GBAC Stories

Stretchy, fast-drying and encouraging in the wind, with a concealed lace clip that turns the hem into a neat gaiter. The concealed lace clip is the clever bit. The one thing we’d change is the lack of reinforcement where trousers tend to wear first.

Exceptionally comfortable, properly warm and packed with useful details, with no overheating on autumn hikes or a trail run. The catch: it’s bulkier than a lightweight base layer, and we haven’t yet tested it in sub-zero conditions.

Inflates and deflates in seconds, doubles as a proper tent light and weighs just 160g. The catch is that it’s a touch bulkier than the ultralight pumps.

A comfortable, well-built pack with a smart feature set and a distinctive military-inspired look. The catch is capacity: 42 litres suits compact camping kit and not much bulkier.

Stretchy, quiet and breathable enough to leave on all day, with proper waterproof protection underneath. The catch is a £450 price tag, no pit zips and a hood that isn’t built for a ski helmet.

Comfortable under real loads, tough enough to shrug off years of granite and genuinely hard to fault for a couple of nights out.

A comfortable, waterproof and dependable three-season hiking boot, tested for a year on the South West Coast Path, the Brecon Beacons and Dartmoor.

Tough, good-looking and cracking value. Just don’t expect it to keep you warm once the temperature drops.

Superb grip on dry rock, all-day comfort and durability that shrugs off years of Snowdonia. Just keep it out of the wet.

Sub-2kg, genuinely four-season, and under £320 — quite possibly the only UK tent you need.

Everything you need to camp wild in the UK — and actually enjoy it.

A practical guide to where it's legal, where it's tolerated, and how to pitch with confidence.

Everything you need for wild camp number 1

Why you can trust our reviews

All the advice you'll ever need to get out comfortably for your first night outdoors.