When you are humping your whole life around on your back for 2 months it’s a good idea to ensure you carry only what you really need. In Iran, I really would have liked to go lighter than I did. A good deal of the weight in my pack was due to the fact that (brilliantly) I was passing through such changing environments. So, on the shores of the Caspian Sea, I was trudging around with down jacket, balaclava, fleece tights etc. Not exactly key bits of kit in a humid, forest environment. However, a week or two later I was at 3500m in the Central Alborz in the middle of winter. I was pretty happy to have some warm kit on hand then as you can imagine. Similarly closer to the gulf. The days were hitting 35 degrees. Admittedly, not massively hot, but with night time temperatures still touching zero, it’s a fair ol’ range.

My favourite bit of clothing based on its pure comfort and ability to put a smile on my face was my Rab Neutrino Endurance Jacket – by far the best down jacket I have ever had the pleasure of wearing. Whether I was wandering around Tehran on a snow day, chilling at my camp after setting my tent or getting ready to emerge from my shelter at 5am in the morning, this jacket made it a whole lot more enjoyable.

Easy to say when Rab is my clothing sponsor, but trust me when I say the cut, style and fill of this jacket was perfect for my expedition. Indeed I reckon it is perfect for any long-distance journey through changing environments where you may need it off and on throughout the trip. It packs away to almost nothing and can be jammed in pretty much anywhere in your pack. It also makes use of a Pertex ® Endurance weatherproof outer which means no wet down when that snow turns to sleet and that sleet turns to rain.

In my next Expedition Kit – Best in Show post I let you know what I thought of the boots that got me across one of the world’s most mountainous countries and how even an optically disadvantaged person such as myself can enjoy the view!