August Gear Picks — Best UK Outdoor Kit to Buy This Month

August: Making the Most of It

August still delivers warm days and long (if shortening) evenings. The school holidays continue, but the crowds start to thin towards the end of the month. It's prime time for multi-day hikes, wild camping trips, and those big adventures you've been planning all year.

1. Lightweight Backpacking Stove — Around £30-50

If you're doing multi-day hikes in August, a lightweight stove system is essential. The BRS 3000T weighs just 25g and costs around £10 — it's the ultralight favourite. For something more robust, the MSR PocketRocket 2 (around £45) is reliable and well-proven. Both screw onto standard gas canisters.

2. Foraging Knife and Basket — Around £15-25

August is when foraging gets exciting. Blackberries start ripening towards the end of the month, bilberries are available on moorland, and early fungi start appearing. A small, sharp folding knife (non-locking, under 3 inches — see our knife law guide) and a breathable basket or cotton bag are all you need. Avoid plastic bags — they cause foraged items to sweat and spoil.

3. Compact Binoculars — Around £50-80

August is brilliant for wildlife. Red deer are in the hills, birds of prey are hunting, and seabird colonies are still active. A compact pair of binoculars (8x25 or 10x25) adds enormously to a walk. Nikon Aculon, Vortex Diamondback, and Celestron Outland are all solid choices that won't weigh you down.

4. Repair Kit — Around £10-15

Mid-season is when gear starts showing wear. A small repair kit with Tenacious Tape patches, a sewing kit, spare buckles, and a few cable ties handles most field repairs. McNett makes pre-packaged repair kits, or build your own in a small zip-lock bag. Weighs nothing, saves trips.

5. Headtorch Check

Not a purchase, necessarily — but a reminder. By late August, you'll start walking in the dark again. Check your headtorch batteries, test the modes, and make sure you're carrying it even on day walks. The transition from light evenings to dark catches people out every year.

August Picks

The Turn

You can feel it by the end of August — the mornings are cooler, the evenings draw in earlier, and there's a hint of autumn in the air. Start thinking about your autumn storm preparation and check our September gear picks.