In September 2017, My Outdoors was lucky enough to be invited by Swiss Tourism on a press trip showcasing hiking through different regions of Switzerland using the World famous Swiss public transport system that combines trains, boats and a system of cog and funicular high-mountain railways. A spell of high pressure ensured the weather was perfect for the whole trip, making for perfect conditions to explore the mountains.

Designed to keep you warm and protected from the elements with a combination of 750fp goose down and highly rated synthetic fabrics the Rab Microlight Alpine gives you warmth and weather protection from Scotland to the Alps. Hydrophobic down gives improved performance in the wet and the fit is classic Rab with clean, uncluttered, lines making it ideal for layering.

Arcteryx have got an enviable reputation when it comes to winter wear, combining build quality, design and functionality in products you can rely on. When they announced a new insulated jacket in the form of the Cerium LT Hoody we jumped at the chance to put it through a full 3 months of testing in preparation for the winter season.

Stormin' Stoves are the work of one man, Norman Reeves. He has been refining this clever little stove system for several years and has earned respect from UK based ultralight backpackers looking to shave valuable grams from their pack weight.

Following on from the Argon and Helium we take a look at Force Ten's latest inert-gas monickered offering - the Xenon 2 in its UL, or Ultra Light manifestation.

While the big story in insulation over recent years has been the development of hydrophobic down it's far from the only story, synthetic insulation has taken massive strides to keep up (or ahead) and the Mammut Xeron typifies the new breed of synthetics.