Five years ago I reviewed a range of products from Mountain Equipment's climbing collection. Whilst I'm not entirely sure where the time has gone, it's quite telling that I'm still wearing most of the kit I reviewed in spite of a lot of use in the intervening years. It bodes well for Mountain Equipment's new rock climbing range. 

Lumiko Hooded Jacket - £75

Micro grid fleeces are massively underrated. As a piece of clothing they're probably the most versatile bit of kit you could ever buy, being insulated enough to keep you warm, but breathable enough not to get you too hot and sweaty. They can be worn on their own, or with a base layer underneath, and either a windproof, waterproof or insulating layer over the top to adjust to whatever environment you're in. I've used fleeces throughout almost each and every discipline of climbing that there is, from bouldering through to big walling, and in every season too. If you hadn't guessed, I really love fleeces.

What I love even more though is a fleece that fits well. The Lumiko Hooded Jacket has a slimmer, 'active' fit, which accounts for the fact you're going to have your arms above your head whilst using it - hence I've found it has minimal (if any) lift whilst raising your hands. The cuffs are elasticated, but not too tightly, so it's easy to raise them up to your elbows (and if you're anything like me, that's a must). The addition of a hood is - to my mind - a benefit. Over the years I've had a whole host of fleeces and the ones that I tend to reach for first and the ones with hoods [others may wish more clothing came without hoods - Ed.]. On more marginal days it's a nice, quick and easy way of saying warm and on cold days you can always double up with this and another layer over it. The hood itself is snug fitting, so it's  designed to be worn under a helmet, and due to the fact it isn't wind/waterproof you can actually hear quite well through it. The Lumiko's final feature is its chest pocket, which is big enough to take a mobile phone (a blessing now that I tend to use digital guidebooks when I can).

The final thing to say about the Lumiko is that it the Lumiko stretch fleece, after which the jacket is named, is Bluesign approved. It's also constructed using 93% recycled polyester, alongside 7% elastane, which is fantastic from a sustainability perspective.

Font LS Sweat - £45

Considering the Font LS Sweat is also a fleece, it couldn't feel any more different from the Lumiko if it tried. Whilst the Lumiko excels in pretty much all environments, it's definitely more traditional in its styling. The Font LS Sweat is more casual in this respect, almost having the feel of a thick long-sleeved t-shirt, but still providing bit of extra warmth that you'd want from a fleece.

It's definitely less technical, so is unlikely to be of interest to those going out winter climbing - or even trad climbing. I have used the Font LS Sweat most whilst out on cooler days bouldering, which is where it feels most at home. Without any zips you don't get the same venting as you do with the Lumiko. The fact that it's a lot less pricey than the Lumiko makes it attractive though, particularly for those who are looking for something that looks nice (and whilst I love conventional fleeces, they do make you look very outdoorsy).

When it comes to fit, it feels quite slimline, with a close cut that (at least for me) rises up a little around the waist whilst lifting my arms up. The arms are, much like the Lumiko, nice and long, but with the cuffs suitably elasticated so you can pull them up towards your elbows.

Headpoint Tee - £35

I am still using the Ground-up T I reviewed back in 2016, which is still going strong in spite of a lot of use (it is, I think it's fair to say, my favourite and most used technical t-shirt). As such, the Headpoint Tee had a high standard to live up to.

I usually start by saying something along the lines of "there's only so much you can say about a technical t-shirt", then proceed to say quite a lot, so I'll start with the basics. The Headpoint Tee is a relaxed-fit wicking t-shirt with a midweight, luxurious feel about it. This lovely, soft next to skin feel comes as a result of the TENCEL fabric featured throughout, which is (for those, like me, who were unaware) made by dissolving wood pulp. Whilst this gives it its nice feel it represents just 19% of the materials used, with polyester representing 76% and elastane representing 5%. Between these three ingredients it provides a nice feeling, wicking and temperature regulating t-shirt. It also features HeiQ Fresh technology, which provides odour resistance in much the same way that Polygeine does, and - from experience of having used both - I'd say the results are very similar (i.e. they're a lot less smelly than synthetics used to be, but after prolonged use do end up smelling).

When it comes to the styling the Headpoint Tee is available in a variety of designs, but I've got the simple logo version which looks great (and comes in a few nice colours too).

Inception Shorts - £40 

Over the last 12 months I've spent a whole lot of time running, and bearing in mind my legs were pretty big before, they've got a whole lot bigger recently. As such, I personally found the fit for the Inception Shorts and Pants far too tight; however, this is my problem - and not a problem with the shorts - as proved by Theo Moore in the picture below, who fits them just fine. I'll run through the features, but if you also have big legs, you'll probably want to look elsewhere.

The Inception Shorts feature Mountain Equipment's light-but-tough Ascender fabric, and are 100% polyamide. It's non-stretch, so if they fit then that's great, but if they don't then they really don't. With the aforementioned leg-size issue this was the main problem I had, as I could barely bend my legs due to their relatively slimline fit. 

There's an elasticated waist with a double press stud closure. The former I really like, as it keeps them where you want them to be, but the latter I don't get on with, as I'd have much preferred a single stud, which is - weirdly - what the Dihedral Pants feature. The Inception Shorts also feature three pockets, two on the front and one on the back, but the material used inside feels almost cotton-like, being much grabbier than the other fabrics. It also feels (rightly or wrongly) like it takes longer to dry, and whenever I remove my hand the pockets come part, or all the way out with them. 

Dihedral Pant - £70

Unlike the Inception Shorts, Dihedral Pants contain 3% elastane, which gives them an impressive amount of give. Sadly the fabric still doesn't give enough to accommodate my large legs and I'd definitely put them in the slimline category, although perhaps less so than the Inception Shorts due to the additional stretch.

As mentioned above, these trousers feature a single button closure on the waist, which feels like a real improvement on the twin stud design; and also a two-way zipper (some may like this, others may not, but I've never personally seen the point). Much like the Inception Shorts though it includes the same strange material used inside the pockets, which constantly comes out when you're removing your hands. There are two pockets at the front and another two at the back - one of which has a zip. 

Were these to fit me I suspect I'd feel a little different, because I think the combination of materials (barring those used in the pockets) is ideal for UK cragging. It may not be suitable for those cold winter days out bouldering, but for spring to autumn use they are - much like the Inception Short - perfect for just about everything - bouldering, sport and trad. Larger-legged folk will want to try them on carefully before they buy, though.