The Expedition Journals

Hiking with a toddler has fast become one of the most rewarding ways to spend time together outdoors with my son. There is fresh air, muddy boots, plenty of discovery, and usually at least one unexpected snack stop. The key to hiking with a one year old is not to overcomplicate it. With the right kit and a little planning, family hikes can be a wonderful way to get outdoors and release stress. Here are five essentials that make a big difference when you are heading out on the trail with a little one in tow; personal recommendations that have made a real difference to me. 1. Osprey Poco Plus/Premium Rucksack I purchased a second hand Osprey Poco AG Plus child carrier when my little one turned one year old. These are brilliant rucksacks, worth their weight in gold to get you out on the trails and start stomping some miles. The latest version of the AG Plus is the Osprey Poco Premium , but my 'vintage' version shares most of the same attributes. The Osprey Poco AG Plus Ruck...

The Rab Veil 1L is a lightweight belt pack designed for trail running, hiking and general outdoor sports adventures. The breathable fabric, secure and comfortable design, and neat storage features make this a versatile and indispensable companion for your everyday adventures. Made from strong yet highly breathable Ripstop Mono Mesh, this ultralight minimalist mountain running belt pack is perfect for carrying your necessities on your fast-paced adventures.  The Ripstop Mono Mesh provides a strong yet breathable framework, which is 50% lighter and retains 70% less water than spacer mesh normally used in backpacks and hip-packs. Weight has further been kept to an absolute minimum, and breathability maximised; with details such as mesh pockets, laser-cut holes on the waist belt, and a low profile design. Storage comes in the form of one main zipped lumbar pocket (1 litre), with an internal zipped security pocket; this set-up is perfect for snacks, gels, a phone and house keys. Th...

Rab Equipment is one of my favourite outdoor brands on the market – they produce the legendary Microlight down jacket (see my recent review of the Rab Infinity Microlight Down Jacket ), as well as sleeping bags that I have used on some of my longest expeditions.  A new piece of Rab Equipment that has landed in my kit store though, is the Rab Expedition 50 Kit Bag – a rugged and hardwearing 50 litre duffel bag that is superbly made and ready for any adventure. The Rab Kitbag 50 is made using a tough and durable 600D fabric and is coated with a TPU water-resistant film. Triple-stitched seams and a double thickness base add further to the ruggedness of the kit bag.  The contents of the duffel bag are easily accessible through a large, double zippered (lockable) main opening. On the underside of the lid there are two internal zippered mesh pockets, as well as two pockets at either end of the bag's internal main compartment. For transporting the Rab Expedition Kit Bag, there are tw...

Longer trail runs and hikes are safer if you can pack a few essentials: a mobile phone, lightweight windproof jacket, space blanket, a clip-on light, perhaps even some sun cream and a chapstick. You don't want to be cramming these essentials into the pockets of your running shorts though, so a lightweight belt pack or 'bum bag' is the ideal solution. The Lowe Alpine Lightflite 2 has fast become my new favourite pack for 'light and fast' adventures. Featuring an adjustable narrow webbing belt and padded wicking back panel, the Lightflite 2 is comfortable to wear and doesn't work loose or bounce as you up the pace on the trails. Inside there is a key clip for house keys and enough room for a large mobile phone and windproof jacket. On the outside, two fast-access mesh pockets are ideal for trail snacks, and a reflective LED light loop can prove very useful in low light conditions. Perfect for housing all the essentials listed above, the Lowe Alpine Lightflite...

The Rab Kinetic Alpine Jacket is an industry-leading fully waterproof shell jacket; providing the comfort and stretchy feel of a softshell jacket, but with the protective performance of a 100 percent waterproof hiking / trail running jacket. The exceptional characteristic of the Rab Kinetic Alpine Jacket, which sets it apart from other waterproof jackets on the market, is the fabric — the patented Proflex™ material. This unique technical fabric is breathable, waterproof, durable, and crucially stretchy; enabling an adaptable and close-fitting protective outer layer. The Kinetic Alpine Jacket is designed for the mountains; where lightweight packable properties are essential and second only to the necessity for the jacket to be fully weatherproof. In the pursuit of featherweight lightness (390 grams for the Medium size jacket), Rab have introduced some clever innovations. Ceramic print overlays are used on high wear areas to remove the need for bulky reinforcement patches and to ...