Kit reviews

Rab Vapour Rise Trail Top

Tested in March 2008, this baby is not the cheapest of tops at £80 but in performance terms it is unbeatable. Made from Pertex fabric with a micropile lining the top offers a lightweight, high wicking fabric that has high levels of warmth and wind resistance.

It has a half zip top and a useful pocket (something for the weekend perhaps?). Its a stretch top by design so fits very snug again adding to its performance. On the Helm Crag and Fairfield weekend we faced some extreme weather conditions including 70-80mph winds and sub-zero temperatures on Fairfield. The Rab was amazing and kept me warm and sweat free throughout. You can wear it as a base layer but I chose to wear it on top of my base layer which seemed to work well.

There are no doubt many cheaper tops around but none comes close to this. And in terms of bling-ness, it cuts the mustard. Wear this in the Ambleside inns and you're bound to pull unless you have a beer belly that is - stretch tops and paunches are a not a good look as our fashion guru Wallace will tell you.

I bought this from Westerly Peaks when it was on offer.

Review by: Dean
Date: March 2008
Boot rating:

North Face Thermal Mitts

Tested last month were Lee's extraordinary North Face NuptseThermal Mitts. Looking like some psychopathic Lobster, Lee cut a ferocious sight on the fells and frightened off a number of elderly ramblers.

Apparently these babies are only affordable by local authority mandarins such as Lee. Anyway he was so impressed by their warmth that he gave them a fantastic Four Boot rating. Unfortunately Lee's mitts had Wallace and Dean's sides splitting all the way up Birks Fell so these are best worn on unaccompanied, remote walks to avoid derision.

Review by: Dean (Lee loved his mitts so much he wouldn't remove them so typing was a non-starter)
Review date: December 2007
Boot rating: