An avid hiking enthusiast
Headlamps are essential safety gear for outdoor activities, freeing your hands while guiding your path through the night. Black Diamond and Petzl stand as the two giants in the headlamp industry. This guide uses the popular Black Diamond Spot and Petzl ACTIK CORE models to clarify your purchasing considerations. I. Core Feature Comparison Black Diamond …
You might splurge on premium footwear, only to have it undermined by a cheap pair of cotton socks. Hiking socks serve as both a buffer layer and a management system between your feet and boots. We selected four top brands—Smartwool, Darn Tough, Bridgedale, and X-Socks—and put them through 500 kilometres of hiking to determine their …
The layering technique is a core skill for navigating unpredictable outdoor weather, with the outer shell (hard shell) and softshell jackets forming your ultimate defence. We’ve selected five mainstream products for a real-world test spanning urban to wilderness conditions. I. Hard Shell Jackets (Sturdy Shields Against Wind and Rain) Arc’teryx Beta AR (The All-Round Champion) …
A tent is the hiker’s mobile fortress, sheltering you from wind and rain while providing a night’s rest. We selected three top-tier tents representing distinct design philosophies and environmental applications: the Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL (ultralight freestanding tent), the MSR Hubba Hubba NX (all-rounder two-person tent), and the Hilleberg Allak (four-season fortress). Let’s …
When embarking on multi-day hikes carrying over 20kg of gear, choosing the right rucksack becomes paramount. Should one opt for the unparalleled comfort and support of traditional carrying systems, or embrace ultralight principles to minimise base weight? We gathered representatives from three major schools of thought: the Osprey Aether Plus 70 (the comfort king), the …
A reliable pair of hiking boots is your most loyal companion in the wild. They bear your weight, tackle complex terrain, and serve as your first line of defence for safety and comfort. This time, we’ve selected three market-recognised top-tier hiking boots—the Scarpa Kangrinboqe, Lowa Renegade GTX, and Salomon QUEST 4D GTX—subjecting them to hundreds …