Latest articles from Alex

What route to take, how to prepare, how to get there, where to stay and the gear you’ll need to summit the highest mountain in the UK successfully.

A rundown of the best hiking boots to buy in 2023. The absolute pinnacle of walking shoe technology.

This guide features four spectacular hiking traverses across entire mountain ranges

We take you to the most exciting places on England’s most beloved mountain and advise on when to go, how to get there and what you’ll need to pack

We round up the best winter hiking boots, specifically designed for crampons and grip on frozen surfaces

Lightweight, fast, comfortable and grippy: this is the best low-cut hiking footwear for fast adventures.

We present to you best hammocks for your camping and backpacking adventures this year

Scotland’s best bothies: the finest remote shelters in the Highlands.

We run you through how to use Strava so that you can gain the competitive edge on the running and cycling app.

Make the most of Komoot’s route planning, navigation and community features

A round-up of some of the most affordable and enjoyable inflatable stand-up paddle boards around

We walk you through the Mountain Leader qualification, from a writer that has recently become just that.

We pull up the highest performing, warmest and most comfortable pairs of hiking socks available in the world today to fit your walking plans

From the easiest grade 1 scrambles to more intense bouts of rock climbing, we give you the rundown of this fast and fun pursuit.

We test the all-terrain Inov-8 Roclite G 315 GTX V2 to see if this waterproof monster can double-up as a hiking and trail-running hybrid.

Home to world-famous scenery, the Isle of Skye is one of the most remotely beautiful places in Britain. Here's how to make the most of a visit.

We test the second iteration of the popular Columbia Peakfreak, to see if its trainer-like aesthetic is as good as its more traditional predecessor.

The Gear Loop's resident hiking expert, Alex Foxfield, takes on one of the UK’s greatest hiking and trail running challenges.

Everything you need to know about pitching up a tent in the wilderness and exploring what nature has to offer.

We take a look at the new sport of packrafting and tell you how to get involved

Lace up your boots and head for the most spectacular waterfalls in the UK. The perfect Autumnal selfie spot.

We pitch Garmin's flagship multi-sport GPS watch against the most advanced Suunto smartwatch to date.

We’ve rounded up the best camping stoves for lightweight backpacking and more elaborate campsite cooking.

Light and streamlined, yet robust and powerful, the 9 Peak Pro is Suunto’s most advanced multi-sport watch yet

We've collated seven of the safest, yet most enjoyable family hikes in the UK

Erin Outram, Director of Blaze Trails, the UK’s parent and baby walking community, divulges her top tips on hiking with a baby or toddler carrier

Ditch the pram and take your adventures further with the best hikes and walks for those with a child carrier.

We round up the best backpack child and baby carriers for newborns to lazy toddlers.

We round-up our selection of the finest featherlight hard shells for fast and light adventures on the trails and in the mountains

The sixth iteration of Salomon’s classic Speedcross is lighter, grippier and fiercer than ever, almost perfection for the fells and mountains.

A maximalist offering from Merrell, we found the Agility Peak 4 GTXs to be a versatile trail running shoe but with a few minor flaws.

Simply the best running socks to keep feet dry, comfortable and free from blisters forever.

Ultra-lightweight and water-resistant, this near-silent windbreaker is great for runners wanting zero distractions.

We countdown the best head torches and headlamps for running, hiking, camping and mountaineering adventures.

Everything you need to know about summiting the most popular mountain in the UK

Top industry prizes awarded, films premiered and parties galore at this year's gathering of outdoors brands and fans.

We present the best backpacking tents for 3-season adventures, shelters that won’t weigh you down on the trail or let you down in a rainstorm.

Our writer heads to the Italian Alps to tackle Gran Paradiso, the ideal introduction to alpinism and his first 4,000m summit

A complete guide to camping in Britain's favourite national park

Our roundup of the cosiest camping chairs, from ingenious lightweight options to comfortable two-person loveseats

From fast and light, touchscreen compatible pairs to hard wearing mountaineering gloves, we look at the finest options for your hands this winter.

The best base layers to protect from the cold and extend any adventure.

We put the Ridge Flex shoes through their paces to see if their use of bellows is a game changer, or whether it’s best left to public transport.

It's time to get the hiker in your life one of the best Christmas gifts going and we've got some solid suggestions.

With its super-speedy boil times and innovative features, is the Jetboil Flash the ultimate backpacking stove?

We test Snugpak's affordable but high performance winter sleeping bag under the stars.

Smart but rugged time-keepers that can also track your activity, help you navigate and offer smartphone functionality.

The finest lightweight backpacks for day long adventures in the great outdoors.

We trial Osprey's dedicated hydration pack that provides both an excellent storage solution and fit for long days on the trails.

Constricting or liberating? We put the Agravic Pro trail running shoes to the test to see if their use of Boa laces is a game-changer.