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The main priorities for ski and board trousers and salopettes are to keep you warm, dry and comfortable. As is the nature of the sport, and if you're like me, there’s the chance that you’ll be taking a few falls while you’re out on the slopes, so they should also be made with protection from bumps and scrapes in mind.

Typically, ski leg wear will be have either two or three layers, and both offer advantages and disadvantages over the other. Two-layer pants will be simply an outer (usually waterproof) layer and an inner liner layer, while three-layer pants will have an added insulating layer. Three-layer pants will be warmer, comfier and offer more protection from falls, but they have the disadvantage that they’re heavier, bulkier and you might overheat. Two-layer garments aren’t as warm, but as they’re lighter they’re more versatile, so could double-up as mountaineering leg-wear.

In August I went on a month long cycle tour around Europe, where I somehow managed to travel 700 miles by bike, and 2000 miles by train. During these 700 miles, I discovered that choosing the right bike for your cycle tour is probably a more important decision than what to name your child.

There are so many choices on the market, and trying to figure out if you should get a cheaper, but heavier mountain bike and convert it, or splash the cash on a bike that is specifically designed with touring in mind is a hard choice.

Technically speaking a mid-weight fleece is an upper body garment with a Polartec rating of 200g (or the equivalent in a different fabric). They are intended to be worn as either a mid layer under a shell, or as a top layer for activities in cool conditions.

The fit of a mid-weight fleece should be snug enough hang off you, but big enough for you to have a full range of movement without it lifting up.

The anatomy of a fleece is fairly easy to grasp, in simple terms fleece fabric is composed of plastic fibres which act as an insulator by trapping air, this air then warms up and keeps you nice and cosy.

Because fleece is made out of plastic it is possible to create it using recycled materials, so if your environmentally minded, you will be pleased to know that many brands now offer fleeces made out of no less than 50% recycled material.

Which pack do you need for an overseas adventure?

Let’s talk packs…. it wasn’t always like this, but rucksack anxiety has squirmed into my life over the past 10 years. And this is why.

From full on expeditions in the high Himalaya to blackberry picking down the local bridleways there's a purpose made pack to slap on your back. And I, for one, am beginning to think I can’t step into the outdoors, and remain safe, unless the sack I’m carrying has the right badge. So, what's it all about, Alfie?