Alpha Direct, PrimaLoft ACTIVE and Octa: A Guide to Active Insulation
Posted by Andy Neil on 3rd Nov 2026
Keeping warm while moving can be tricky. Too much insulation and you’ll sweat on the climb; too little and a cold wind can quickly chill you at the ridge. Polartec Alpha Direct, PrimaLoft ACTIVE, and Octa take a particularly effective approach: lightweight, open constructions that trap warm air while letting heat and moisture escape. Paired with the right outer layer, they offer exceptional
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Mountain Equipment Sleeping Bag Ranges Explained
Posted by Mark Richardson on 29th Sep 2026
Sleeping bags are where Mountain Equipment started in 1961, and they still obsess over every detail to build the best bags in the world. Unmatched design expertise is combined with the finest materials and construction to give the best night's sleep in the mountains. This guide explains the range we currently stock of all ME Sleeping Bags.
The Updated Mountain Equipment Extreme Light Sleeping Bag Range
10th Jun 2025
We have loved Mountain Equipment’s Extreme Light range of sleeping bags at UOG for years. Designed with input from Matt Fuller, Mountain Equipment’s Dr Down (one of the only people on the planet to have a PhD in down) to maximise performance whilst minimising weight, this range just got a significant overhaul for 2025. Some elements have remained the same, why change things if they alr
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Ultralight Outdoor Gear Awards 2024
Posted by Andy Neil on 13th Dec 2024
At Ultralight, we’ve tested and reviewed the very
best in hiking, camping, and outdoor gear to compile this definitive list. This
year’s winners feature cutting-edge technologies, eco-friendly innovations, and
user-focused designs that represent the pinnacle of outdoor excellence. Whether you’re a weekend warrior or a seasoned adventurer,
these award-winning products are sure to inspire your
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Mountain Equipment Firefly Gore-Tex Jacket Review - ''An excellent choice for anyone looking for a basic, lightweight, high performance shell''
Posted by Mathew Garbutt on 21st Aug 2023
Hailing from Cheshire, Mountain Equipment should know a
thing or two about wet weather and protecting you from it – and they do. One of
the pioneers of British outdoor manufacturing, Mountain Equipment were one of
the first outdoor brands to experiment with a new fabric membrane - Gore-Tex.
Quickly gaining cult status in the UK outdoor scene, M.E became known for their
burly Gore-Tex sh
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Mountain Equipment Makalu Gore-Tex Jacket
Posted by Trail Magazine Review on 1st Mar 2023
Mountain Equipment's Lhotse/Manaslu jacket has long been a Trail favourite (it won best waterproof jacket in our Gear of the Year 2021 awards), but for £130 cheaper the Makalu is another great option at an excellent price. Made from Gore-Tex Performance using both 50-denier and 75-denier fabrics, the Makalu has a minimum HH rating of 28,000mm and an RET breathability grade of <13. It has a full
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Mountain Equipment Couloir Gore-Tex Gloves - Trail Magazine
Posted by Trail Magazine on 4th May 2022
This is a waterproof and breathable glove with a Gore-Tex insert that offers reasonable dexterity, toasty warmth and impressivetoughness. The palms, thumbs, knuckles and all the fingers are made from goatskin, which gives great protection and excellent grip, ideal for technical mountaineering. The pre-curved shape and rollover fingertips further enhance overall durability and tactility.VERDICTOur
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Mountain Equipment Frontier Hooded Jacket - Trail Magazine Best in test
Posted by Trail Magazine on 4th May 2022
Soft shells are all about comfort and versatility, and
thanks to a great cut and a weatherproof four-way stretch fabric, the
Frontier delivers on both counts. But while the inner lining feels soft
even against bare skin, the outer face is pretty tough. The double-weave
nylon fends off breezes and light precipitation, but wicks well too, so
yourarely get too clammy.VERDICTPretty much the
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UOG Review - Mountain Equipment Kinesis Jacket
16th Sep 2019
The Kinesis uses a unique ‘Octoyarn Warp-Knit’ lining to provide active insulation, essentially working in the same way as Polartec Alpha. Without another brand label, Polartec, being included in the jacket the cost is lower than expected which is obviously a pretty significant bonus. As a fan of the Alpha material I was interested (and somewhat sceptical in all honesty) as to how it would perform
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UOG Review - Mountain Equipment Comici Pants
Posted by Danny Pearson on 22nd Jul 2019
I’m a huge fan of
Mountain Equipment’s Comici pants. It was an easy decision to use them for the TGO Challenge because they tick every box as the perfect outdoor pants for everything other than winter conditions.
The fit is superb and the fabric has plenty of stretch so you really don’t notice that you are wearing them. They are genuinely all day comfy.
They have slim fitting legs w
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UOG Review - Mountain Equipment Switch Jacket
Posted by Danny Pearson on 11th Mar 2019
Selecting a mid-layer is often tricky and this decision was even harder for the TGO Challenge. The weather can vary so much across northern Scotland over a 2 week period, it might snow one day and be 20C+ the next.
I tend to get quite hot and sweaty so I wanted something fast drying and highly wicking. A bonus would be some wind protection in the torso so that it could be worn as an outer lay
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Mountain Equipment - Sleeping Bag Range Explained
15th Oct 2018
Delivering weight savings of up to 30% and thermal performance improvements of up to 5 degrees, our range of Mountain Equipment down sleeping bags have been comprehensively developed to be better than their predecessors.Find out more about the different ranges of Mountain Equipment bags below.Advanced technical innovations have created a range that is more user and environment focussed than ever;
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