WE’RE THRILLED to announce the winners of The Great Outdoors Gear of the Year Awards 2023. Across 16 categories, these awards recognise the best outdoor equipment available: ground-breaking products that simply work brilliantly in the mountains.
The initial shortlist, consisting of 76 products, was drawn up by our expert judging panel and finalised by head judge Chris Townsend. The jury then conducted further testing, before jointly agreeing on an overall winner and runner up in each category. We've also awarded the brands pushing boundaries of innovation and sustainability.
Our judges tested these products on their own adventures from the Cairngorms to the Brecon Beacons, but throughout these pages we've featured one of the trips that made up the testing process: a backpacking round of the remote Fisherfield Six by Carey Davies, James Roddie and Alex Roddie (look out for the full feature in a later issue!)
EXPERT PANEL
CATEGORY BOOTS
WINNER: INOV-8 ROCLITE PRO G 400 GTX V2
Our judges liked the new 2023 updates to this boot enough to choose it as the best walking boot of the year for the second time, it having previously won the category back in 2020.
“Lightweight, very comfortable, grippy on a wide range of terrain, these are my go-to walking boots for most of the year in Scotland,” said Angus-based jury member Fiona Russell. “They are as comfy as a favourite pair of running shoes but with extra ankle support.”
Originally released in 2021, the Roclite Pro G 400 GTX V2 (£210) is a cushioned boot with the world’s first graphene foam midsole. It also features a grippy graphene outsole and a breathable, quick-drying Gore-Tex upper, and weighs in at a lightweight 800g per pair.
The new updates for 2023 are all focussed around adding durability, with extra padding at the ankle, a tougher fabric used across the upper and an extended toe bumper. Inov-8 says that it’s also updated the heel to create a more locked-in fit.
“Good grip, breathable, decent level of support while still being nimble,” commented David Lintern.
HIGHLY COMMENDED: AKU ROCK DFS MID GTX
Long-standing Italian footwear brand AKU describes its Rock DFS (£220) as a technical approach and light climbing shoe – something that’s ideal for via ferrata and excursions on mountain paths.
The DFS in its name stands for Dual Fit System. This involves a traditional lace for maximum comfort whilst walking plus a fast lace toggle system to increase precision when climbing. Jury member Will Renwick described this lacing as “unique” but also “effective”, saying that it “allows you to really dial in the fit to exactly how you want it.”
The Rock DFS also features a hard-wearing, breathable upper with a Gore-Tex membrane and big rubber rand around its base. Will observed that the midsole is quite stiff, but “still comfortable for covering long distances”.
SHORTLISTED
Keen Targhee, Inov-8 Roclite G 345 GTX V2, Danner Mountain 600, The North Face Vectiv Exploris 2 Mid
CATEGORY SHOES
WINNER: ALTRA LONE PEAK 7
“I've used several versions of the Altra on long walks and they've been superb,” said head judge Chris
