The pace of technology seems, if anything, to be increasing and across the whole range of activities the common theme is better performance with less weight. Where 1.5kg was once a very respectable weight for a "lightweight" tent manufacturers like Terra Nova, Nordisk and MSR have come close to cutting this in half.  The MSR Hubba NX solo we tested in January has become our default lightweight, pushing out the Hilleberg Akto which had been the go-to for over a decade.

In Footwear the Arc'teryx Acrux2 FL GTX is as innovative as you can get with its seperate inner and outer while the Merrell Chameleon Shift goes on like a slipper. In a year that started with the mightily impressive, floating on water, Rab Andes 800 the Sleeping Bag headlines have to go to Nordisk for their 500g Oscar +5. Not only is it ultra-lightweight but made from recyled bottles it's environmentally friendly.

Nowhere has the pace of technological change been more apparent than in the clothing sector and while casting a jealous eye on our Running Editor testing the Arcteryx Norvan it's been the Montane Terra in its Stretch and Super Terra incarnations that's found its way on every trip. Carrying the load Montane have also produced the standout pack in the Grand Tour 55 (review coming) which has proved to be a velvet lined bottomless pit.

In choosing an overall winner the Tentsile range of tree tents came close with their innovative and fun approach which can only add appeal to younger genrations. The MSR Carbon Reflex (review coming) has redefined my lightweight tent choice and the Thermarest Luxury Cot has revolutionised my sleeping. 

My choice for Product of the Year, after considering all the options, goes to the Scott E-Aspect 720.  In an ultra competitive award this electrically assisted mountain bike completely moves the boundaries. It's genuinely enabling in being able to get you to places, and for distances, that would otherwise be outside your reach. For the beginner it offers an incentive to improve with its variable assistance levels while the Rock Shok forks and Shimano hydraulic brakes and gears won't disappoint the serious rider.

Using the E-Aspect 720 for a week in Chamonix was a revelation, from commuting between the campsite and town to physically being able to get up hills. It reawakened my respect for bikes as something that could be fun rather than just hard work but with a new feeling of security that it would get me home even when my legs no longer would.