We caught up with Great British 1500m runner and Olympic hopeful James Brewer. Here are his thoughts on the Olympics, being chased by dogs and the ultimate lap of honour.

UPDATE: Race now discontinued – The Scotsman article This report is posted on behalf of Lawrence Friell who with his partner Charlie Sproson won the Score Class at the Highlander Mountain Marathon … Read more

When it comes to eyewear, maximizing performance and style is essential. Based out of California, Electric Visual are a team of innovators, investing in the production of sunglasses and snow goggles. As one of the brands at the forefront of optics design, Electric bring together the latest and greatest high performance technology with unique designs that reflect the youthful and fun spirit of today’s adventurers.

After testing The Agent 100 for a couple of weeks, I was lucky enough to try out Faction’s The Prodigy skis over a weekend in Switzerland which saw Verbier receive … Read more

The Saucony website claims that the ProGrid Kinvara 2 are designed to give you exactly, and only, what you need; something which is evident when you first pick them up weighing in at only 7.7oz. The upper part of the shoe is made from a mono-filament mesh which, although appearing very flimsy, remained undamaged when put through the test on numerous muddy runs on the moors of Scotland and on the tarmac of London. Despite first impressions, the material is relentless enough to prevent stray stones, pebbles and mud from getting into the shoe. The sole is made from an ultra-light durable foam and its shape creates a lower heel to toe ratio which sways toward the barefoot genre of running.

Having spent a considerable number of seasons off-piste and in the park whilst wearing racing boots, my shins were slowly being shot to pieces. Tired of post-ski hobbling, I vowed … Read more

Mine-heaps and tollgates are what the average tourist would remember from the Mpumalanga province in the Northern parts of South Africa, but there certainly is more to it. The ‘Highveld’ (translated as Highfield), as this part of the Rainbow Nation is locally known, plays host to a different kind of beauty than what you would find in the more commercial Southern parts. Those seeking adventure while experiencing the true African wildlife are sure to be pleased on the relatively new Num-Num trail near Machadodorp, Mpumalanga.

After making the transition from wearing gloves to mittens four years ago I haven’t once looked back. During this season in the US I got hold of a pair of Swany America’s environmentally friendly Eco-Mitt, a mitt that incorporates their Eco-Circle shell and insulation technology. At an affordable $60, the Eco-Mitt to the test to see whether Swany could match the performance credentials of my other mitts with their eco offering.

As Canada’s third largest city, Vancouver has a problem that often goes unreported – homelessness. At the end of January, I made a pilgrimage to the headquarters of Arc’teryx in the city … Read more

History and guide to Steamboat, Colorado in the Rockies of the USA. Skiing in Steamboat offers some of the best snow conditions in North America.

If you’re one of those video addicts who spends hours wandering through YouTube and Vimeo looking for adventure films, momentous soundtracks, the 2012 Sheffield Adventure Film Festival is your fix.

Last season we reviewed Sweet Protection’s unique, full-body Saviour Suit, setting a high standard for our future baselayer evaluations. At the beginning of this season I started doing some research to find other baselayers that made similar claims of performance excellence, deciding upon US-based Polarmax, an environmentally conscious brand with some neat threads to match.

Smith Optics has become well established as one of the market leaders in mountain accessories. As a number of brands jostle for the leading stake in optic design, Smith have done well not only to develop the features of it’s signature goggles, but also to innovate on the environmental side of manufacturing. Being part of the Evolve range, the I/O is composed of some bio-based Pearlthane and recycled urethane materials including on the environmental side of manufacturing. Beyond these ecological credentials, the Smith I/O makes for a high performance product, so combining the potentials of responsible retail and design.

The New Balance 749 has a discreet label inside the shoe which says ‘Made in the UK’. In these days of austerity, with all the naysayers decrying the ability of British manufacturing, if I was New Balance I would be shouting this fact from the rooftops.

This season Verbier, Switzerland has increased the speed of access to the main part of the mountain, Ruinettes. The previous slower 4-seater chairlift at Mayentzet and the following (even slower) 2-seater chairlift at La Combe has now been replaced with a single, high-speed 6-seater chairlift.

The first feature that I immediately appreciated was Columbia’s patented OutDry system.Columbia Sportswear acquired OutDry Technologies S.r.l from Nextec S.r.l in 2010, so adding a waterproof breathable system to by the company’s brands including Mountain Hardwear and Sorel. Unlike a seam-sealed waterproofing system for the outermost layer, OutDry forms a laminate that bond a waterproofing membrane to the outermost layer. Through this method, OutDry items don’t absorb water, so maintaining a light and breathable outer layer. I have full confidence in this technology to ensure my feet remain bone-dry without compromising breathability or weight, and it is a system that is indispensable for the mostly unpredictable weather found in the Scottish Highlands.

Püf is the sevem year old creation of Arieh Visocekas, a keen mountaineer who is aspiring to bring a new dimension of avalanche safety to skiing and snowboarding. Originally from Paris, Arieh settled in Chamonix to continue his father’s passion for extreme mountaineering. Unsatisfied with the equipment that was used to protect a rider in the event of an avalanche, Arieh sought the help of the local Piste Control, Mountain Guides, rescue teams, medical staff and the Gendarme to clarify a detailed list of requirements for survival in the event of an avalanche: Flotation; Air Supply; Head, neck and side impact protection; Quick extraction from the avalanche.

Call me a fitness nerd, but I can honestly say that there are few inventions that have impressed me more than the PEAR Training Intelligence System. Sure, revolutionary innovations such … Read more

The Faction Collective have been redefining ski design since 2006 when Tony McWilliam and Alex Hoye came together with the intention of building gear that reflected modern riding. Founded and based in Verbier, Switzerland the company produces a range of versatile and high performance skis that a worth checking out. Faction join a number of North American ski manufacturers who make up the boutique end of the ski market.

Perhaps my second testing of Orage’s products was more conventional. After a handful of nights in my comfy cacoon, I took the baselayers to Whistler, B.C. to take them through a more rigorous testing over glaciers, through trees and comfy pillows of more powdered constitution. The conditions in Whistler during my visit were mixed. While rain fell hard on the lower slopes, howling winds on the Blackcomb Glacier dragged the wind chill well down below -5° Celsius.