Our Gear Editor, Chris Townsend, has pioneered the use of lightweight gear for hillwalking and backpacking in the UK. Here is one his favourite 10 pieces of kit from recent years
This shaped tarp has been my most-used shelter in recent years, having been on my Scottish Watershed walk, two TGO Challenges and numerous shorter trips. The simple design, a five-sided tarp, belies the performance. The Mountain Laurel Designs Trailstar stands up well to storms – far better than most lightweight tents in fact – as the curved shape sheds wind well and the profile can be lowered or raised according to the conditions. Weighing just 482 gram,s the Trailstar is very light (with pegs and a mesh inner or groundsheet the total weight is more like a kilo). It’s extremely roomy too, especially for one.
