Outdoor Research LightHaven Pocket Shelter

Advantages: Indestructable, and the only jacket you'll ever need
Disadvantages: Expensive, but worth every penny

...Nothing quite sums up the British 'country set' as the ubiquitous waxed cotton 'Barbour' jacket. The founder (John Barbour) was actually a Scotsman, and formed the company which bears his name in the Northumbrian port of North Shields, supplying oilskins for the fishing industry. Over time, he diversified to provide a range of clothing which suited practically any outdoor pursuit where rain and harsh weather are important factors. To this day, the company produce a vast array of clothing items mostly catering for the "huntin' shootin' and fishin" set - including jackets, trousers, shorts, gillets, hoods, equestrian gear etc. It was only in the 1980s that the wax jacket became popularised in the 'yuppie bible'; 'The Sloan Ranger Handbook' in which - Barbour was the die-facto brand of choice. This, predictably, resulted... Read review

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Advantages: Powerful, easy to use, good run time
Disadvantages: Can be unstable

...To some, bigger is better. If however, you have to fit your tent, sleeping bag, clothing, food and cooking equipment into one small bag, then bigger can be a pain. It's here that stoves like the MSR PocketRocket come in. The stove packs down into a small plastic container, 4" by 2" without the gas canister and weighs in at a mere 85 grammes. As this is without fuel, you'll need to find space in your pack somewhere for a gas canister, coming in at around 3" by 1.5" and costing about £3 on top of the £30 for the stove itself. Having bought the stove plus a couple of gas canisters, the only thing to do was try it out. Steadfastly ignoring the warnings not to try it out indoors, I attached a canister and stood back. All I can say is, they don't call this the PocketRocket for nothing. Inside, the stove boils water in no time... Read review

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Advantages: has long life span from 6 months to approx 4 years
Disadvantages: not machine washable

...We couldn't believe our eyes when we saw this rucksack. We'd been toying with the decision, reins or non-reins for our son. We found the rucksack at the Mountain Life Outdoor Adventure Shop located in Rheged Discovery Centre, Penrith whilst having a weekend break. ~~~LittleLife~~~ I must admit, I'd never heard of LittleLife before. After a bit of research, I have discovered that they design products especially for active families who enjoy outdoor activities and travelling. They introduced their first series of products only two years ago in 2003, initially focusing on child carriers and accessories, they now produce ultra-light travel cots (very trendy) as well as first aid kits. The designers boast enjoying spending a lot of time with their own children outdoors as well as being experienced designers for equipment... Read review

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