Alex’s Top 5 Best Items of Gear in 2024.
This years equipment choices have been based around a winter road trip to Utah and Arizona in the USA and lots of Mountain Leader training and assessment courses. Cold and dry conditions in the American South West deserts and then the usual mixed weather in the UK mountains. Consequently the contrasting climatic conditions from American desert to Welsh ming have influenced my choices for top the 5 Best Items of Gear in 2024.
Rab Mythic Ultra Down Jacket
If you’re going to hang around in those high American desert landscapes such as Canyonlands, Bears Ears or Indian Creek in winter you are definitely going to need a toasty jacket. The Rab Mythic Ultra is very well made with an active fit and a great hood. Filled with high quality 900FP goose down and a TILT lining that works like an emergency blanket reflecting radiant heat back towards the wearers body. Designed for Alpinism and mountaineering this this jacket would also be a very light option for Himalayan trekking or a Kilimanjaro trip. Here is a review from earlier in the year. You can buy the men’s version here and the womens here.
Rab Mythic Ultra
MSR Pocket Rocket Deluxe
I have been on a long term quixotic quest for the perfect stove for backpacking, wild camping and general on the hill brew making. Previous favourites have been the Jet Boil Stash, MSR Reactor and the Kovea Spider.
However this year my affections have moved onto the MSR Pocket Rocket Deluxe. It’s a very well made canister mounted stove with a pressure regulator and a good level of wind proofing. The push-start Piezo Igniter has worked consistently in all conditions and seems durable. The stove boils water very quickly and efficiently with a variety of pans. My new favourite stove. Get it here
MSR Pocket Rocket Deluxe and MSR Titan Kettle 1400L
MSR Titan Kettle 1400L
With the vast multitude of camping stove pans and pots available what makes this Titan Kettle one of my favourite items of equipment this year? Well it’s beautifully well made in titanium. It has a tightly fitting lid (loose lids are a feature of cheaper pots), a pouring spout and insulated handles. But best of all it’s bigger than most others titanium pots which is great if you’re catering for two. Or maybe you just want a bit of space to fry up some veggies to add to your dehydrated meal. Buy it here. The MSR Titan long handled spoon is also great.
PHD Wafer Down Jacket
I make no apologies for including another down jacket in this list; the PHD Wafer Down jacket is very different beast from the Rab Mythic Ultra. Extraordinary light and very versatile. This jacket works well as a cold day mid layer or a warmth booster inside a sleeping bag. Unusually for a technical piece of outdoor clothing this jacket is handmade in Britain. Read about my visit to the PHD factory and/or Buy it here.
Platypus Quick Draw Filter
I’ve been using this filter on all my Mountain Leader training and assessment courses throughout 2024. I’ve never been very good at drinking enough water when out in the hills so carrying this filter has been an excellent way to remedy that. I’ve found it very simple to use and versatile. Fill up the dirty water bag and attach it to the filter then you can drink the filtered water straight from the tube or squeeze it into your water bottle.
Platypus Quickdraw Filter
Alex
Beyond the Edge Ltd is based in the Peak District, easily reached by train from London and within easy travelling distance from Sheffield, Manchester, Leeds, Nottingham and other Northern towns and cities.
We are one of the UKs most experienced providers of climbing, walking, scrambling, mountaineering and navigation training courses.
Most of our courses are run in the Peak District National Park which has some of the finest rock climbing, bouldering, walking and hiking in the world.
