As you would expect the home of FionaOutdoors and the G-Force is filled with outdoors kit. From a huge cupboard in the G-Force’s den packed with climbing kit and walking gear, to bikes swinging on ceiling hangers in the utility rom, to a several shoe racks filled with walking boots, road and running trainers and snow boots, to an attic crammed with skis, snowboards, helmets and ski goggles, to my office piled high with glorious outdoors kit to test.

Any ideas of downsizing when Little Miss leaves school will need to be mitigated with a shed or outhouse to store all our collected gear for our many pursuits including climbing, walking, swimming (in pool and open water), cycling (on road and off), running (road and off), skiing and snowboarding.

The brands we know and love

What got me thinking this morning was a Facebook question from an outdoors retailer asking people to list their perceptions of how pricey certain outdoor brands are. The list included Arc’teryx, Mammut, Patagonia…etc Thinking through all our many purchases and kit review gifts I realised that we probably “stock” every brand mentioned and more. But rather than rating them as pricey or not, the G-Force and I tend to go for quality and fit. If they are high quality and they fit well then we are more likely to pay more. It’s not a brand perception so much as a practical decision. Obviously, however, we are lucky enough to be able to buy some higher priced products. (Instead of spending on designer labels for going-out clothing we spend our money on quality outdoor clothing).

The brands I have chosen and why

I love Arc’teryx for clever designs and great features. Their women’s fit is brilliant.

Mummut I am finding out more about and my latest delight is a pair of Mammut Gore-Tex Eigerjoch gloves that I’m have found to keep my hands warm and dry even when cycling in Scotland’s chilly winter

Rab is a favourite of the G-Force, who really likes their lightweight down jackets. My female-fit Rab down jacket has been a life-saver in many situations.

Icebreaker is our baselayer of choice, although we wait for the sales to find one at a better price. While Helly Hansens do end up being a bit whiffy I still love their fit and colourful designs.

My latest bike love brand is Canyon, while bibbed cycle shorts come from Sugoi.

Berghaus are the brand of my favourite walking trousers.

I could go on! But one brand that was missing from the list was La Sportiva, and it’s one that we seem to rate pretty highly. Well, we must do given the range of La Sportiva kit in our house. The G-Force owns La Sportiva Men’s Nepal Extreme Walking Boots, plus a pair of La Sportiva Trango Alp GTX Alpine Boots, as well as la Sportiva off-road trainers and his most recent first-love, a pair of La Sportiva Xplorer Approach shoes. He may also have the same brand of climbing shoes but I refuse to go close enough to these smelling shoes to find out!

With my long, narrow feet I have also found that the best winter hiking boots are La Sportiva Trangos. I’m on to my second pair. I also have a pair of off-road running shoes, although I’d still say that my favourite off-roaders are made by Inov-8.

Tell me the outdoors kit that you like the most and why. And is there a brand that you tend to buy most of?

I was going to write this blog any way but then Craigdon Mountain Sports – who stock pretty much every outdoors brand there is – asked me to put together a guest blog. So it all worked out well.