and…
Sealskinz Raynham Waterproof Socks Review (2026)
The Sealskinz Raynham is a mid-length waterproof sock with a three-layer build: a stretchy outer, a waterproof Aquasealz membrane, and a merino-blend lining, designed…
Quechua MH500 Waterproof Jacket Review (2026)
The Quechua MH500 is Decathlon’s three-layer men’s waterproof jacket, and at £79.99 it packs 20,000mm waterproofing, 29cm pit zips and a three-point adjustable hood…
OEX Aonach II Review (2026)
The OEX Aonach II is a budget mountain jacket with a stretchy 70D two-layer shell, a YKK AquaGuard front zip and a fully adjustable…
Mountain Warehouse Seasons Padded Jacket Review (2026)
Warm and water-resistant, the Mountain Warehouse Seasons Padded Jacket is a no-frills synthetic puffer built for everyday cold-weather use. Its microfibre fill is lab-tested…
Fjällräven Abisko Hybrid Trail Trousers Review (2026)
The Fjällräven Abisko Hybrid Trail Trousers combine the brand’s waxable G-1000 canvas on the front with stretch panels on the back, so you get…
AeroPress Go Plus Review (2026)
The AeroPress Go has been the benchmark in travel coffee for years, let down only by the plastic mug it packs into. The AeroPress…
Layering for Hiking: How to Dress for Any UK Walk
Layering for hiking means wearing several thin layers rather than one thick one, so you can add or remove warmth as the weather and…
What Is a Down Jacket? A Guide to Down Insulation
What is a down jacket? It’s an insulated jacket filled with down, the soft, fluffy layer that sits beneath the outer feathers of ducks…
How to Repair a Down or Puffer Jacket: Tears, Holes, and Leaking Down
Most small tears and holes in a puffer jacket are easy to fix at home. To repair down jacket holes, you need a self-adhesive…
How to Wash a Puffer Jacket (Down and Synthetic): Step by Step
Most puffer jackets, down or synthetic, can be washed at home in a normal washing machine and dried in a tumble dryer. It’s a…
What Is PrimaLoft? Synthetic Insulation Explained
If you have been shopping for an insulated jacket, you may have seen the name on a label and wondered: what is PrimaLoft? It…
Down vs Synthetic Insulation: Which Jacket Should You Choose?
Down and synthetic jackets can look almost identical on the rail, but they behave very differently once the weather turns. Down is lighter and…
Best of 2026
8 Best Hiking Socks for UK Walking (2026)
The wrong pair of hiking socks can ruin a good day on the trail: a seam rubs, blisters form around the heel,…
8 Best Waterproof Socks for Walking in the UK (2026)
Having wet feet is never fun. Nobody enjoys the feeling of cold, wet socks squelching around in their boots, especially with miles…
6 Best Insulated Jackets for UK Weather (2026)
A good insulated jacket keeps you warm when you stop, copes with a bit of drizzle, and fits under a waterproof when…
6 Best Water Filters for Hiking in the UK (2026)
Carry all your water for a day in the hills, and you’re lugging an extra two or three kilos. Run out halfway…
Wave Navigator vs Trailblazer: Which Kayak Should You Buy? (2026)
Both the Wave Navigator 3.0 and the Wave Trailblazer 3.0 are Drop-Stitch inflatable kayaks from the same brand, available in the same…
Aquaplanet Allround 10 vs Bluefin Compact Lite: Best Compact SUP? (2026)
Let the battle for the best compact paddleboard begin with the Aquaplanet Allround 10 vs Bluefin Compact Lite – both SUPs are…
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Who tests the gear
Hey, I’m Steve
I’ve hiked long-distance trails across four continents, spent more early mornings on a paddleboard than I can count, and tested more outdoor gear than my shed has room for. Based in East Sussex, I write honest reviews and practical guides for paddleboarding, hiking, and camping — all based on real-time outdoors, not manufacturer spec sheets.
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Exclusive offerWave SUPs10% off paddleboardsNo code needed. The 10% discount applies automatically when you shop through my link.
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