Borrowdale in the heart of the Lake District is the ideal place to put outdoor kit through its paces. The terrain is rugged, the weather is (usually) apocalyptic, the mountains are hard-won and the climbing is uncompromising. That’s why Dolomites-based brand Salewa decided to host its Alpine Campus 2022 in the valley, using the YHA Honister Hause hostel as a base. We were lucky enough to attend the event – indulging in everything from trad climbing, graded scrambling and hiking – and used the opportunity to put Salewa’s clothing and equipment to the test. Here are five items of kit that caught our eye during the weekend.

Salewa Agner Durastretch Jacket

Price: £150

Extensively tested by Salewa’s athletes in and around the Dolomites, the Agner Durastretch is described as a minimalist, hooded mountain softshell jacket for days when you want “windproof water resistance in an active cut and durable stretch fabric with full functionality”. Features include a close-fitting hood, integrated collar, elasticated cuffs and waistline drawcord – which combine to create a streamlined, athletic fit – while the fabric is a tough, rock-resistant Durastretch.

This stretch-woven softshell fabric with additional elastane is super-stretchy, delivering top-notch freedom of movement. You also get two large, zipped hand pockets and a small zip-secure patch pocket on the sleeve.

Salewa Alpine Hemp Logo T-Shirt

Price: £45

Why does Salewa use hemp as a raw material? For its “natural comfort, functional performance and low environmental impact” and because it is the “strongest and most durable natural fibre known to man”. We certainly found this regular-fit tee soft, lightweight, airy and breathable, with a comfortable feel next-to-the-skin, and could imagine switching from synthetic fibres to hemp for our go-to mountain t-shirts. Made from 125g Alpine Hemp – the lightest version of this fabric – the Alpine Hemp Logo T-shirt is blended with 100% organic cotton for enhanced comfort and improved thermo-regulation.

Salewa Ortles Hybrid TirolWool Responsive Jacket

Price: £210

While most brands have consigned wool to the annals of mountaineering history, replacing it almost exclusively with synthetic fibres, Salewa are rather unique in still using it. Under the bonnet of the Ortles jacket is a clever blend of wool and synthetic materials known as TirolWool Responsive – Salewa’s proprietary tech that “keeps you warm longer, enhances your performance and helps you to recover faster from fatigue”.

The wool itself is “high-alpine, locally-sourced, fairly paid wool with outstanding warmth, breathability, thermal regulation and insulation even when wet”, and it is combined with thermo-reactive minerals and recycled polyester fibres to enhance the natural benefits of wool. The result, according to Salewa, is that heat emitted by the body is absorbed and converted into infrared radiation, which is stored and reflected back to the body – keeping you warmer for longer.