gear guide Archives | Atlas & Boots

Greenland Artic Circle Trail packing list

Arctic Circle Trail packing list: all you need in one place

3rd June 20233rd June 2023 by Peter

Our detailed Arctic Circle Trail packing list includes everything you’ll need on a trek through Greenland’s wild and remote backcountry

Fresh from my adventure trekking the Arctic Circle Trail in Greenland, I thought it would be useful to share my complete Arctic Circle Trail packing list as a point of reference for future trekkers.

This comprehensive list includes everything I took with me including camping and trekking gear, clothing, food supplies and cooking equipment, toiletries, medication and electronics. Where possible, I’ve included links to the gear I took with me for reference.

22 best hiking apps to download in 2023

20th March 20231st March 2023 by Atlas & Boots

We take a look at the best hiking apps currently available and which ones best meet your needs be they trip planning, navigation or first aid

Hiking apps never used to feature in my outdoor adventures, but times have changed. Now, every Ordnance Survey map comes with a digital version available to download onto my smartphone or tablet.

A complete travel photography gear guide

10th September 20223rd September 2022 by Peter

We’re often asked about the gear we take on our travels. In response, we have written a detailed and complete travel photography gear guide

I have been involved in film or photography throughout the course of my career: initially as a camera operator, video editor and AV engineer, later as a teacher in digital media, and now as a travel writer.

man on frozen lake essentials for safe travel

8 essentials for safe travel

8th August 202216th July 2022 by Kia

From avoiding stomach bugs to securing valuables, these essentials for safe travel will stop long trips playing havoc with your health

Having five sisters as I do is wonderful. On your travels, you get lots of messages checking on your whereabouts and well-being. And then you get some more messages. And then you get some more.

Useful travel gadgets: what we’re using in 2022

28th December 20229th July 2022 by Peter

From practical solutions for everyday problems to highbrow electronics for luxury on the road, here are our favoured useful travel gadgets of 2022

The modern traveller rarely leaves home without a range of gadgets and accessories. Despite years of travel and streamlining my gear, I still pack a healthy number of gadgets.

Unless I’m going completely off-grid, there are certain (usually electronic) luxuries I don’t want to be without. I want to take thousands of photographs, listen to music, watch a movie, stay in touch with my family and most importantly of all, keep track of England’s latest batting collapse (a form of self-harm I’m sure).

A backpack as part of our Coast to coast guide

Coast to Coast kit list: what’s in my backpack

2nd December 20218th September 2021 by Peter

Our Coast to Coast kit list includes everything you’ll need for this classic long-distance journey across northern England

I recently returned from hiking England’s Coast to Coast Walk. The 302km (188mi) unofficial footpath traverses England from St Bees Head in Cumbria to Robin Hood’s Bay in Yorkshire.

How to prevent blisters when hiking lead image

How to prevent and treat blisters when hiking

29th August 202125th August 2021 by Atlas & Boots

Don’t let a pesky injury ruin your time in the outdoors. Our guide on how to prevent blisters will keep you on your feet

Whether you’re an experienced trekker or a newcomer to the trails, you will invariably suffer from one of the most common hiking injuries. To help you minimise the risk, we’ve put together a simple guide on how to prevent and treat blisters when hiking.

How to choose a sleeping bag: a buying guide

2nd June 20212nd June 2021 by Atlas & Boots

Our comprehensive guide on how to choose a sleeping bag will ensure a cosy night’s sleep whatever the temperature

Whether you’re a weekend warrior making a dash for the hills or preparing for a multi-day trek through the Himalayas, choosing the right sleeping bag can make or break a camping trip.

How to choose a down jacket

13th December 20217th April 2021 by Atlas & Boots

A beginner’s guide on how to choose a down jacket that will keep you warm and toasty in the great outdoors

A high-quality down jacket is no longer the preserve of the outdoorsy. Politicians, pop stars and even princesses have been pictured in a ‘puffa’. Of course, a down jacket truly comes into its own when used and tested in the great outdoors.

The layering system: how to layer clothing for the outdoors

22nd January 202120th January 2021 by Peter

Now that spring is finally on the horizon, we’ve updated our guide to the layering system and how best to adapt your clothing to suit any outdoor condition

Springtime is almost upon us and with it come the capricious weather conditions that define the season. Mark Twain once said, “In the spring I have counted one hundred and thirty-six kinds of weather inside of four and twenty hours.”

How to choose a tent: a buying guide

27th October 202221st October 2020 by Peter

Our comprehensive guide on how to choose a tent will ensure dry and comfortable nights whatever the weather

If you ask me, time in a tent is time well spent. I’m usually at my most content when under canvas. With the distractions of modern life left behind, I find that camping has a detoxifying effect on me. At the end of a day on the trail, I pitch my tent, eat, drink, sleep. In the morning I strike my tent and then repeat. It’s a simple but good life.

Highlander Velebit gear list: what’s in my pack

28th April 20227th October 2020 by Peter

Our Highlander Velebit gear list includes everything you’ll need for five days of hiking across Croatia’s highest mountain range

I recently completed the Highlander Velebit, a 104km 5-day trek across the Northern Velebit and Paklenica national parks in Croatia. The Velebit is one of Highlander Adventure’s collection of organised treks and therefore requires a slightly different mix of gear than what I’d pack for an independent trek.

Aconcagua gear list: all you need for summit success

1st December 202126th February 2020 by Peter

Our complete Aconcagua gear list includes everything you’ll need to summit the highest mountain in the Western and Southern Hemispheres

Aconcagua in Argentina, at 6,961m (22,837ft), is South America’s highest mountain and one of the seven summits (the seven peaks that make up the highest point on every continent).

I recently returned from climbing Aconcagua with Acomara Aconcagua Expeditions. A good trekking company will issue you with a detailed kit list, but I always like to see what other people have used.

K2 base camp gear list: all you need for a successful trek

30th July 202123rd October 2019 by Peter

Our extensive K2 base camp gear list includes everything you’ll need for this epic trek to the second-highest mountain on Earth

Having just returned from my K2 base camp trek in Pakistan, I thought it would be helpful to share my complete K2 base camp gear list as a point of reference for future trekkers.

how to choose a waterproof jacket Haglofs

How to choose a waterproof jacket: a buying guide

5th February 20226th July 2019 by Peter

Our detailed guide on how to choose a waterproof jacket will help you find the gear that best suits your needs

A waterproof jacket is an essential piece of outdoor kit and should be in everyone’s backpack whether you’re hiking, climbing or cycling.

Knowing how to choose a waterproof jacket, however, can feel a bit like alchemy. With so many different fabrics, constructions and features used in outdoor clothing, selecting the right jacket has become a real test.

ultimate guide to packing light feat image

The ultimate guide to packing light

11th April 20206th April 2019 by Kia

Some would argue that overpacking is a rite of passage, but there is an easier way. Here are 12 tips for packing light

I started our big trip across the South Pacific and South America with a 45-litre backpack weighing 13kg. Over the course of the trip, I managed to drop a fair bit of weight and get my bag down to 10kg. Evidently, I had failed in packing light from the start.

In some ways, overpacking is a rite of passage: you have to do it to learn how not to do it. Of course there is an easier way. By gleaning advice from other travellers and being strict with yourself, packing light will become far easier. Here’s where to start.

Photo backup: how to keep your memories safe

26th December 202116th February 2019 by Peter

After learning the hard way, we share our tried and tested photo backup systems to help you keep your photographs safe

It was in the Cotopaxi region of Ecuador that we met Michael, a fellow backpacker who had spent the previous weeks on a surfing trip of a lifetime. Earlier in the day, Michael’s GoPro had dislodged from its extender during a jump into a waterfall and sunk to the depths below.

How to build a campfire: a step-by-step guide

12th October 20228th December 2018 by Peter

Our detailed and easy-to-follow guide on how to build a campfire will ensure you can enjoy a satisfying and safe campfire when camping

Many a man claims to be an expert firestarter – in the same way, many a man claims he does not need to ask for directions…

How to choose a backpack: a beginner’s guide

13th March 202213th October 2018 by Peter

Our beginner’s guide on how to choose a backpack will help you make the best choice for your backpacking needs, ensuring comfort and reliability

Whether you’re on a day hike through gently rolling hills or an extended expedition crossing an ice shelf, knowing how to choose a backpack most suited to your trip will make it infinitely more enjoyable.

There are myriad options available and it can be a confusing affair, but getting it right will ensure comfort and reliability day after day.

Best-selling camping and hiking gear

24th December 201920th January 2018 by Peter

We take a look at popular outdoor retailers’ best-selling camping and hiking gear of the year

In general, I don’t tend to spend much money on clothing and non-photography related gadgets. I am comfortable enough loafing around in jeans and a t-shirt. On top of that, I hate shopping with a vengeance. If I really focus, I can avoid shopping malls for most of the year, succumbing only in the lead up to Christmas.