Home and dry?

Kit reviews from Britain’s most experienced gear-testing team. Here, Francesca Donovan and David Linternn focus on two innovative new outdoor products

Supported by Nikwax , The Long ReView celebrates looking after the places we love and the kit that helps us get there. Each month, we’ll focus on products that have stood the test of time, why they endure and how to care for them. This month, it’s Chris Townsend with two stone cold classics from Páramo.

Cycling in the rain is so last year. So say the head honchos at Castelli. ‘We’ve seen a dramatic decrease in the number of cyclists intentionally riding in the rain,’ says Steve Smith, Castelli’s bran

SIX OF THE BEST

It needs to be comfortable enough to let you swing freely while offering the protection you need to spend four hours walking in the rain…

Each pair of socks was worn over several weeks of mixed riding and also put through some controlled ‘lab-style’ assessments. I made the most of a few weeks of wet weather to see how well they performe