When I read the marketing which arrived with the Merrell Wilderness Canyon boots with its references to retro design, limited editions and their recent showcase alongside finely tailored suits at catwalk shows I was instantly concerned that these were the ‘Chelsea Tractors’ of footwear; they look the part but are not really designed to venture off tarmac. My fears, although not completely unfounded, were a little extreme.

Read the rest of this entry »

When I go walking I’m looking for footwear that gives me support without rubbing, doesn’t feel as though I’m dragging concrete blocks around on my feet and puts a bit of a spring in my step (well why not?)

Read the rest of this entry »

Anyone who loves the outdoors is prepared to put up with a few uncomfortable moments for the sake of enjoying the beauty and exhilaration of one’s chosen activity; but biting beasties can often be an uncomfortable moment too far. Foreigners coming to Scotland say they love the scenery, but few fail to pass comments about the midges. So when Craghoppers offered a trial of  tops and trousers which feature “the world’s first permanent insect repellent fabric”, you’d think they’d be on to a winner.

Read the rest of this entry »

Brrr. Just as the temperature is really dropping, we’ve got some good news for people who like warm feet. Heat holders socks have been tested to achieve a thermal tog rating of 2.34, which is pretty impressive! They kept my feet warm whilst kayaking  in temperatures of 5 degrees off the Mull of Kintyre this weekend.

Read the rest of this entry »