2020-03-01_Wanderlust

GEAR

OF THE

YEAR

2020

wanderlust.co.uk March 2020 171

GEAR GURU DISCOVER

It’s that time of the year – where our resident gear guru Phoebe Smith trawls throughthebesttravel

gearonthemarketwithherfellow judges to fi nd the ultimate items for 2020. And the winners are...

Travel gear

with Phoebe Smith

KEEN

InnatexSherpaHikingBoots,£140

Sometimesitpaystoteamupwithcompanies

thatshareyourvalues–asthiswinning

partnershipwithcomfyfootwearlegendsKEEN

andethicalNepalesekitbrandSherpaproves.

Theresulthereisasuperblycomfortable

waterproofhikingbootthatnotonlylooksgood,

butwhichforeverysalefundsgotosupportchild

literacycharity‘RoomtoRead’.Itisalso

ahigh-performingbootthatiseco-aware.The

leatheristannedusingaprocessshowntouse

lesschemicalsthantraditionalmethods,the

anti-odourcontrolneglectspesticidestogofor

naturalprobioticsandthewaterrepellencyisPFC

(environmentallyharmfulchemical)free.Soyou

canhelptheplanet,childrenandyourfeet.

keenfootwear.com

PARAMO
TorresAlturoJacket,£225
Stayingwarmcanmeanthedi‰erencebetween
agoodandagreattrip–youdon’twanttothink
backtoyourjourneytothenorthernlightsand
simplyrememberhowcoldyouwere.That’swhy
aninsulatedjacketiskey.Paramohasbeen
ethicallymakingthesesincethe1980s,giving
gainfulemploymentto‘at-risk’womenin
ColombiaandworkingwiththeWorldLandTrust
too‰setallthecarbonproducedintherunning
ofthebusinessandneverusingtoxicchemical
waterprooŠingtreatments.Allthisandthey’vestill
madeawarminsulatedjacketthatworkswell.
DuetotheirNikwaxAnalogyinsulatorfabric
(whichdirectsmoistureawayfromthewearer),it
willevenkeepyouwarmwhenitgetswet.
paramo-clothing.com

KATHMANDU

Transfer 28L Travel Pack, £140

Of all the daypacks submitted, this one was

clearly designed with the traveller in mind. Forgo

the fact that it looks good and focus on the

separate cabin pod that can hold all those little

accessories you might need during your Šlight

(earplugs, passport, phone), keeping them easy

to access from the overhead locker without

pulling your entire bag out. It also has a padded

compartment for your laptop, a hipbelt that tucks

away, a sleeve that slides over your wheelie

handle at the airport for easy lugging, a lockable

main zip, raincover, grab handles, a sleeve for

your water bottle, and an integrated pocket for

a solar charger. And, for that green bonus, its

outer fabric is made from recycled plastic bottles.

kathmandu.co.uk

BEST

TRAVEL

FOOTWEAR

BEST

TRAVEL

DAYPACK

UNDER

35 LITRES

Special mention:The Arc’teryx Proton LT

Hoody and Rab’s Microlight Alpine Jacket.

Special mention:Craghoppers’ Salado Hi Boot

and Danner’s Trail 2650 GTX Mid.

Special mention: Osprey’s Archeon 25 and

Craghoppers’ 30L Rucksack.

⊲

BEST

TRAVEL

INSULATED

JACKET