Columbia’s gear review: Taking them up Baegundae Peak in Seoul, South Korea

Seoul might be known for its culture, thriving street food and nightlife scene and beauty mecca, but if you move towards the rural area, you'll find mountains, fresh air and pristine nature at your fingertips. With nature in such proximity to the city of Seoul, it's also common for South Koreans to don their hiking attire and head to any of the popular hiking sites during the weekends to get a dose of nature, such as Jeju, Nami Island, Seoraksan and Bukhansan.

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I was in Seoul during the fringe period between summer and autumn this year. With a temperature that's cooling down from the relentless summer, and a pretty good weather forecast for two out of seven days I'm there, I decided to head into Bukhansan National Park to tackle one of its three granite peaks: Baegundae is the highest at 836.5m, Insubong at 810.5m and Mangnyeongdae at 799.5m.

Bukhansan National Park receives around five million visitors annually and is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the “Most Visited National Park per Unit Area”. With multiple trails to customise your hike, you can experience forested areas, Buddhist temples, waterfalls, streams, and granite peaks in one go. While not entirely difficult, it's always safe to go prepared with proper gear and sustenance for a smoother journey.

I went in with little research beyond how to get to the most popular trailhead, but I knew that I was dressed for hiking, decked out in a new pair of Columbia Hatana MAX Outdry, Coral Ridge Pants, and a comfy cotton tee from the same brand.

Testing out Columbia's hiking pants and shoes

As an avid hiker, I've worn out several pairs of shoes over the past few years, from The North Face to Merrell. My longest-lasting pair of hiking shoes, a Timberland, has just started flaking, so I was looking for a new pair of hiking shoes.

It was suggested that I try out the Columbia Hatana MAX Outdry, a pair of hiking shoes that supposedly provide an impenetrable waterproof-breathable membrane and traction for rocky surfaces. Perfect timing since I was going to attempt the Baekundae Peak.

Strangely enough, I've never owned a pair of hiking pants, as I've always relied on leggings (or multiple of them for colder hikes). So, with a "why not?", I also tried out the Columbia W Coral Ridge Pants, which come with UPF 50 sun protection and supposedly pull moisture from the body to accelerate evaporation.

How did it fare? I put it to the test.

The route to Baegundae Peak

Whichever trail you choose should start pleasantly enough, winding gently through streams and waterfalls. You'll encounter paved paths, rocky paths, unpaved sandy paths, wooden boards, steps cut into rocks and more as you go deeper into the park. A sturdy pair of shoes is imperative to keep you from slipping off the rocky paths of this hike.

There are signs that should direct you to where you want to go, but don't make the mistake of not obtaining a physical map before heading into the hike. I had to do a two-kilometre hike back to where I came from in order to embark on the right path up to Baegundae Peak.

The final stretch up to the peak is grueling and the main test for the footwear you have on. Hikers need to use the installed steel cables to haul themselves up the sides of the cliff, with short-lived stairs between the climb. While less dangerous than a via ferrata, it's still a climb that requires you to maintain your balance on unsteady rocks.

Five hours later, I reached the top of Baekundae Peak at around 5pm.

On a good day, you'll get an incredible 360-view of Seoul, making the climb absolutely worth the last mile of pain.

How did Columbia's hiking gear fare on a rocky trail?

The Columbia Hatana MAX Outdry was extremely comfortable and provided plenty of cloud-like support as I scrambled up and down rocks. Even from the first wear, I knew it provided my feet with the support it sought.

While it's touted as non-slip, I slipped on a particularly difficult section while clamouring over slippery rocks. Generally though, it was a comfortable pair I'd definitely bring on future hikes.

The real surprise was the Columbia W Coral Ridge™ Pants. Despite the 8-hour hike through Bukhansan National Park, and sweating buckets into my top, the pants stayed resolutely dry and airy. I remember marvelling about it to myself mid-climb, and also felt gratitude for the UV protection, especially when on the exposed surface of Baegundae Peak.

Would I recommend the shoes? It'll have to go with me on more trips first. But those lightweight and absolutely comfortable trekking pants? Put it in your cart right now! But first, try out the sizes in Columbia's main store in Jewel Singapore.

Columbia's storefront is located at Jewel Singapore Changi Airport, 78 Airport Blvd, #02-241.

Products mentioned were sponsored by Columbia, but opinions are my own.

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