Gear Makeover with Trail's Graham Thompson

On Saturday 14th July Graham Thompson, better known as ‘GT' met one lucky Trail reader at Ultimate Outdoors, Keswick for a gear makeover. This was a unique opportunity to get the lowdown on products from one of the industry's leading experts on all things outdoors. Ian Oakman from Cambridgeshire bid for the £500 makeover on ebay as part of a Trail Magazine's ‘trail for sale' feature. All money from the auction went to the John Muir trust, one of the country's leading guardians of wild land and wildlife. Ultimate Outdoors is an independent chain of technical outdoor shops in the north of England and Wales, priding itself on a range of quality products and second to none customer service. Staff were ready to help Ian with product queries and fittings.

Ian Oakman was pleased to have won the ‘trail for sale' auction as he was badly in need of an equipment update. Recently rediscovering his love of the outdoors, he has once again taken to the hills and can regularly be found in the Peak District. Whilst he had a range of basic gear he admitted that much of it had seen better days and he was happy to receive an expert boot fitting to kick off the makeover. Ultimate Outdoors have recently launched an industry leading boot fitting service ‘Fit to Walk' which includes a bespoke assessment and fitting and is backed up with a guarantee against future discomfort or fit problems. For more information call the keswick store on 01768 774422 or read our Fit to Walk Leaflet



‘Fit to Walk' - Expert boot fitter Norman explains the benefits of Superfeet.

GT also gave expert recommendations on a Trangia stove, a sleeping bag from The North Face, a Thermarest and a variety of technical base layers to list but a few items. He emphasised the importance of choosing the correct equipment to suit the activities and explained how products such as Superfeet and technical base layers such as the Haglofs Katla Zip Top can improve the comfort levels experienced when out on the hill, which can essentially keep you going for longer.



  Wrong way round Graham - GT tests out the zip on a Wasatch sleeping bag from The North Face.

Ian went away a very happy man and promised to report back on his first adventure using the new kit. Graham was also content in the knowledge that he had introduced another reader to the joys of wearing Patagonia Active Boxers! To receive expert advice on technical outdoor products visit an Ultimate Outdoors store, located in Keswick, Lancaster, Skipton and Betws y Coed.

Ian's kit list hand-picked by GT: Meindl Borneo Pro MFS boots, Bridgedale Comfort trekker socks, Nickwax Aqueous wax, Green trim to fit Superfeet, Outdoor Designs event gaiters, Trangia 251 stove, MSR fuel bottle, The North Face Wasatch sleeping bag, Rab silk sleeping bag liner, Thermarest, Haglofs Katla zip-top, Berghaus Injection zip-neck and Patagonia Active boxer briefs.