WE DON’T KNOW much about golf on CW (‘good walk spoiled’ and all that). But when Tommy Fleetwood sank the putt that won the Ryder Cup for Europe last month, the first thing he did was to kiss his golfing stick (putter, possibly?) – and that we can relate to. You’ve almost certainly had moments when you could kiss the bit of kit that has saved your day. The boots that sank in a bog but still kept your feet dry. The jacket that survived an all-day monsoon without leaking. The poles that have saved your knee joints; the socks that have kept their shape after 1000 miles. They might be soggy, mucky and musty, but you’d still plant a smacker on ’em, right? And so, after a year of nonstop gear testing, here is the kit that our reviewers say they would pucker up for. We kick off with four Special Awards, for kit that has accomplished something genuinely new, different and special in 2023. And then we present our Top 3 of Everything. Yep, we know nowt about golf. But we understand love and we understand gratitude. So here’s the gear that inspires both of those in spades. Mwah.
PRODUCT OF THE YEAR
SILVA Trekking Poles Carbon
RRP: £120 (per pair) Target price: £105
Leki and Komperdell are pre-eminent in the walking pole world, and we’d still happily recommend their flagships like the Leki Makalu or Komperdell Wild Rambler. But for a brand to come surging through with something that offers genuine competition to those two giants is really impressive. Swedish brand Silva (best known for compasses and head torches) launched their pole range this year, including a trio of aluminium poles (great value at £35-£50 per pair) and three lighter-weight carbon trekking poles, of which these are the top-end option. They have performed brilliantly all year. At 201g per pole they are incredibly light. And while they have the flexibility you expect with a carbon pole, they are also tough: they’ve never given way by even a smidge when properly flicklocked, or felt brittle against rock. The cork handles are comfy and the lower foam grips a godsend on tricky rock steps. The eye-catching contour-line graphics add a perfect final flourish. A top-to-bottom masterpiece, and a worthy Product of the Year. silvasweden.uk
UK BRAND OF THE YEAR
ELLIS BRIGHAM
Lots of brands do things to celebrate milestone birthdays, but Ellis Brigham have taken their 90th anniversary seriously, with a full year of events, activities and promos that have reminded us all why they are one of Britain’s best-loved and most trusted gear retailers. Founded in Manchester in 1933 by Frederick Ellis Brigham (mostly to sell his own tweeds and hobnail boots), this is a retail brand that truly knows
