Back in the late nineties Mark Twights forward thinking volume ‘Extreme Alpinism’ hit the shelves. Among his many ideas was the concept of over layering for extra warmth. Prior to this innovative idea the general plan for adding a layer was to remove your gloves, loosen your harness, remove your shell, put on your extra warm layer, shell back on etc, a real faff.
Twights' simple idea was to layer a synthetic insulated jacket over your shell when you needed to boost the warmth of your clothing system. Unlike down, synthetic insulation retains a lot of its thermal properties when wet meaning it doesn’t need protecting from the elements. Fast forward to the current day and the concept of a belay jacket has spread across the worlds mountains and in particular to the demanding world of Scottish winter climbing.
Rab® were one of the first brands to produce a dedicated belay jacket and my original is still going strong after years of abuse. It has a lot of ‘character’ now but fundamentally it still does an amazing job of keeping me warm when the environment is determined to make me wet, cold and miserable.
There are two fields of thought in belay jacket design. One is to go as lightweight as possible with minimal features. It’s all about lightweight maximal warmth for belaying or emergency situations.
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As mountain instructors we ask a lot of out kit. Day in day out we’re out in the hills whatever the weather abusing our clothing systems, demanding they keep us warm, dryish and comfortable

There are plenty of specialised items on the market but they all compromise in one aspect or another - durability, comfort, weight etc. However we occasionally find an item that just works. Its combination of features, fabrics and fit achieves that perfect balance and it become the piece you forget about. No clothing decisions to be made regarding activity level or weather, just annoyance when they’re in the wash!

My Rab Calibre Pants have quickly established themselves as that piece. In the last few months I’ve racked up more than 100 days of use and abuse. They are marketed as technical mountaineering pants for use in cold harsh environments. However the high levels of comfort and breathability mean mine have graced the local bouldering wall as well as the interior of Antarctica. 

In the last couple of weeks I’ve kicked off my Scottish winter season. Conditions have been somewhat challenging but I’ve been comfortable pairing these pants with an eVent shell. Despite a good soaking on various routes I’ve been warm and dry by the time we reached the car with body heat driving their quick drying abilities. In more typical Scottish conditions I’ve layered them over a thin merino layer for a great system in all but the worst weather.

The fabric sheds water and dirt in equal measure and stayed looking smart throughout a 2 month Antarctic expedition - even Emperor Penguin poo washed straight off! It’s also slightly stretchy with good knee articulation meaning it climbs and skis well with very little restriction. The thigh vents, which I love from my VR Guide Pants, have been developed to include a far larger surface area for rapid heat loss while also providing sun protection. This means I’ve found them comfortable and practicable in a far greater range of conditions than I suspect they were designed for.

The knees and inner calves are protected by a very tough but flexible fabric which I’ve failed to damage despite my worst intentions. The boot grippers work well and even in deep snow I’ve never found the need to use the under boot laces.

The price means they are an investment but their versatility and comfort mean that I can focus on whatever the days mountain adventure brings and know that my leg wear isn’t going to be found wanting.

Synthetic duvet jackets have been a mainstay of my clothing system since becoming a realistic alternative to fleece back in the late nineties. I've used and abused a number of jackets from ultra-lightweight pieces to full expedition parkers and even insulated trousers in polar regions.I’ve found that Primaloft clothing offers a lot of protection and survivability for their weight. They are wind and weatherproof but also keep you warm when wet, which is essential for our typical UK weather.

The latest incarnation of the Xenon-X Jacket had a baptism of fire last month. I teamed it up with the lightweight Vapour Rise Jacket for the variety of different days inherent in being a mountain instructor - from chilly belays while guiding on a Lake District mountain crag, to a soggy day taking photos of a mountain event. It’s been used as a lightweight warm layer for a very windy mountain marathon and as a stunning bivi, high above Chamonix while introducing friends to the delights of alpine climbing. It provided instant warmth after an open water swim under a full moon and spent several days stuffed into the bottom of my rucksack as an emergency layer while instructing.

The new Primaloft Gold Active is slightly less warm weight for weight than its predecessor but it’s more robust matted composition means that the jackets lining fabric can have a more open weave and therefore greater breathability. This becomes very obvious the first time you work up a sweat. Normally I'd be venting a synthetic jacket and removing hats and gloves to avoid overheating, but the Xenon-X was comfortable across a wider range of activity, quickly wicking moisture and heat away, which also meant I didn't get cold and clammy when I stopped moving. Despite its low weight it feels reassuringly warm and will easily layer over or under my shell.

Rab® have kept it simple with a couple of hand-warmer pockets and an internal chest pocket which will take a map or guidebook with ease, while the under helmet hood is extremely comfortable and useful.

Many lightweight fabrics are prone to getting jammed in zips, however with the Xenon-X the wind baffle behind the teeth has been slightly stiffened providing the perfect balance between zip jam prevention and minimal weight and bulk.

Practical as a summer and winter climbing layer, this jacket is becoming my go to option for UK instruction and guiding. It ticks all of the boxes that a lightweight synthetic jacket should but introduces an element of flexibility. I look forward to putting the Xenon-X through it’s paces in Antarctica at the end of this year. I’ll report back on how it holds up!

I've used the great looking Enduro Plus Hydration Pack from The North Face for my last two ultras. It only arrived two days before the Lakeland 100 where it did a great job through 38 hours of effort. I then took it to Chamonix for the 60 mile CCC where it again behaved flawlessly.

It's a very short and squat design that sits low on my back and does look a bit strange when fully laden. However it is incredibly comfortable and I've had no issues with chafage or the pack bouncing. My back bears permanent scars from racing with packs with a longer back length but in 165 miles of racing in extremes of heat and 'dampness' I've not had a single problem.

I like my comforts so had it stashed pretty full for both races but with a bit of work its 9.5 litres should accommodate a very lightweight mountain marathon set up. its just a wee bit small for working in the mountains (bothy bag, first aid kit, spare jacket etc) but I'm finding it ideal for most of my own running and cycling adventures 

For me the Boa anti slosh tightening system to secure and compress the water bladder worked as it should but solves a problem that doesn't really exist. Certainly the water bouncing and sloshing about is not something I've ever worried about in any other pack as expelling the air before sealing the reservoir also does a pretty good job. The wire and dial system adds weight and complexity and I had a few issues on the Lakeland 100 when with cold and wet hands kit was snagging on the exposed wires.

I used the mesh pocket on the back for a water bottle on the Lakeland 100 and for my windproof on the CCC and it worked very well being easy to locate with a bit of practice. I find the side pockets on some race packs, which are placed up towards your arm pits, rub against my arms when I'm running but are awkwardly placed when trying to grab a drink or replace your bottle. Placing this feature on the back of the pack makes far more sense ergonomically. On this pack some form of closure would be useful for when carrying gloves, arm warmers etc and a second staggered holder would also be an interesting development.

The included water bladder was very good with a two litre capacity and a large opening. The valve was about average in terms of water flow but it didn't feel like hard work to suck even when working hard and the nifty little magnetic holder for the tube is a great innovation and worked incredibly well. If it's a faff to drink while racing then you won't so little design features like this work incredibly well in the real world. I'm not usually a fan of racing in the heat but coped surprisingly well on the first day of the CCC remaining well hydrated throughout which I can probably attribute to this pack.

The website mentions stash pockets on the chest harness but I think they meant on the waist belt which features two spacious pockets. The lightweight floating harness did get twisted when putting the bag on but once everything was secured then the pockets were perfectly positioned and a pretty good size. An internal loop in th epockets for clipping compasses / GPS would be a welcome development.

The fashion is currently very much for race vests but if you are looking to carry a bit more equipment and like a more traditional pack with some very modern features then the Enduro Plus is certainly worth a look.

Jez Bragg recently completed a wee run wearing a pair of these shoes. His awe inspiring Te Araroa trail run covered 3054km along the length of New Zealand in 53 days. A pretty impressive resume for this new trail shoe from The North Face.

I’ve had a pair for around 8 months and have been very impressed with the fit and comfort provided by what is a very lightweight shoe. I’ve moved through a number of brands as my feet have changed over the years. From Salamon to La Sportiva and now to The North Face. More running and less rock climbing in the last few years have meant my feet have spread and are now pretty broad across the forefoot. Many trail and fell shoes are designed on a narrow last and I always split or damage fell shoes where the upper joins the sole by my big toe joint. The H-T Guides fit my very British mountaineers foot incredibly well and I’ve never had any issues with blisters or pressure points. The forefoot is very wide but the upper controls the foot very well and it doesn’t roll off the sole unit even during traverses.

My running style is also moving towards a natural or barefoot style as a way of protecting my knees. Figured it was easier to change my biomechanics than lose weight! The H-T Guide has a small 8mm heel raise and a low profile sole so makes an ideal half way shoe.  The low ankle cuff initially felt insecure but has now moulded to a perfect fit.

The shoes only failing is the grip. For dry trails and rock it works perfectly but for UK conditions any depth of mud will create a good Bambi impression. I’ve experimented with it on the fells but took a couple of heavy falls on wet grass.  Interestingly Jez used this shoe in the bad weather and snow of the 2012 UTMB and didn’t report any issues.

Because of the grip issue I haven’t taken them anywhere too demanding but with around 400 miles run, mainly off road, they’re bearing up very well for a lightweight shoe.  They’re no sign of any damage to the uppers and the sole are wearing well. The North Face suggest these shoes are suitable for road running as well and I’ve seen  nothing that would contradict this. However the question has to be asked - why would you want to run on the road?!

For trails and footpaths in dry conditions the Hyper-Track Guide is almost unbeatable giving a very responsive and highly agile ride. A bit more care is needed in typical UK conditions but it still has its place and is currently my favoured shoe for training and racing.

I've just returned from seven weeks in Nepal climbing and guiding. My personal highlight was a solo of the South West Ridge of Ama Dablam, summiting in seven hours after an open bivi at camp two. Either side of this I lead two very successful commercial trips to Island Peak in the Khumbu and Thapu Chuli or Tent Peak in the Annapurna Sanctuary. The North Face very kindly kitted me out with three items from their flagship Meru range - the Shaffle down jacket, the Meru mitts and the Gore Tex shell of the same name. I wrote a couple of initial reviews for the Shaffle & Meru jackets just before I departed but have now had a chance to put them through their paces in the environment they were designed for.

I opted to use a similar system to The North Face athlete Andy Houseman, as described to UKC, with a technical baselayer, synthetic insulated jacket, Meru Gore shell and the Shaffle as a belay jacket. The Khumbu was experiencing it's coldest October in twenty years with plenty of high winds so I spent a lot of time climbing in the full system. Summit temperatures on Island Peak were -26oC with strong winds.

MERU JACKET
My last few trips to the Himalaya I've gone for the soft shell option only taking a very lightweight waterproof for the walk in. However based on my experiences in the Lakes I decided to use the Meru jacket in my system. The Gore Active fabric proved to be incredibly breathable and I didn't suffer any condensation problems.

I usually take a size large but the medium gave me a good neat fit. I would have struggled to get any more insulation underneath but as part of an over layering system it worked very well. I really appreciated the slightly longer length which was a welcome boost to my comfort levels in the high winds. Combined with the longer length of the Shaffle jacket and boots with built in gaiters I was able to use a relatively lightweight soft shell trouser in all but the coldest conditions.

In my initial review of the jacket I was critical of the inclusion of mesh backed chest pockets. These were designed to increase ventilation in the same way as pit zips arguably do. I personally feel that your shell should be as simple and bombproof as possible. Using these pockets in poor conditions means your core will very quickly become wet and cold. Additionally you can only use this venting if you have nothing in the pockets. In practice I never used the pockets to cool down preferring to use them to store hat and gloves which I found far more effective at adjusting my temperature.

The hood is by far the best non wired design I've used being one of the few that is truly helmet compatible. it won't clinch down to a full tunnel but does provide plenty of protection from the side. It's major advantage is that it will stay in place over a helmet or hat and turns with the head with the volume reducer being a particularly efficient design. I'm not usually a huge fan of hoods finding them restrictive in all but the worst weather but in the windy conditions experienced this season I found myself tucked away under this hood for most of the time at altitude.

The jacket is made up of two different weights of fabric to help protect wear points and increase durability. It proved itself as a tough jacket standing up to almost everything I threw at it apart from minor damage to the front / chest pockets. This area is made of the lighter weight fabric with no reinforcing however I find that it is always prone to damage if you have anything in the pockets. Maybe it's my graceful climbing style or just the fact that I store a lot of equipment in the pockets but it does always seem very vulnerable and my last four waterproof jackets have all suffered from this.

The rubberised dots around the shoulders and waist seemed to work. I wasn't carrying a huge rack but I didn't notice my harness slipping and I certainly didn't have to re-tighten it at any point during the day. A number of other manufacturers have tried similar ideas but have had real problems with durability but I'm happy to report that all dots are still in place! The velcro cuffs were a fairly universal design but with a better than average contact area. I've had real problems with small velcro tabs becoming choked in heavy snow conditions meaning it's impossible to seal the cuff. All jackets suffer from this to some extent but I anticipate this not being a huge problem with the Meru.

The best compliment that I can pay this jacket is that I didn't notice it in action. It provided a simple windproof, waterproof and breathable shell in which I could climb and trek. The features all worked and there was minimal faff. Some reinforcing on the front of the jacket and waterproof pockets and this jacket would nearly be perfect.   

SHAFFLE DOWN JACKET
This jacket proved to be incredibly lightweight, useful and a great colour!. It uses 200grams of top quality down in a jacket that weights just 808grams. With no velcro on the cuffs it was very easy to whip on and off and I found myself using it for even short breaks or even in anticipation of windy conditions on the col above.

Like the Meru Gore jacket I wore a medium rather than my normal large which comfortably fitted over my three under layers. The very lightweight face fabric has proved surprisingly tough and there's no visible damage. Overall it's a very simple design with no drawcords, velcro, excess pockets etc, yet it maximises it's insulation while keeping the weight right down.

Sat around in the mess tent at base camp I had to use a couple of other layers plus this jacket to be comfortable. My older and far heavier expedition weight jacket is usually fine just over a thermal but now feels like overkill for anything under 7000m. It certainly takes up a lot more space in my bag. I didn't notice any difference in insulation with the body mapping, which places more down in certain areas, but then again I didn't suffer any cold spots in what is essential a very lightweight jacket. The theory behind mapping makes sense and allows The North Face to make the jacket lighter while offering the same level of overall warmth.

The cuffs of this jacket feature a recessed seam which produces a very warm collar of down around the wrist. In practice I couldn't decide if I liked this feature or not. It was certainly very warm giving a real boost to this vulnerable area, (warm wrists mean warm hands) but I found that it kept getting in the way and got very dirty especially when trying to eat dehydrated rations.

The hood worked great fitting over all my other layers and a helmet. It offers limited protection to the face but even without a volume reducer or drawcords it doesn't get in the way even when worn on its own.

The Shaffle is a very striking looking jacket and there were plenty of questions about it. Warmth for weight it's arguably one of the best pieces on the market. The North Face have done a great job at keeping it simple offering maximum warmth with minimal faff.

MERU MITTS
The Meru Mitts proved to be a very adaptable design being less bulky than traditional high altitude mitts. The combination of pile and Primaloft meant that they were plenty warm enough and were less prone to compression when trying to do anything with them on, a problem with down mitts. With wristovers and thermal gloves I'd be very happy to use these above 8000m with a pair of down mitts in my bag as backup.

I would suggest that the majority of climbs over 6000m these days are made on fixed lines requiring wearers to spend long periods maneuvering a handled Jumar. None of the popular models of ascendor will accept a full down mitt into the handle but the tapered shape of these mitts meant that they worked reasonably well with a Petzl handled version. However the little finger was then vunerable to the cold where it presses against the angle. The Meru mitt has what feels like a stitched through seam in the insulation along it's lower edge which gave a noticeable cold spot in use. I would imagine technical climbing with modern tools would have the same problem. Moving the seam would immediately resolve this problem or a more radical approach would be to fit a foam insert to protect and support this vulnerable spot for the many hours spent hanging from a jumar or ice tool.  

The information that came with the mitts described a removable liner. My version didn't have this feature and was the poorer for it. Being able to remove the insulation to aid drying the glove is critical for multi day trips.

The gauntlet style offered plenty of protection without being too bulky over the Shaffle down jacket. There is reduced insulation in the extended cuff to help with this. However the supplied wrist loops are attached to the end of this gauntlet sitting half way up the forearm and proved very fiddly to use restricting removal of the mitt. Despite insisting all my clients used idiot loops on their gloves I was eventually forced to remove mine.

The leather palm has proved very durable and doesn't show any sign of the many meters of fixed line I slid down with an arm wrap - unlike one of my jackets!

I found the fit to be pretty good. I usually take a large glove to get the volume right but this usually leaves my stubby little fingers with rather too much deadspace. In mitts this can be worse but the pre-curved shape and the X-Trafit insert technology seemed to do a very good job of putting my hand in the right position with no excess fabric or insulation getting in the way of the job in hand. Surprisingly for a mitt i was able to operate my ascender and various karabiners while wearing them. The one minor gripe is the fit of the thumb which I found short and snug especially when wearing a pair of thermal gloves.

Overall the fit and technology behind this mitt are very good. A removable inner would transform it into a very practical option for all but the worst conditions. 

A great wee film from Andy Houseman in his The North Face Meru kit climbing the Slovak Direct on Denali

For the last few weeks I've been testing a new jacket from The North Face, the innovative Alpine Project Wind Jacket and after a dubious start it's really grown on me. At first glance I struggled to identify where it would fit in to my clothing system. Was it a soft shell, an insulated jacket without the insulation or a heavy weight windproof. The best description is probably all of the above as it's one of those pieces of kit that just seems to work. I must admit I've been using this jacket for a number of activities that probably exceed what the designers had in mind for it but layered over a thin thermal it's kept me comfortable fell running, bouldering, mountain biking, climbing, scrambling, hill walking, road biking, marshaling on a mountain challenge and even a photo shoot for Trail Running magazine.

'Rage against the wind in The North Face Men’s Alpine Project Wind Jacket a new pull-over anorak styled, hooded nylon micro ripstop mountain shell. Coated with a DWR water shedding finish. This wind shell has map accommodating twin alpine pockets and a chest pocket that’s handy for a compass, phone or gps device. The hood adjusts at the back. Simple and rugged ,The Men’s Alpine Project Wind Jacket offers effective wind shell performance as one would expect from a technical, athlete test Summit Series™ jacket.'

Designed as a technical and durable windproof it has proved surprisingly waterproof when caught out by yet another shower at the start of our traditional Lakeland summer. I would still carry a lightweight waterproof with a bad forecast but generally I've been very happy to use this as my shell. The double layer of ripstop nylon has proved very successful at blocking everything the elements can throw at me. There is an extra layer of insulation over the torso provided by an internal thin fleece scrim. However this doesn't extend down the arms which means the jacket doesn't bind when you're trying to put it on over a damp thermal, a great design feature which really makes a practical difference on the hill. 

The jackets hood is one of its best features. It's a great fit, feeling comfortable, unrestrictive and turns with your head but offers far more protection than many other wind proofs. The slightly stiffened peak sits just in the right place to deflect the worst of the weather but doesn't restrict your vision. The only adjustment on the whole jacket is a cord at the back that clinches the hood in snug to your head. This also means there are no toggles to whip you in the face. However the price you pay for such a well fitting hood is that it won't fit over a climbing helmet.

Having raved about the hood there are however a couple of significant niggles. There is no way to secure the hood when it’s not in use which means it flaps around in a very annoying manner. Then if you place anything in the chest pocket while the front zip is open then there is a tendency for the hood to be pulled around to the left ending up perched on your shoulder. A simple Velcro strap would transform this jacket for faster paced activities. The second hood issue occurs only with a following wind when the drumming of the fabric over your ears drowns out any other sound (rockfall, climbing partners etc). I suspect this is due to the lightness of the nylon fabric and or the lack of hood adjustment but for whatever reason this is probably the biggest weakness of the jacket. Some reinforcing over the ears or an adjustable draw cord may go some way to helping prevent this?

The rest of the jacket gives a very roomy and comfortable fit. There were plenty of venting options with a long front zip and the lycra bound cuffs could easily be pulled up to your elbows. I get the feeling it would have been brilliant for last months ski touring trip to the Vanoise. The extra water repellancy would have been ideal for my frequent crashes!

Tunnel pockets used to be very popular in outdoor clothing but have pretty much disappeared from use. Here they work extremely well giving loads of room which is accessible while wearing a harness and having a deep lip to help prevent items from escaping if you forget to zip the pocket up. The chest pocket is small but will take a smart phone or compass.

For me this jacket makes a great multipitch cragging top offering lightweight insulation and weatherproofing. A couple of sessions on the very rough gabbro of the Carrick Fell boulders has failed to inflict any damage on the surprisingly tough lightweight fabrics. The jacket is designed to stuff into it's own pocket however one minor design flaw is the lack of an internal loop for attaching it to the back of your climbing harness.

After my initial confusion I think this jacket has identified it's niche offering a weather resistant shell that's just that bit more practical for UK conditions than a traditional soft shell and compliments my existing system of thermals, Primaloft insulation and hard shell waterproofs. A wee bit of fine tuning and this could become a classic multi activity jacket.

I received a Blue Ice Choucas Harness just a few days before I was due to fly out to Kathmandu to lead an expedition on the North Ridge of Everest. At 170grams this harness is spookily light but the Dyneema webbing is incredibly strong and having had a quick play with it I felt able to leave my old heavyweight Bod at home (495gr)

In action it was very similar to the Bod with a number of advantages, the obvious one being the weight or lack of. There was plenty of adjustability in the medium/large size which fitted comfortably over my down suit but also clinched down tight over a pair of soft shell trousers lower on the mountain.

One great feature is the red belay loop which makes it very obvious even when peering down through goggles and an oxygen mask past a bulky down suit. I now extend my abseil device on a cows tail to remove the potential for error but if you chose to clip into your belay loop then this feature is a life saver.

The buckle was very easy to use even with big gloves on and it never froze, a problem I’ve experienced several times with other harnesses. Toilet stops at altitude are an interesting challenge usually occurring at the most inconvenient times but the spacing of the rear elastics meant that, without being too graphic, nothing restricted access and you were able to stay clipped in, an important safety consideration. Tried and tested at 8700m!

If you’re competent on Scottish style mixed ground then there’s not many opportunities to abseil on the North Ridge but on the couple of occasions I did the harness was surprisingly comfortable providing plenty of support to the legs. Some lightweight harnesses can ride up and restrict your breathing but in this case I think I can blame it on the altitude!

For me this is unarguably the best harness I’ve used for climbing at altitude. Like all Dyneema products it would be vulnerable to friction but after two months use of Everest it still looks as good as new. It would be ideal for many commercial trips such as Cho Oyu, Island Peak, Muztag Ata, Denali, Vinson etc but you would probably need a slightly more supportive harness for technical peaks such as Ama Dablam. It would also work great for easy alpine routes and ski mountaineering where weight is key. Overall a superb harness and one which I'll be wearing for scrambling, ski touring and general mountaineering in the next few months.