High Style: Gelert Rucksack

High Style is my outdoor clothing and accessories review section. Testing out the serious and practical side of outdoor clothing, in High Style I also consider what sometimes is overlooked - how stylish the items of clothing are.
I am working with a range of retailers and manufacturers to bring these reviews to you from well-known brands to less well-known ones and everything from trousers and t-shirts to rucksacks and flasks.
I hope you enjoy the reviews and find them useful. 

Gelert Beyond Rock Hiker 25cl Rucksack

(Reviewed for Silverfox Travel & Outdoors) 

The somewhat inclement weather over the last few months means this rucksack certainly had a thorough test on the mountains of the Lake District!

The basic design is one large main compartment with a pocket inside, a small zipped section in the top of the rucksack and two side pockets with zips. It also has a high visibility rain cover in a separate pocket underneath. 

Having been out in prolonged and heavy rain, I was impressed at how waterproof the rucksack remained with the rain cover on and given how muddy it got on occasions, how easy it was to clean afterwards. It was easy taking waterproof jackets and trousers in and out as there was plenty of room and with a single cord closure and strap, it was quite quick to do that too (perfect for those impromptu rain showers!) 

For me, the shoulder straps and the soft padding it has on the back (part of the air fit breathable system) meant it was very comfortable to wear and it is a very good size for a hiking day.

I was uncertain about only having one large compartment with no divide initially as all my previous rucksacks have had two compartments. It worked well for me though as it was easier taking things in and out and (if I am honest), with two compartments I usually forget which one the item I want is in anyway and invariably it is never in the first one I try so it saved that frustration! The side and top pockets are very useful for keeping things you need easy access to in, such as high energy foods, a compass etc. The only drawback to the zipped pockets is that even with an adjustable strap above each one, it is trickier to store bottled water in. For those using a hydration system rather than bottles however, it is not a problem.

With the colourful rain cover

Beyond the basics though the Gelert Beyond Rock Hiker rucksack has a lot of little accessories that add up to something really quite special. Surprisingly so given its fairly modest retail price of £39.99. These include:

• Various external hoops and loops for walking poles and an ice axe
• Velcro and metal hooks inside the pockets to keep track of smaller items
• A safety panel inside the top of the rucksack with information on international emergency signals and telephone numbers
• On one of the buckles, there is a orange clip that doubles up as a whistle as well

The whistle

Now for style test. I like the design of the rucksack and the orange details dotted around it. I also quite like the two-tone grey effect but for choice, I would prefer to have the option of the same rucksack in alternative colours. That said the bright orange rain cover with the silver logo, which I love, goes a long way to adding that splash of colour!

Overall Verdict
In terms of practicality, I was very impressed. It had a very robust test and it stood up well, being comfortable and waterproof. It is ideal for a day sack, with the only exception being easy access to bottled water. It is good value for money and if Gelert could introduce a bit more colour it would be even better!

Practicality: 9/10

Style: 7/10

Gelert Beyond Rock Hiker Rucksack
RRP: £39.99 (currently on offer at £34.99 from Silverfox Travel & Outdoors)

Details:
Capacity - 25 litres
Weight - 1 kilogram
Dimensions - w24 x d20 x h46 cm

High Style: Rab Polartec Alpha Jacket

High Style is my outdoor clothing and accessories review section. Testing out the serious and practical side of outdoor clothing, in High Style I also consider what sometimes is overlooked - how stylish the items of clothing are.
I am working with a range of retailers and manufacturers to bring these reviews to you from well-known brands to less well-known ones and everything from trousers and t-shirts to rucksacks and flasks.
I hope you enjoy the reviews and find them useful. 

Rab Polartec Alpha Jacket

(Reviewed for Cotswold Outdoor)

This jacket had a real test across the north and south of the country - from mountains in the Lake District to low level walks in Sussex. I also tested it in light rain, heavy rain and strong winds (and of course the odd pub or two).

The Rab jacket

According to the designers, the Rab jacket uses new technology to ensure it is breathable, warm, lightweight and durable.  It is a puffy hooded jacket (although there is also a vest version).

That all sounds very technical so what does it mean in real life? Well – it is safe to say that this jacket is one of the most comfortable things I have ever worn. It is light and soft and it seems as though a lot of thought has gone into all the little things that add up to making a big difference. In particular:

• It had a really snug fit around my chin when the zip was done up, with or without the hood up. It was so soft I hardly noticed it.
• The hood stayed up in the wind without having to tighten any drawstrings. I tested it in quite strong winds and not once did it blow back. 
• (For anyone with long hair like me who wears it down a lot) - my hair stayed tucked inside the hood! At last! Even in windy conditions. I have never had a jacket that has achieved that. Usually I end up with strands and locks whipping about my nose and eyes and stuck to my lip balm. I have no idea if this is what was intended by the design but it is a real plus point in my view.

In addition, the persistent rain I tested the jacket in whilst in Sussex showed it was waterproof and the cold easterly wind that was blowing was of no consequence as the puffy effect of the jacket kept me warm. On the high fells it stood up to the breeze and rain and proved to be as breathable as the designers claim as I didn’t feel “sticky” even when it was quite humid.

When the sun came out and it got lovely and warm, it folded up surprisingly small to fit in my rucksack and being so light it was hard to notice the difference in weight.

On the slopes of Loughrigg

Now for the style test. Well first and foremost I love the colour. It is such a striking blue. I have never owned anything that colour before. I happily wore it walking in the Lake District and Sussex but I even wore it shopping without thinking twice about it. The Jacket saw its fair share of pubs and bars too whilst in Sussex and fitted in well and I wore it to work on rainy days as well.

It is not just a walking and hiking jacket – it fits well in lots of places and in the striking blue, you’ll definitely stand out from the crowd.

Overall Verdict

It is very versatile and with our summer so far proving to be a bit temperamental, this jacket will fit the bill whether you are hiking, shopping or just watching the world go by.

Practicality: 9/10

Style: 9/10

Rab Polartec Jacket

RRP £150 (the vest version is £100)

Available in a range of sizes exclusively at Cotswold Outdoor from mid-July (available to pre-order). 

It will be available in other outlets later in the year.

High Style: Peter Storm Trousers

High Style is my outdoor clothing and accessories review section. Testing out the serious and practical side of outdoor clothing, in High Style I also consider what sometimes is overlooked - how stylish the items of clothing are.
I am working with a range of retailers and manufacturers to bring these reviews to you from well-known brands to less well-known ones and everything from trousers and t-shirts to rucksacks and flasks.
I hope you enjoy the reviews and find them useful. 

Peter Storm Tri-Stretch Trousers  

(Reviewed for Keswick Blacks)

I have to say I really put these trousers through their paces in a way that surprised even me - I went rock-climbing and abseiling for the first time in my life and the tri-stretch trousers shared the experience with me.

Peter Storm Trousers

These trousers are water-repellant (shower-proof) and tri-stretch. They have a pocket each side at around hip level, two at the back and can be rolled up into a capri length.

First of all the stretch was certainly put to the test as I was stretching and climbing up Scout Crag in Langdale. There was no resistance at all however far I stretched in my attempts to find footholds and I was confident in them (and relieved they stood up so well!)

It was raining lightly on and off all day and whilst they are not designed to be waterproof, the water-repellant material meant that with only light rain I did not need waterproof trousers - my legs did not get wet and the material dried very quickly in the dry times. In heavy rain over-trousers would be necessary.

Rolling to capri-length

An unexpected test (and not one that any claims are made about by Peter Storm or one that I had intended to try) was how well they stood up to being grazed on rocks as I kneeled on various outcrops and ledges and as I skirted around the crag having lost my footing on the way down. There was no damage to the fabric. I was very impressed at that.

I have tried the trousers on hiking days since then and remain impressed.

So did I like the style? Yes I did. These are the first trousers I have tried for outdoor activities that are stretch ones and I loved the shape of them. To celebrate my rock-climbing and abseiling success I went to one of my favourite hotels for a glass of prosecco in the bar and with just a change of footwear, felt like I could have stepped off the high street into the bar rather than from a rock-climb. They are something that with a pair of heels I would wear to the office during the day and then swap heels for hiking boots and head up a fell after work.

I generally like colourful clothes but love these in black and you can add colour with the other parts of the outfit.

Extreme testing on a rock-climb

Any room for improvement? Only a minor one. Personally I could do with the "long" size being half an inch longer. 

Overall Verdict
Very versatile and already one of my favourite outdoor clothing items and something I do not think I could live without in my hiking wardrobe (and my rock-climbing one as it turns out!)


Practicality: 10/10
Style: 8/10

Peter Storm Tri-Stretch Trousers
RRP: £40

(Available exclusively at Blacks & Millets)