Paramo Cambria Base Layer
Paramo Stretch Pants X Socks - Trekking Lite
Montane Kinetic Mid-Layer
Montane Featherlite Windshirt
Montane Quickfire jacket (eVent)

Smartwool, crew neck baselayer
Montane Featherlite Pants
Montane Terra Pants
PHD Minimus Jacket (down)
Smartwool Light Hiker socks

Tilly Hat Paramo Mountain Hat

This year was a warm Challenge and so I walked using clothing from the first group. If things had been colder the Smartwool base might have been used more often.

I love the Cambria base layer. It is thin, wicks very effectively and is silky smooth. It is easy to wash through and dries quickly. If need be you can dry it out yourself - a few minutes after putting on a damp baselayer you will be dry.

The Paramo Stretch Pants are amazing and I'm surprised that they aren't used more often, although they are becoming more popular. They are very light, wick very well and only feel wet in the worst of downpours. In many ways these are like the Paramo inside layer without the outer. I took the Featherlite pants with me to effectively make a Paramo-type system; there was no real need for a fully waterproof over trouser. The Featherlite's pack down to a small apple size and so they are good to throw in the pack; I never once used them though. During the last few days of the Challenge the temperature increased and I switched to the Terra Pants which have better ventilation. Otherwise, the Terra Pants were worn in civilised settings!

The Kinetic is a wonderful garment; thanks to Bob C for converting me here. It is a micro fleece with large, breathable panels in the sides. Very comfortable, warm when starting to walk or in very cold conditions. It is similar to the Paramo Mountain vent jacket but closer fitting, which is more comfortable - and warmer - for these conditions. The Kinetics breathable panels provide better draft free ventilation.

The Featherlite Windshirt was, perhaps, the best piece of kit on the Challenge. For most of the walk I wore this over the base layer and that was sufficient. It can also cope with a surprising amount of rain. I also wore it under the Kinetic at lunch stops and, on one occasion, under the Quickfire Jacket.

The Quickfire is an amazing piece of kit. eVent really is as breathable as people say. The jacket is just over 300 grams in weight and is frill free. for example, there is no map pocket, but I keep my map in a pack side pocket. I don't think you could improve it.

The X Socks are amazing with trail shoes and I walked in them exclusively. They seem to be able to take three days of peat bog without any deterioration in performance. Being left and right foot specific they fit well and there is no snagging or stretching of fabric and you squelch through day after day.

The Smartwool base layer is luxury itself. I thought it too hot for most of the walk but it made me feel very human when I was stopped in a town.

A down jacket is the best luxury that you can take on the Challenge. Put this on as soon as you set up camp and you are simply bathed in warmth. There are many good brands to choose from. PHD are up there with the best.

The Smartwool Socks were used once - in Braemar.

The Tilly Hat may look a bit silly, but it is a legend. Keeps the sun off. And it keeps your head warm. No need for a wooly hat in camp. The Paramo Mountain hat is simply a fantastic mountain hat and one which I had many reasons to be grateful for during the walk.