OUTDOOR PURSUITS
Getting out and being active is a joy we can all experience, whether we’re running, cycling, hiking, camping, swimming, sailing or just sitting on the deck. But even wholesome and healthy activities can leave one almighty carbon footprint – which is why, over the next 18 pages, you’ll find the very best in high-performance, long-lasting, eco-friendly outdoor gear.
ARC’TERYX AERIOS 35 BACKPACK
With droves of urban hipsters plus the likes of Drake and Bella Hadid all wearing Arc’teryx, this Canadian brand might be too trendy for its own good. It’s easy to forget that it makes some of the world’s best outdoor kit, designed for the harshest environments on earth… yes, even Sunderland.
The roll-top Aerios 35 is the firm’s latest daypack. Intended for long hikes and overnight trips virtually anywhere, it’s inspired by running packs and loaded with features, but is it worth the high price? I’ve been putting the miles in to find out.
The 100% recycled Hadron LCP rip-stop fabric is something of a wonder product: ultra-light but also resistant to scuffs and tears. Even after deliberately rough use, the bag remains unscathed. Every hook, clip and strap –and there are plenty of them, some alittle fiddly if I’m honest –is equally rugged.
But it’s the fit that deserves the most praise. At first feel the straps lack padding, but they distribute weight evenly, and by adjusting the length you can find perfection. The shoulder straps also have space for soft flasks and a phone.
It’s a superb pack in every sense; and while it is pricey, I believe it will last for decades. And even if it does fail, the brand’s sustainable ReBird repair guarantee has your back.
Price £220 /go.stuff.tv/Aerios
Key specs
• 35L • 8 pockets • 540x285x230mm, 1.16kg
STUFF SAYS This super-light daypack is versatile and durable ★★★★☆
HAPPY CAMPER pt1
Giant wheeled coolboxes are all the rage in American campgrounds, but they’ve never quite seemed practical for weekend campers in the UK.
However, coolers don’t come any cooler than the Igloo Trailmate. So I loaded it up to find out if it’s worth the boot space.
The lovechild of a snowmobile and a Jawa Sandcrawler, this 66L chill palace boasts huge all-terrain wheels, a retractable handle for towing, four cup-holders and two bottle-openers. And despite its bulk, it benefits from being made out of 100% recycled plastic and uses Thermecool insulation, which is ultra-eco-friendly.
Now, this cooler weighs 15.7kg when empty. That’s the equivalent of a chunky 4-year-old… and once full of ice and beer, it can feel more like you’re hefting a 40-year-old out the boot. But on firm ground, the handle and big wheels make lugging it relatively easy.
Aside from keeping i
