Recent gear updates!

I got a new tent + other recent gear updates :)

I realise that it hasn't been all that long since I posted my 2024 gear list, however, I found myself in a position a couple of months ago to do something that I had only dreamed of doing for many years - I purchased my first Hilleberg tent!!!!!! If you've followed me for any amount of time then you will probably already know how much I've dreamed of owning a Hilleberg! I can't tell you how excited I was to finally make that dream a reality! In addition, I also made a couple of purchases ahead of mine and Jim's third Annual Thru-Hike and so I thought I'd put this post together to update you since I have had lot of messages asking how I got on with my new tent :) I used all of the items below extensively whilst on the Alder Trail and so they all got a solid testing in some very challenging conditions, over some super tough terrain!!! :)

My new tent!!!! Hilleberg Enan

A new tent?! Me, really?! I know, I can barely believe it myself... Again, if you have followed me for any amount of time then you will know how much I love my trusty little MSR Hubba NX1 tent that I have carried and used for quite a few years now! I have hiked hundreds of miles and spent many nights with my MSR including South Downs Way, Great Glen Way, Cotswold Way, Cape Wrath Trail, Skye Trail, East Highland Way, Cumbria Way, Affric Kintail Way, West Highland Way, Tour Du Mont Blanc, the Laugavegur Trail plus lots of random nights out in between!!! I had even questioned myself if I would be able to trust and love a tent as much as I do my MSR but being a complete outdoor gear nerd, I have dreamed of owning a Hilleberg ever since I learned about them...

Hilleberg the Tentmaker is a Swedish family owned company founded in 1971 by husband and wife, Bo and Renate Hilleberg. Their products have a reputation for excellent quality, durability and design, often used for exploration to harsh, remote locations such as the Arctic Circle, Greenland and Antarctica making them truly hardy! Their Keron models are often used by the military!!! I chose the Hilleberg Enan which is one of their lightest tents since I am keen to maintain a fairly low pack weight due to my love of long distance hikes. The Enan is modelled after their 4 season Akto with the goal of making a 3 season version that was as light as possible whilst still retaining 'true Hilleberg' strength, durability and function. Here are some of the specifications -

• 1 person tent

• 3 season tent

• Basic pitching requires 6 pegs

• Minimum weight 960g

• Packed weight 1.2kg

• Outer tent fabric - Kerlon 1000

• 9mm poles

I used the Enan for 7 nights on the Alder Trail, having tested it for a couple of nights in Snowdonia beforehand and honestly, it is everything and more that I had expected from Hilleberg, it is an amazing little tent that I absolutely adore already! The craftmanship and quality of the tent is quite simply second to none! It has a lot more space than the MSR, both in terms of the inside of the tent but also a lot more porch space so the porch now fits my pack in nicely as it would be a little bit more of a struggle in the MSR. Most importantly, the tent feels incredibly robust, durable and safe, even in some of the testing and challenging conditions thrown at us on the Alder Trail. One of my favourite features of the tent is that it pitches inner and outer at the same time so no more wet inner when it is raining when pitching!!! :) I do realise that my MSR also has the capability of being pitched outer first, however, I don't carry the groundsheet to enable this and well, if you have tried pitching the outer first on the MSR then you'll know what a faff it is.... I certainly don't doubt the ability and performance of this tent and I am excited to continue to use it! I will, of course, continue to also use my trusty MSR tent and I may take the MSR on my hike of the Walker's Haute Route from Chamonix to Zermatt later in the year since I will be very high in the mountains for a lot of the trail and so I imagine a freestanding tent would probably be more suitable, although I need to do more research before making a final decision in that respect...

Flextail Zero Pump

You need one of these!!!! I learned about the Flextail Zero Pump from Jim on our thru-hike of the Alder Trail as he was carrying one, a couple of nights on trail I just didn't have the puff left in me to blow up my mat so Jim kindly lent me this incredible little pump, however, the pump came into its own on our final day of the Alder Trail... We had battled heavy rain and wind for our entire passage of the infamous Lairig Ghru, as we were descending through the forest to Aviemore my phone battery was about to die but it was also showing the following dreaded warning...

I was, unfortunately, well acquainted with this dreaded warning from my many a time sploshing around the Highlands... I could just hope that there would be a hairdryer at the bunkhouse back in Aviemore as that would usually do the job... Jim suggested I tried his pump to see if it would help dry off the phones charging port and literally within seconds the dreaded warning disappeared! What a miracle, it usually takes hours for the phone to dry out enough for the warning message to disappear, it is only when the warning message has gone that you can then charge your phone... Needless to say, upon my return home I reached out to Flextail to see if they would be willing to send me one for testing and much to my delight, they were happy to gift me one! I am incredibly grateful to Flextail and to be able to add one of these incredible little pumps to my kit going forward :)

• Weighs only 35 grams!

• Worlds smallest pump for sleeping mats

• deflator and inflator

• inflates up to 25 pads in one charge

• Includes 6 nozzels to fit various brands of pad

ThruDark Grunt Gilet

I was lucky enough to recently have been gifted the incredible Thru-Dark Grunt gilet! What an amazing jacket it is! I pretty much love everything about this jacket, it is 'a little bit of me', so to speak :) I love the colour, design, fit, warmth and comfort, this is truly one quality powerhouse of a piece that I know I will use for many years to come!! A huge thank you to Thru-Dark, their support is appreciated so, so much!!!!

• Durable and versatile down filled jacket

• Pertex Quantum Pro outer

• 750 fill power down

• Reinforced Dyneema shoulders

• Drop back hem for added protection and improved comfort for backpack carriage

• Stowaway hood

Arc'teryx Beta Waterproof Jacket

I couldn't help myself when I saw this jacket in the sale! I already own the same Arc'teryx Beta LT Jacket in blue and so I was already acquainted with the quality of the jacket so when I saw this pink jacket I just couldn't help myself :) it felt like a perfect treat for the upcoming summer months since it was half price! I am a fan of these jackets, they are comfortable and offer a great deal of protection whilst also being fairly light...

GORE-TEX three-layer construction delivers complete weather protection

• Anatomical shaping for fit and comfort

• Chin guard with brushed microsuede facing for added comfort

• Die-cut Velcro® cuff adjusters reduce bulk, and won't catch or tear off

• DWR (Durable Water Repellent) finish repels moisture

• Adjustable StormHood™ (helmet compatible)

• Pit zippers for easy venting

• WaterTight™ full length front zip

• Dual lower hem adjusters

• Weight: 350 g / 12.3 oz

Arc'teryx Proton Jacket

I had been on the look out for a lightweight alternative to a fleece for the summer months and again managed to get this Arc'teryx Proton Jacket at a very good price thanks to a friend who helped me out with a discount (thank you!!). The jacket arrived just in time for the Alder Trail and I wore the jacket for the entirety of the trail. I really enjoyed this jacket and was super happy with it's performance, it has a very comfy but lightweight fleece inner lining, it is wind resistant and certainly protected me from the sometimes harsh Scottish elements. Here are some of the specifications -

• Breathable

• Air permeable

• Light wind resistance

• Fortius Air 20 outer fabric with a DWR finish

• Coreloft Compact 80 insulation

• Dope Permair 20 lining

• Insulated helmet compatible hood

• 2 insulated hand pockets

• 1 chest pocket
  

Headbands

I recently found myself with a little bit of a hairband obsession since buying my first ever wool headband in Iceland from Icewear in Reyjavik after hiking the Laugavegur Trail, I have gone on to wear that headband lots and willl continue to do so but then came across this little thistle beauty from Pachamama that I just had to buy for mine and Jim's upcoming thru-hike in the Highlands and of course just be absolute love and connection to the Scottish Highlands....

            Thank you for reading - happy hiking xxx

If you have any questions then please do use the contact form to drop me a line, I will get back to you as soon as possible. You can follow my adventures live over on my Instagram @hiker_heather