Blog: A Scottish wander... Dun da Ghaoithe

(I wrote this while up in Scotland but couldn't get the photos from my phone to my ipad, I'm now back home so I've put it all together. I apologise for the photo quality, they're all from my Galaxy S4. I hope you enjoy the blog post! -Paul)

I'm currently on a visit to Oban, seeing my sister and some of the beautiful Scottish countryside. I've been yearning to be back in Scotland after a visit last year and this trip couldn't have come at better time. There's been perfect blue skies, stunning sunsets and plenty of coffee - what more could a hillwalker want?! Cake... Oh yeah!

We were lucky enough to have a good forecast and one of Jenny's days off coincide, a quick check of the CalMac ferry timetable and we were good to go! 

We grabbed the 8.00am crossing from Oban to Craignure for a very reasonable £7.85 each (return), at this time of year the sun rises at about 8.20 so we were able to catch the sunrise from the ferry. Cool Autumnal air, crisp sea air and the sun just sneaking past the clouds on the horizon... A perfect start to a day on the hill?

The sunrise from the back of the ferry to Craignure, Mull.

We reached Craignure at 8.50, after a quick double check of food, water and sensible clothing we were ready to head off, turning left out of the port we had 2km of road to quick march before we started to ascend a gravel track which leads to 2 rather large and scary masts before branching to the right and reaching the last mast and the end of the track. After a few miles of gravel track and a climb to 540m from 0 we were ready for the proper walking to begin.

One of my favourites. Sun battles cloud!

A spooky mast appears in the fog.

We'd been surrounded by cloud all the way up and were beginning to wonder why we were continuing to climb with no sign of it relenting. We had a quick banana break and decided we should continue up as the forecast had predicted sun from 10am till 1pm, us Rickards ain't quitters either!

After a steep climb from the end of the track to a pile of rocks at 556m we were met with one of the most breathtaking views I've had from hillwalking, the cloud disappeared, blue skies appeared and we could see snow topped mountains, cloud inversions and the sea everywhere... Sometimes it's worth it to keep plodding through the cloud! 

From this position we had our first real view of the walk and the ridge, stretching out in to the distance with wisps of cloud and blue skies there was a stunning view of ascent, fake summit (754m, with a trig point and rather large cairn) and the real summit at 766m. The second highest point on Mull, the only Corbett and some of the best views around due to its prominence and location on the island.

The views above the cloud well worth the trek through it, snow topped mountains in the distance.

Although we were the only souls around, the popularity of this walk and mountain in the summer have caused erosion and a path has formed from the last mast up to the summit itself, while this increases the accessibility and allows more people to experience the beautiful views and the joy of walking it also tarnishes the hillside, we decided to follow the path loosely and wander through the taller grasses and boggy bits. 

The view from the fake summit, marked by a trig point.

A short flat section leads to a steep climb up to the fake summit, from here there are some great views over Mull, up to Ben Nevis and towards the other islands, plus the ridge itself. There's a drop of about 70m from the fake summit before climbing up to the real one, from here there's stunning views over Western Scotland and islands, with some beautiful snowy mountains in the distance! We found shelter behind the cairn on top and had a quick lunch before heading back the way we came, the wind had picked up dramatically with the temperature dropping suddenly, a quick shower of wet snow meant we made a quick descent with the view of Oban keeping us motivated before dropping back into cloud and back on to the gravel track (knees didn't approve).

The descent was far quicker than the ascent and we were back on the road in no time, 2km back to Craignure and we were just in time for the 3pm ferry back to Oban and the pub! 

Selfie at the top with the Ben in the background (promise he's there)

A few key stats...

Start point: Craignure ferry port
Total route length: 9 miles, 15km
Route style: There and back
Total ascent: 843m
Highest point: Dun da Ghaoithe, 766m
Total time: 5-6 hours

The sunset caused a lovely glow, seen here on the ferry back, a truly stunning day in the mountains.

Review: Scarpa Mojito GTX Shoes

- Product provided for the purpose of review, thanks to outdoorkit.co.uk - 

Manaufacturer's description: "The new Mojito GTX features the same Spyder sole unit, suede upper and rubber toe rand which has made the Mojito so popular and adds a Gore-Tex membrane for those times when the weather turns British"

From the web: 

A striking design; different to most of the outdoor style shoes on offer in the UK. Laces all the way down to the toe box allow for a perfect fit, according to Scarpa at least. Gore Tex lining allows this shoe to be worn in all  the weather Britain has to offer and a solid brand reputation means this shoe could be really handy during winter when most outdoor shoes get a little bit wet and cold. 

First impressions: 

These shoes feel really stiff, there's not much give in them at all, great if you're looking for a hardwearing and tough shoe but not great when you've broken them in and sizing changes. A good design, I'm not sure how sold I am on the lace all the way down look, a bit odd and impractical for my liking. The Spyder sole feels really grippy, the standard with Vibram of course, this is their new style though and it feels great on rock and wet surfaces, very trustworthy. Overall the shoes look good I think, a refreshingly different look that won't suit everyone's tastes but when do a pair of shoes ever do that?





Out and about: 

After an initial break in period I quickly became disappointed with Mojito GTX shoes. I love the firmness but the cost of this is a very unforgiving shoe, after a few hours my knees were definitely feeling uncomfortable and cramp had kicked in. I have other pairs of Scarpa shoes in this size and they don't make my feet feel like this so why should the Mojito GTX? For the hefty price tag (£135!) I expected a shoe I could happily wear around town, up a hill and on the approach but this shoe didn't quite excel in any of these categories for me. Stiff enough to go up hills but lacking the ankle support, too unforgiving to wear all day and too expensive to treat like rubbish on the approach to a climb. 

A really grippy Vibram sole.

The very long lace didn't help with getting the shoes tight, the problem with such a lace is that nothing happens at the bottom when you tighten the top. I tried working my way up but it was difficult to maintain a taught lace with the suede upper and by the time I got to the top the bottom has become loose again. A great idea in theory but in practice it was disappointing. 

I couldn't find fault with the level of waterproofness the shoe provides, I wore them out in some stinking weather and they did brilliantly - keeping my feet warm, letting them breathe and keeping the water out. 

Don't get me wrong, these are a good pair of shoes but the precision of fit has to be spot on and you need a wallet which can handle the high cost.

For the price tag I expected a more comfortable shoe, especially one which has 5/5 on the Scarpa website for city walking, 4/5 for approach and trail walking and is aimed at the high end market for outdoor shoes. 

After wearing them for some time, I'm now beginning to think I judged the shoes a little too quickly. They become more comfortable as time goes on as the fabric stretches, these shoes take some serious breaking in! 

Overall, the shoes are good. I think for the price tag I expect a comfortable shoe from the minute the box opens, there shouldn't be a need to wear them for a month before they become comfortable or even bearable. If you get the sizing spot on then I think the shoe is great, and if you like the style!

Positive points:

• Great build quality and materials
• High level of waterproofness for a shoe
• Grippy Vibram sole
• The design is bold and refreshing (even if I didn't love it)

Not-so-positive points:

• A tough shoe, takes a while to break them in.
• They hurt my knees after a day of walking in them, I think the sole changed my step slightly and caused the pain in my knee.

Thanks for reading, if you're after a pair of Scarpa Mojito GTX shoes then try outdoorkit.co.uk, the shoes currently have 15% off the RRP.

Blog: Winter Hillwalking - Tips & Tricks

It's that time of year again... The clocks are going back, there's definitely a winter chill in the air and days are deceptively short. Here's a list of tips & tricks which can help keep you safe over the winter period when out and about in the British hills.

1. Steal ideas from far more experienced people. Whether you're out walking, on Twitter or in Cotswold Outdoor there are people with years and years of experience ready to offer it. Always keep an ear out for handy ideas so you can develop your own tips & tricks for the British winter, this is an ongoing one, you can always learn from others and you should always keep an open mind when it comes to keeping safe - what might sound silly in theory may save your life one day. All the things on this list have been picked up off people who were on the hills before I had my first pair of boots.

2. Pack spares. Spares of everything: socks, batteries, hats, gloves, maps, torches, fleeces. It may add to your pack weight but what's more important - staying alive or going UL? You never know when a torch will decide to stop working, when a stray puddle will get your socks wet or when a sudden bit of rain will get your only hat wet. These things sound minor but major problems happen when loads of little things go wrong. Pack spares!

3. Survival bags. Clue's in the name, they help you survive! These are normally bright orange or silver, orange bags are a thick plastic material which will keep rain and wind off, silver bags are more for thermal insulation and are very lightweight. I always carry an orange bag with me even in summer conditions - you never know when something could go wrong!

4. A flask of something hot & tasty. I go for coffee but put in whatever you like, make sure it's something you like when out in the hills - part of hypothermia is an unwillingness to admit something's wrong so you need a good excuse to fill up with hot fluids. Even if you've got a fire going you still need to heat up your core, notice how as soon as you leave the fire you cool down? That's because your skin has been cooked but your core has been cooling.

5. Good waterproofs. Getting wet will dramatically cool you down, there's one way of stopping the rain and that's a solid set of waterproofs (jacket with hood, trousers, gaiters and waterproof boots). Find a set which works for you, there's more choice than ever before with different fabrics and cuts in all prices and styles. No excuse for leaving the house without them.

6. Know how to read a map. This one gets me every time I'm out and about, people who wander around Dartmoor with a GPS... 90% of the time it'll work but what do you when it fails? Always carry a map and compass in your pack, and know how to use it. Spend a few quid on a day out with an MIA so you have the skills to get off the hill and to safety. 

These are just a few ideas, remember rule no. 1 - keep your ear out! I'll be doing the same and adding to this list over the winter and years to come.

Review: Mountain Equipment Fitzroy Jacket

- Product provided for the purpose of review -

Manufacturer's description: "Light, durable and almost unaffected by wind, rain and snow, this is the perfect piece of modern all weather insulation."

First impressions:

Plenty of synthetic insulation, a great build quality and a brand with a superb reputation; I couldn't wait to get this jacket out in the rain and cold to see what it had to offer.

A good fit, plenty of fabric over the bum so the water can fall to the ground. Unfortunately the arms are a little short, my hardshell is Rab and I'm used to having plenty of sleeve so reaching above and around doesn't cause the cuff to move up my forearm - with the Fitzroy, Mountain Equipment haven't added enough sleeve which is a big shame. Even when wearing gloves the sleeve rides up enough to expose my arm and this allows the rain in, not good! 

 Large cuff tabs allow you to get a tight fit around your wrist even when wearing gloves, a feature which is easy to not think about but something which can really let a jacket down. If anything, there's too much velcro on the wrist, it goes right round the cuff, a little unnecessary but not a major issue.

The Fitzroy has got some great zip action. The main zip is a simple 2 way YKK zip but features an insulated baffle to stop heat loss through the zip, the benefits of having a 2 way zip on the front are great - a quick way of losing some heat if it's getting a bit sweaty on the trail or if you're wearing the Fitzroy over a harness. 

Two handwarmer pockets provide some serious comfort for hands, both lined with a microfleece material they are designed to be accessible with or without a harness on but I wasn't convinced, as a harness rides slightly above the hips and belly button it comes straight across these pockets. I really like the depth these pockets provide, they allow a whole hand to burrow into them and get some warmth out of the insulation within the jacket. 

A napoleon pocket provides some good storage, it lacks the microfleece material the handwarmer pockets are lined with but features a very smooth, soft fabric which is still comfortable to touch. I really like how big the pocket is, I can fit my OS Extreme map, and compass in with ease, a very well designed feature of the jacket. The picture is the pocket with compass and map within, not much strain on the outer fabric but you can feel it in the left handwarmer pocket.

A helmet compatible hood must have some good mechanisms in place for when you're not wearing a helmet, unfortunately I found the hood on the Fitzroy a bit frustrating. Because the hood is insulated it tends to ride up and come off your head, when walking into the wind this becomes a real annoyance. A big shame as insulation around one's head is rather lovely but not worth the loss of wind and rain protection a well fitting hood provides. I tried tightening the hood to a level where it wouldn't come off but found it painfully tight. The wire peak of the hood performed well and wasn't too stiff, I liked having a large overhang of hood when the rain was coming straight down. A photo of complete wind and rain protection, unfortunately I couldn't see a thing!

Overall the jacket features plenty of soft and gentle materials to keep you comfortable and warm. A super soft nose protector looks after the snout in cold winds, the handwarmer pockets are brilliant, the napoleon offers storage space and the zips feel secure and are all the right size for where they're positioned. The outer fabric looks good and the construction is great. Plenty of M.E logos and the bright fabric let everyone know you're wearing a great jacket. A friend of mine said it was the sort of jacket he could see Ironman wearing!

Getting out and about with the Fitzroy:

Some really heavy wind and rain has hit Devon and the UK over the past few weeks and it's provided the perfect conditions for getting Fitzroy into some yucky weather.

Drilite Loft II is the outer fabric for this jacket and it's seriously windproof with M.E claiming it's highly water resistant. I found both of these to be true to word and I wandered around in the stormy weather with a smug grin on my face, no water got through to me and the wind was definitely kept at bay. This fabric is also in the hood and around the bottom hem of the jacket, giving an extra bit of defense against the wet. One of the problems I faced was entering people's homes and shops after rainfall, the water beaded very well but didn't seem to go anywhere resulting in a small downpour whenever the jacket was taken off or shaken about.

To round it up, all the features came together really well when jacket was put to the test. Warm hand pockets provided sanctuary from the wind, the hood worked well when the wind wasn't head on and the jacket kept me warm and toasty. I felt like I was in my own little world with the Fitzroy on which is exactly what this sort of jacket should do, very impressive, just a shame about the length of the arms!

Thanks for checking out my review of the M.E Fitzroy Jacket, I hope you enjoyed it, any question then please ask away.

- Thanks to outdoorkit.co.uk for providing the jacket for the purpose of review! :) -

Review: Evolv Shaman Rock Shoes

- product provided for the review by outdoorkit.co.uk -

Mmm... A very pretty pair of rock shoes

 Today's review is of the Evolv Shaman rock shoes, developed in partnership with Chris Sharma (the ultimate climber), these rock shoes are right at the top of the market coming in with an RRP of £115. Features include: a Knuckle Box and Love Bump, synthetic uppers, TRAX high friction rubber and 3 straps to get the shoe as snug as possible. The Knuckle Box and Love Bump combination work together to keep your foot in a comfortable yet strong position.

First impressions were good, a super tight fit out the box meant they'd stretch out and become the perfect size for my feet (I ordered the same size as my approach shoes). The love bump is obvious straight away, the shoes balance on each end when on a flat surface, a bump is seen in most shoes at this end of the market - they mirror the natural shape of your foot and allow you to fit the shoe properly.

The "Love Bump".

Trad Climbing

Hound Tor, Sheeps Tor and Chudleigh Rocks have provided some great excuses to get these shoes up some trad routes, both single and multi-pitch. The Shamans did very well, sticking well on defined holds but also gripping the rock while smearing. They did fair better on the granite, I think this may have been to do with the higher levels of friction on the rock and the huge amounts of polish on the limestone at Chudleigh. In all the time I've been wearing these shoes my foot has only slipped once and that was on a very glass like patch of rock at Sheeps Tor, it's been great having shoes on that you can trust. Climbing shoes don't make you climb any better, they just allow you to climb at your best, they help get the best out of your footholds and they give you the confidence to really commit to moves.

I felt the shoes were the right size for me on single pitch routes but over longer and more tiring multi-pitch climbs the shoes began to ache my feet, this is very common in climbing shoes but I'd love it if a brand could find a way of reducing the fatigue while keeping the shoe tight. The 3 straps worked well to get the shoe tight but I found they would catch on the beginning of the velcro, this means if your foot can just fit in the shoe with a tight squeeze then it's very easy to not get them much tighter, I found that I had to keep remembering to pull the tab past the velcro to get a proper fit.

The small velcro bump which can stop you from getting the shoe as tight as possible.

The lack of definite point at the front of the shoe meant footwork needed to be a little more precise, this wasn't too bad but is something I needed to get used to after using a slightly more pointed rock shoe. Another minor issue with the Shamans is the heel fitting, the rest of the shoe fitted fine but that was a definite pocket of air below my heel, this didn't affect my climbing but on the descent it kept making a funny noise, much to the amusement of my climbing partner!

Bouldering
Bouldering is a bit from different from trad climbing, it requires much more precise footwork up short, but technical routes. The shoes handled bouldering well, I felt really comfortable using my foot for heel hooks and toe hooks - something my old Scarpa rock shoes didn't do. The precise foot work took a bit more thinking due to the point issue I mentioned above, after a couple of hours I had got the hang of the new shoes and I was confident in my foot placements.

A cheeky heel hook!

Summary
These are a great pair of rock shoes, not only do their job excellently but they also bring confidence and power to the rock. As I said before, they won't turn you into Chris Sharma but they'll certainly help you become the best climber you can be and that's what great rock shoes are all about. I'm looking forward to taking these shoes up plenty more routes in the future!

Thanks for reading!

Thanks again to outdoorkit.co.uk for providing the Evolv Shaman rock shoes.

If you'd like more information about the shoes then feel free to ask me on twitter or talk to outdoorkit direct through their Facebook or Twitter.

Review: Buffalo Special 6 Shirt

- Product provided by outdoorkit.co.uk for the purpose of review -

Time for a review... The Buffalo Special 6 Shirt, an insulated, waterproof and windproof jacket loved by the military and outdoor professionals all over the world.

Weighing in at 675g, this jacket packs a huge amount of features: Pertex 6 shell, large front map pocket, extra long cut on the back to allow for rain run-off, handwarmer pocket and 8 ventilation controls including 2 way side zips. Available in black, green and red in 8 different sizes. 

Love this label, Sheffield rocks :)

I've been getting into the woods more and more over the course of 2014, I've got plenty of technical jackets but when it comes to bushcraft and playing in the trees you need something a little tougher. I saw a Buffalo jacket a couple of years ago on a course and it's been in the back of my mind ever since, designed for military and police users, I knew a jacket like that would be able to handle a bit of Devon woodland. A rainy summer has allowed me to put the Buffalo through some tests and I'm pleased to say it's performed very well!

Dry after 30 minutes, not bad for a jacket with plenty of exposed furry goodness.

 This jacket has been thought through, plenty of features help make it a go to jacket for cold and wet conditions. For me, it was far too warm to be worn throughout a day like a technical mountain jacket but when conditions worsened it was a godsend, the insulation and liner immediately improve body temperature and the Pertex shell keeps the rain off.

Plenty of liner and insulation right up the wrist.

Soft liner helps with comfort and warmth.

Walking through the woods with this jacket on is like wearing body armour, the shell feels solid enough to handle scrapes and bumps and rain beads very well. The longer cut at the back was appreciated, rain normally works it's way down my overtrousers but the lip meant it continued down to the floor.

Beading on the sleeve.

The large front pocket is handy for phones, keys and wallet too. It kept most of the rain out but after a while it developed that damp feel. Not a big issue but a liner included in the pocket may have kept it 100% dry. 

Large map pocket with zip flap.

After some time in the rain my hands were beginning to cool down, a perfect opportunity to test a pocket designed to warm up hands! Very comfy pocket with the same liner in half of it, unfortunately the other half has the reverse side of the internal liner, not too uncomfortable but having the liner all the way round would increase that pocket's comfort and warmth. My hands were warmed up quickly, the insulation is warm but when your heart's pumping this jacket really kicks out some heat, I struggled to keep cool even with the side zips fully open. 

Handwarmer pocket, no special zips or fuss just a standard pocket.

Reverse of the liner in the handwarmer pocket.

Side ventilation.

I've had a few cold nights this summer, with the temperature dropping to near 0°. I've had to keep the zips open partially to stop from overheating, this jacket has got some serious oomph when it comes to keeping you warm.. Temperatures in Devon rarely go below freezing so it was hard to see how much cold this jacket could handle. 

Velcro tab over the side ventilation, helps keep the wind and rain out.

Overall I've been really impressed with the Buffalo Special 6 Shirt, it's kept me ferociously warm, very dry and cosy too. There's one or two bits which could do with a small change but that's just me nitpicking, I'm really glad this jacket is made in Sheffield with such a high standard of workmanship - no stereotypical British manufacturing here, just a solid jacket. I look forward to many more years of wearing the Buffalo in the woods. 

Positive points:

• Tough outer shell which beads water and stops wind brilliantly. 
• Soft and cosy liner which helps this jacket double up as a pillow.
• Immediate warmth when you wear the jacket, no waiting for it to warm up.
• Long cut at the back to help the rain run off.
• Great build quality and workmanship.
• Made in Sheffield, that's got to be worth a few review points!

Not-so-positive points:

• Reverse of the liner within the handwarmer pocket is a little bit annoying.
• No hood, this didn't effect me much but something to remember.
• Not a 100% waterproof front pocket.

Thanks for reading, I hope you enjoyed the review :)

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Thanks again to OutdoorKit for providing the Buffalo Special 6 Shirt for review. Please check out their social media pages... Facebook and Twitter.

Review: Berghaus Paclite Waterproof Pants

                                                                  - Product provided by outdoorkit.co.uk for the purpose of review - 

Lightweight, strong and reliable... A few buzzwords for the Berghaus Paclite Pants. Now for a little more detail...

The basics:

• Made with Goretex Paclite Helium fabric
• 185g weight
• 3/4 zip
• RRP of £100

First impressions:

As with most orders of technical equipment these days I always think they've forgotten to pack the kit because the bag is so light! Straight away I got the familiar feel of Berghaus quality with these pants, no loose stitching or manufacturing errors to be seen. A true sense of fit to size - I went for XL with a 38" waist and they fit perfectly, it's easy for brands to be over eager with an elastic waist and create a "one-size-fits-all" product which doesn't provide a technical fit, Berghaus have avoided this problem. 

On the hill:

The pants arrived around mid July and I was itching to get them out on Dartmoor to see what they could do, unfortunately, heatwave threats from the weatherman meant I had to wait until a stormy August before the heavens opened with some beautiful British rain. 

With a big grin on my face I headed out into the pouring rain while others hid in their cars...

Initially I was worried about the "lite" aspect of the pants, I've never been one to count grams with kit and I wondered how much damage shaving a few hundreds grams off could make when it came to waterproof trousers. 

There was no need for me to worry, the pants exceeded expectations and kept me 100% dry out in the rain with the water beading and running off well. After the rain, the trousers performed well, quickly drying out allowing them to go back into a rucksack and keeping you comfortable on the hill. They were breathable, not mind blowing, but definitely there - what's the point of overtrousers if there's condensation making your trousers wet while walking? This is a common drawback with "lite" equipment, sacrificing technical benefits like breathability to save weight.

When not being worn the pants pack up into a very small ball which can easily be put into a large pocket or rucksack. If you're going for an lightweight or ultralightweight setup where space and weight are priority then these pants will save on both. 

Packed up Paclite Pants... That's a lot of P's. Fruit Pastilles for scale!

Overall I was very impressed with how well the Berghaus Paclite Pants performed under testing Dartmoor conditions. No rain got in and there was enough breathabilty that the pants didn't feel uncomfortable even with the sunny spells between showers. My main concern with the Paclite Pants is the longevity of such a lightweight material - how much of beating can they take compared with other technical fabrics? 

Quickfire review...

Positive points:

• These pants pack away to a very small size and are very light.
• Reliable material, goretex is famous for maintaining its waterproof ability.
• Quick drying, allowing you to pack the pants away and keep comfortable. 

Not-so-positive:

• "lite" pants means they can't take knocks like traditional goretex can.
• Less breathable then some other lightweight overtrousers.

Summary:

The biggest selling point of these pants is the lightweight and space saving aspect of the Goretex Paclite material, the drawback of this is the loss of breathability and robustness. Personally I think it's worth it if you can look after the pants and make full use of the 3/4 zip to help the water vapour leave the trousers.

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Thanks for reading, please share with anyone you know looking for new waterproof trousers.

Thanks to outdoorkit.co.uk for providing the Berghaus Paclite Pants for the review, if you're interested in buying the Pants then they're currently 20% off of RRP on their website.

If you want more information about the Paclite Pants please don't hesitate to tweet me, @PaulWRickard.

Or you can contact OutdoorKit through their Facebook and Twitter accounts.

Thanks again,

Paul Rickard

Review: Petzl Corax Harness

- Product provided by outdoorkit.co.uk for the purpose of review - 

"CORAX is the multi-purpose harness par excellence. It comes in two sizes, so adapts to all user shapes. Its comfort and ease of use make it suitable for a wide range of users for climbing, mountaineering or via ferrata"

Skip to the bottom for a quickfire review of the Petzl Corax!

The Corax is a lightweight, reasonably priced harness aimed at a variety of users. Coming in at £60 RRP it's right in the middle of price range for harnesses. Four gear loops and a simple but solid design mean it's great for both outdoor and indoor climbing, other features include: Frame Construction Technology, Waistbelt equipped with two Doubleback buckles, two rigid & two flexible gear loops and to top it all off a bright green belay loop. A total weight of 530g means this is a heavier than average harness. The Corax is available in S-L (60-90cm) and L-XL (75-105cm).

This is a good harness, not exceptional but good. It won't help you climb any grades higher or turn you into Chris Sharma but it will help you stay safe and that's the real goal of a good harness. It's comfortable, well ventilated and breathable; these are all great characteristics for a harness and they help you focus on your climbing whether you're out in the wind getting some solid British trad in or you're tearing up the top-roping indoors, these features are subtle and easily forgotten by manufactures, I'm glad Petzl has made the extra effort to include them where others would focus on weight (not THAT important with a harness). 

Straight out the bag it's easy to get this harness set up even though all the buckles are adjustable, the two waist buckles help keep your belay loop central and your gear loops symmetrical. One thing I found odd with the Corax was the huge difference between the waist and leg size, the harness fits my waist with a huge amount of slack spare and could easily fit someone much larger than myself but the legs only have about 3-4 inches left to give - I'd be interested to hear why they've done this and whether they tested it out on anyone of a larger stature! 

If you were new to climbing and unfamiliar with the different points of a harness then I guess the bright green belay loop would be beneficial, I'm not completely sold on it and it doesn't really fit in with the blue and black theme of the harness though - purely an aesthetic complaint. 

Petzl are a reliable brand with great construction of equipment and the Corax is no exception, there aren't any loose threads or sewing errors to be seen and the harness feels solid.

The 4 gear loops provide plenty of room for gear and the mix of flexible and rigid loops is a nice feature, on the routes I took this harness up I never struggled to find room for gear. The 2 waist buckles helped with trad climbing too by keeping the gear loops symmetrical, knowing exactly where your gear is can be the difference between falling and topping out on a climb.

Plenty of room for gear on the Petzl Corax.

Quickfire review!

Positive points:

• Comfortable, well-thought out harness.
• Four gear loops providing lots of room for trad gear.
• Bright and obvious belay loop (would've preferred bright blue but I'm picky!).
• 2 adjustable waist buckles to keep the belay loop central and gear loops symmetrical. 
• Solid Petzl construction.

Not-so-positive points:

• Bright green belay loop! 
• Huge difference between waist and leg loop sizing - try before you buy!

Summary:

A good harness, not too expensive and not too cheap. Solid construction and good design help make the Corax what it is and I'd be happy to recommend this harness to a friend. 

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Thanks for reading, please share with anyone you know looking for a new harness.

Thanks to outdoorkit.co.uk for providing the Petzl Corax to review, if you're interested in buying the Corax it's currently got 10% off the RRP on their website. 

If you want more information about the Corax please don't hesitate to tweet me, @PaulWRickard.

Or you can contact OutdoorKit through their Facebook and Twitter.

Thanks again,

Paul Rickard