Hiking gear reviews
Honest, in-depth reviews of hiking gear tested on UK trails. Boots, jackets, backpacks, poles and more — researched properly and written from real experience on the trail.
Editor's picks
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Jackets
Waterproof shells, softshells and insulation layers tested in real UK conditions.
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Hiking boots
Waterproof, supportive and built for British trails. Honest boot reviews.
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Walking shoes
Low-cut hiking shoes and trail runners for fast, light days on UK trails.
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Walking sandals
Proper walking sandals for summer trails, river crossings and easy days out.
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Backpacks
Day packs and multi-day rucksacks reviewed for comfort, fit and durability.
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Hiking poles
Trekking poles that take the strain off your knees on long descents.
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Socks
The most underrated bit of kit. Merino, synthetic and blended hiking socks reviewed.
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Baselayers
Merino and synthetic baselayers for year-round hiking comfort.
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Hiking equipment
Headlamps, gaiters, navigation tools and day kit essentials reviewed.
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Camping gear
Tents, sleeping bags, mats, stoves and camping essentials tested in UK conditions.
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Hiking clothing
Waterproof trousers, jackets, base layers and everything else you wear on the hill.
Hiking gear reviews for UK trails
Coast & Fell reviews hiking gear that actually gets used — on the Jurassic Coast, the Purbeck Hills, the South Downs, and the Scottish Highlands. Every review is based on personal use across real conditions: coastal mud, limestone paths, chalk ridges, and whatever the British weather decides to add. No press samples sent back after a weekend. No roundups built from spec sheets.
The focus is on kit that performs for walkers doing serious distances — day hikes of 20km+, organised challenges, and multi-day trips. If you're looking for a quick top-ten list, you're probably in the wrong place. If you want to know how a piece of gear actually behaves after 200 miles on UK trails, you're in exactly the right one.
Gear essentials for hiking in the UK
British conditions are specific. The combination of wet grass, chalk, limestone, coastal mud and unpredictable weather means the gear that works in the Alps won't necessarily work here. These are the five categories that matter most for UK hiking:
- Waterproof jacket — the single most important piece of kit for UK hiking. The question isn't whether you need one; it's which one. Packability, breathability, and seam sealing matter more than brand.
- Footwear — boots vs trail shoes is a more nuanced decision than most guides admit. Terrain, distance, and conditions all affect which is right. Our reviews cover both.
- Socks — the most underrated category. Blister prevention matters more at 30km than almost any other variable. Merino wool blends are the consistent answer for UK conditions.
- Pack — day pack fit and weight distribution become critical on long days. Hip belt design and back panel ventilation matter far more than the number of pockets.
- Navigation and day kit — phone signal is unreliable on the Jurassic Coast and non-existent in the Highlands. A paper map and a compass are not optional. We also cover headtorches, poles, and the essentials that go in every pack.
How we test
Every piece of gear reviewed on Coast & Fell is used by the same person — a 43-year-old hiker based in Dorset — across named trails and real conditions. Reviews cite specific routes, distances, and weather. If something fails or disappoints, that's in the review. Affiliate links are present where relevant; they don't affect the assessment.
Latest reviews
Best Black Diamond trekking poles UK 2026: the whole range explained
Black Diamond invented the FlickLock lever and it shows across their pole line. Here is the UK buyer's guide to every current Black Diamond trekking pole, from the tested Trail Explorer 3 to the carbon Pursuit FLZ, with the right model for your kind of walking.
Best Leki walking poles UK 2026: the full range explained
Leki is the specialist's walking pole brand: the SpeedLock lever, Aergon grips and decades of repairable durability. Here is the full Leki range for UK hikers, from the budget Voyager to the carbon Makalu FX Carbon flagship.
Black Diamond Pursuit Carbon FLZ review: the carbon folding flagship
Black Diamond's premium carbon folding pole: light, well damped and packs down to 36cm. A research-led review of the Pursuit Carbon FLZ, with the one thing most buyers get wrong, choosing 125cm or 135cm by height.
Black Diamond Trail Back review: the affordable way into a proper Black Diamond pole
The Trail Back is the cheapest genuine dual FlickLock aluminium pole Black Diamond makes. A research-led look at the foam-grip value sibling to the Trail Explorer 3 I own, and who should buy it over stepping up.
Black Diamond Trail review: the light, do-it-all telescopic in the Trail line
A research-led review of the Black Diamond Trail, the lightest telescopic pole in the affordable Trail line. Dual FlickLock, 480g and a soft-touch grip, set against the Trail Back and the Trail Explorer 3 I own.
Black Diamond Trail Vista review: FLZ folding vs Shock anti-shock, and which to pick
Two Trail Vista upgrades on one cork-grip FlickLock platform: the folding FLZ that packs inside your daypack, and the telescopic Shock with anti-shock damping. A research-led look at which one suits your hiking.
Leki Khumbu Lite review: the value all-rounder (and the AS anti-shock version)
The Leki Khumbu Lite is the brand's value all-rounder: the SpeedLock lever, a cork-composite grip and tough aluminium at a sensible price. Here is the full picture, plus whether the anti-shock AS version is worth the extra.
Leki Makalu FX Carbon review: the carbon folding flagship (and the Compact)
The Leki Makalu FX Carbon is the carbon folding pole most serious hikers point to, and one of the most respected folders made. Here is the full picture on the standard pole and the smaller-packing FX Carbon Compact, including where the price is and is not justified.
Leki Makalu Lite review: the buy-once aluminium walking pole
The Makalu Lite is the do-everything aluminium Leki most walkers buy once and keep for years. SpeedLock lever, sculpted Aergon Air grip and a tough HTS 6.5 shaft, reviewed for UK hikers.
Leki Skysolo review: the premium lightweight aluminium pole for fast walkers
Leki's top aluminium pole pairs a slim Verticon grip and the SpeedLock 2 Plus lever with a wide length range. A light, fast-feeling walking pole for hikers who want the best aluminium without going full carbon.
Leki Skytera Carbon Lite review: carbon lightness in a telescopic pole
The Leki Skytera Carbon Lite is the lightest telescopic pole in the Leki range: a carbon and aluminium hybrid shaft with the SpeedLock 2 Plus lever, for walkers who want low weight and full adjustability without a Z-fold. Here is the researched picture for UK hikers.
Leki Voyager trekking poles review: the cheapest way into Leki
The Voyager is the entry point to Leki: hardened aluminium, the Super Lock adjustment system and the brand's spare-parts backing at the lowest price Leki does. Here is who it suits and who should step up a tier.
Sun protection for hiking: a UK head-to-toe guide
The parts that burn fastest are the pale bits you never think about: the back of the neck, the ears, the tops of your feet. Here is how I handle sun protection for hiking in the UK, from someone who burns in minutes.
Best walking sandals UK 2026: 8 pairs that earn their place on the trail
The best walking sandals for UK trails in 2026. Eight picks from Keen, Teva, Merrell and Birkenstock, judged on wet-rock grip, strap security and drainage rather than how they look at a picnic.
Birkenstock Arizona review: the days-out and recovery sandal, not a hiking sandal
The Birkenstock Arizona is not a hiking sandal and I won't pretend it is. It's the sandal for easy days out, the campsite, and letting your feet recover after hours in boots. This review covers both the Birko-Flor and the £45 EVA version.
Keen Newport H2 review: the closed-toe walking sandal that started it all
The Keen Newport H2 is our top pick walking sandal: a closed-toe hybrid with a rubber toe bumper, washable quick-dry webbing and a razor-siped outsole for wet rock. Here's why it earns the spot, and where it doesn't suit.
Keen Newport leather review: the original walking sandal, smartened up
The Keen Newport in waxy waterproofed leather is the original closed-toe walking sandal in its smartest form: the same toe bumper and siped outsole as the H2, with an upper that moulds to your foot and looks right in a pub garden.
Teva Hurricane XLT3 review: the value open-toe walking sandal
The Teva Hurricane XLT3 is the value pick among open-toe walking sandals: quick-dry recycled webbing, three-point adjustability and a more cushioned footbed than the XLT2, at around £70. Here's who it suits and where the open toe costs you.
How to stay cool on the trail: hiking in hot weather
The tactics and kit I use to stay cool hiking in a UK heatwave: starting early, shade, wetting a cap or buff, cooling towels, and the sunglasses I never leave home without.
Women's hiking backpacks: what actually makes them different
A women's hiking backpack is not a men's pack in a different colour. Torso length, strap shape and hip belt fit are genuinely different. Here is what changes, why it matters, and five women's packs worth carrying.
Best portable camping fridge UK 2026: which one you actually need
Which portable camping fridge keeps your food and drink properly cold on the trips that matter. The fridges worth buying, what to spend, and the cheaper coolers that do a similar job for less.
Rab Electron Pro Review: when 700FP is not quite enough
The step up to 800FP European goose down is real. If the Microlight Alpine leaves you cold on the days that matter most, this is the jacket that fixes that.
Rab Glaceon Pro Review: lightweight down done properly
The Glaceon Pro and the Microlight Alpine use the same fill power. The difference is 160 grams of total weight and a more technical construction that earns its premium. Here is who it is actually for.
The Complete Rab Insulated Jackets Guide (2026)
Eight jackets, from the packable Microlight Alpine to the paradox that is the Mythic G. Here is how to work out which one is actually right for your hiking.
Rab Microlight Alpine Review: the packable down jacket most UK hikers want
153 grams of 700FP hydrophobic down in a jacket that packs to the size of a water bottle. The Microlight Alpine has been the reference point for packable down for years. Here is why.
Rab Nebitron Pro Review: the serious winter upgrade
If the Rab Cirrus is the jacket that showed me what good kit looks like, the Nebitron Pro is the one I want when conditions turn genuinely serious. Here is everything you need to know before buying.
What I pack for a warm summer day walk: the honest kit list
Not a generic checklist. This is what I actually carry on warm summer day walks in the UK, what I leave at home, and why the answer always depends on the walk.
Osprey Hikelite 26 review: the best ventilated daypack under £100
Osprey quality and the airy AirSpeed back of pricier packs, in a 26L size with a raincover included for around £90. The daypack I reach for when I know my back is going to get hot.
Columbia Newton Ridge Plus II review: the best-value starter hiking boot in the UK
Around 26,000 Amazon UK ratings can't all be wrong. The Columbia Newton Ridge Plus II is the sensible first proper hiking boot — waterproof, comfortable, and under £80. Here's where it's brilliant value and where pricier boots pull ahead.
KEEN Targhee III Mid WP review: the comfort and wide-fit hiking boot
The KEEN Targhee III Mid WP is the boot I send people to when Salomon and other narrow boots leave their toes cramped. A roomy toe box, cushioned PU midsole, and KEEN.DRY waterproofing make it the comfort pick — especially for wider feet and 40+ hikers who want all-day comfort.
Best hiking backpacks and daypacks UK 2026: 8 packs reviewed for real trail use
Eight hiking backpacks and daypacks reviewed for UK trails, from a 434g ultralight trail pack to a 65L budget expedition rucksack. Including the Osprey Talon 33, Hikelite 26 and Stratos 36.
Osprey Stratos 36 review: the day-pack-plus that goes further
The Stratos 36 sits above the Talon 33 in the Osprey range — more volume, a trampoline-mesh back panel with better airflow, and a lid that detaches as a summit pack. Here's when it earns its place over the Talon.
Best hiking boots UK 2026: 6 boots tested and ranked
The best hiking boots available in the UK right now — from a £76 Columbia value pick to a £160 Salomon all-rounder. Six boots tested and ranked across every use case, all with proven Amazon UK demand.
Merrell Moab 3 Mid WP review: the most popular hiking boot in the UK
The Moab 3 Mid WP is the best-value serious hiking boot you can buy in the UK right now. Vibram TC5+ grip, solid M-Select DRY waterproofing, and a fit that works straight out of the box. Here's what it's actually like on trail.
Best camping chairs UK 2026: lightweight packable and padded chairs for every use
The best camping chairs you can actually buy on Amazon UK right now, split into lightweight packable chairs for backpacking and padded chairs for festivals and base camp. From a £45 best-seller to a 490g Helinox.
North Face Exploration Regular Tapered Trousers review: the hiking trouser that works everywhere
The North Face Exploration Regular Tapered is a four-way stretch hiking trouser that doubles as everyday wear. No zip-off, no bulk, just a clean tapered fit that works on trail and off it.
Patagonia Torrentshell 3L Pants review: the waterproof overtrousers that actually keep up with you
The Patagonia Torrentshell 3L Pants are the waterproof overtrousers I reach for on every serious wet-weather day on the Jurassic Coast. Fully taped seams, proper 3-layer waterproofing and long enough ankle zips to pull on over Salomon boots without sitting down in a puddle.
Apple Watch Ultra 3 review: the best hiking smartwatch for iPhone users?
Three years of daily Apple Watch use, from the original Ultra to the Ultra 3. The GPS is excellent, the ecosystem integration is unmatched, and the battery is the honest trade-off you need to understand before buying.
Best hiking GPS watches UK 2026: seven watches tested across every budget
From the Apple Watch Ultra 3 to the Garmin Enduro 3, these are the seven GPS watches worth buying for UK hiking in 2026 — with honest comparisons on battery, navigation, and what you actually need on trail.
Garmin Fenix 8 Solar review: is this the best GPS watch for serious hikers?
A research-led review of the Garmin Fenix 8 Solar from someone actively considering switching from the Apple Watch Ultra 3. Honest about what I haven't yet tested, and clear about what the data says.
Garmin Forerunner 970 review: the best all-round hiking GPS watch UK
The Forerunner 970 crosses over from running watch to hiking GPS with conviction. Topo maps, multi-band GPS, 56g. A research-led review of the lightest fully-featured GPS hiking watch in this class.
Danish Endurance Merino Hiking Socks review: the case for budget merino
Three pairs of merino hiking socks for £28. That's less than the cost of one pair of Darn Tough. After walking them on the Jurassic Coast, here's what the Danish Endurance 3-Pack actually delivers.
Best waterproof hiking trousers UK 2026: overtrousers worth carrying on every hike
The best waterproof hiking trousers available in the UK right now. From ultralight emergency layers to proper 3-layer Gore-Tex shells, here is what to carry when British weather turns serious.
The North Face Exploration Convertible Pants review: the hiking trouser I reach for most
Lightweight, stretchy and comfortable enough to forget you are wearing hiking-specific kit. The North Face Exploration Convertible is the trouser I reach for most on UK trails and the one I would recommend to most hikers starting out.
RevolutionRace outdoor trousers review: the Swedish brand taking UK hiking by storm
RevolutionRace is a Swedish outdoor brand most UK hikers had not heard of five years ago. Now their GP and Nordwand trouser ranges are among the highest-reviewed hiking trousers on Amazon UK. Here is the honest picture on what they make, who it is for and whether the hype is justified.
Best hiking trousers UK 2026: what I actually wear and what to buy for every condition
From lightweight convertibles for spring days on the Jurassic Coast to waterproof overtrousers for properly wet conditions, here are the hiking trousers worth buying in the UK right now. Including four pairs I actually own and wear.
Black Diamond Trail Explorer 3 trekking poles review: the reliable all-terrain workhorse
Three-section aluminium, FlickLock adjustability and Black Diamond build quality at a price that makes sense for most UK hikers. Here is the honest picture on the Trail Explorer 3 after real use on demanding terrain.
Best trekking poles UK 2026: tested picks for every hiker
From Jurassic Coast cliff paths to Highland ridges, the right trekking poles make a real difference on the descents. Here are the best trekking poles available in the UK right now, for every budget and hiking style.
Best cool boxes UK 2026: cool boxes, cool bags and electric coolers worth buying
The best cool boxes, cool bags and electric coolers available in the UK right now. From budget bags to a £325 YETI, covering every use case from a day at the beach to a week of wild camping.
Coleman 50QT Xtreme Cooler review: the best cool box most people should buy
Thirteen thousand Amazon reviews at 4.5 stars. Five days of ice retention. 84-can capacity. The Coleman 50QT Xtreme is the benchmark cool box for UK camping and the one most people should buy.
Best hiking socks UK 2026 — 10 pairs worth buying for every budget
The right hiking sock prevents blisters, regulates temperature and makes a long day significantly more comfortable. The wrong one does the opposite. Here are the 10 best hiking socks available in the UK right now, for every budget and every condition.
Salomon X Ultra 360 Leather Mid GTX review: the waterproof boot for British winters
I bought these when the Speedcross 6 started to feel inadequate in winter conditions. Lightweight, GTX waterproofed and comfortable from day one. Here's what they're like after a season of use on UK trails.
Patagonia Torrentshell 3L review: the waterproof shell that kept me dry on Pen y Fan in January
A Christmas present that replaced every other waterproof I own. The Patagonia Torrentshell 3L is the shell I wear on every serious hike and the one I'd recommend to most UK hikers without hesitation.
Rab Cirrus jacket review: the insulated layer that changed how I think about kit
My first proper premium purchase when I started hiking. 2.5 years later I've got rid of almost every other coat I own. Here's why the Rab Cirrus converted me to buying kit for performance rather than appearance.
Best hiking gadgets UK 2026: tech worth carrying on the trail
From satellite communicators to action cameras, GPS watches to traction devices, the hiking tech that actually makes a difference on the trail. Eight categories, multiple options at every price point, all on Amazon UK.
Fire Maple FMS-X3 review: the backpacking stove that makes a Jetboil hard to justify
The Jetboil is faster. The Fire Maple FMS-X3 costs half the price, boils water in under two minutes, and gives you time to take your boots off. Here's why I haven't looked back.
Osprey Talon 33 review: the day pack I didn't know I needed
I upgraded from the Osprey Daylite Plus when my kit started outgrowing it. The Talon 33 changed how I hike — hydration bladder, hip pockets full of Haribo, dry bags inside, Fire Maple in the main compartment. Here's why I wouldn't go back.
Darn Tough socks review: the best hiking socks you can buy?
After hundreds of miles on UK trails without a single blister, I'm convinced Darn Tough makes the best hiking socks available. Here's why — and which pair to buy for every condition.
Salomon Speedcross 6 review: 200km on the Jurassic Coast
Lightweight, grippy and with the best lacing system on the market — the Salomon Speedcross 6 has become my go-to shoe for dry trail days on the Jurassic Coast. Here's my honest review after 200km.
Ten Father's Day gifts for hikers — what to get the dad who already has walking boots
Buying for a hiker is hard because good hikers already own the basics. These are the ten things he'd never justify buying himself — from a satellite communicator to a proper headlamp. £32 to £329, all on Amazon.
10 best waterproof shells for spring hiking in 2026
Spring on the Jurassic Coast means one thing — unpredictable weather. These are the waterproof shells worth buying in 2026, tested and reviewed for the 40+ hiker.
About our gear reviews
Every piece of gear reviewed on Coast & Fell is researched thoroughly — cross-referencing manufacturer specifications, expert testing data, and where possible, real-world use on UK trails. When we recommend a product, we mean it.
Our reviews focus on the things that matter most for hiking in the UK: waterproofing that holds up in sustained British rain, breathability on long upland climbs, durability on coastal paths, and comfort over a full day on the hill. We cover everything from entry-level kit to premium performance gear, with honest assessments of where the price premium is justified and where it isn't.
We cover waterproof jackets, hiking boots, walking shoes, walking sandals, backpacks, hiking poles, socks, baselayers, hiking clothing, hiking equipment and camping gear. New reviews are published regularly — bookmark this page or check back often for the latest additions.