Independent reviews
From everyday tech and home products to lifestyle and specialist gear, each review focuses on practical use, strengths, limitations, and who the product suits.
Camping Tents
A detailed look at the OneTigris Tetra 160, a square-footprint teepee tent with an integrated bug inner, strong ventilation, and a few weather-related trade-offs.
Camping Tents
The OneTigris Tetra packs down very small, sleeps two cots with gear, and vents exceptionally well. Here is how it handled freezing temperatures, high wind, and freezing rain.
Backpacking Packs
A 60-litre pack built around comfort and load support, with the storage and access features multi-day backpackers need, plus a lighter Osprey alternative for day trips.
Chest Rigs
A practical look at the Osprey Archon chest rig, from its 4L layout and carry modes to its ventilation limits, with the Helikon-Tex Numbat as a reference point.
Backpacking Packs
A detailed look at the Osprey Atmos AG LT 50, a 50-litre backpacking pack built around the Anti-Gravity suspension, with its ventilation, adjustment range, features and trade-offs.
Backpacking Packs
Capacity is only part of the decision. Here is how the Osprey Exos and the Osprey Atmos differ, and how to match pack size to your tent, sleeping bag and the loads you can realistically carry.
Backpacking Packs
A 60 litre backpacking pack that weighs just 870 grams, with a suspended back panel and a padded harness, plus a deliberately short feature list to weigh up first.
Hiking Backpacks
A practical look at the Osprey Rook 65 after three months of use, covering its AirSpeed ventilation, fit range, storage layout, and the compromises to weigh before buying.
Hiking Backpacks
A detailed look at the Osprey Rook 65L, a $190 hiking pack with a full frame suspension, ladder lock torso adjustment, and a few deliberate compromises.
Backpacking Gear
A close look at the Osprey Unlimited 64 Anti-Gravity, a premium 64-litre backpacking pack with a ventilated Anti-Gravity harness, clamshell access, and a lid that converts into a lumbar pack.
Backpacking Gear
A long-term look at Osprey's premium backpacking pack and how it stacks up against the more affordable Atmos AG it was built upon.
Outdoor Gift Guide
Ten outdoor gift ideas that earn their place in a pack, from a tiny canister stove to trail guides, nature writing and a maps app subscription.
Rain Jackets
A two-layer Gore-Tex rain jacket tested through six months of wind and heavy rain, covering what works, what to check, and who should buy it.
Backpacking Tents
A close look at the Outdoor Vitals Fortius, a $340 two-person trekking pole tent weighing about 2 lb 2.5 oz, with generous interior space and real questions about silnylon sag.
Outdoor Gifts
Seven gift ideas for hikers and walkers, from laminated navigation maps and merino hiking socks to handmade jewellery, Irish field guides, and open-ear headphones.
Camping Gear
We took four Ozark Trail pieces, an A-frame tent, a propane stove, a self-inflating air mattress, and a sleeping bag, on an overnight trip to see what a $250 budget camping kit can realistically handle.
Cameras
A field-tested look at the Panasonic Lumix S5 for hiking and travel work, covering stabilisation, 4K video quality, USB-C charging, and the trade-offs worth weighing before buying.
Outdoor Gear
A lightweight three-layer waterproof shell with a 20,000mm rating that packs into its own pocket, plus the trade-offs to weigh before buying.
Outdoor Gear
A practical comparison of a three-layer rain shell and a $20 packable jacket, covering construction, fit, hood design, and the conditions each one handles best.
Hiking Gear
A practical thru-hiking gear list built from more than 2,000 miles on the Pacific Crest Trail, with honest ratings, real flaws, and clear buying priorities.
Headlamps
A practical look at the Petzl Swift RL, covering reactive lighting, output modes, comfort, charging and the trade-offs worth knowing before you buy.
Camping Tents
A practical comparison of two similarly priced warm-weather shelters, covering airflow, weight, interior space, and how the Poler 4-Person Pop-Up Tent handled sustained heavy rain.
Hiking Nutrition
A practical look at three powder drink additives for hikers and backpackers, covering Naked Whey protein, ZipFizz, and Liquid IV, plus what to check before you pack them.
Backpacking Tents
A close look at the QU Stormstar 2P, a four-season two-person backpacking tent that delivers space, a taut pitch and thick fabrics, but asks for strong hands and careful pole management.
Outdoor Clothing
A close look at the Rab Borealis, a 300 gram softshell with a stretchy Matrix fabric, a helmet-compatible hood, and a slim active fit.
Fleece Jackets
A closer look at the Rab Capacitor Hoodie, a mixed-weight 200 fleece with a helmet-friendly hood, mesh-backed pockets, and a 398 g build that works as a mid layer or an outer layer.
Outdoor Jackets
A practical comparison of the Rab Latok Mountain, Latok Alpine and Latok Extreme, three Gore-Tex Pro shells built for different kinds of days out.
Camping Gear
A practical guide to the RAB sleeping pad range, covering warmth ratings, pack sizes, durability, and which of the six pads suits which kind of trip.
Camping Gear
A compact butane stove, a massive shell tent, and a folding worktop table, assessed after an overnight camp that took several inches of rain.
Camping Gear
Two shelters and a modular camp kitchen system tested through sustained rain, gusty wind, and a wet mountain campsite, with the strengths and trade-offs to weigh before buying.