Outdoor brands have become remarkably good at telling us about recycled fabrics, lower-impact materials, and products designed to last longer, but an awkward question still sits beneath much of that progress: what happens when those same brands keep selling more and more stuff?

Salomon thinks it knows the answer. The French outdoor giant has some ambitious targets for 2030, including making all of its key products eco-designed or circular, alongside a commitment to cut its absolute carbon emissions by 25% against a 2022 baseline.

The problem is that Salomon is also growing quickly. “We are growing a lot,” Marie-Laure Piednoir, Salomon’s Global Director of Sustainability and Impact, tells me. “So our growth [compared to the brand's] absolute reduction is a challenge.”

It is a refreshingly straightforward admission, and one that exposes the problem facing almost every major outdoor brand trying to become more sustainable without becoming a smaller business.

Making a greener shoe is only half the battle

Few Salomon products illustrate that difficulty better than the Index. First revealed as a concept in 2019 and launched commercially in 2021, the Index was designed as a recyclable running shoe that consumers could return at the end of its life, allowing its materials to be recovered and reused.

On paper, it sounded like the sort of closed-loop system the footwear industry had spent years talking about, but reality was more complicated.

Salomon expected its customers, particularly environmentally conscious outdoor enthusiasts, to embrace the return system enthusiastically – that did not happen to the extent the company expected.

“We had high expectations on the consumer because these are outdoor consumers, and we felt that they were engaged,” Piednoir explains. “But we didn’t get all the returns we were expecting.”

That might sound like a disappointing ending for an ambitious sustainability experiment, but Piednoir says some of the technology developed for Index has subsequently filtered into far more mainstream Salomon footwear.

The shoe’s TPU-based sole construction helped inform technologies now being used across a much larger range of products, meaning the project ultimately had a wider impact than simply creating one recyclable trainer.

Salomon had originally assumed the entire Index concept would gradually scale into its mainstream range, but, as Piednoir explained, individual innovations from the project proved easier to transfer than the complete closed-loop system itself.

A recyclable product isn’t necessarily a circular product

The word “circular” gets used increasingly freely in outdoor clothing and footwear. A jacket might contain recycled fibres, or a shoe might technically be recyclable. A company might even offer repairs.

But none of those things automatically makes a product genuinely circular. Piednoir is careful about that: “Any company that is claiming that it’s fully circular needs to have very strict criteria to evaluate that,” she says.

For Salomon, circularity has increasingly meant looking at several different stages of a product’s life. Sure, durability matters, and so do repairability and recycling. However, crucially, different products require different solutions.

A pair of skis might remain usable for 15 years, while a heavily used running shoe can wear out comparatively quickly. Trying to apply exactly the same circularity model to both makes little sense.

“There’s not a one-size-fits-all solution for circularity,” Piednoir says. That is why Salomon has recently put more emphasis on repair, including working with United Repair Centre to expand repair services across Europe.

Keeping an existing jacket or pair of trousers working for a few more years may ultimately be far simpler – and potentially greener and less resource-intensive – than breaking the entire product down into raw materials and manufacturing another one.

The outdoor industry is still bending the line into a circle

There is no shortage of impressive sustainability projects across outdoor gear right now. Brands are experimenting with mono-material garments, chemical recycling, resale schemes and increasingly sophisticated repair programmes.

But Piednoir stops short of suggesting that outdoor gear has suddenly become circular. Instead, she describes circularity almost as a direction of travel. “Circularity is a promise,” she says.

Her analogy is that the industry is effectively trying to take a straight, linear system – make something, sell it, use it, throw it away – and gradually bend that line until it starts resembling a loop.

That might begin with repairing something rather than replacing it, recovering materials from worn-out footwear, or simply designing products that last much longer. That said, the perfect circle remains much further away, and scaling those ideas is arguably the difficult part.

Making one technically impressive recyclable jacket or running shoe is achievable. Building collection systems, recycling infrastructure, and enough consumer participation to handle millions of products is something else entirely.

Sometimes competitors have to work together

Salomon also believes outdoor brands will struggle to solve some of those problems individually.

Piednoir points to the Winter Sports Sustainability Network, which brought competing brands together to share knowledge and develop better environmental measurements for products such as skis.

The winter-sports industry had historically been particularly fragmented, she says, with companies and suppliers operating independently and comparatively little shared environmental data available.

That presented a practical problem, because without reliable information on the environmental impact of different materials and manufacturing processes, it becomes much harder to determine where improvements should be made.

Salomon has consequently shared some of its lifecycle-assessment work with the wider industry. For Piednoir, cooperation on environmental issues is becoming increasingly necessary, even among companies competing for exactly the same customers.

The hardest target may still be carbon

Salomon appears reasonably confident about making progress on eco-design by 2030.

The company has developed product scorecards covering things such as materials, manufacturing, durability and circularity, allowing product teams to assess where each model sits against its sustainability criteria.

Piednoir says the brand is currently on the right trajectory towards getting its key product ranges into its top eco-design categories.

Sadly, reducing total carbon emissions for a growing company is a lot harder. Salomon's emissions per product can fall while total emissions continue to rise as sales and production increase.

That creates perhaps the biggest contradiction in modern sustainable consumerism. Brands can make individual products better, but if dramatically more products are manufactured, transported and sold, absolute environmental impact does not necessarily fall.

Piednoir readily acknowledges that Salomon's 2030 carbon target will therefore be challenging. And perhaps that is the most important takeaway from our conversation.

Sustainability in outdoor gear is no longer simply about putting recycled polyester into a jacket or creating one clever recyclable shoe.

It increasingly means tackling the far less glamorous questions surrounding manufacturing volumes, repair networks, consumer behaviour and what actually happens to products once we're finished with them.

Salomon does not pretend it has completed that transition. In fact, Piednoir's description of circularity as something the industry is gradually bending into shape might be one of the more realistic explanations I've heard.

The circle isn't complete yet, but at least brands are finally beginning to work out how difficult it is to draw one.

Read more about Salomon's sustainability commitments on the brand's website.

YETI might still be synonymous with indestructible coolers and enormous insulated mugs, but quietly, its bag range has become almost as extensive.

The company makes backpacks for the daily commute, waterproof packs designed to be soaked, proper hiking bags, wheeled luggage, duffels, and little crossbody bags for the handful of things you don't want rattling around in your pockets.

Shop all YETI bags

I've been using and testing YETI gear for years, and if there's one trait that carries across almost everything the brand makes, it's that YETI rarely does delicate.

Its bags tend to be substantial, heavily built and considerably more expensive than the generic equivalent, but they're also designed for people who expect their gear to take a beating.

Below, I have collected nine bags from YETI's current collection that I would recommend for everyday activities, travelling, hiking and other outdoor activities.

Everyday

Outdoor

Travel

Snow Peak knows a thing or two about making a campsite feel less like somewhere you are temporarily surviving and more like an outdoor living room, while South Korea’s Helinox has spent years figuring out how to make furniture disappear into a surprisingly small bag.

Putting the two together makes a lot of sense, and that is exactly what happened with the Snow Peak x Helinox Noga Chair, the first collaboration between the two outdoor brands.

Snow Peak says that the Noga is based on the Helinox Chair One, the model which originally launched in 2012 and helped popularise the now-familiar combination of a shock-corded aluminium frame and fabric sling seat.

However, the Japanese company has altered the formula considerably, prioritising the sort of long, leisurely sitting that makes more sense around a campsite than when shaving every gram from a hiking pack.

A bigger Chair One built for staying put

The most obvious change is the frame, which uses DAC aluminium alloy tubing with a thicker diameter than the standard Helinox design, giving the Noga a more planted feel while retaining the familiar collapsible construction.

The seat has been widened, too, and Snow Peak has also adjusted the height to fit the brand's preferred low-style camping setup.

The finished camping chair measures 590mm wide, 520mm deep, and 700mm tall, so it offers noticeably more room to settle into, while padded sections around the arm contact points are designed to take some pressure off during longer periods of sitting.

At 1.4kg, this certainly isn't chasing the ultralight crowd, but it still packs into a reasonably compact 380 x 120 x 140mm bundle.

The carry bag is permanently stitched into the seat, so you have one less piece of camping equipment to lose, and once the Noga is assembled, that same bag becomes a storage pocket.

Mesh pockets on either side can accommodate a 500ml water bottle, and are equally handy for a phone, torch, or whatever else you want within grabbing distance.

By the way, the name Noga comes from the Japanese word nogake, meaning heading out into nature and spending time there, which neatly sums up a chair designed to encourage you to stop moving for a while.

The Snow Peak x Helinox Noga Chair costs £150 (~$202 / €175 / ) in the UK and is available now directly from Snow Peak.

There is something particularly convincing about outdoor clothing that looks as though it existed long before you discovered it.

Gramicci’s latest jacket nails that aesthetic without resorting to oversized logos, artificial patches or any of the other usual shortcuts.

The Gramicci x thisisneverthat Washed Wind Jacket is part of the third collaboration between the Californian climbing-inspired brand and cult South Korean streetwear label thisisneverthat.

To my delight, it looks like something you might have spotted halfway down the page of a climbing catalogue in the early 1990s.

That is largely thanks to the navy check fabric, which combines muted blues with thin reddish-brown lines.

The slightly crinkled finish, contrasting light-coloured hood lining and old-school hardware only add to the impression that this thing has somehow survived untouched for the past three decades.

It hasn't, of course. Gramicci and thisisneverthat have deliberately created the effect using a cotton-nylon ripstop fabric that has been pigment dyed and acid washed, producing the slightly faded, worn-in appearance straight from the box.

Old-school looks, proper outdoor DNA

Gramicci can trace its roots back to the Californian climbing scene, while Seoul-based thisisneverthat has built much of its appeal around reworking American outdoor, sportswear and streetwear references through a distinctly Korean lens.

For their third collection together, the brands say they took familiar Gramicci ideas around movement, functionality, and climbing and put them through thisisneverthat's vintage-inspired filter.

The resulting range deliberately occupies the increasingly blurry space between outdoor clothing and city wear, which is exactly where Gramicci thrives.

The Washed Wind Jacket might be one of the clearest examples of that approach because, underneath all the nostalgia, it remains a fairly straightforward piece of functional outerwear.

It has a two-way front zip, elasticated cuffs and hem, a drawcord-adjustable hood and zipped hand pockets, while the cut is described as a regular fit rather than an exaggerated streetwear silhouette.

The wider collection includes Pertex insulated jackets, a reversible fleece vest, patterned knitwear, faded striped T-shirts and denim climbing trousers.

One of my favourite items is a particularly fetching pair of Pertex earflap caps, with all items in the range carrying varying amounts of the same slightly weathered, archive-inspired character.

At a time when technical outdoor clothing increasingly means ultra-clean fabrics and bonded seams, there is something wonderfully refreshing about a jacket designed to look like it has already accompanied someone on a few questionable climbing trips.

The Gramicci x thisisneverthat Washed Wind Jacket is available now from Gramicci UK in Navy, priced at £170 (~£230 / €198 / AU$320), with UK sizes S to XL listed at the time of writing.

The wider collection is also available now, with prices from £50 (~$67 / €58 / AU$94).

After months of reaching for T-shirts, the temperature is finally heading the other way, which means one of my favourite pieces of outdoor clothing is coming back into rotation.

I’ve been testing outdoor gear for nearly a decade, and while the basic idea behind the best fleece jackets hasn’t changed much, the category itself has become surprisingly varied.

You can still buy the thick, fluffy retro-style fleeces many of us picture when we hear the word, but there are also highly breathable grid fleeces for moving fast in the mountains, ultralight active insulation, natural wool alternatives and increasingly sophisticated designs that look just as comfortable in town as they do on the trail.

With that in mind, I’ve picked eight of the jackets and midlayers that stand out to me in 2026, covering everything from technical Polartec to Sasquatch-covered pile.

Patagonia Nano-Air Light Jacket

£230 | Patagonia

Patagonia is one of the biggest names in fleece, so naturally I’ve chosen something that technically isn’t one. The Nano-Air Light swaps conventional fleece for 40g FullRange synthetic insulation, sandwiched between stretchy, air-permeable recycled polyester fabrics.

The idea is to provide enough warmth when you slow down without immediately becoming unbearably hot when you start working hard again. It weighs just 332g, has an articulated cut for freedom of movement and can even stuff into its own chest pocket.

For hiking, scrambling and other stop-start autumn adventures, it’s a fascinating alternative to simply throwing on another fleece.

Peak Performance Freelight AOP Polartec Alpha Half Zip

£160 £80 | Peak Performance

Polartec Alpha was originally developed as active insulation, and the Freelight AOP Half Zip demonstrates why the material has become such an interesting alternative to conventional fleece.

Peak Performance uses an exposed Polartec Alpha Direct knit that provides insulation while staying exceptionally breathable and quick-drying, making it the sort of layer I’d reach for when I know I’m going to generate plenty of heat.

The half-zip lets you dump even more warmth when required, while its unusual all-over pattern gives it considerably more personality than most technical midlayers.

Klättermusen Balderus Jacket

£260 | Klättermusen

Synthetic fleece dominates outdoor clothing, making the new Balderus one of the most interesting jackets on this list. Klättermusen has instead used a dense fleece made from recycled Italian wool, creating a substantial 575g layer designed for cold-weather hiking and mountain use.

Nylon reinforcement is added to exposed areas to improve durability and provide extra wind protection, while the construction retains freedom of movement when climbing or reaching.

This isn't the fleece I’d choose for fast-and-light missions, but when warmth takes priority, the heavyweight wool construction offers something genuinely different from the sea of polyester alternatives.

Mountain Hardwear Polartec Power Grid Full Zip Hoody

$190 (~£140) | Mountain Hardwear

If your idea of a fleece involves mountains rather than coffee shops, Mountain Hardwear’s Polartec Power Grid Full Zip Hoody is probably the most technical option on this list.

The gridded construction is designed to trap warmth while helping moisture move away from the body, which is exactly what I want from a midlayer when I’m hiking hard in cooler weather.

It also has a fitted three-piece hood, thumb holes, stretch panels, and zipped hand and chest pockets, while the relatively slim fit makes it easy to layer under a shell. At 427g, it provides plenty of substance without becoming excessively bulky.

Haglöfs Buteo Mid II Jacket

£70 | Haglöfs

Not every good fleece needs an elaborate fabric technology, unusual construction or premium price tag. The new Haglöfs Buteo Mid II is a refreshingly straightforward full-zip fleece that does exactly what most people need a midlayer to do.

The latest version uses lightweight Polartec Micro Series fleece made from 100% recycled polyester, which is designed to dry quickly, manage moisture and provide warmth without too much weight. At around 300g, it should also disappear easily beneath a waterproof shell.

I particularly like the new Standard Issue Black colourway, which gives the Buteo a clean, uncomplicated appearance that should work pretty much anywhere.

KAVU Teannaway Fleece

£80 | Kavu

Technical outdoor clothing is becoming increasingly serious, which is precisely why I like KAVU’s Teannaway.

This is fleece in its most gloriously old-school form, with 7.5oz fabric, reinforced taffeta elbow panels, a kangaroo-style pass-through pocket and the sort of colourful patterns that make minimalist Scandinavian outdoor clothing look positively miserable.

My pick is the wonderfully named Sasquatch Sighting, which is covered in sunglasses-wearing Bigfoots wandering through the wilderness.

KAVU describes the Teannaway as its bestselling fleece, and it isn't difficult to understand the appeal. It’s warm, uncomplicated and, most importantly, doesn’t take itself remotely seriously.

Montbell CLIMAPLUS Shearling Jacket

£145 | Montbell

Montbell is famous for pursuing its “Light & Fast” philosophy, but the CLIMAPLUS Shearling Jacket demonstrates that the Japanese outdoor specialist isn't afraid of something a little more substantial.

Its thick synthetic CLIMAPLUS fleece has a wool-like texture and is backed by a smooth 40-denier nylon taffeta lining, which helps block wind far more effectively than an ordinary porous fleece.

That construction pushes the weight to 594g, but it also makes the CLIMAPLUS feel more like a proper standalone autumn jacket than a midlayer destined to spend its life underneath a shell.

On Ascent Fleece Jacket

£180 | On

On might still be best known for running shoes, but its increasingly ambitious clothing range has produced one of my favourite-looking fleeces here.

The Ascent Fleece avoids the exaggerated pile and colourful contrast panels normally associated with retro outdoor clothing, instead opting for a restrained design, tonal embroidered logo and subtle reinforced elbow patches.

Underneath the clean appearance is On’s lightweight ThermaTec thermal fabric, while an adjustable hem and elasticated cuffs help keep warmth in. It’s fairly substantial at 530g, so this isn't an ultralight performance piece, but that almost misses the point.

There’s something deeply funny about buying a £115 pair of trainers that already look as though they’ve survived several years of skate sessions, particularly when someone has also gone to the trouble of decorating them with pearls.

Yet that is essentially the proposition behind Vans’ latest Premium Old Skool 36.

It takes the familiar low-top silhouette, gives the upper a deliberately distressed finish, then covers parts of the shoe in pearl and crystal embellishments.

Vans says the idea is to evoke a “well-travelled shoe” that has been reworked and customised over time.

The newest addition to the Premium Old Skool 36 collection is the wonderfully chaotic Yacht Club colourway, which combines green, blue, red and yellow panels with an off-white Sidestripe and matching pearl detailing.

According to Vans, the colour blocking is inspired by sailing flags from around the world and mixes those nautical references with the spirit of 1990s sportswear.

Vans is expanding the range throughout autumn with Lime Pop, Navy, Black/Marshmallow and Red versions, while the relatively restrained Marshmallow model is also returning.

The Pearlized treatment has actually appeared before, including previous Old Skool 36 releases and the sold-out OTW by Vans x Satoshi Nakamoto Pearlized Old Skool.

However, this is now becoming a much broader part of the Vans Premium line.

Style 36 debuted in 1977 as the company's second dedicated skate shoe and, importantly, was the first Vans model to wear the now-iconic Sidestripe.

It was renamed the Old Skool in the early 1990s and has since become one of the brand's defining designs.

The Premium version retains some of the sharper proportions of the original Style 36, including a shorter toe cap, but adds a padded collar, an upgraded footbed, a higher-gloss sidewall, and Sola Foam ADC cushioning.

You still get Vans' vulcanised construction and signature waffle outsole underneath.

The Yacht Club Premium Old Skool 36 Pearlized launches today, 10 September, for £115 in the UK, with Marshmallow also returning today.

In the US, Yacht Club is priced at $130 and also launches on 10 September through Vans and selected Vans stores.

EU and AU prices and availability TBC.

Few puffer jackets are as instantly recognisable as The North Face Nuptse, but the brand has now given its most famous down jacket a considerably more technical makeover.

For AW26, The North Face is taking its iconic puffer back towards those mountaineering roots with the new Summit Nuptse Jacket.

It's a far more technical take on the familiar design, built for climbing and mountaineering rather than commuting.

It still looks unmistakably like a Nuptse, with the oversized down-filled body and contrasting shoulder panel we've come to associate with the jacket.

However, instead of the relatively simple horizontal chambers of the classic Nuptse, the Summit model uses The North Face's Cloud Down technology, featuring an offset baffle construction that gives the down more space to loft while reducing cold spots.

Inside those chambers is 800-fill water-repellent ProDown, which should provide considerably more warmth for its weight at high altitudes.

The unusual-looking baffles aren't completely new territory for The North Face's Summit Series, with the bulkier Himalayan Down Parka using the same CLOUD DOWN construction.

Their appearance on the Nuptse, though, underscores how far this version has moved toward serious alpine use.

A Nuptse built for the mountains again

The yoke, collar and hood use Spectra ripstop, blending recycled nylon with ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethene fibres to improve abrasion resistance in areas likely to take a beating when you're climbing or wearing a pack.

The rest of the outer is made from lightweight 30g/m² recycled nylon, with both fabrics receiving a non-PFC durable water-repellent finish.

It also has an adjustable, climbing-helmet-compatible hood that packs into a zipped collar compartment when you don't need it.

The main Vislon zip works in both directions, letting climbers open the bottom of the jacket while wearing a harness.

The hand pockets sit in positions that make them easier to reach when geared up, and the jacket also has two internal mesh drop-in pockets, an internal hem cinch, FlashDry stretch-knit cuffs and a lightweight stuffsack.

Despite all that insulation, the Summit Nuptse has an average weight of 554g.

The Nuptse was originally developed as serious expedition clothing before gradually becoming one of the defining puffer jackets of streetwear.

With the Summit version, the Nuptse returns to the mountains where it belongs.

The Summit Nuptse Jacket is available now from The North Face UK for £540 in four colours.

It's listed as out of stock in the US, but it appears on the brand's European site for €600. AU price and availability TBC.

Ripstop fabric is usually chosen because it’s tough, lightweight and practical, but Snow Peak’s new KASURI Ripstop collection proves it can look pretty special, too.

Part of the Japanese brand’s Autumn/Winter 2026 range, the new garments consist of a jacket, shirt and trousers made from technical ripstop fabric with an unusual dye treatment that makes the familiar grid pattern much more prominent.

The result looks particularly good in Dark Purple, with a slightly washed, textured appearance that feels much less clinical than the flat colours typically associated with technical nylon.

Snow Peak says the idea is inspired by traditional Japanese kasuri weaving.

The material is dyed using a process that keeps the reinforcement threads from taking up colour the same way as the surrounding fabric.

Those threads therefore remain subtly lighter, allowing the ripstop structure to show through.

It gives the material an almost woven quality from a distance, while retaining the durability you'd expect from ripstop.

Technical clothing without the technical look

The KASURI Ripstop Jacket is probably the most obviously outdoorsy piece in the collection.

It gets a large main storage pocket with smaller compartments layered over it, while a substantial ventilation panel runs across the rear to help release heat when you're moving.

That rear vent carries over to the KASURI Ripstop Shirt, which has a roomy fit designed to accommodate layers underneath.

Snow Peak has also added a side utility pocket, turning what initially looks like a fairly simple overshirt into something much more suited to camping, hiking and travelling.

The KASURI Ripstop Pants continue the same functional approach, with a large main pocket supported by smaller storage compartments and adjustable drawcords at the hems.

Snow Peak's Japanese product information also specifies ventilation around the waist to help heat escape.

The KASURI Ripstop collection is part of Snow Peak's Autumn-Winter 2026 collection and is now available from Snow Peak UK in Dark Purple, Light Blue and Black, in sizes S to XL.

The shirt costs £150, the trousers £145 and the jacket £180.

Black outdoor clothing may look roughly the same, but making it is far less standardised than you might think.

Haglöfs and Polartec are trying to change that with Standard Issue Black, a single shared shade of black designed to reduce unnecessary resource use in producing enormous quantities of almost-identical dark outdoor clothing.

As a proof of concept, Haglöfs has launched the Buteo Mid II Jacket, its first commercially available product made using fabric dyed in Standard Issue Black, alongside a couple of accessories, including scarves and hats.

Outdoor companies produce tens of thousands of black fleece garments every year, but each slightly different shade can require a separate dye batch, chemical mix and minimum order quantity.

Standard Issue Black is pre-dyed at scale and, importantly, Haglöfs and Polartec aren't keeping it to themselves.

It's intended to be openly available to the wider industry, potentially allowing multiple manufacturers to draw from the same standardised material rather than commissioning their own marginally different blacks.

According to an internal production assessment cited by Haglöfs, the approach reduces water use by more than 50% and cuts energy consumption by at least 20% compared with traditional piece-dyed black fabrics.

Those figures are company-supplied rather than independently verified, but they illustrate why something as mundane as agreeing on a shade could have a meaningful impact at scale.

One black to rule them all

Haglöfs introduced the concept earlier this year with its Black Capsule, which combined three shades of leftover black fleece into individual garments to highlight just how similar these supposedly different fabrics can be.

With the Buteo Mid II, Haglöfs says it deliberately chose one of its higher-volume designs for the first Standard Issue Black product.

It has also upgraded the fleece jacket itself, with the new Buteo using lightweight Polartec microfleece made from 100% recycled polyester.

The full-zip jacket is designed to work either as an outer layer or as an insulating midlayer, so aesthetically there isn't anything particularly radical going on here.

By choosing one of its normal, high-volume outdoor garments, the brand made it clear it's not an eco concept piece for a museum display.

Of course, the effort is commendable, but a looming design question hangs over the project: would every outdoor company using exactly the same black make everything look even more alike?

Haglöfs' Head of Design and R&D, Eva Weiss, argues that standardisation doesn't need to restrict creativity, with brands still able to differentiate products through their cuts, other colours and design details while simplifying one particularly resource-heavy part of the process.

Whether other outdoor brands actually adopt Standard Issue Black is the bigger question.

But given how much black fleece the industry produces, this seemingly tiny change could become far more important if enough companies agree to use it.

The Haglöfs Buteo Mid II Jacket in Standard Issue Black is available now at Haglöfs UK and Haglöfs EU for a remarkably low price of £70 / €70 (~$81 / AU$113).

Caravanning isn't normally associated with luxury. It's more about getting away from it all, squeezing your belongings into a box and hoping the campsite shower isn't too grim.

The Lume Ranger, built in the Netherlands, is a compact caravan designed to give you the freedom of towing a relatively small trailer without making you feel like you've sacrificed all the comforts of home.

At 5.19m long and 2.04m wide, the Ranger is small enough to be towed by a broad range of cars, while its 1,150kg unladen weight keeps things relatively manageable. It's also the smallest and lightest model in Lume Traveler's range.

The exterior is made from hand-riveted anodised aluminium, giving it a slightly retro, Airstream-like appearance. But the real surprise is inside.

There's a fixed queen-size bed, a dinette and a separate toilet area, while the interior gets proper teak flooring, felt-covered walls, linen curtains and leather detailing.

Then there's the roof. In its travelling configuration, the Ranger is just 2.19m tall, but the pop-up section raises the interior headroom to around 2.6m when you're parked up.

Lume has also taken an unusual approach to the kitchen. Rather than sacrificing precious interior space, the entire cooking area slides out from underneath the bed to create an outdoor kitchen, complete with a PITT gas burner, sink, fridge drawer and storage.

It's a clever use of the Ranger's limited footprint and makes considerably more sense if you're going to be spending most of your time outdoors anyway.

The Ranger is built to order and starts at €59,950, which works out at roughly $70,000 / £51,500. It's certainly not cheap for a caravan this size, but then this isn't really trying to compete with a conventional caravan.

The Lume Ranger looks like what you want if you need to go caravanning, but don't actually want to feel like you're caravanning.

Power stations didn’t used to be conversation starters at home, but since I started testing Bluetti’s Elite 400 unit, it’s hardly ever that people (well, men of a certain age) don’t comment on it when they visit us.

It’s one of the biggest portable power stations I’ve ever used, with a commanding 3,840Wh capacity. It weighs nearly 40 kg and comes with chunky transport wheels and a telescopic handle to make it easier to move around.

Surprisingly, AC output is capped at 2,600W total, which might sound modest for such a large unit. Even more interestingly, the Elite 400 has only one extra port compared to the much smaller Bluetti Elite 30 V2.

I was baffled by this strange mix of features until I realised what purpose the Elite 400 is really for. Despite what Bluetti says in its marketing material, the Elite 400 is best suited as a semi-permanent home power backup unit, with the added benefit of being capable enough as a camping/outdoor station.

Bluetti Elite 400 review

Price and availability

The Elite 400 launched in April 2026 and is available to buy now at Bluetti UK and Bluetti US, with prices from £1,899 / $1,799.

This isn’t new or exclusive to Bluetti, but that US price roughly translates to £1,330 (as of September 2026), which means UK customers pay a lot more for the privilege of using the Elite 400. Of course, prices are often displayed without tax in the US, but even so – it’s an interesting pricing strategy.

(All that said, I don’t know how any of this works, and for all I know, it’s a lot more expensive to send power stations to the UK than it is to the US. It’s just that brands often go with the classic £300 / $300 / €300-style pricing, which never benefits UK buyers. Anyhow, rant over!)

Bluetti sells the Elite 400 in different bundles, many of which include various quantities of solar panels, with the most expensive combination being the Elite 400 + 500W panel for £2,549 in the UK. Things are different in the US, where you can buy your Elite 400 with two 350W panels for $2,448 (plus, presumably, tax).

Design and build quality

The Elite 400 is a big power station, but Bluetti has genuinely tried to keep it from feeling like an immovable 39 kg battery box. Its relatively narrow, upright shape takes up less floor space than many high-capacity rivals. Better still, its wheels and a proper telescopic suitcase-style handle make moving it around considerably easier.

It also has recessed grab handles on either side if you do need to lift it, although if I were you, I wouldn’t (couldn’t?) carry it very far. The telescopic handle + wheels combo is worth emphasising, as it makes the unit a breeze to move around. Still, navigating this much weight requires some core strength, as you would imagine.

Bluetti has added protective feet that let the Elite 400 lie horizontally for storage, which could make a surprisingly big difference if you’re trying to fit it under shelving or into a campervan storage compartment. Normally, I wouldn’t store a power station horizontally, but thanks to those feet, I feel more confident sliding the Elite 400 under cupboards.

You get two UK AC sockets, two USB-A ports rated at 15W each, two USB-C ports capable of up to 100W apiece and a 120W cigarette-lighter socket. Separate buttons control the AC and DC outputs, and the DC charging input is also on the front.

The arrangement is neat and easy to understand, but I’m less convinced by the quantity. Seven outputs sound respectable until you remember this is a 3,840Wh power station.

In particular, having just two mains/AC sockets feels restrictive for something capable of storing this much energy. Adding another pair wouldn’t necessarily require Bluetti to increase the 2,600W inverter output, since all four could simply share the same total power limit.

Bluetti has at least kept the charging hardware out of the way. The 2,300W AC input, circuit breaker, and grounding terminal sit on the side rather than competing for space on the front panel, keeping the main interface uncluttered.

The small colour LCD sits centrally and displays the information you actually need at a glance, including remaining battery capacity and incoming and outgoing power. It isn’t enormous, but the figures are large enough to read without crouching in front of the station, and dedicated AC and DC buttons mean you don’t have to dive into the app every time you want to switch an output on.

Features and Bluetti app

The Elite 400 starts to make more sense once you spend some time in the Bluetti app. On paper, pairing an enormous 3,840Wh battery with a comparatively modest 2,600W inverter and only two AC sockets seems slightly strange. However, once in use, it becomes clear that Bluetti sees this as more than a portable battery for camping trips.

It works particularly well as a semi-portable home backup system, sitting between the mains supply and a handful of important appliances.

The Elite 400 supports UPS operation with a switching time of 15ms, meaning connected devices can keep running from the battery if grid power disappears. That makes the limited number of sockets easier to understand, even if I still think another pair of AC outlets would have made the station considerably more versatile.

The app reinforces this home-energy angle. Its main screen shows power flowing between the grid, solar input, battery and AC/DC outputs instead of just presenting a battery percentage and estimated runtime. It also includes detailed energy statistics for each source, with graphs showing consumption and generation by day, month, year, or over the unit's lifetime.

It also includes a surprisingly comprehensive Savings section, where you can enter electricity prices and use the app to track what the system reckons you've saved, alongside grid costs and even energy sales.

In other words, the Elite 400 can store electricity when it is cheaper and supply connected appliances later, rather than sitting fully charged waiting for a power cut. That potentially makes a lot of sense for households on tariffs with substantially cheaper off-peak electricity.

Charge the Elite 400 overnight, for example, and you could use some of that stored energy during more expensive periods. Add solar panels and the same system can track PV generation alongside grid consumption.

There is a catch, though. Unlike some newer, AI-powered plug-in solar models that do the work for you, you need to spend time setting the app up properly before much of this information becomes genuinely useful.

Electricity pricing needs configuring for your tariff, location isn't necessarily populated, and Bluetti even lets you specify the carbon-emissions factor used to calculate estimated CO₂ savings. Leaving the default numbers untouched will only ever produce precise-looking statistics that don't mean anything.

If you like tinkering with your power station settings, you’re in luck. You can choose between Standard, Silent and Turbo charging modes, set battery charge limits, configure AC and DC Eco modes and determine how long very low loads can remain active before their outputs shut down. The latter is useful for avoiding unnecessary inverter losses when nothing meaningful is drawing power.

The Elite 400 also has a Power Lifting mode for certain high-demand resistive appliances, plus more advanced options for grid behaviour, DC input sources, and battery maintenance. The Elite 400 supports up to 1,000W of solar input, so it can also function as the heart of a relatively substantial off-grid setup rather than simply being charged from a wall socket.

My main criticism of the app isn't a lack of functionality, but that there's so much buried inside it that new owners could easily use the Elite 400 as a conventional power station and miss some of its most interesting capabilities.

Bluetti could do a better job of guiding users through tariff prices, charging schedules, carbon calculations and the various UPS settings during initial setup.

Once configured, though, the software can transform the Elite 400 from a bulky battery on wheels into a large reservoir of energy that can store, manage, and move energy between the grid, solar panels, and a smaller number of connected devices – pretty cool.

Seen that way, the conservative inverter and sparse selection of outputs feel less inexplicable, even if I'd still happily trade some of that clean front-panel design for another two mains sockets.

Charging

The Elite 400’s AC input is rated at up to 2,300W, and combining mains and solar can increase total charging input to 3,300W. Bluetti says that setup can take the battery to 80% in around an hour.

The Bluetti app also lets you control how aggressively the battery charges. It offers Standard, Silent, and Turbo modes, plus a Custom option if you want to fine-tune things yourself. Turbo is the obvious choice when charging speed matters most, while Silent sacrifices some speed to reduce fan noise.

For most of my testing, though, I simply plugged the Elite 400 into a normal wall socket and left it in Standard charging mode. At 5:18 pm, the battery was at 34%, with the display showing a rock-solid 1,200W input and an estimated 2.4 hours until full.

What impressed me more than the speed was the noise, or lack of it. Even while pulling around 1.2kW from the wall, the Elite 400 was barely audible. Large power stations can sound surprisingly industrial when their cooling fans ramp up, but Bluetti keeps things remarkably civilised here.

By 6:46 pm it had reached 70%, with charging still hovering around 1,200W and the fans remaining similarly quiet. It finally hit 100% at 7:57 pm, meaning it took two hours and 39 minutes to go from 34% to full.

That's slightly slower than the initial estimate, but still very respectable given that I wasn't using Turbo mode or supplementing the mains input with solar. It also suggests Bluetti has tuned Standard mode to strike a sensible balance between charging speed, heat and noise.

Performance and everyday use

The Elite 400’s 2,600W continuous AC output might look conservative alongside its enormous battery capacity, but it’s still plenty for the appliances this power station is likely to spend most of its time running. Fridges, freezers, televisions, routers, laptops and lighting barely trouble that ceiling, even when several (well, two via the AC ports) are connected simultaneously.

Bluetti also quotes 5,200W surge power, while its Power Lifting mode is designed to accommodate certain resistive appliances rated at up to 3,900W. That doesn’t magically turn the Elite 400 into a 3,900W power station, but it gives it a little more flexibility with demanding devices.

The limitation becomes more obvious if you want to power several high-draw appliances at once. A kettle, electric heater or induction hob can consume a large proportion of the available output by itself, and the two AC sockets further restrict what you can connect without reaching for an extension lead.

Its LiFePO₄ battery is rated for 3,000 cycles before dropping to 80% of its original capacity, which is reassuring if you plan to use the Elite 400 regularly for off-peak energy storage.

One thing worth knowing is that the battery capacity isn’t expandable. At 3,840Wh, that’s hardly a small starting point, but anyone building a larger modular home-backup system should look elsewhere in Bluetti’s range.

Verdict

The Bluetti Elite 400 is an unusually large power station that makes more sense as a semi-permanent home backup unit than a conventional camping battery. Its 3,840Wh capacity, quiet operation and excellent mobility are major strengths, while the limited ports and modest inverter output feel like odd compromises. Spend some time with the app, though, and its energy-management capabilities reveal a much more thoughtful product than the spec sheet initially suggests.

Salomon has given its XT line a fairly dramatic rethink for 2026 with the launch of the new XT-Evo.

The new sneakers feature an entirely new silhouette, and although they keep plenty of familiar technology underneath, they look considerably more futuristic than the XT-4 and XT-6.

The XT-Evo first appeared in early August as part of a collaboration with New York fashion and sneaker retailer/brand Kith.

At the time, Kith described the two limited-edition colourways, which launched alongside its &Kin Fall 2026 collection, as an “all-new” Salomon silhouette.

Those were followed on 2 September by Salomon's own launch, comprising three considerably easier-to-find versions priced at £175 in the UK and $200 in the US.

Same bones, sharper edges

If you've spent any time looking at Salomon's Sportstyle shoes, you'll probably recognise what's underneath all that new bodywork.

The XT-Evo takes the tooling from the hugely popular XT-6 and places an entirely new racing-inspired upper on top.

It combines breathable mesh and liquid rubber, creating a layered, almost skeletal cage that gives the new shoe its distinctive look.

There's still a surprising amount of proper trail-shoe hardware underneath it.

Salomon has equipped the XT-Evo with its Agile Chassis System, which works with an EnergyCell midsole to provide cushioning and stability, plus a deeply lugged Mud Contagrip outsole designed to find purchase on loose and uneven surfaces.

There's also the brand's familiar Quicklace system, SensiFit construction, an internal EndoFit sleeve and a moulded OrthoLite sockliner.

Although Salomon categorises it as a Sportstyle sneaker rather than a current trail-running shoe, those ingredients give the XT-Evo far more outdoor DNA than your average lifestyle trainer.

It weighs 365g per shoe and has a 10mm heel-to-toe drop, so it's not particularly dainty either.

The launch range includes three unisex colourways: Black / Fiery Red / White, which leans into the shoe's racing aesthetic; a quieter Alloy / Castlerock / FTW Silver version; and a stealthy Black / Black / Asphalt option.

All three are available now directly from Salomon UK, Salomon US and Salomon EU for £175 / $200 / €190 (~AU$278).

Peak Performance has been making its distinctive Helium insulation for 15 years, and it’s celebrating the occasion by taking the idea to its logical conclusion.

The new Helium Nova Down Jacket is, according to Peak Performance, the lightest jacket the Swedish brand has ever made, weighing just 390g in the men’s version.

Despite the ultralight construction, it still packs proper down insulation and enough weather protection for more than just strolling around the city.

The Nova takes the familiar Helium formula and gives it a slightly more contemporary silhouette.

The instantly recognisable quilted construction remains, although the baffles now sweep across the jacket in broad waves rather than following the more conventional horizontal pattern found on most down layers.

And while ultralight insulation can sometimes look overtly technical, the relaxed, hip-length fit, raglan sleeves and subtle embroidery make the Nova look pretty relaxed.

That said, the more fashion-friendly exterior hides a fairly serious technical jacket.

Peak Performance uses 700-fill-power duck down with a 90/10 down-to-feather ratio, wrapped inside lightweight 42gsm 20D ripstop fabric.

The outer is windproof and designed to repel light rain and snow, while tougher fabric sections have been added around the shoulders and pockets where wear is likely to be greatest.

Wave after wave

Peak Performance positions the Helium Nova for everything from everyday wear and trail hiking to ski touring, freeride and resort skiing.

It has an adjustable drawcord hidden inside the hem, elasticated cuffs to keep draughts out, a reversed YKK front zip with a chin guard, and two zipped hand pockets.

The relaxed cut should also leave enough room underneath for layering without turning the Nova into an oversized puffer.

There is, however, an interesting difference between the men’s and women’s versions.

The men’s Helium Nova features a hood you can stash away, leaving a simple insulated collar when you don’t need it.

The women’s Helium Nova Hooded Jacket, meanwhile, gets a permanently attached down-insulated hood.

It’s an unusual distinction between the two models, particularly when the rest of the design language is so similar.

As far as I can tell, the Nova isn’t part of Peak Performance’s more experimental Helium Loop circularity project, which uses heat-dissolvable stitching so a jacket can eventually be taken apart and its individual materials recycled.

It does, however, use RDS-certified down and GRS-certified recycled materials, and is made without intentionally added PFAS.

The Helium Nova Down Jacket is available now at Peak Performance UK, Peak Performance US, and Peak Performance EU for £300 / $350 / €350 (~AU$566).

Klättermusen has built its reputation on technical mountain clothing that looks unlike anything else on the trail, and its new Fall/Winter 2026 collection continues that tradition with an interesting material choice.

Wool plays a starring role this season, with two new technical mid-layers designed for the sort of unpredictable conditions Klättermusen encounters on its home turf in Scandinavia.

One of the key models in the FW26 collection is the Balderus Jacket, a hiking-layer made from recycled Italian wool with added wind protection.

The Balderus pairs a natural grey wool body with contrasting dark panels across the chest and shoulders, giving it a distinctly more technical appearance than your average wool midlayer.

Wool remains one of those materials that makes a lot of sense outdoors, particularly as an insulating layer.

However, traditional wool garments are often not the most eye-catching (apart from The North Face's Casentino Collection, but that's a different story).

Klättermusen's approach to adding distinctive panelling and mountain-ready detailing helps the Balderus feel thoroughly modern.

Joining it is the new Embla Hood Jacket, a technical wool-blend mid-layer offering adaptable warmth for changing Scandinavian mountain conditions.

The darker, more understated design looks closer to a conventional technical hoodie, albeit one that should provide an interesting alternative to the synthetic fleeces that dominate most outdoor layering systems.

The long way round

Balderus and Embla are part of a wider collection that Klättermusen says was designed for multi-day trekking across changing terrain and unpredictable weather, with durability, insulation, and freedom of movement as its main priorities.

There are some familiar names elsewhere in the line-up. The Allgrön 2.0 is the latest version of Klättermusen’s four-season waterproof shell, designed to provide prolonged weather protection without restricting movement.

Meanwhile, the Gondul 2.0 Hood Jacket provides lightweight active insulation, balancing warmth with breathability while you’re moving.

Klättermusen has also updated its Gere 3.0 trekking trousers with a lighter construction designed to increase freedom of movement while retaining durability.

The collection arrives alongside The Call, a four-part campaign following three people who abandon their everyday routines after receiving little more than a set of coordinates leading into the mountains.

Both the campaign and Klättermusen’s new FW26 hiking and trekking collection launch on 3 September 2026, with the clothing available at Klättermusen.

YETI is no stranger to giving its rugged outdoor gear a seasonal colour refresh, but its latest collection goes far beyond simply coating another Rambler in a new shade.

The new Riverhead Collection takes inspiration from coastal communities and spreads an appropriately autumnal palette across drinkware, coolers, bags and accessories.

There are 40 products listed as part of the collection on YETI’s US website, with Riverhead Red and Riverhead Green joined by combinations of Aspen, Pampa and Wild Vine.

Select Rambler cups, tumblers and bottles have been given a new textured, herringbone-style finish that makes the normally industrial-looking stainless steel vessels appear almost as though they have been wrapped in tweed.

YETI describes the treatment on its bottles as a digitally printed design, which means you still get the familiar 18/8 stainless-steel construction, double-wall vacuum insulation and dishwasher-friendly build underneath.

The effect is particularly convincing in Riverhead Red, which turns the Rambler 16oz Stackable Cup into something that looks more at home beside a wool coat than a campsite.

The same treatment appears across bottles, tumblers, lowballs and Colster can coolers, with the 16oz Stackable Cup priced at $33 and the 20oz Tumbler at $40 in the US.

Beyond the weave

YETI has carried the same colours over to some of its bigger outdoor gear, where the combination of creamy Aspen, muted Pampa green, and dark Wild Vine burgundy works particularly well.

The Roadie 15 Hard Cooler, for example, gets the three-tone treatment, while the Daytrip 14L Insulated Tote Bag combines a pale body with contrasting trim and base.

YETI is specifically promoting the latter as part of the limited-edition Riverhead release.

There’s also a matching Camino 35 Carryall Tote, which might be the best example of how well the palette translates beyond drinkware.

Its predominantly off-white body is finished with green handles and burgundy along the bottom, making one of YETI’s famously utilitarian bags look surprisingly sophisticated.

Other pieces include Daytrip food storage, SideKick waterproof gear cases and various accessories.

The Riverhead Collection is available now at YETI US, with prices starting at $30 for several pieces of textured drinkware and rising to $200 for the Roadie 15 Hard Cooler.

At the time of writing, Riverhead does not appear to have launched on YETI’s UK website, so UK pricing and availability are still to be confirmed.

Flower Mountain has unveiled its Fall/Winter 2026 collection, and while the brand’s mix of Japanese design, outdoor influences and colourful sneakers is nothing new, a capsule within the range is definitely exciting.

Harmony of Traditions applies three Japanese textile techniques and materials to two of Flower Mountain’s most recognisable models, the Yamano 3 and Iwano 2.

These include Mikawa cotton, a durable woven fabric traditionally produced in Japan’s Aichi Prefecture, alongside Kurashiki canvas, which draws on more than a century of textile-making expertise.

The third element is Sashiko, a social media darling with a distinctive geometric stitching technique originally developed as a practical way to reinforce and repair clothing.

Here, all three are used as functional design details, giving Flower Mountain’s already busy sneakers another layer of texture and character.

Old techniques, new shoes

Flower Mountain has always blurred the line between hiking footwear and everyday sneakers, with suede overlays, chunky soles, unusual lacing systems and bright colour combinations.

Harmony of Traditions simply makes the Japanese side of that equation more... explicit.

The wider FW26 collection continues in a similar direction, albeit with more emphasis on lighter, easier-to-wear footwear.

The Back Country 2 reworks the traditional outdoor shoe with a lighter and more breathable construction.

Meanwhile, two new models, the Sanchia and Ranya, introduce softer and more streamlined shapes designed primarily for everyday urban wear.

Flower Mountain has also revisited several existing trainers, including the Kazana Fall, which turns the woven construction of the summer Kazana into an all-season sneaker.

The Asuka 3 updates the brand’s vintage-inspired design with greater flexibility and a revised internal structure.

Materials across the collection include wool, faux fur and tartan alongside Flower Mountain’s familiar mix of suede, technical fabrics and outdoor-derived detailing.

The Fall/Winter 2026 collection is available now from Flower Mountain UK, Flower Mountain US and Flower Mountain EU. AU availability TBC.

There are certain pieces of outdoor equipment that, in 2026, have long since escaped their original purpose.

Hiking shoes are everyday footwear, climbing trousers are worn nowhere near a crag, and waterproof shells have become a familiar sight in fashion.

That makes Norwegian travel-gear specialist Db’s latest collaboration with British outdoor label Purple Mountain Observatory rather well timed.

Gone Fishing was created after the two brands approached fly fishing as relative outsiders, questioning some of the sport’s established equipment along the way.

The result brings together apparel and luggage, with Db describing the collection as a modular system designed to move between different environments.

And while there’s plenty here for people who actually own fishing equipment, the Db x PMO Modular Vest is easily my favourite piece.

Fishing optional

The Modular Vest is essentially a highly technical reinterpretation of traditional fly-fishing gear.

It's made of ALUULA composite fabric, a material Db previously used across its ultra-light Weigh Lighter collection, which focused on combining low weight with high strength and durability.

In fact, ALUULA Graflyte, an ultra-light, high-strength composite originally developed for technical packs, is one of the collection’s key technologies.

It combines a UHMWPE core with fused protective films for improved abrasion, water and puncture resistance.

It has seven flapped pockets with quick-pull tabs, integrated tool loops, and Velcro fly patches, plus a removable high-capacity compartment around the back.

A second zipped rear pocket keeps valuables secure, while a D-ring lets anglers attach a landing net.

All very practical, admittedly, but I think it works just as well as an oversized technical layer.

The translucent white ALUULA pockets against the black body give it an almost experimental look, and paired with loose trousers, a simple long-sleeve top and the right trainers, I could easily see it working nowhere near water.

The rest of Gone Fishing follows a similar theme, with a £300 oversized Sling Bag (my other favourite), a £250 25-litre Backpack and a £70 Tech Cap, alongside a special £549 Ramverk Pro Carry-on.

The latter largely retains Db’s familiar aluminium-framed polycarbonate construction but adds exclusive purple compression straps and collaborative branding – a subtle detail that looks particularly good against the silver shell. Db

Gone Fishing officially launched on 27 August through Db and PMO’s online stores and selected retailers globally.

The GripNGo Vault is a multitool that keep things simple to make sure you get compact as well as functional. It's only around two inches long and weighs 45g, but its compact body has room for a useful selection of tools.

The main feature is a rotating holder that stores six standard 4mm screwdriver bits. They sit inside the titanium body like the chambers of a revolver, with magnets and a push-slide lock keeping everything in place.

You can also swap two of those bits for a miniature utility blade and an inkless 'eternal' pen. That makes the Vault useful for more than tightening the occasional screw, the blade can handle jobs such as opening packages, while the pen can mark paper without needing ink.

The whole thing is CNC-machined from grade-5 titanium and has a textured exterior for grip. There are also eight slots for tritium vials, designed to make the tool easier to find in low light, although those aren't included as standard.

There's an obvious trade-off with making a screwdriver this small. You won't get the same reach or leverage as a conventional screwdriver, so the Vault is better suited to small repairs and everyday jobs than anything particularly demanding.

TiMate launched the GripNGo Vault on Kickstarter with a $45 (around £34) early price, and the campaign has already exceeded its funding target by more than 1,600%. Worldwide shipping is currently planned for December 2026.

For a tool that can disappear onto your keyring or into a pocket, that's a decent amount of functionality. The real question is whether you actually need six screwdriver bits with you at all times.

The SylvanSport VIRE isn't particularly glamorous from the outside but this fairly boxy 19.5-foot trailer has managed to squeeze in so much living space inside.

There's a U-shaped lounge at the front which converts into a 72 x 80-inch bed, that's the same dimensions as a king-size mattress. During the day, it gives you somewhere to eat or sit, while at night it becomes a useful sleeping area rather than the usual tiny RV bed.

The kitchen is compact but doesn't feel like an afterthought. There's a two-burner propane stove, sink with a fold-down tap and cutting-board cover, plenty of storage and a 12V fridge/freezer.

There's even a microwave/convection oven with air-fryer functions, although that's reserved for the more expensive VIRE Ultimate.

Next to it is something you don't always get in a trailer this size: a full-height wet bathroom. It has a shower, fold-down sink and cassette toilet, so you don't have to rely on campsite facilities every time nature calls.

The VIRE weighs 3,670lb (1,665kg) dry, which is another reason its relatively compact dimensions matter. It has a 40-gallon fresh-water tank, 44-gallon grey-water tank and enough payload capacity for 1,330lb of gear.

There are two versions. The standard VIRE starts at $59,995 (around £45,000), while the VIRE Ultimate costs $69,995 (around £52,500). The latter gets a much larger 833Ah battery system, 600W of solar, plus the microwave and TV.

Production slots are currently being offered for autumn 2026 and spring 2027, with a $1,000 deposit required to reserve one.

For something that looks fairly ordinary parked on a driveway, there's an impressive amount going on inside. The VIRE show that when it comes to camper design, sometimes the best way to create more space is to stop making things so streamlined.

The Otherlab Lightfoot bike looks like a tiny delivery vehicle from a futuristic city, and its bodywork is designed to actually help power it.

Designed by California-based Otherlab, the two-seat electric cargo scooter has two 120W solar panels built into its sides. Leave it parked in decent sunlight and those panels can add up to 18 miles of range per day, according to the company, potentially reducing how often you need to plug it in.

That's a useful trick for an electric vehicle designed around short urban journeys. Lightfoot has a claimed 37-mile range from its 1.1kWh battery, while each hour of good sunlight can apparently add around three miles.

So if you're mainly using it for shopping, commuting or school runs, leaving it outside could put some of that range back into the battery while you're doing something else.

The chunky design isn't just about squeezing in solar panels. Open the two clamshell-style panels and you'll find a 45.2-litre, weather-resistant storage compartment underneath, with enough capacity for up to 20kg of cargo according to the latest specs.

That means there's room for groceries, work gear or a helmet without having to strap everything to your back. There's also a long bench seat for two, making Lightfoot more practical for everyday transport than the average scooter.

Two 750W hub motors provide the shove, with a top speed of 19.9mph, while hydraulic disc brakes, regenerative braking and motorcycle-style suspension are designed to make it more capable on urban roads. A full charge can reach 80% in around 90 minutes using its onboard charger.

The catch? At $4,995, this isn't exactly a cheap alternative to an e-bike.

But Lightfoot is an interesting take on electric transport because the solar panels aren't an afterthought bolted onto the roof. They're part of the vehicle itself and the result is a scooter that can carry two people, swallow your shopping and top itself up whenever the sun comes out.

When Katie Becker first saw Arc’teryx at a trade show in 1998, the brand stood out because it was doing almost everything differently.

At the time, snowboard and outdoor clothing was dominated by bright colours, oversized fits and bold graphics. Arc’teryx had taken a different approach.

Sitting on a pedestal was a simple, one-colour jacket that looked almost out of place among everything around it. It was the Alpha jacket, and what caught Becker’s attention was not just the appearance, but the thinking behind it.

The jacket featured waterproof zippers, a new approach to Gore-Tex construction, and a three-dimensional design inspired by the way climbers move. Even then, Arc’teryx had looked at the problems with existing products and tried to solve them from the ground up.

Almost three decades later, Becker, now Chief Creative Officer at Arc’teryx, sees that same mindset behind System 0, the brand’s attempt to tackle one of the most difficult problems facing the outdoor industry: how to create high-performance equipment while reducing the amount of waste created throughout a product’s life.

System 0 is not a single jacket, material or technology. Instead, it is a broader approach that brings together product design, manufacturing, repair, and end-of-life solutions, aiming to create products that last longer, are easier to repair, and, eventually, easier to recycle.

As Kyle Wood, Arc’teryx VP of Strategy, explained during the System 0 presentation, circularity is a highly complex, systemic problem, and it won’t be solved with a single product or strategy overnight.

For Arc’teryx, the project extends what the company has always tried to do: solve difficult problems with real consequences.

Starting with the hardest problem

Arc’teryx’s approach to product development has always been based around a few simple filters. Is the product authentic to the brand, does it solve a genuine problem, is it beautiful, and does it meet the company’s standards around responsibility?

That final point has become increasingly important as the brand has looked at what responsibility means beyond simply making durable products.

“We have people that love our product that have been wearing the same jacket for 12 years, 15 years,” said Becker. “And we really started to look at what does responsibility really mean? How do we build it to repair it? What are we doing about end of life?”

That thinking eventually led to System 0, a four-year project exploring how Arc’teryx could approach circularity in a way that matched its existing standards.

The team quickly realised that creating a circular product couldn't mean simply making a jacket with different materials. It required a wider system around the product, including repair services, manufacturing changes and a way to recover materials when the jacket eventually reached the end of its useful life.

Alex Plante, Arc’teryx’s VP of Advanced Concepts, explains that the team wanted to avoid treating circularity as a separate sustainability project.

“We knew that circularity wasn’t going to be about a product alone,” she said. “We knew that a product needed to be created, because that’s what we make, but it needed to be a product that was a proof point for a new system that we wanted to drive forward.”

The team could have started with a simpler product category, but that would not have been the Arc’teryx way. “We don’t start with easy problems,” said Plante. “Hard problems are generally the most rewarding.”

The chosen product was a waterproof jacket, one of the most technically demanding categories in outdoor clothing. A shell has to protect users from rain and snow, allow freedom of movement, work with climbing equipment, and remain durable after years of use.

And, as Arc’teryx found out, it also happens to be one of the hardest products to make circular.

Learning from products that came back

One of the biggest advantages Arc’teryx had when developing System 0 was ReBIRD, the brand’s repair programme. It gives customers the option to repair damaged equipment rather than replace it, but it also gives Arc’teryx something equally valuable: information.

Because returned products come back through the company’s Vancouver facility, designers can examine where products fail, which components wear out, and what customers need from their equipment after years of use.

“We were able to learn and understand how people use our hardshells,” said Plante. “We were able to learn what breaks first, what people loved about them, so that we could design out failure points right from the very beginning.”

The first version of the jacket pushed the idea of recyclability much further than the final product. One early prototype removed zippers completely because zippers are one of the biggest challenges in recycling garments.

However, when Arc’teryx tested that design with athletes and professional users, the response was clear: it was not practical. “It was sustainable, but it didn’t make sense,” explained Becker.

The jacket became easier to recycle, but it lost the functionality that made Arc’teryx products useful in the first place. That became one of the key lessons of System 0: circularity could not come at the expense of performance.

No compromises on performance

For Andrew Yip, Senior Director of Materials in Advanced Concepts at Arc’teryx, the biggest challenge was creating a jacket that could use more recyclable materials while still meeting the same performance standards customers expect.

“The common theme, especially from the beginning, was an uncompromising approach,” said Yip. “We knew that we wouldn’t be able to create something that we weren’t proud of, and that meant not sacrificing performance in any way.”

The project involved working with several industry partners, including Aquafil, GORE and Toray, to create a new three-layer laminate using post-consumer waste.

Aquafil supplies the recycled nylon used in the jacket, produced through chemical recycling. Unlike mechanical recycling, which melts materials down and can reduce their quality over time, chemical recycling breaks nylon back down into its original components before creating new material.

Yip compares the process to ice cream. “If you’ve ever had ice cream melt and refrozen it in your freezer and tried to eat it again, you know that ice cream doesn’t taste or feel the same,” he explained. “That’s mechanical recycling.”

Chemical recycling works differently because it breaks the material down further, allowing it to be rebuilt with performance closer to the original material. The jacket isn't made from a single material, though, because the company found that a completely mono-material approach would require too many compromises.

“We knew that really wasn’t an option for us because of our standards in performance and durability,” said Yip.

Some components, including zippers and reflectors, still need separate handling at the end of life. The important change is that Arc’teryx has designed the jacket so those parts can be removed and processed as efficiently as possible.

Even small details were considered. The black zipper teeth, for example, were chosen because changing colours during manufacturing creates additional waste.

Designing a product people want to return

One of the hardest parts of creating a circular system isn't just recycling materials, but collecting and sorting products when people no longer want them.

This is where Arc’teryx believes ReBIRD gives it an advantage. “The idea is that we’re building the garment that people want to bring back to us,” said Yip. “They want to bring it back to us because they want to keep it, and they want to repair it, and they want to use it as long as they can.”

Eventually, when a product can no longer be repaired, Arc’teryx wants to use that existing repair network to identify when it is ready to be recycled. This is a crucial part of System 0 because collecting and sorting old textiles is one of the biggest challenges in creating a circular clothing system.

Testing beyond the laboratory

Given Arc’teryx’s history, it is perhaps unsurprising that System 0 involved extensive testing, including placing jackets in a cement mixer with gravel to simulate abrasion, then checking whether they remained waterproof.

Another test looked at contamination from human oils, which can eventually affect the bond between a waterproof membrane and the outer fabric. These tests were designed to understand how long it could realistically remain functional.

The final product was also tested by professional users, including search and rescue teams, who helped shape the design. Their feedback sometimes meant choosing function over recyclability. More pockets, for example, were necessary because rescue teams need space for medical equipment and additional supplies.

The beginning of a bigger project

Arc’teryx sees the Sperro SV as a starting point, with lessons that can eventually influence more product categories and services. “This is really the beginning of our journey,” said Plante.

The ambition is not simply to create more sustainable products, but to change how people think about their relationship with equipment. “We’re really looking to change the way that people think about their products from a customer or consumer to a custodian of a product,” she said.

System 0 aims to keep those products in use as long as possible while reducing the impact created along the way. It is a complicated problem, and Arc’teryx is clear that this jacket will not solve it alone. But that has always been the company’s approach to innovation: start with the hardest problem, test relentlessly, learn from failure and keep looking for a better way.

I’ve just spent three days of hot-weather camping in the four-person Quechua Air Seconds 4.2 Polycotton family tent, and I already consider it to be one of the very best tents to buy in 2026.

If you go on a lot of family camping trips and have never had the pleasure of camping under polycotton fabric (like those elegant Dutch models you see at most French campsites), I urge you to seriously consider taking a look at this five-star model, which oozes sophistication, comfort and impressive stability in almost all weather.

So grab yourself a drink, pop up the parasol and dip into what must surely be the longest tent review I’ve ever written.

Decathlon Quechua Air Seconds 4.2 Polycotton review

Price and availability

The Quechua Air Seconds 4.2 Polycotton currently costs £999.99 at Decathlon UK, although availability may vary during the year. In Europe, Decathlon sells it through its European stores. Here’s a link to Decathlon’s French portal where this tent retails for €999.99.

Outside Europe, availability is more limited and may depend on importing from Decathlon or specialist resellers. Incidentally, UK buyers can also find the standard polyester Air Seconds 4.1 at Argos, where it retails for a considerably lower £300.

Specifications

• Seasons: 3-season
• Style: Tunnel
• Sleeps: 4
• Assembly type: Inflatable (3 poles)
• Pack size: L: 86cm; W: 56cm; H: 46cm
• Packed weight: 37.25kgs
• Exterior: L: 455cm; W: 305cm; H: 215m
• Interior (lounge): L: 220cm; W: 305cm; H: 215cm
• Interior (2 x bedrooms): L: 210cm; W: 280cm; H: 185cm
• Canopy Fabric: Polycotton (30% cotton, 70% Polyester)
• Rainfly Hydrostatic Head: Approx 2,000mm
• Floor Hydrostatic Head: 5,000 mm
• Guy points: 32
• Pegs used: 24

Pitching

The Quechua Air Seconds 4.2 Polycotton comes in a superb polycotton bag with a solid floor, two wheels, and plenty of grab handles for remarkably easy transport from car to pitch. At over 37 kilos, this tent is much heavier than the norm, and its pack size is pretty large, too, but the wheels lessen the load considerably.

Everything you need is in the bag except for the air beam pump, which you will need to purchase separately. Do not forget this, or you may arrive at a remote campsite with no way to pump the tent up. While this tent can be easily erected by one person, it’s handy having an extra pair of hands when opening it out and pulling it into a suitable position.

The first thing my wife and I did was unfurl it and lay it out flat while we tried to work out which way to face it. I then used four of the supplied heavy-duty nail pegs for the corners of the tent, just in case of any wind gusts.

Since this is a three-beam air tent, I never bothered using my Quechua hand pump and instead reached for my Jackery Explorer 1000 portable power station and Quechua’s excellent electric pump. I attached the push-in nozzle to the valve on the first air beam, set the pump’s pressure to the recommended 7 PSI, tapped start, and watched in wonder as the pole expanded.

All I had to do was step onto the collapsed tent to reduce any kinks in the tube while it filled. After about 30 seconds, it was on to the next two poles, and after about three minutes, all three poles were erect, and the tent had taken shape.

Stage two involved hammering in all 24 pegs, and this took at least 30 minutes. Thankfully, most of the guy lines are split to cover two tie-out points per peg, so it was much quicker to finish than on the Coleman Air Valdes my friends took along.

The final stage of assembly involved fitting the fabulous internal carpet (easy), the internal telescopic ceiling support and the solid fibreglass pole into the sleeve of the front porch overhang. A couple more porch pegs later, the tent was fully erect and ready for the enjoyable part: stuffing it with all our gear.

I’d say the whole process took about 40 minutes, but 90% of that time was spent pegging in the numerous guy lines. Thankfully, there’s a large instruction sheet sewn into the top of the bag, so follow it if it’s the first time you’re erecting it.

This is especially important when you fold it up and pack it. Oh, and when taking it down, don’t forget to remove the ceiling support pole, or you’ll have to climb into the collapsed tent to retrieve it – just like I had to do.

What is polycotton and why is it such a great tent material?

Polycotton is a hybrid fabric that combines the natural breathability of cotton with the strength and durability of polyester – the synthetic material almost all modern tents are made from.

For decades before the advent of polyester, tents were made almost exclusively from natural cotton canvas, mostly because of its strength, weatherproof structure and superb breathability.

Many Dutch tents from manufacturers like De Waard are still made using the same pure cotton material today. However, pure cotton canvas is hampered by considerable weight, enormous pack size and exceedingly long drying times when damp.

Skip to the 1970s, and manufacturers began mass-producing camping tents using new synthetic polyester weaves that transformed camping by offering lighter, cheaper, and faster-drying shelters.

However, polyester is so well insulated against rain that it can feel unbearably hot inside on a sweltering day. Polyester is also noisy in the wind and rain and not very breathable, which leads to high levels of condensation, especially in the evenings and early mornings.

Cut to the 1980s, and polycotton – usually a mix of 35% cotton and 65% polyester – emerged as a clever compromise that combined the comfort and breathability of pure cotton with polyester’s durability, practicality and marginally lower weight and pack size.

As a result, we are seeing far more polycotton tents coming to market, mostly because the material offers a much more comfortable camping environment than any lightweight synthetic alternative.

Why? Put simply, cotton fibres allow air and water vapour to pass through the fabric, which helps regulate the temperature inside the tent while vastly reducing condensation.

So a polycotton tent like the Quechua we're reviewing here is much more pleasant in hot weather, when a conventional polyester tent can quickly turn into a stuffy oven.

The heavier fabric also stays more stable in strong winds, with very little flapping. It’s also much quieter in rain. Moreover, Polycotton is extremely durable and ideal for repeated use.

According to the web, 'a well-maintained polycotton tent can last for decades or many seasons of heavy use, whereas a standard polyester tent typically degrades much faster under the same conditions'.

Apparently, the main killer of polyester tents is ultraviolet (UV) degradation from prolonged sun exposure. Who knew?

Although you can see daylight between the fibres of polycotton, it is a remarkably weatherproof material that can withstand heavy downpours.

However, this only applies after the tent has been weathered by soaking the erected tent with a hosepipe so its cotton fibres can swell, helping close the weave and improve the fabric's resistance to rain.

Once weathered, it is essential to let the tent dry completely before packing it away. At this juncture, I should add that the Quechua Air Seconds 4.2 we’re reviewing here comes out of the bag pre-weathered, so there's no need to wet it first.

What are the compromises of polycotton tents? They're heavier for a start – almost double the weight of their polyester counterparts. Their packed size is also much larger, which means smaller cars simply won't be big enough to transport them. Finally, polycotton takes a lot longer to dry and is more susceptible to mould.

Hence, if your camping trip ends with rain and you've packed up a wet tent, you will need to erect it on your lawn to thoroughly dry it out as soon as possible – like within a couple of days!

I've weighed up all these trade-offs and, on evidence of the three polycotton tents I've so far reviewed – the Quechua Air Seconds 4.2 we're looking at here, the Lotus Belle Air Bud and, more recently, the Dometic Pico FTC 2x2 TC-i – I am now an absolute polycotton convert and, where possible, will always choose the material for my outdoor home from home.

In my opinion, the pleasure of living and sleeping under polycotton is absolutely worth the extra financial cost, the hassle of fitting it into the car and the drying malarky when wet. In fact, the nearest thing I can compare the experience to is staying in a yurt or an African safari tent. It's less like camping and much more like, well, glamping. Relatively low-cost luxury, in other words.

Design

The Quechua Air Seconds 4.2 Polycotton inflatable four-person family tent demonstrates how far Decathlon’s Mont Blanc-based camping brand has progressed since it started in 1997.

While the company originally built its reputation on affordable, no-frills outdoor equipment, they have since grabbed a large slice of the market in the UK and France with a massive portfolio of exceedingly well-designed tents at great prices, along with a veritable tranche of camping and outdoor accessories.

The Air Seconds 4.2 Polycotton looks and feels like a product designed to compete with considerably more expensive polycotton rivals from Jack Wolfskin, Kampa and, of course, the Dutch kings of drum-tight full-cotton tents, De Waard.

The four-person Quechua Air Seconds 4.2 Polycotton has a substantial 455cm x 305cm footprint and offers a good-sized living area and two dark side-by-side bedrooms, divided by a strip of black material that can be unzipped to form one large room.

I always advise going up a couple of sizes when it comes to buying a tent simply because it provides more interior space – and space is something you'll come to appreciate when everyone's stepping over each other.

Hence, while this tent will comfortably fit four – especially two parents and young kids – I still think it's a better fit for two. That's how I've been using it – my wife and I on one side of the bedroom and our two labradors on the other.

Aside from its delicious desert taupe colour, one of the tent's most appealing features is its inflatable Air Seconds structure. Rather than relying on a complex network of fibreglass or aluminium poles, the Air Seconds 4.2 uses three inflatable air beams that create a remarkably rigid framework once filled to their recommended pressure of 7PSI.

As with any tent of this nature, the air-beam system removes the annoying frustration traditionally associated with pitching a large family tent like this and vastly reduces both setup time and, perhaps more importantly, the likelihood of incorrect assembly.

Unlike the very similar Quechua Air Seconds 5.2 Fresh & Black I reviewed in 2024, which has its air beams on the outside, this one's beams are on the inside with the valves on the outside, and this makes for a much more taut and elegant appearance.

However, I must warn you that this model doesn't come with an air pump as standard, so don't forget to add one before hitting the checkout button. I recommend the Quechua Ultim Comfort Hand Pump for ease of use and low price, or, if you can stretch the budget and have a car or portable power station nearby, the Decathlon 0-20 PSI 13.8 V 10 A Electric Pump for effortless inflation in mere seconds.

Right, back to the tent. The Air Seconds 4.2 Polycotton's flysheet is undeniably this model's main selling point. The blend of cotton and polyester – in this instance 30% cotton and 70% polyester – offers substantial advantages over conventional synthetic fabrics, regulating internal temperatures more effectively while reducing condensation during cooler mornings and nights.

Polycotton feels noticeably thicker and far more substantial than polyester, giving the entire package a premium glamping level of quality that is immediately noticeable the moment you step inside.

Unlike lightweight polyester, which feels slippery and thin, flaps noisily in windy conditions and makes a high-pitched racket in rain, the Quechua's polycotton fabric hangs with reassuring weight and improved tautness, and is much quieter in both wind and rain.

I also did a quick temperature test while camping with this tent and a couple of polyester models. Since it was really hot outside, I checked the internal temperature in each tent, and the polycotton tent was noticeably cooler by about two or three degrees.

The front of this tent has a wonderfully large aperture for taking in the view and letting in plenty of fresh air, and it can be completely closed off to the elements, including being zipped to the front of the groundsheet or rolled back and pinned to the side using the provided toggles.

Alternatively, you can keep it all zipped up with a huge part of the front section unzipped to expose a wide expanse of insect mesh. Lots of options, in other words. Above the entrance is a small porch peak that uses the only fibreglass poles in the package.

Quechua's designers are campers and adventurers themselves, so this tent is packed with fantastic, genuinely practical details and features.

The extraordinarily tough and watertight built-in groundsheet has a hydrostatic head of 5,000 and completely encases the tent's footprint. I took a good look and couldn't find any gaps to the outside, which means it's creepy-crawly-proof.

Furthermore, you can fold the front section of the groundsheet flat to prevent tripping, or pin it up to create a four-inch barrier against floodwaters. As mentioned above, the front fly can be zipped securely to the front of the groundsheet to create a fully sealed chamber that no dog can breach in the middle of the night.

Heading outside, I counted 32 guy points on this tent – both ground level and attached to the fly – and that's a reassuring amount of support. Mind, to make things easier, most of the side tie-out points are in pairs, with one guy line serving both, so only 24 pegs are used throughout.

Likewise, the rear has five tie-out points served by just two guy lines. I struggled a bit with the rear because each three-way guy line has three tie-out points, and it took me ages to even out the tension.

I still never really got it right, so I bought a pack of guy lines and plan to remove the existing rear guys and attach each new guy rope to each of the five rear tie-outs. I'm figuring it will be easier to adjust the rear tension that way so it all looks flat and smooth.

Why? Because I'm a bit OCD when it comes to making a tent look perfect. Incidentally, this tent comes with a full complement of pegs, including several heavy-duty nail-style pegs for the most important ground-level pegging points.

Living space

Like its polyester stablemate, the Air Seconds 4.2 Polycotton provides a generous 6.8 m² living room area measuring 305cm wide and 220cm deep, with enough headroom (215cm) for someone well over six feet tall.

In fact, there's a telescopic aluminium bar in the roof of the lounge section that serves as an extra tensioner, and I can just reach the area with my arms fully stretched out while standing on tiptoes.

The living area has a plastic window on one side and a mesh window on the other. Both windows have Velcroed taupe screens to keep the sun out.

For some reason – probably aesthetics – both windows are not entirely square, which looks more peculiar when you're indoors than it does from the outside. I would personally prefer square windows so the inner screen looks less messy when rolled up.

Also, as I mentioned when reviewing this model's larger polyester version, it would be amazing to have one of these windows made into a side door, both for extra ventilation but, more importantly, for use as another exit and entrance to accompany the main front one. It's not a deal breaker by any means, but for me the more doors, the merrier.

Incidentally, both windows have a washing line above – handier than you might think – and just below them a long strip of netted storage pockets on each side. There are several more net pouches attached to both centre beams and hanging points aplenty for attaching camping lanterns, keys and whatever else you don’t want disappearing into the depths of the tent.

One very surprising and extremely welcome feature of this tent is that it comes with an integral patterned carpet for the living area that clips into place, so there's zero chance of it ever getting ruffled. I can't tell you how useful this carpet is since it not only feels great under bare feet, but its padded structure keeps ground chill at bay in the evenings. Nice one, Quechua.

Bedrooms

The first thing you notice as you approach the rear hanging bedroom section is two white strips running the length of the two doors.

These are magnetic doors, and again I can't tell you how incredibly useful they are, especially if camping with the family. With most other tents, you need to reach down and unzip a whole swathe of fabric before stepping in or out, and we all know how loud a zip is in the dead of night.

With this tent, you simply push your hand against the join in the door and it magically parts before immediately closing behind you. And it does this perfectly every time. Total silence and insane practicality in one tidy invention. Nevertheless, you can also zip up both rooms to stop kids or dogs from sneaking out.

The Air Seconds 4.2 Polycotton's bedroom measures 280cm wide and 210cm deep. This depth measurement is standard in almost all tents – enough to accommodate all mattresses and cots – but I'm still waiting for the day that someone in camp-land increases this measurement by at least 10cm so one's feet or head never touch the walls of the bedroom.

Grumble over, the Quechua's bedroom can be easily turned into one larger 280cm x 210 sleeping space by unzipping the partition, rolling it up and attaching it to the supplied toggles.

Most people these days love a blackout bedroom because it stops the morning sun from brightening the interior of the tent while everyone's still kipping.

This model's blackout fabric isn't as dark as others – specifically those from Coleman – but my wife and I prefer it that way because we can both see an element of ambient light peeking through the fibres, and we don't end up stumbling about in almost total darkness.

It wakes you up at a sensible time, too. The bedrooms also have their own storage pockets on either side and two hooks for hanging a pair of LED lamps.

Ventilation

Most polyester tents – specifically smaller ones – are comprised of an outer flysheet and an inner flysheet made from polyester and mesh replete with several ventilation channels.

This is because synthetic polyester is so well weather-sealed that it cannot breathe, resulting in a lot of condensation, mostly caused by occupants simply breathing. Condensation is worst in the evening, overnight, and in the morning.

By contrast, the inherent breathability of polycotton neutralises condensation to a huge degree, though it's true that polycotton still needs some form of ventilation, if only to make it more pleasant for the occupants. This tent has plenty of ventilation, especially in the bedroom department where condensation is usually at its worst.

Like most tents, the Quechua has a wide ceiling vent at the rear of the bedroom, but unlike most of the competition, it also has two large side-mounted, semi-circular ground-level vents perfectly positioned to align with the sleeping occupant's face, at least when sleeping with feet against the tapered rear. These vents can be adjusted in a number of ways: fully opened to the elements, with a mesh lining to fend off bugs or sealed.

On the outside, two large rain flaps can be hooked to the side of the guy lines in an open position or completely closed when it's especially chilly.

The best part is that you can adjust any configuration of the outer flaps from inside the bedroom by simply sticking your arm out and attaching the flap to the floor hooks or the two rings on the guy rope. Ingenious, that's what it is, ingenious!

Performance

We took the Air Seconds 4.2 Polycotton for a couple of nights camping in the Cotswolds. With the UK experiencing the longest and hottest summer in living memory, I was keen to see how well this tent performed in a climate akin to the south of France or even southern Africa, given the overall brownness of the drought-ridden landscape.

Our first and only hurdle was getting the tent into our Honda CR-V SUV since it weighs a considerable 37 kilos. Getting it to the car and the pitch was easier than with any other family tent I’ve used because its bag has two wheels on the end and plenty of handles to pull it along. The hard part was hoisting it into the boot. Mind, those wheels came in handy again because I simply rolled it in.

I will admit that I underestimated the size of the bag (it measures 86cm in length, 56cm in width and a modest 46cm in height), which took up much more space in the boot than expected.

Nevertheless, we are both so enamoured of the tent and everything inside it that my wife and I are prepared to accept this size limitation and just go with the flow because the tent paid dividends once we’d settled in.

I’m not trying to diss synthetic polyester in any way because it is still the go-to fabric for the vast majority of campers – it’s cheaper, lighter and more practical to transport. But, by jove, once you’ve lived and slept under polycotton, there’s no turning back. It’s difficult to explain, but the whole ambience is simply matchless.

The safari-style taupe colour has an immediately relaxing ambience about it and I love the semi transparency of the polycotton weave which allows for a slightly brighter interior, even in the darkened bedroom.

In fact, when you look up at the weave, you wonder how it could possibly be waterproof. Trust me, it is more than waterproof enough for most European storms.

Rather conveniently, a band of rain accompanied by a few gusts visited the Cotswold escarpment on one evening, and the Air Seconds 4.2 Polycotton shook it all off with aplomb. I even did a quick sound test during this period and popped into our friends’ polyester-based Coleman Air Valdes to have a listen to the rain and monitor the amount of tent flapping.

Despite the Coleman being tautly erected, there was definitely more flapping going on than with the Quechua, which hardly budged. But it was the differences in the sound of the rain that further convinced me that polycotton is on another level.

In the Coleman, the rain had a high-pitched pitter–patter – basically the sound of rain hitting thin plastic. But in the Quechua, the sound was much lower in frequency and far less noticeable. Another win for polycotton.

Everything in this tent is designed to make an average day at the campsite go more smoothly. The surfeit of storage pockets, the magnificent magnetic bedroom doors, the clever floor-level air vents in the bedrooms and the fully enclosed and exceedingly rugged groundsheet, along with the added bonus of a fitted carpet. This tent has it all.

I thought the polyester-based Quechua Air Seconds 5.2 was an amazing tent (it still is), but this one’s on another level when it comes to sophistication, comfort, style and overall internal ambience. Bite the bullet – you won’t be disappointed.

Verdict

The Quechua Air Seconds 4.2 Polycotton is a stunning four-person air tent that makes a compelling case for choosing comfort, sophistication and a spot of luxury over ultralight convenience.

Its polycotton fabric is the real clincher because it breathes in warm weather, helps regulate temperature, and creates a wonderfully natural, homely atmosphere inside.

The trade-off is weight and pack size because polycotton is considerably heavier and bulkier than lightweight polyester. But that’s a small price to pay, in my opinion, because once you’ve tried polycotton, there’s no going back. Screw the weight, screw the pack size, screw the higher price – I’m 100% in.

Some tools don't really need reinventing, and the humble utility knife is arguably one of them.

Give it a sharp, replaceable blade and a reasonably comfortable grip, and the job is pretty much done.

Jimmytronics clearly disagrees. Its new Tarpon Utility Knife takes one of the most basic cutting tools and turns it into something that looks more like precision EDC equipment.

The big attraction is its unusual manual out-the-front action, which you can activate by pressing the Tarpon's Fin Lock and sliding the blade forwards until it locks into place.

You can even flick it out with a quick hand movement, which is probably considerably more entertaining than opening a cardboard box has any right to be.

The movement is entirely manual, with the locking mechanism simply holding everything securely once the blade reaches either position.

Over-engineered in all the right ways

The rest of the Tarpon is similarly elaborate for something that's essentially designed to cut tape, cardboard and packaging.

Its body is machined from solid 316 stainless steel and measures just 6mm thick.

At 119.5mm long and around 100g, it's substantial enough to hold properly without becoming another bulky tool fighting for space in a drawer or toolkit.

It also has a reversible Cerakote-coated wire pocket clip, a lanyard hole, and a knurled wheel that lets you swap blades without turning the process into a miniature engineering project.

Despite all the precision machining and unusual deployment mechanism, the Tarpon accepts standard full-size utility blades, so when one gets blunt, you can simply replace it.

Jimmytronics is currently crowdfunding the Tarpon, with pledges starting at $68.

The campaign has already comfortably exceeded its original funding target.

As ever with crowdfunded products, you're backing a project rather than buying something that's already sitting on a shop shelf, so delivery dates and final specifications can still change.

It's also worth remembering that UK rules around carrying knives are strict.

Locking knives aren't covered by the general exemption for small non-locking folding pocket knives, so treat this as a utility tool for appropriate jobs rather than automatically throwing it into your everyday pocket.

Still, as an example of what happens when someone applies an unnecessary amount of engineering to a thoroughly ordinary object, the Tarpon is extremely appealing.

Check out the project on Kickstarter.

[via GearPatrol]

Solo Stove has just upgraded its Infinity Flame Propane Fire Pit with a stylish new finish. Designed to bring some warmth – in more ways than one – to your garden, the new Solo Stove Infinity Flame Propane Fire Pit now has a Teak Steel finish, but the price may shock you.

Best known for its smokeless fire pits, Solo Stove's Infinity Flame collection has a tabletop design so up to eight people can sit around it and enjoy its warmth. The original Infinity Flame fire pit launched in 2025, and marked a first as the brand’s first-ever propane fueled fire pit, so there’s a lot to like about this model.

Previously, the Solo Stove Infinity Flame Propane Fire Pit has come in a subtle charcoal colour, but this new upgrade gives it a golden hue. The Teak Steel finish includes a teak woodgrain-patterned tabletop that’s UV-resistant and measures 42 inches in diameter. It sits on a slatted steel frame and base which is resistant to rain, sun and rust.

When in action, the surface and base of the Solo Stove Infinity Flame Propane Fire Pit remains cool to the touch. It also has adjustable feet so it can be front and centre on your patio or blend into the background at a shorter height.

With its propane fuel, the Solo Stove Infinity Flame Propane Fire Pit uses a dual burner and precision airflow to create a flame that looks like a natural wood fire. The use of propane gives you more control over the flame, and as it’s a smokeless fire put, there’s no smoke, ash or sparks to worry about.

The Solo Stove Infinity Flame Propane Fire Pit can be adjusted via its single dial which delivers up to 72,000 BTUs. There’s a built-in compartment in the fire pit that hides your gas tank, and an integrated heat shield to keep everything safe. It also has a 5.5 hour run – or burn – time so you can bask by the fire all evening.

The Solo Stove Infinity Flame Propane Fire Pit is available to buy for $799.99 at Solo Stove. As of writing, it’s not yet available in the UK and Europe. Compared to Solo Stove’s other fire pits, the Infinity Flame is the more expensive model, and it’s $120 more than the charcoal steel version.

Is it worth $800? It’ll depend on your budget and the style of your garden, but it’s hard to deny the quality of a Solo Stove fire pit. I like the look of the Teak Steel finish, and agree that it gives your outdoor space more warmth, although if you’d prefer something subtle, the charcoal version is the one I’d choose.

On has made plenty of running shoes designed to help you move faster, but its latest collaboration with FKA twigs is focused on what happens after the finish line.

The Swiss brand and the artist have unveiled their Fall/Winter 2026 collection, headlined by the new Cloudmonster 3 Mule, which happens to be On’s first-ever mule silhouette.

The slip-on takes inspiration from the Cloudmonster family, bringing the brand’s distinctive oversized cushioning aesthetic into a recovery-focused shoe designed for slower moments.

It features a triple-layer CloudTec construction, Helion superfoam midsole and Speedboard technology.

The unique footwear also combines the soft cushioning expected from an off-duty shoe with the energetic feel synonymous with On’s footwear.

The result is a surprisingly technical take on the humble mule, built around the idea that recovery is part of movement, not an absence of it.

Available in two earth-inspired colourways, including Cacao/Espresso and Loess/Hare, the design swaps traditional laces for a hook-and-loop strap system, with a plush terry lining adding a more relaxed feel.

The upper features subtle branding and a sculptural shape that feels closer to a fashion sneaker than a conventional recovery clog (it certainly looks more sophisticated than your average Crocs).

The collection continues the creative partnership between On and FKA twigs, which has previously explored the relationship between training, movement and self-expression.

For the launch campaign, FKA twigs directed a series of images shot by photographer Sharna Osborne, inspired by the aesthetics of 90s VHS footage and portraying restorative movement through sculptural poses.

Alongside the Cloudmonster 3 Mule, the collection includes relaxed apparel pieces such as the Club Collective Full Zip Hoodie, Club Collective Pants and Studio Bodysuit, all designed around softer textures and post-performance comfort.

The On x FKA twigs Fall/Winter 2026 collection launches on 27 August 2026 through On’s website and selected retailers.

The Cloudmonster 3 Mule will cost £170 / $180 / €190 / AU$280 at On UK, On US, On EU and On AU.

When heading off to university, the obvious bag choices usually involve laptop compartments, canvas totes or whatever happens to be trending on campus.

But The North Face’s Base Camp Dry Bag makes a surprisingly strong case for something a little different.

Shop all The North Face Back to School backpacks

Originally designed for outdoor adventures, the 18-litre dry bag could easily become a student’s everyday companion.

It is compact enough to carry books, gym kit, and daily essentials, yet tough enough to handle everything from rainy commutes to weekend escapes.

It combines the rugged appeal of The North Face’s famous outdoor gear with a price that won’t make a student loan disappear.

The 18-litre version costs £60, while the smaller 12-litre model drops the price even further to just £47.

For that money, you get a bag made from 300D recycled polyester with a TPU coating and non-PFC durable water-repellent finish, alongside an IPX7 waterproof rating.

In practical terms, that means unexpected downpours, muddy trails and accidental puddle encounters are far less of a concern.

The roll-top design helps keep contents protected, while the reinforced base adds durability where cheaper everyday bags often start to fail.

There is also a Hypalon collar for easier rolling, daisy chain webbing for attaching extra gear and a removable padded shoulder strap for more comfortable carrying.

Available in The North Face’s distinctive outdoor-inspired colourways, it looks more adventurous than the sea of generic backpacks found on university campuses.

It is the sort of bag that works equally well heading to lectures, cycling across town or disappearing for a weekend camping trip.

While many back-to-school purchases are designed to last a year or two, this gear could stick around much longer.

A waterproof, hard-wearing bag from a brand with The North Face’s outdoor heritage for £47 is a rare combination, making the Base Camp Dry Bag one of the more interesting alternatives for students heading back to campus.

YETI just unveiled its latest collection, and it's actually two new colours fused into one.

The Estancia Collection takes inspiration from the vast ranchlands of South America, with the two new shades designed to reflect the region’s rugged landscapes and traditional gaucho culture.

The name itself comes from the Spanish word for a large ranch or estate typically associated with Argentina and Uruguay.

The theme carries through into the two new colours: Pampa Green, named after the famous grasslands of South America, and Stag Red, a warmer shade inspired by the tones of the open countryside.

Both are available across a broad selection of YETI’s existing gear, including the brand’s popular Rambler drinkware range, Tundra coolers, Hopper soft coolers, Camino carry bags and accessories.

Highlights include the Rambler 18 oz and 26 oz water bottles with matching Flip Chug Caps, the Rambler 35 oz Straw Mug, the Roadie 15 Hard Cooler, Hopper Flip 12 Soft Cooler, Camino 35 Carryall Tote, and the new Ranchero 4L Crossbody Bag.

Wide-open landscapes

The Estancia Collection’s campaign imagery leans heavily into its inspiration, featuring open landscapes, traditional clothing and outdoor gatherings, reinforcing YETI’s long-running connection with adventure, camping and life away from the everyday.

While the products remain unchanged, the new collection gives some of YETI’s most recognisable gear a distinctly different personality, swapping the usual utilitarian outdoor aesthetic for something closer to a South American ranch retreat.

As ever, YETI's products work both around the house and when you're camping, making them versatile enough to justify the premium price tag.

Quite unusually for the brand, the Estancia Collection launched simultaneously in the US and the UK, offering both countries a wide selection of products in the new colours.

That said, the UK range is only 50-something strong, while US customers have access to nearly 90 products.

Luckily, at least one patch (Stag Leap) made it across the Pond, which is always the highlight of YETI collections, at least for me.

The YETI Estancia Collection is available now at YETI US and YETI UK, with prices from $10 / £10 (~€8 / AU$14).

EU and AU prices and availability TBC.

It’s been a long, hot, dry summer, but we all know what that means… The clouds are already gathering on the horizon, and you don’t have to be Bob Dylan to realise a hard rain’s a‐gonna fall, very soon. And once it starts, well, you don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows.

So, as autumn approaches, are you ready? And by ready, I mean: do you have a decent, dependable waterproof jacket hanging somewhere within arm’s reach? If not, and you plan to spend any time outdoors doing things like hill walking and trail meandering, it’s time to get prepared.

Peak Performance is a Swedish brand created by a couple of elite skiers who know a thing or two about outdoor activities in challenging environments.

The Ridge Hipe Ace Jacket is a three-layer, breathable, windproof, waterproof hardshell outer jacket designed to make adventures on the wild side more comfortable and enjoyable in all kinds of conditions. Does it succeed? I’ve been testing the Ridge for months to find out.

Peak Performance Ridge Hipe Ace Jacket review

Price and availability

Available in just one colourway – cliff edge (a kind of greeny brown) and major brown for men; cliff edge and plum truffle for women – the Ridge Ace Hipe jacket sits in the middle of the Peak Performance range and will cost you around £350 in Britain, close to $400 in the United States and near enough €500 across the European Union.

Design and materials

Designed in Åre, northern Sweden (and made in Vietnam), like all Peak Performance apparel, the Ridge outer shell jacket is constructed primarily from 40D lightweight ripstop polyester, backed by a soft tricote layer, with Hipe Ace membrane technology doing the clever stuff to keep biting winds and wet weather at bay while letting internally generated moisture out.

It has an adjustable hood with a reasonably rigid laminated brim, a long back panel, a hem that can be tightened with toggles, Velcro straps at the wrist, and three pockets: two large zippered pouches on the outside and a mesh pocket on the inside.

While it has a full-length two-way YKK AquaGuard zipper on the front, it has no pit zips or underarm ventilation.

Specifications

• RRP: £350 (UK) / $399 (US) / €499.95 (EU)
• Gender availability: Male and female versions available
• Materials: 40D lightweight ripstop polyester with a soft tricote backer and Hipe Ace technology
• Waterproofness: HH 20,000mm
• Breathability: 20,000 g/m2/24h
• Weight: Men’s 446g; Women’s: 402g
• Colours: Men’s: Cliff edge & major brown; Women’s: Cliff edge & plum truffle
• Sizes (UK): Men’s: S–2XL; Women’s: XS–XL
• Best for: Trail walking, hill hiking, scrambling, backpacking

Performance

I have been trialling the Ridge jacket on trails since spring, wearing it on adventures ranging from walking the dog along the occasionally rain-streaked South West Coast to camping and hill hiking in the Highlands of Scotland.

If I didn’t know better, I’d say the weather gods are a bit afraid of this jacket, since they have avoided throwing anything too soggy at it for most of the test period, but I have been out and about in my fair share of showers and downpours while wearing it. And I can confidently say that it works. It keeps the wind and rainwater out brilliantly.

This jacket has a pretty relaxed fit, so you can easily wear a base layer and a chunkier midlayer – such as a fleece or a puffer jacket – underneath during colder conditions, but the soft tricot backer means the material is comfortable next to your skin if you choose to simply wear a T-shirt underneath.

The hood, which features an embedded RECCO Rescue System reflector (to help emergency service searchers locate you if things go belly up in the wilderness), can be pulled tight in adverse conditions for maximum protection. It also boasts a proper peak, not some flimsy thing, and this directs rainwater and snow away from your eyes.

With a single Velcro strip, the cuffs fasten securely around gloves, and while there’s no dedicated snow skirt, the long back panel and adjustable hem keep breezes out.

I really love the little touches on this jacket that contribute so much to its overall comfiness, such as the soft-touch material that surrounds the chin guard.

Plenty of other jackets have a zip garage, so you don’t catch your chin skin or beard in the zipper (never a nice experience), but I’ve never come across a jacket with such a generous amount of velvet-soft material to shield the lower face from rubbing. When conditions are hard you have your jacket zipped right up, this makes a big difference.

The pockets on this jacket are nice and large, so you can fit everything in them from smartphones and other devices through to old-fashioned maps. The zips on the two outer pockets are excellent quality (YKK), and there’s also an interior pocket to keep things protected from the elements.

One downside is that the shoulders don’t appear to be reinforced with any additional protection, so wearing a backpack might damage the material in this area as the harness rubs against it. That said, few jackets offer this level of protection.

A bigger complaint from me is that there are no pit zips. On test, I found that the Hipe Ace technology worked just as well as a waterproof barrier as better-known systems, such as Gore-Tex. However, all of these membrane-based systems work on an evaporative basis that is only truly breathable when conditions are right and relatively dry (like in the Alps and the Rockies in the US).

In the more wet and humid conditions we experience here in the UK, they perform less well, and despite the impressive figures produced by lab tests, you will still get hot and sweaty and experience the build-up of moisture on the inside of synthetic jackets, especially if you are doing something dynamic, like hiking up a hill, clambering up a steep peak approach or cross-country skiing… unless, that is, they are very well vented.

The Ridge does feature a two-way main zip, so you can open it from the top or bottom (or both), which helps you dump excess heat when necessary. But, in my opinion, pit zips are by far the best way to resolve temperature regulation and moisture problems, not least because you can have them undone in the rain while you’re hiking or climbing, and rain still won’t get in.

Verdict

Overall, the Ridge Hipe Ace outer shell from Peak Performance is a great jacket, which provides good protection, looks and feels good, and has quality features. I would like to see it available in a few more colours – while it’s a nice natural hue, brown and another shade of brown don’t excite everyone – but on a more functional level, the main thing the coat is missing is pit zips. In my opinion, the very best waterproof jackets need pit zips, and this is a hill I’ll die on (probably because I’ve overheated and got mad about the lack of underarm ventilation).

Also consider

For a top-notch waterproof shell that does have pit zips, and offers sensational protection against even the angriest of elements when you're doing some proper adventuring, the Makalu Jacket from Mountain Equipment is hard to beat.

Alternatively, if you’re counting grams, the Montane Phase Lite is a super lightweight shell jacket, tipping the scales at just 300g, which still offers excellent waterproof performance (HH 28,000mm).

For a more budget friendly option, which will still keep you dry and fend off windchill, the Jack Wolfskin Eagle Peak jacket is well worth a look, and you can often find it for under £100.

Rooftop tents have always been about getting you off the ground, but the Sky Cruiser is taking things a bit further. Cinch Outdoors has designed it to feel less like sleeping in a tent and more like opening up a little room on top of your truck.

The big attraction is the skylight. Rather than having a fabric roof between you and the night sky, the Sky Cruiser has a clear panel above the sleeping area, while large side windows provide panoramic views during the day.

Then there's the built-in GlowRail LED lighting, which means you don't need to hang a camping lamp from the ceiling every time the sun goes down. There's also SkyHold storage to keep your gear organised, along with a high-density foam mattress and ThermaSoft flooring for a more comfortable night's sleep.

Getting inside is handled by the WideTrak telescopic ladder, which extends in one motion and locks into place. It's a small detail, but one that should make late-night trips in and out less awkward.

Like the Wingman we covered a few weeks ago, the Sky Cruiser uses an X-frame mechanism that pops open and locks into position in seconds, so there's no collection of poles to assemble or inflatable structure to pump up. That should make a big difference if you're arriving at a campsite after a long day on the road and simply want to get settled.

Cinch isn't new to quick-deploy rooftop camping. Its earlier Air Cruiser used an inflatable Air Frame, but the Sky Cruiser switches to a mechanical system designed to hold its shape without relying on air pressure.

At $4,999 (£3,900), this is definitely not the cheap way to go camping. But if you've already decided that your truck roof is going to be your bedroom, the Sky Cruiser makes a decent case for doing it properly - with a view, lighting and considerably less faffing around.

The first priority for most people once they arrive at an overnight camping spot, after putting the tent up and laying out their camping mat and sleeping bag, is to fire up a stove and boil water for a hot brew. Once that’s done, you can start thinking about rustling up something more substantial for dinner.

What constitutes the best stove will depend on the kind of outdoor adventure you’re planning. For lightweight backpacking, fastpacking and bikepacking escapades, a small stove that’s light to carry and fits easily into a backpack is a top priority.

If you’re car or canoe camping, however, then weight is less of an issue, and the ability to cook larger amounts of food for a group might be a bigger factor.

Or maybe you’re just heading out for the day, to enjoy a picnic or a few hours at the beach, when a basic, affordable portable stove is a far better and safer way to sizzle some sausages than using one of those environmentally disastrous disposable barbecues.

Price and ease of use are also important considerations, as is the kind of fuel a stove uses, and how easy it is to source. The following three excellent camping stoves have all served me well in different situations over the last few years, and I highly recommend them.

TOP 3

Best stove for fast food

Jetboil Trailcook 1.2L / 2.0L

I have long been a big fan of Jetboil stoves, and my trusty Jetboil Flash is still one of the very first pieces of kit I will reach for when packing for a camping trip, or even a picnic.

The clever design of Jetboil stoves, with their rocket-like ‘FluxRing’ burners and integrated cooking pots, conducts heat highly efficiently and reduces boil times to seconds – especially when you use the brand’s own four-season butane-propane mix fuel.

No matter how extreme the environment you find yourself in, a Jetboil will deliver hot water for drinks or purpose-bought dehydrated camping meals quicker than any other stove on the market, and the Trailscook continues this tradition, offering 1.8 kW (6000 BTU/h) of power.

The downside to Jetboil stoves has generally been the limited size of the pot and the difficulty of controlling the intensity of the heat source, but both of these issues have been addressed and resolved with the new Trailcook models, which have a generous saucepan (1.2 or 2-litre sizes available) and really good simmer control.

The unit has a Piezo ignition, the pans boast folding, easy-to-use handles and the stove comes with stabilising feet. As with other Jetboil models, the whole set-up can be contained within the pot, which means it’s easy to pack.

At £219.99/£229.99 (US$179.99 / US$199.99) for the 1.2L/2L models respectively, the Jetboil TrailCook stove is an investment, but if my Flash is anything to go by, it will provide top performance for many years.

Best stove for lightweight performance

I’ve been using my Soto Windmaster 4-Flex Stove for several years, primarily for lightweight backpacking escapades when I want to carry as little weight and bulk as possible, and bikepacking adventures, when storage space is always extremely limited.

The arms on the pot-propping part of the stove fold in, and the tidy little unit is ultra lightweight – barely bothering the scales at just 87g/3oz, which is about the same as a good pair of hiking socks.

The burner and the 4flex pot support attachment can be separated, and the whole system packs away small enough to fit into a camping cup, so it really is super easy to pack and carry (by far the largest and heaviest element is the gas canister, and you can buy small ones).

Despite its svelte proportions, the Windmaster punches well above its weight when it comes to heating water or cooking food, with an output of 2800 kcal/h, 3260 W (11000 BTU) – powerful enough to withstand strong wind.

Beautifully made, it comes armed with a reliable Piezo ignition and the simmer control is decent too – the micro regulator and flame control knob enable you to limit or increase the power according to conditions and what you’re trying to cook.

Although you do need to purchase cooking pots separately, the Windmaster stove is reasonably priced (£64.99 / $69.95), and the unit comes with a storage pouch to protect it (and the pan) if you carry one within the other.

Best for car camping and picnics

Campingaz Camp & Trek Connect with Easy Clic

Camp cooking is not rocket science, and the vast majority of us will do most of our alfresco sleeping and eating in pretty non-extreme environments where all we really need is an uncomplicated but reliable stove that’s affordable, easy to use and does the job it promises to do (heat stuff up).

This perfectly describes the Camp & Trek Connect with Easy Clic model from Campingaz. We love everything about this stove (except perhaps the clunky name). It’s too large to take on lightweight backpacking missions, but tipping the scales at 600g, it’s not much heavier than a bottle of water.

It comes with a storage pouch and is perfect for outdoor cooking in a whole range of situations, from beach and backcountry get-togethers to car and canoe camping adventures.

With three sturdy legs and a generously proportioned cooking surface with a diameter of 15cm, the stand-alone design of the stove means it isn’t perched atop the fuel source, so it has a low centre of gravity, making it very stable even when you have a full pot on top.

The Piezo ignition is located on the fuel feeder tube, so you can spark it up without burning all the hair off your knuckles, and the 2kW burner heats water and food very quickly and efficiently.

Like Jetboil, Campingaz produces canisters of a very functional and efficient butane-propane mix fuel. This stove operates with CV300 or CV470 Plus gas cartridges, which are widely available in the UK and elsewhere, and the Easy Clic system of attaching the fuel source is very easy and safe to use, with a locking system for safety. Priced at £60, this stove is a bulletproof bargain.

Good to know

They’re all basically designed to do the same thing, but camping stoves come in myriad shapes and sizes, and with a dizzying range of design features, which you must match to your requirements and budget.

Some are simply lightweight water-boiling devices (which might be exactly what you require), while others are capable of more in terms of simmering and sautéing more sophisticated meals.

In terms of outlay, while a complete cooking set like the Jetboil might seem pretty expensive, it’s very useful to have a dedicated cooking pot, especially if the appliance integrates directly with the heat source, so very little energy is lost.

And if the whole thing fits together in one compact package – even better. The Soto and Campingaz models are considerably cheaper, but you will need to purchase pots and carry them while on the trail.

In general, it’s good to find a stove with a reliable ignition system like the Piezo (which all three of these stoves feature) that runs on a fuel source that’s relatively cheap and easy to find, like butane and propane.

There are plenty of multitools that promise to replace half the contents of your pocket. The new Edge & Pop Dual kind of does. It combines a Damascus steel knife, bottle opener and phone stand in one compact gadget. Simple.

Created by Lunark, the Edge & Pop Dual is now crowdfunding on Kickstarter, with early-bird pledges starting at $39 (£28). That's currently 35% below its planned $60 (£44) retail price.

The clever bit is that the three functions don't interfere with each other. The knife and bottle opener each have their own sliding mechanism, so you can deploy one without exposing the other. When both are tucked away, the body of the tool becomes a phone stand.

That means you can use it to prop up your phone in either portrait or landscape orientation, rather than balancing your handset against a coffee mug, wallet or whatever else happens to be nearby. Lunark says it can accommodate phones and small tablets up to 8mm thick.

The main attraction is still the blade. Edge & Pop Dual uses a 67-layer Damascus steel drop-point blade made from 9Cr18MoV high-carbon stainless steel, with a blade length of 1.1 inches.

It's designed for the usual everyday cutting jobs, including opening packaging, cutting tape and rope, rather than pretending to be a full-size outdoor knife. The whole thing weighs around 72g, so it shouldn't exactly weigh down your pocket.

There's also a dedicated speed bottle opener on the other slider. That's a useful addition for a tool designed to live in your pocket, and perfect if you're the sort of person who regularly finds yourself searching for something to open a bottle with.

The frame is made from heat-treated 420 stainless steel, while the handle scales are available in ebony or golden sandalwood. It's a more refined-looking proposition than the usual chunky, tactical-looking multitool.

Lunark has kept the Edge & Pop Dual compact. The overall open length is around 80mm, with a 52mm handle, and the company says the two sliders use separate thumb controls.

That's one of the most appealing things about the design. Rather than adding a dozen tools that you'll probably never use, Lunark has concentrated on three functions that can genuinely make sense together: cut something, open something, or prop something up.

It's also a follow-up to the original Edge & Pop, which gives the company some crowdfunding history rather than making this a completely untested first product.

The Edge & Pop Dual is currently available to back on Kickstarter from $39 (£28), with higher-priced multi-packs also available. As ever with a Kickstarter project, you're backing a product ahead of full-scale production rather than buying something that is already sitting on a shop shelf, with delivery currently slated for January 2027.

But if you've ever tried to prop your phone against a coffee cup while wishing you had a pocket knife or bottle opener handy, this might be one of those rare multitools where the extra functions actually make sense.

Peak Design makes excellent functional gear, including camera and travel bags, but with its latest collection, the San Francisco-based brand is moving into a different territory altogether.

The new City Line is Peak Design’s attempt to rethink the everyday bag, with six new models built around lighter construction, simpler organisation and considerably cleaner styling.

According to the company, the idea behind City Line was to question whether an everyday bag really needs more features, or whether every feature would be better off earning its place.

The resulting collection includes the City Backpack in 15L and 22L sizes, the City Tote 15L, City Sling 2L and the two City Crescent sizes.

Less bag, more city

The Crescent is arguably the clearest expression of that new approach.

My highlight of the collection, the City Crescent is a relaxed, curved crossbody option that feels much closer to a contemporary fashion accessory than the structured tech bags.

Peak Design says its ergonomic shape is designed to distribute weight naturally across your body, while the soft, flexible construction should make it comfortable for walking, commuting and generally spending all day moving around a city.

There's quick-access pocketing and the company's deployable BagLev hook system, while the outer is constructed from its new weather-resistant 660D MonoShell fabric.

That MonoShell material is used throughout City Line alongside seam-reduced patterning, helping reduce weight while creating the much smoother exterior that distinguishes the range from Peak Design's more technical-looking bags.

The smaller City Sling is the cleaned-up (and smaller) version of the Travel Crossbody 3L, which recently made me rethink crossbody bags.

The City Backpack is probably the most straightforward option in the collection, drawing on lessons from the company's travel bag line, including the Travel Backpack 45L and others.

Perhaps more surprisingly, Peak Design is having some fun with colour.

Alongside understated options are considerably more expressive finishes, including a vibrant Lapis blue, which feels like new territory for a company whose bags have traditionally leaned towards relatively restrained tones.

The City Line launched the collection on 4 August, and it's available now at Peak Design UK, Peak Design US, Peak Design EU and Peak Design AU. Prices from £60 / $70 / €70 / AU$140.

Pas Normal Studios has unveiled its Autumn/Winter 2026 Off-Race collection, expanding the Copenhagen cycling label’s off-bike range into what it describes as a complete wardrobe system.

That might sound like an ambitious claim for a company best known for making some of the most fashionable cycling kit around, but the new collection makes a convincing case.

For the range, Pas Normal Studios transformed its technical gear into everyday clothing, with shells, insulation, knitwear, shirts and trousers designed for commuting, travelling and just generally existing away from your bike.

The AW26 collection sits somewhere between Scandinavian minimalism, technical outdoor clothing and contemporary streetwear, with relaxed proportions and muted colours preventing the more performance-focused elements from looking overly sporty.

As well as hero pieces such as the Off-Race Down Liner Jacket and Off-Race Tech Corduroy Pants. Pas Normal has also introduced new merino knitwear, boiled wool pieces and styles made using Japanese seersucker.

Cycling clothes without the cycling clothes

Creative Director and co-founder Karl-Oskar Olsen says details that become second nature when riding have been deliberately transferred into everyday clothing, pointing to things such as secure zipped rear pockets and two-way jacket zips that allow heat to escape.

The collection has been designed around layering, with lightweight shirts that can work as mid-layers and merino and boiled wool providing insulation.

The Down Liner Jacket can be combined with outerwear as temperatures drop, while reflective branding and practical storage appear throughout the range.

The fleece and wide corduroy trousers make an especially strong combination, while the oversized outerwear and cropped down jackets could easily sit alongside pieces from fashion-conscious outdoor labels rather than traditional cycling brands.

Colours remain characteristically restrained: Black, Steel, Dark Coffee and Dark Navy form the base of the collection, joined by earthy shades including Deep Olive, Wood and Sandstone, with brighter Dark Lime and Ochre used as accents.

The Pas Normal Studios AW26 Off-Race collection launches today, 13 August, through the brand’s website, Pas Normal Studios stores and selected retailers. Prices from €12 (~£10 / $14 / AU$20).

Canada Goose might be synonymous with enormous down-filled parkas and other outerwear pieces built for genuinely hostile weather, but one of the most interesting pieces from its newly arriving Fall/Winter 2026 collection takes things in a very different direction.

The Scout Coat is a new style that leans into heritage workwear aesthetics, with a design that borrows heavily from an archival piece.

The jacket comes in two colours, Arabica Brown and Vireo Green, and combines a removable shearling collar with a water-repellent finish.

The four-pocket front, generous cut and contrasting dark shearling collar give it the feel of an old field or hunting jacket, albeit one that has been cleaned up considerably for a modern luxury wardrobe.

Heritage workwear has become increasingly popular in recent years, pushing gorpcore further out with contemporary menswear options such as chore coats, barn jackets and other utilitarian silhouettes.

In keeping with the trend of people looking for highly functional clothing, most modern workwear-inspired pieces can also function as heavy-duty apparel, albeit with a more fashionable twist.

The Scout taps into this aesthetic without looking too out of place for a brand that historically wasn't the biggest manufacturer of this type of workwear options.

Its military and outdoorsy influences are hardly new, which is why the design has considerably more staying power than your average seasonal statement piece.

Not everything needs to survive the Arctic

The Scout isn't the only new arrival, suggesting Canada Goose is having a little fun with its AW26 wardrobe.

At almost the opposite end of the spectrum is the Habel Knit Crew, a wonderfully bright pink cable-knit jumper that stands out immediately among the brand's considerably more subdued outerwear.

Officially finished in Linnaea Rose, the crew is described by Canada Goose as a more sculptural interpretation of a timeless knit, designed to add extra dimension and lightness to the familiar shape. It's also marked as a new style for the season.

It's certainly not the Canada Goose most people picture when they hear the name, and that's exactly why I like it.

The brand's AW26 rollout still contains plenty of the technical fleeces, insulated jackets and parkas you'd expect, but pieces such as the Scout Coat and Habel Knit Crew hint at a broader wardrobe beyond expedition-ready outerwear.

Personally, I'd take the Scout. It has enough Canada Goose practicality to make sense, but looks more like the sort of jacket you'll still want to wear long after this season's trends have moved on.

The Scout Coat is available now at Canada Goose UK, Canada Goose US and Canada Goose EU for the recommended price of £1,550 / $1,750 / €1,775 (~AU$2,961).

YETI releases new colours with impressive regularity, so the fact that the cooler king released not one but two new colourways recently shouldn't come as a shock.

The new Open Country and Upland Birds collections bring hunting-inspired colours and artwork to everything from the brand's famous coolers and Rambler drinkware to waterproof bags, flasks and apparel.

Open Country is the more traditional-looking option of the two, combining Olive Green with flashes of King Crab Orange, giving familiar YETI products a colour-blocked look that feels particularly appropriate heading into autumn.

The US range stretches across hard and soft coolers, bottles, tumblers, jugs and bags, including the Panga 28L Waterproof Backpack, Camino 35 Carryall Tote, Roadie 32 Wheeled Cooler and Tundra 35.

Conversely, Upland Birds introduces game-bird illustrations that appear across selected bottles, tumblers and YETI Flasks, sometimes laid over the Olive Green finish and elsewhere contrasted against bright orange.

It's considerably more decorative than your typical YETI colour launch, without losing the outdoorsy aesthetic that made Open Country work in the first place.

Feathers in the cap

For me, though, it's the hats that steal the collection.

YETI has created several new designs for the US range, including the khaki Wood Duck Flat Brim Rope Hat, which puts a large embroidered bird front and centre.

There is also the dark-green Good Call Flat Brim Rope Hat, complete with a retro-style hunting patch, just to mention a couple.

Both cost $35 and use a snapback closure with a Bureo brim derived from NetPlus recycled fishing-net material.

There's also a full-on camo trucker hat with an orange YETI Coolers patch, plus a wonderfully simple dark-brown flat-brim design with orange branding.

They lean heavily into vintage hunting and outdoors styling, and arguably make the colours feel more like a proper collection than simply another seasonal repaint.

YETI's Open Country & Upland Birds landing page in the US currently lists 56 results, encompassing 28 drinkware products, eight bags, five hard coolers, four soft coolers and six apparel pieces.

Most of the range is now available directly from YETI US, although availability varies by product and region.

The UK collection is live too, albeit with a smaller selection, and, disappointingly, without those show-stealing hats at the time of writing.

Montbell’s Closeout sale is currently offering up to 30% off selected outdoor gear, and one of the more tempting reductions is on the Superior Down Parka. The jacket has dropped from £212 in the striking Red colourway, which not only looks great but also makes you much more visible in an emergency.

Shop Montbell's up to 30% off Closeout sale

The Superior Down Parka is built as a lightweight cold-weather layer and weighs just 243g. It uses 800-fill-power EX Down, Montbell’s premium down insulation, giving it a strong warmth-to-weight ratio for hiking, travelling and everyday wear.

Montbell surrounds the insulation with a 10-denier Ballistic Airlight nylon ripstop shell, complete with a water-repellent finish. The sewn-through construction helps keep weight down and holds the insulation in place, while the fabric is also downproofed to reduce feathers escaping through the outer.

The adjustable dual-axial hood is designed to move with your head without restricting visibility, while elasticated cuffs and an adjustable hem help trap warmth.

Storage comes from two zipped hand pockets and a pair of internal drop-in pockets, and Montbell even includes a stuff sack for packing the jacket down when it isn’t needed.

It’s worth noting that the Superior Down Parka has a relatively slim cut, partly because it’s designed to work as a mid-layer underneath a waterproof shell. Montbell recommends sizing up if you prefer a more relaxed fit.

At £53 off, it’s a useful opportunity to pick up a genuinely lightweight 800-fill down jacket for less, provided red works with your wardrobe.

66ºNorth has unveiled its Autumn/Winter 2026 collection, and if you like your outdoor clothing to look equally at home on a windswept Icelandic coastline and the streets of London, there’s plenty here to get excited about.

Layers of Everyday Life arrives during the Icelandic brand’s centenary year and digs heavily into the archive, taking garments originally designed for fishermen, mountaineers and unforgiving North Atlantic weather and reworking them for everyday use.

Judging by the campaign imagery, that doesn’t mean sanding away the technical character.

Dominating the collection are oversized down jackets, substantial waterproof shells, fleece jackets, wool and exaggerated collars.

The clothing still looks distinctly functional, but proportions, layering and materials give it the kind of fashion credibility that means you don’t necessarily need a mountain anywhere nearby to justify wearing it.

From Everest to everyday life

Among the AW26 highlights is the returning Dyngja Down family, based on one of 66ºNorth’s bestselling down coats from the early 2000s.

It has been reinterpreted using recycled insulation and will be available across bomber, jacket and coat silhouettes.

The campaign's chunky puffers are arguably some of my favourite and the strongest-looking pieces in the entire collection.

One of the new puffers, the Tindur Down Jacket, has serious mountaineering history behind it.

The original was developed for the first Icelander to climb Everest from its north side, but AW26 introduces a new cropped interpretation inspired by 66ºNorth’s recent District Vision collaboration.

The Tindur Shearling takes things in another direction, using Polartec to create a technical mid-layer combining warmth and freedom of movement, while giving the collection another useful hit of texture.

The Hofsjökull Bomber also looks amazing with its oversized hood, especially in the Lifesaver orange colourway.

The archive-inspired Dyngja Shell, first introduced for AW25, returns alongside the Hornstrandir GORE-TEX Pro, which sits at the technical end of 66ºNorth’s range.

There are some entirely new pieces as well, including the Kaldi, which comes as both an oversized bomber and a bomber-parka hybrid, joined by a relaxed Kaldi Half-Zip interpretation of the traditional Icelandic wool sweater.

Finally, the Hofsjökull Coat updates one of the brand’s signature parkas with GORE-TEX Windstopper for extra protection against Iceland's notoriously unpleasant weather.

Archive-print T-shirts featuring fishing boats, Icelandic landscapes and workwear graphics provide the finishing touches.

The collection is available now at 66ºNorth with prices from £20 / $25 / €20 (~AU$33).

Fresh off its Experience Wild 3+ collab with Altra, Japanese outdoor brand and wander has revealed its Autumn/Winter 2026 collection, and anyone who likes their hiking kit with a sizeable helping of fashion should probably pay attention.

The Tokyo-based label has always occupied an interesting space between genuine outdoor equipment and Japanese fashion, but AW26 pushes the combination particularly hard.

The new lookbook jumps from PERTEX SHIELD waterproofs and Dyneema backpacks to shaggy knits, quilted skirts and dramatically wide trousers without any of it feeling particularly out of place.

There are plenty of recognisable and wander staples among the more technical looks, including the PERTEX SHIELD Rain Jacket, 2.5-layer hiking shells, 3-layer rain trousers, ECOPAK backpacks and the brand's Waterproof Trek Shoes Low.

Dyneema, one of the most popular materials in the outdoor industry right now, is making an appearance in the UltraWeave 23L ultralight pack.

Continuing the theme of eye-catching but highly functional gear, the PERTEX SHIELD jacket has a three-layer construction that combines 40-denier nylon with a non-porous polyurethane membrane and nylon tricot backing.

It has a quoted 20,000mm waterproof rating and 20,000g/m²/24h breathability, with underarm ventilation and reflective detailing reinforcing its mountain credentials.

Rain gaiters have never looked this good

One of the most interesting pieces is much simpler: the Rain Long Gaiter.

and wander positions the gaiter as an alternative way of building a waterproof lower-body system, particularly when paired with its Rain Wrap Skirt.

The gaiters extend above the knee to help protect the lower legs from rain, wet vegetation and cold, while also being easier to remove than a conventional pair of waterproof trousers.

AW26 combines the gaiters with oversized hiking trousers, technical vests and waterproof shoes, creating an almost futuristic silhouette from something primarily designed to stop your legs getting soaked.

Then there are the Printed Satin Pants (see at the top), perhaps the collection's biggest departure from conventional outdoor clothing.

The voluminous unisex trousers use a soft cotton-rayon satin with an original all-over print, integrated webbing waist belt and drawcord-adjustable hems.

They have the relaxed proportions you'd expect from fashion-led trousers, but there are still little reminders that this is and wander.

The brown version's fiery, almost camouflage-like print is particularly striking, especially when AW26 pairs it with more restrained fleece and outerwear.

I'm also rather taken with the Reversible Boa Jacket, which combines a fuzzy patterned exterior with contrasting technical-looking panels and an oversized shape.

The collection moves further into traditional winter clothing elsewhere, including shaggy wool jackets, yak wool cardigans, down pieces, moleskin trousers and quilted layers.

Proper rain shells, performance packs and waterproof accessories sit alongside satin, wool, fleece and oversized tailoring as parts of the same wardrobe.

It's strange, functional and occasionally flamboyant, and exactly the sort of outdoor clothing that could make you want to wear your hiking gear even when you're nowhere near a mountain.

The collection is available now in Japan at mix.tokyo, with prices from ¥18,300 (~£85 / $115 / €99 / AU$163).

Patagonia’s Fall 2026 collection keeps revealing some surprisingly substantial updates.

Following the arrival of its new waterproof packs and other seasonal gear, the outdoor brand has now overhauled parts of its popular Nano-Air insulation family, including a redesigned Nano-Air Light platform and several entirely new, more lifestyle-oriented jackets.

The biggest technical change is the updated Nano-Air Light, which now uses 40g FullRange insulation made from 100% recycled polyester.

Patagonia describes it as exceptionally air permeable, with enough stretch to move naturally during high-output activities such as climbing, hiking and ski touring.

The shell and lining are also made from recycled polyester ripstop, with an air-permeable construction designed to let heat escape rather than trapping it inside.

A PFAS-free DWR treatment adds resistance against light moisture.

The new Nano-Air Light Jacket comes in men's and women's versions and weighs 332g and 281g respectively.

Both have articulated patterning, low-profile quilting and three zipped pockets, while the jacket can stuff into its chest pocket when not required.

There’s also an updated Nano-Air Light Hoody, adding a stretchy low-profile hood and a second chest pocket. The women's version weighs 323g, while the men's comes in at 371g.

The Nano-Air Light Vest has been updated too, with the new men's version moving to a regular fit and weighing just 213g. The corresponding women's model tips the scales at 195g.

From alpine insulation to everyday outerwear

Perhaps more interestingly, Patagonia is also using Nano-Air technology outside its traditional technical-mountain setting.

The new Nano-Air Bomber Jacket wraps 60g FullRange insulation inside a conventional bomber silhouette, complete with an insulated collar, elastic cuffs and adjustable hem.

There’s also a Nano-Air Shirt Jacket, essentially an insulated overshirt with a snap front, zipped hand pockets and 60g FullRange filling, while the women's range adds a cropped Snap Hoody, relaxed Bomber Jacket and thigh-length Long Hoody.

All use the same breathable recycled ripstop fabric and 60g FullRange insulation.

While Patagonia is still targeting climbers and fast-moving mountain users with Nano-Air Light, but the bomber and shirt-jacket designs suggest it also wants its active insulation to work as everyday outerwear.

In the US, the Nano-Air Light Vest starts at $199, the Light Jacket costs $259, and the Light Hoody is $299.

In the UK, the new Light Hoody is listed at £280, while some of the other Fall 2026 pieces appear to be reaching the UK site gradually.

Whatever your preference, there’s a style of tent available to meet your needs, whether it’s a large four- to eight-person family tent for a weekend or a two-week summer break in France, a feather-light 3-season backpacking tent for solo trekkers, bikers and globetrotting students, a cheap-and-cheerful shelter for a music festival or a 4-season storm-proof mountain tent for the truly adventurous.

However, there’s also a category of tent for those who enjoy the freedom of the open road and the wherewithal to stop almost anywhere a campsite permits, making spontaneous overnight stays far easier.

The most popular of these is the rooftop tent, which remains firmly fixed to the roof rack of a car, just like a standard roof box. These tents unfold in different ways but, in most cases, when you arrive at your destination you simply grab the attached ladder, pull it out and the whole tent unfolds in a thrice. When folded, it packs down into a compact hard shell or a covered fabric case.

The good thing about a rooftop tent is that you’re well above ground level, but the not-so-good thing is that you tend to feel the wind more strongly because of its elevation and the fact it’s attached to a car that rocks on its own suspension.

Also, you need to use a ladder to get in and out of the tent and that rules out taking a large dog with you. You also need the right type of car – usually a 4x4 or large estate – and that rules out car touring in an open top with the wind in your hair.

Which leads me to what Australians call a swag tent, of which I have a particularly fine example sitting on my lawn right now.

It’s called the Dometic Pico FTC 2x2 TC-i, and I personally think it’s a brilliant one- or two-person option for car touring and quick weekend pitch-ups, mostly because it sits firmly on the floor, it’s inflatable so it erects in seconds, it’s made from breathable polycotton, and you can take it in any type of car, including small hatchbacks and convertibles.

Let’s take a closer look at this new and very niche style of tent, and see if it ticks all the boxes for your next campsite-based driving holiday.

Dometic Pico FTC 2x2 TC-i tent review

Price and availability

The Dometic Pico FTC 2x2 TC-i is widely available in the UK through camping specialists and outdoor retailers, with a recommended retail price of around £525, although discounts bring it down to under £350 in some cases.

In the UK you can purchase this tent from Outdoor XL (£324.95), Berger Camping (£532) and Blacks (£469), when it’s back in stock. While currently out of stock at Go Outdoors, you can at least purchase the one-person version of the Pico for £450 (£399 members).

In Europe, prices typically range between €550 and €620 though my research suggests that it isn’t widely available. I would check the Dometic website for stockists in your region. Likewise, the Pico is currently very difficult to find through mainstream US retailers, making it a specialist import for American buyers.

Pitching process

I’ve lost count of how many tents I’ve erected and packed up over the years, but I’ve got to say that the Pico was easily one of the very fastest and most intuitive.

If it's windy, start by pegging out all four corners and grab the included air pump, which you will need to assemble before using for the first time. Now attach the pump to the main inflation inlet and start pumping. It took me thirty pumps before the tent suddenly popped up on its own and another twenty or so strokes to reach the required 9PSI of pressure.

Mind, I’m not sure I like the way the Dometic pump works because the needle on the gauge doesn’t remain static on the PSI figure as you’re pumping. Instead, it shoots up as you apply pressure and then drops to zero on the upstroke. This means you have to watch the needle carefully until it brushes the 9PSI figure.

A figure of 9PSI is pretty high for an air beam tent, so don’t panic if you think the beams feel too firm – they should be difficult to squeeze between the fingers. At this juncture, it would be a good idea to peg out the corners of the tent in case a rogue gust of wind rolls in.

The next stage is to inflate the bedroom’s full-width mattress, and this is done using a second air beam valve with a large warning label attached that states a maximum of 2 PSI. I presume Dometic fitted this warning following complaints by a handful of users who pumped it so full the mattress burst.

I think the most likely reason was user error because it’s easy to go overboard when pumping. For this reason, Dometic also provides a special release valve with the pump when inflating the mattress but I could never get it to attach to the inlet so I also winged it.

However, I did it very carefully in stages of a few pumps at a time, followed by a quick check. What you want is a bit of give in the mattress so your knuckle can touch the floor. The rest of the process entails pegging out the four guy lines and installing the two telescopic porch poles.

Unlike your average polyester tent, most polycotton tents require weatherproofing in the garden before being used, and this entails closing the doors and windows and properly soaking the whole tent with a hosepipe before allowing it to dry thoroughly.

When the fabric gets wet, the cotton fibres expand, which closes the tiny gaps in the weave, creating a complete barrier against rain. Wetting and then drying the tent also allows the material to shrink slightly and become properly tensioned on the frame.

Just be sure to fully dry the tent before packing it away, or mould may develop while in storage. This also applies when packing it up after use. If it’s raining on the day you’re leaving, find a place at home to open the tent so it can dry naturally because polycotton is much more susceptible to mould than polyester, and it’s not easy to remove.

Design and build quality

The Dometic Pico FTC 2x2 TC-i is a fascinating exercise in minimalist tent design, which is hardly surprising given that the company that makes it is Swedish. At first glance, it resembles an oversized Australian ‘swag’ more than a conventional shelter.

For those who have never heard of the term – me previously included – a swag is a type of hybrid tent with a built-in mattress that originated in the Australian outback.

It typically consists of a heavy-duty canvas shell, a built-in mattress and mesh panels for insect protection. In the Land of Oz, the swag has become one of the most popular types of tent for car- and motorbike-based camping. However, by comparison, this Dometic model is on another level, especially when it comes to design, build quality, and effortless pitching and packing.

For a fully polycotton tent with air beams and integrated inflatable mattress, the two-person Pico FTC 2x2 weighs in at a light-ish 11.5 kg and arrives in a backpack-style carry bag with padded shoulder straps, making it surprisingly manageable over moderate distances.

Its pack size, too, is much smaller than I expected – around 60 x 38 x 20 cm – and that likely makes it small enough for transport on a large motorcycle cruiser like a Honda Gold Wing.

The defining feature here is undoubtedly the Pico’s quick-pitch Air Frame Technology, which replaces traditional tent poles with a double T-shaped inflatable structural beam that inflates via a single external valve, allowing the entire frame to take shape in about 30 seconds.

According to the specs, the Pico’s outer Weathershield TC fabric has a GSM of 210 and is made from a blend of 35% cotton and 65% polyester. I would hazard a guess that its hydrostatic head is equivalent to more than 3,000mm, which is better than average for waterproofness. I certainly saw no signs of water ingress after squirting the tent with the hose gun set to full blast.

Most impressively, the Pico’s polyester fabric feels so much more substantial than the gossamer-thin, flappy polyester found on most modern camping tents. Moreover, polycotton has two distinctly favourable properties.

It naturally regulates internal temperature much more effectively than synthetic fabrics, keeping the interior cooler during warm afternoons and slightly warmer on nippy evenings, and it’s also breathable, which vastly reduces condensation on chilly mornings.

Build quality of the Pico is universally excellent, with neat stitching, reinforced stress points and a robust inflatable beam system that feels like it will withstand repeated packing and unpacking, which is what car touring is all about.

The heavy-duty zips glide smoothly, while the front door flap closes securely without snagging. While there is a bit of sag at the rear of the tent, it’s not something I noticed when inside. However, an extra centrally located rear pegging point would help pull the rear of the fly a little more outward and make the back end look a bit more taut in my opinion.

Another thoughtful design element is the inclusion of an integrated full-floor inflatable i-Beam mattress which measures 215cm in length and 140cm in width – suitable for two and even better for one.

Rather than using a separate air bed that slides around during the night, this dimpled mattress forms part of the overall design and reduces the amount of equipment that needs transporting, making the overall camping experience pleasantly simple. That said, you can easily add your own mattress on top or remove the main mattress pad altogether.

While we’re inside, I should also mention the addition of two small triangular mesh pockets for storing valuables like a phone and head torch. However, since this tent is ostensibly just a low-slung portable bedroom, you don’t get a protected vestibule for damp clothing and wet boots, so bear this in mind.

I’m a big fan of the Pico’s high-stepped entrance, which prevents running rainwater from entering the tent, and I also love the two side windows with fixed insect-proof mesh and zipped rainproof panels.

When unzipped, these windows provide excellent through ventilation. Furthermore, because the whole tent is constructed out of breathable polycotton, there’s practically zero condensation, even on the dampest of mornings.

I’m also impressed by the Pico’s two pegged-out storm flaps that cover the side windows because they really do a marvellous job of keeping driving rain at bay.

Likewise, when the front canopy is fully opened, there are two zipped triangular rain flaps on each side of the canopy that prevent running water from entering the tent from above, making this tent exceptionally storm-proof.

The front canopy, incidentally, can be turned into a small sheltered porch by supporting it using the two supplied telescopic alloy poles.

Judged on its intended purpose as a car touring tent, the Dometic Pico FTC 2x2 TC-i is a superbly executed combination of premium polycotton fabric, a rigid inflatable frame, integrated air mattress and meticulous Swedish engineering throughout.

No, it is far from being the cheapest two-person tent you can buy, but in my opinion it beats the pants off any synthetic polyester model, especially when it comes to interior ambience, controlled internal temperatures in both hot and cold weather and the wonderful breathability that only polycotton can provide.

Performance and comfort

I pitched this model on my lawn and slept in it for one night. Kipping in the Pico quickly highlighted why polycotton remains the fabric of choice for many seasoned campers.

The material creates a noticeably more comfortable sleeping environment than conventional polyester, helping to regulate temperature while dramatically reducing condensation.

Even after a cool night, the interior remained impressively dry, with none of the damp, clammy feeling that often accompanies synthetic tents. That alone makes a significant difference to overall comfort in my opinion.

The integrated inflatable mattress also deserves a mention. It provided a supportive, evenly cushioned surface that felt far more substantial than a typical camping mat, removing much of the compromise usually associated with sleeping on the ground. I had a genuinely restful night's sleep in it.

The Pico’s interior length provides ample room for anyone around six feet tall to stretch out fully without feeling confined, giving the interior a surprisingly spacious feel despite the compact footprint. Headroom is less generous, mind, although that is simply part of the swag design rather than a flaw.

At 5ft 5in, I could sit upright comfortably without my head touching the roof, but kneeling was another matter since my head did brush the ceiling. I’d say it’s still perfectly manageable for changing clothes, but it isn't somewhere you'll want to spend extended periods sitting inside during poor weather. I’d be back in the car seeking better weather down the road.

I also loved the overall ambience of sleeping under polycotton. During daylight it allowed a soft, natural glow to filter through the fabric, making the interior feel bright rather than enclosed. And yet despite this light transparency, the material proved exceptionally waterproof, at least according to the hosepipe thrashing I gave it.

If you’re in the market for a compact one- or two-person portable bedroom for your car touring needs, this one comes wholeheartedly recommended. To conclude, I personally could think of nothing better than stuffing this tent into the boot of a Mazda MX5, dropping the hood and touring the wine region of France or a few stages of the Tour de France. Dream on, Delvis, dream on.

Verdict

While the Pico falls just shy of five stars, I’ve been extremely impressed by its performance and wherewithal to pitch and take down in a thrice. Almost every aspect of its construction has been engineered around speed, convenience and comfort rather than shaving off every last gram.

Yes, there’s very little headroom on board, but then again it’s designed for campers who value arriving late, pitching quickly and enjoying a comfortable night's sleep without wrestling with a bundle of poles and a separate mattress. Check it out – it might just be what you’ve always needed.

A scientific discovery has created clothing that is able to heal. The breakthrough comes from researchers in China, who have developed a textile that keeps the fungal cells alive rather than killing them during manufacturing.

Most existing mycelium-based materials use dead fungal matter, but this new approach allows the material to retain some of the properties of a living organism.

The fabric is made from pellets of Cordyceps militaris, a fungus better known as caterpillar fungus, which are processed into flexible sheets using glycerol. The resulting material has a leather-like texture and can be shaped into different forms, including the prototype dress.

The clever bit comes when the material is damaged. Researchers can add fresh fungal pellets and a small amount of water to a tear, providing the living mycelium with the conditions it needs to grow across the damaged area. As the fungus grows, its tiny filaments bridge the gap and regenerate the missing surface.

That means a damaged garment could, in principle, repair itself rather than needing to be stitched, patched or thrown away.

The researchers also found ways to give the living fabric extra capabilities by combining it with other microorganisms.

Engineered yeast can produce natural pigments, allowing the material to change colour without relying on conventional textile dyes. A separate fungus, Aspergillus niger, can also be grown across the surface to create a melanin-rich layer that helps absorb UV radiation.

The surface of the fungal fabric can also become water-repellent thanks to the structure of its aerial mycelium. In testing, water droplets rolled away without leaving residue, giving the material a degree of self-cleaning ability.

There is one fairly significant catch: the material is almost too biodegradable. Soil-burial tests showed it can break down almost completely in around 41 days.

That could be a major advantage for disposable or circular fashion, but it also highlights why this is still a laboratory demonstration rather than the next generation of everyday clothing.

The researchers have shown that living fungi can be turned into a functional textile with properties conventional fabrics simply can't offer. The next challenge is making it durable enough to survive real-world wear while keeping the fungus alive and functional.

Pocket multitools might be useful but they can be clunky at best. Most fold away multiple tools into a chunky handle, leaving you digging through layers of metal every time you need a simple screwdriver or blade.

The CoinShift run literal rings around the old designs. Rather than folding tools into a handle, they're arranged around a circular body roughly the size of a large coin. A quick twist rotates the tool you need into position, making it accessible in one movement rather than several.

Five stainless steel tools are built into the disc: a utility blade for everyday cutting, a box opener, flat-head screwdriver, scraper and bottle opener. Each locks into place as it's rotated into position, making it feel more like using a dedicated tool than unfolding a traditional multitool.

The compact design also means it slips easily into a pocket or onto a keyring without creating the usual bulk. It's a simple idea, but one that makes a surprising amount of sense for the jobs most people actually need throughout the day.

The CoinShift stays minimal and focuses on the essentials. That keeps the design slim while making each tool quicker to access, which is arguably more useful than carrying a miniature toolbox you'll rarely use.

The circular mechanism also keeps sharp edges safely tucked away until they're needed, reducing the chance of accidentally exposing the blade while searching for another tool. That's a small detail, but one that could make everyday use feel far less frustrating.

It's currently seeking funding through Kickstarter, so this isn't yet a product you can simply add to your basket. As with any crowdfunding campaign, it's worth remembering that backing a project carries some risk and final designs can change before shipping.

Even so, it's one of the more genuinely original takes on the multitool we've seen in years. Rather than adding more functions for the sake of it, CoinShift makes the tools people actually use easier and faster to access – and that could be enough to earn it a permanent place in your pocket.

Patagonia has launched its end-of-summer sale, knocking up to 40% off nearly 900 pieces of clothing and outdoor gear. I went through most of the deals, and the Point Reyes Canvas Jacket is one of the standout reductions. The Gumtree Green colourway has dropped from $165 to $114.99 in the US, making this the perfect time to get one.

Shop Patagonia's up to 40% off end-of-summer sale

This is a classic workwear layer built with Patagonia’s durability-first approach. The body uses 9.5oz Stand Up canvas made from 100% Regenerative Organic Certified cotton, giving it a substantial, hard-wearing feel without relying on synthetic fibres.

At 726g, it has enough weight to work as a useful transitional jacket through cooler summer evenings and into autumn. A contrasting 8.9oz organic-cotton, 12-wale corduroy collar adds texture, while the full-length button placket keeps the silhouette clean and traditional.

Storage comes from a buttoned patch pocket on the left chest and two large front patch pockets. The latter have both top and side entry, allowing them to carry everyday items while doubling as handwarmer pockets.

Patagonia gives the Point Reyes a regular fit, leaving room for a light jumper or sweatshirt underneath. Customer feedback largely describes it as true to size, with the pockets, durable fabric and easy layering among its most praised details.

It is not the lightest summer layer, nor is it waterproof, but at 30% off, it is a strong deal on a versatile canvas jacket designed to improve with wear rather than be replaced after a season.

Patagonia has launched a new version of its most water-resistant backpack, designed to keep equipment dry even when the entire bag ends up underwater.

The Guidewater Backpack 25L is part of Patagonia’s submersible fly-fishing collection, alongside the existing Guidewater Sling and Hip Pack.

However, the backpack is the significant new arrival, replacing the outgoing 29-litre Guidewater model with a smaller but more substantial design.

It carries an IPX7 rating, meaning the bag can be submerged in water up to one metre deep for 30 minutes without allowing water to reach its contents.

Built like a wearable dry bag

The Guidewater Backpack’s main compartment is made from 18oz, 800-denier recycled nylon with a TPU coating applied to both sides of the fabric.

Patagonia says this construction is intended to withstand years of use in rivers, around saltwater and on dry land.

It is noticeably more robust than the previous 29-litre Guidewater, which used lighter 14.4oz fabric with a PU coating on the outside and a TPU layer on the reverse.

The trade-off is weight. Despite dropping from 29 to 25 litres, the new backpack weighs 1.3kg, compared with 960g for its predecessor.

The backpack now has a padded back panel, shaped shoulder straps and a removable padded hip belt intended to distribute heavier loads more comfortably.

It is offered in small, medium and large sizes, with the height increasing from 48cm to 58cm depending on the selected fit (the width and depth remain 33cm and 15cm across all three versions).

Made for fishing (but not limited to it)

Fishing-specific details include a net scabbard that can be accessed from either side, shoulder-strap tool docks and lash points for rod holders, an external bottle carrier and Patagonia’s smaller Stealth Switch Packs.

An internal zipped pocket with a key clip keeps smaller items separated from the otherwise open main compartment.

Although clearly designed for anglers, the understated exterior and serious waterproofing could also appeal to kayakers, paddleboarders, photographers and commuters who regularly carry expensive equipment in bad weather.

The Patagonia Guidewater Backpack 25L is listed at £320 in the UK, $349 in the US and €350 in Europe (~AU$573).

It comes in Forge Grey and River Rock Green, with availability currently varying by colour and size.

Goldwin has unveiled its Fall 2026 collection, which might just be one of the most convincing examples yet of technical outdoor clothing designed for life away from the trail.

Across 25 looks, the Japanese brand combines GORE-TEX waterproof shells, Polartec fleece jackets and lightweight insulation with relaxed blazers, collared shirts, wide trousers and loafers.

It sits somewhere between Arc’teryx-style minimalism and Japanese streetwear, with thoughtful fabrics, accessories and proportions adding interest without making the outfits look overworked.

Goldwin calls the campaign a study in “Stillness” and “Motion”, but the simpler explanation is that this is outdoor clothing made to function as an everyday wardrobe.

The collection layers bright insulated hoodies with a grey blazer, technical shirts are tucked into belted trousers, and a cropped GORE-TEX blouson is worn with pleated trousers and polished shoes.

Outdoor gear without the full hiking uniform

The collection’s strongest idea is technical layering, with Goldwin stacking shorter insulated pieces over longer shirts, pairing fleece with tailoring and using lightweight outer layers to alter the shape of otherwise straightforward outfits.

Part garment and part storage system, the Back Pack Vest might be the best example from the drop.

It creates the volume of a backpack without looking like conventional hiking equipment.

Worn over clean shirts and relaxed trousers, it feels like an unconventional waistcoat and not a gorpcore try-hard's wardrobe staple.

The Polartec High Loft Fleece Neck Warmer plays a similar role. Priced at £55, it is one of the collection’s more accessible pieces, but it has an outsized effect on the styling.

Wrapped high around the neck, it gives simple jackets and blazers a cocooned silhouette while adding texture to Goldwin’s largely muted palette.

That colour centres on navy, charcoal, taupe, stone and cream, punctuated by brighter cyan, rust orange and acidic lime.

Sharp accents are used sparingly, generally on one insulated layer or shell, so the brighter pieces provide a focal point without tipping the outfits into obvious colour blocking.

The lime Gridded Down Jacket is likely to be one of the collection’s most instantly recognisable pieces, while the cyan Tsubai Insulated Hoodie brings a more playful edge to an otherwise restrained blazer-and-trouser combination.

A niche alternative to the obvious outdoor names

Goldwin remains relatively niche in the UK, which is part of the appeal.

The brand offers the technical materials and clean design associated with better-known premium outdoor labels, such as Arc'teryx, but without the same level of recognition or logo-driven status.

It is not inexpensive, but the pricing is also less intimidating than many high-fashion interpretations of technical outerwear.

The Tsubai Insulated Hoodie costs £330, the matching vest is £270, and several of the collection’s trousers sit between £195 and £245.

The GORE-TEX 3L Jacket reaches £695, but shirts, fleece layers and accessories provide less costly ways into the look.

Most importantly, Goldwin’s Fall 2026 collection does not ask you to dress like a mountaineer on your morning commute.

It takes the best parts of outdoor clothing, including weather protection, comfortable cuts, useful pockets and adaptable layers, and turns them into something more refined, versatile and distinctive.

The Goldwin Fall 2026 collection is available through the brand’s UK online store, with individual pieces arriving in stages between August and October. Prices from £55.

Snow Peak has just reinvented its first-ever shelter 36 years after it launched, bringing a redesigned version of the Amenity Dome 3 to UK campers for 2026.

The original Amenity Dome was introduced in 1990 and, according to Snow Peak, was the Japanese outdoor brand’s first tent.

It has remained one of the company’s bestselling and most accessible tents ever since.

The latest three-person version retains the low, rounded silhouette associated with the Amenity Dome, but introduces a revised frame, a larger vestibule and several changes intended to make camping in wet or warm weather more comfortable.

Although this model first appeared in Snow Peak’s Japanese 2025 range, it is now being pushed as the updated 2026 Amenity Dome in other regions.

Pitch imperfect

Perhaps the most useful change is the move to an outer-frame construction with the poles supporting the flysheet, while the inner sleeping compartment hangs underneath it.

That means you can erect the outer structure before attaching the inner tent, helping to keep the sleeping area dry when pitching in the rain.

The inner can also remain attached during setup and takedown, reducing the number of clips and hooks that need to be handled each time.

Snow Peak has also redesigned the vestibule with a symmetrical layout and entrances on both sides.

The larger porch provides additional storage and living space, while zippered side panels make it easier to reach equipment without opening the entire front of the tent.

The front panel can be raised to create a covered awning, complete with side walls to offer additional protection from wind and rain.

The flysheet uses 75-denier polyester taffeta with a minimum 1,800mm hydrostatic-head rating, while the inner combines 68-denier polyester walls with a tougher 210-denier floor, also rated to at least 1,800mm.

An A7001 aluminium-alloy frame supports the structure.

At 9kg, this is firmly a car-camping tent, but it does pack down to a comparatively small 71 x 22 x 26cm, which is not too shabby for a 3-person tent.

The Amenity Dome 3 is available now for £600 / $639.95 / €690 (AU$1,147) from Snow Peak UK, Snow Peak US and Snow Peak EU, with a smaller two-person Amenity Dome 2 also offered.

Helinox has built a reputation for making some of the most desirable ultralight camping chairs on the market, but its latest collaboration pushes the brand even further into fashion territory.

The South Korean outdoor brand has joined forces with luxury fashion label WE11DONE on a small capsule collection that proves technical camping gear has fully crossed over into the world of designer fashion.

WE11DONE's signature draped tailoring is translated onto Helinox's iconic Chair One, creating soft folds across the seat fabric that mimic the look of contemporary fashion garments.

The chair uses Helinox's DAC aluminium alloy frame, weighs around 1 kg and supports up to 145 kg, which is to say it's incredibly lightweight and exceptionally sturdy at the same time.

It's finished with the metal piercing detail, giving one of the outdoor industry's most recognisable pieces an unmistakably high-fashion edge.

The collection also includes black and charcoal jersey T-shirts featuring the same furniture-inspired draping and metal hardware.

Camping goes couture

Outdoor brands are becoming increasingly influential in fashion circles.

From 66ºNorth's fashion-forward Trawler Collection to Altra's collaboration with Japanese cult brand and wander, technical gear is increasingly being designed with everyday style in mind.

Up until now, camping furniture manufacturers weren't part of the conversation, but this is evidently changing.

If this collection is anything to go by, lightweight, foldable chairs and tables might be getting the same treatment, appearing in luxury boutiques, design exhibitions and fashion collaborations.

And Helinox is leading the charge, thanks to its instantly recognisable aluminium-framed chairs.

Both Helinox and WE11DONE were founded in South Korea and have built international reputations by combining clean design with premium craftsmanship.

While Helinox focuses on engineering some of the lightest portable outdoor furniture on the market, WE11DONE has earned a cult following for its oversized silhouettes and contemporary take on luxury fashion.

For outdoor style enthusiasts, the collaboration feels like another milestone in the ongoing "gorpcore" evolution.

Technical gear is no longer simply being worn in the city but is increasingly being reimagined through the lens of luxury fashion.

The WE11DONE x Helinox capsule launched on 31 July, with the limited-edition Tactical Chair and matching apparel available through WE11DONE and selected retail partners.

Both the chair and the T-shirt sell for ₩300,000 (~£156 / $210 / €182 / AU$299).

[via Hypebeast]

After reading press releases and reviews and attending feature briefings on hundreds of product launches every year, I've noticed something curious. Outdoor brands almost always prioritise sustainability, while running brands often lead with performance.

I've been covering fitness and outdoor brands for nearly a decade, a time that also coincided with many companies placing greater emphasis on sustainability credentials in their product messaging.

This is especially apparent with outdoor companies, which often tout their circularity prowess before moving on to talking about the performance of their new waterproof jacket.

Fitness companies are different. How often do you buy a pair of running shoes because they say the foam is made with more recycled materials? Most runners care about speed and energy return (and, increasingly, how the product looks). So fitness companies sell them that.

All that said, not all outdoor companies are sustainability champions, and not all fitness brands are wasteful polluters. Most companies are trying – generally speaking – to align their practices with circularity, but there certainly is a gap in how they communicate these efforts. Why that might be is anyone's best guess, but I've narrowed it down to five potential reasons.

Outdoor brands sell values – fitness brands sell outcomes

Outdoor companies are selling values, not just products. You aren't just buying a coat but also a promise that the garment will be functional for a long time thanks to material choices, repair ecosystems and thoughtful design.

Since most of their customers enjoy spending time in nature, brands naturally associate themselves with wild places. Sure, this fleece jacket looks nice, but it's also made from reclaimed ocean plastic – and you like the ocean, right?

On the other hand, fitness brands sell you outcomes. You are buying a shoe, a vest or a pair of shorts because they promise new PBs. You are purchasing better sweat-wicking, improved temperature management, reduced chafing, lighter weight, or greater energy return.

All of these can coexist with sustainable manufacturing processes and material choices, but people don't necessarily require them, and sadly, it's still cheaper to produce goods in an environmentally unfriendly way, so fitness companies aren't in a rush to change.

Elite sport makes sustainability messaging difficult

When you're trying to shave two minutes off your marathon PB, environmental credentials inevitably become secondary to weight, lockdown, energy return and race-day performance.

Using recycled foams or alternative materials may involve compromises, whether real or simply perceived – it doesn't really matter. As long as people think the product might put them at a disadvantage relative to their competitors, it matters little how circular it is.

Imagine Nike marketing a marathon shoe by saying it contains 60% recycled foam. The next question becomes: "Great, but is it slower?" Even if the answer is "no", the brand has already created doubt.

Outdoor apparel doesn't face the same scrutiny. People certainly chase summits, distance and personal goals, but durability has always been just as important as outright performance.

Nobody rejects a shell jacket because it contains recycled nylon. If anything, some people will actively choose it because of that.

Product lifespan is fundamentally different

Outdoor companies actively encourage people to buy less. Companies like Patagonia and Arc'teryx tell customers to repair their garments and even provide repair services to help keep products in use. Of course, these services are often exclusive to the brand's own garments, but they reinforce the idea that good kit should last.

Changing a zip on your waterproof jacket or sewing a patch onto your hiking trousers can often be done quickly. Some brands, such as Danner and Lowa, will even resole certain boots (albeit with caveats). An average hiker may happily wear the same pair of boots for a decade and be disappointed if they have to replace them.

Runners, on the other hand, often have a shoe rotation that changes every few months. One pair for tempo runs, another for long runs, one for racing and one for recovery. Even if you only own one pair, you'll eventually replace it because the foam simply doesn't feel the same anymore.

It's difficult to build a "buy it for life" message around something designed to wear out.

Outdoor consumers care more

This is probably uncomfortable, but it might also be true. Research suggests outdoor consumers place greater importance on sustainability than the average sportswear buyer.

One recent study found outdoor enthusiasts associated sustainability not just with recycled materials but also with durability, repairability and product longevity. Even then, they were only willing to pay a modest premium for those attributes.

If you hike because you love national parks, mountains or forests, climate change feels tangible. If you mainly train for a 10K PB, sustainability may simply rank lower than comfort, fit and pace. Brands respond to the incentives customers give them.

The industry is already changing – but quietly

I spoke a lot about how outdoor companies are ahead of fitness brands when it comes to sustainability in general, but that doesn't mean there aren't good examples of the latter group trying to make a difference.

ASICS, for example, publishes Product Carbon Footprints for many of its shoes, which is arguably a more mature approach than broad sustainability claims.

Other examples include Adidas' Move For The Planet initiatives, Nike's recycled materials and manufacturing targets, Brooks' bio-based midsoles and CarbonNeutral Ghost programme, Puma's RE:FIBRE programme, Salomon's circular Index project, On's Cyclon subscription model and Hoka's increasing use of recycled uppers.

Perhaps the question isn't whether fitness brands care less about sustainability than outdoor brands. Perhaps they've simply concluded that sustainability doesn't sell running shoes in the same way it sells waterproof jackets.

Performance remains the headline, while environmental progress is relegated to the small print. Whether that changes will ultimately depend on us. If consumers start rewarding brands that put sustainability on equal footing with speed, the messaging will change almost overnight.

Outdoor style trends come and go, but one look is quietly making waves ahead of autumn.

Fisherman core is an aesthetic that combines rope accessories, waterproof shells, nautical textures and practical bags inspired by life at sea.

While many outdoor brands could only dream about having a strong heritage in the field, for 66°North, it's simply returning to its roots.

Founded in 1926 to create protective clothing for Icelandic fishermen working in some of the harshest conditions on Earth, the outdoor brand has unveiled the new Trawler Collection that celebrates the maritime heritage that shaped its identity long before "fisherman core" had a name.

Leading the capsule are the Dyngja Shell Jacket (£300) and Dyngja Shell Pants (£170), both featuring the new Trawl print.

Trawl is a geometric pattern inspired by traditional fishing nets that gives the technical shells a distinctive, fashion-forward look without compromising their outdoor credentials.

The waterproof shells also take inspiration from an early-2000s silhouette pulled from the 66°North archive, blending heritage design with contemporary performance in a way that feels both nostalgic and modern.

A collection tied together by the sea

The fishing influence runs throughout the range, including the Trawler Tote Bag (£140), which wraps a durable everyday carryall in an oversized, net-inspired exterior.

Smaller accessories include the Trawler Belt (£40) and Trawler Chain (£20), reinterpreting fishing ropes as minimalist everyday accessories.

Even the Straumur Swimsuit (£100) carries the same net-inspired graphic, reinforcing the collection's maritime identity across every category.

It's the attention to small details that really sells this collection for me, like the swimsuit's broken fishnet pattern or the fact that the bag's net exterior actually functions as storage space for smaller items.

Each product leans into the understated, technical aesthetic that has made Scandinavian outdoor brands increasingly influential beyond the trail.

A trend with genuine heritage

The rise of fisherman core has seen more brands borrow nautical styling, but few can claim the authenticity of 66°North.

Its connection to Iceland's fishing industry is why the company exists, giving the Trawler collection surprisingly solid ground to stand on.

If fisherman core is set to become one of this autumn's defining outdoor looks, 66°North looks perfectly placed to lead the charge.

The Trawler Collection is available now at 66ºNorth, with prices from £20 / $30 / €25 (~AU$41).

Patagonia has begun unveiling its Fall/Winter 2026 collection, and one of the first new arrivals is the Durable Down Hoody, an insulated jacket designed for climbers and mountaineers who need warmth without treating their gear gently.

Patagonia has focused on longevity with this jacket, borrowing a lighter version of the brand's Steel Forge workwear fabric, a material originally developed for demanding job sites, and adapting it for alpine use.

The result is a shell made from a 98% recycled nylon and 2% recycled polyester Ultra-PE ripstop fabric that's designed to shrug off scrapes against rock, rough packs and repeated use while remaining noticeably lighter than its workwear counterpart.

The weight of expectation

The jacket is insulated with 700-fill-power 100% recycled down reclaimed from duck and goose down products.

Patagonia has also body-mapped 80g Thermogreen synthetic insulation into the cuffs and underarms, helping maintain warmth in areas more likely to become damp from sweat or snow while improving long-term durability.

The brand says the quilting pattern is intentionally "discontinuous," allowing the down to loft while giving the shoulders greater freedom of movement during overhead reaches.

The hood features a single-pull adjustment and elastic binding to help seal in heat, while the two-way front zip improves comfort when belaying or wearing a harness.

Patagonia has also included two generous handwarmer pockets, with the jacket packing into its own left pocket for transport.

Despite its emphasis on durability, the Men's version weighs just 652g, making it a practical option for cold-weather climbing trips, winter hiking and alpine objectives where abrasion resistance matters as much as insulation.

As expected from Patagonia, sustainability remains central to the design.

The shell and lining both use recycled materials, the DWR treatment is made without intentionally added PFAS, the down is entirely recycled, and the jacket is manufactured in a Fair Trade Certified factory.

The Durable Down Hoody is available now at Patagonia US and Patagonia UK for the recommended price of $365 / £350 (~£271 / €316 / AU$518).

Availability in other regions is expected in the coming months.