Are you getting started outdoors, gearing up for a Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, or just need to save a few quid? We all need to get out, even in this economy. Here’s the lowdown on the best, more budget-friendly backpacking kit our team have reviewed over the last year or so, in one place for the first time

More stuff to spend your hard-earned cash on

GETTING KITTED OUT 40 YEARS AGO WAS QUITE DIFFERENT FROM TODAY, WRITES OUR GEAR GURU DAVID CHANDLER …

Is it possible to buy everything* you need for a hill day for under £100? TGO reviewer, wildlife ranger and Glasgow’s premier purple fleece fan Peter Macfarlane learns you needn’t be minted to kit yourself out on Vinted

Andy Westlake tests a lightweight camera backpack that’s designed to look anonymous

Mark Sawyer and Dan Web b get an exclusive first look at Preston Innovations’ brand-new collection of seatboxes