I was at the Haglöfs shed during the week and had a look at the gear for Spring/Summer 2011. There’s some nice new bits of kit in there, some evolution, and more moves into sustainability: more recycled and recyclable fabrics through the ranges, many with Bluesign accreditation.

Below we’ve got some of the Climatic t-shirts. L-R Tonal, Logo, Leak and B Tees. They’re all made in recycled Dryskin fabric, and having been wearing a couple of the current tee range over the past couple of months I’d be happy taking any of these into the field, so don’t let the colours and styling fool you. The more relaxed cut is a great if you’re having a “big-day” too…

At the top of the page and below are some of the new shirts. The Albi LS (and a yellow Torto) below is going to be divisive, it’s a great slim fit with proper high-reach articulation in a proper performance fabric, but the styling is going to make gutless store buyers faint in their shoes all over the land.
I’d wear them, but you knew I was going to say that. All the tees and shirts are Polygiene treated as well, it’s antimicrobial, antistink, and works well. It should be available in the UK on it’s own about now too, so you can wash it into your socks.

The girls (Q in Haglöfs-speak) Climatic t-shirts are below, same names as the blokes except the yellow/red/pale blue just to the right of Gus, these are the Pop Q Tee. Pop Cutie?

Haglöfs have gone trouser crazy for 2011. Above we have Amfibie Flexable softshell shorts, nice stitch detailing, pockets, fly and integral belt. Will we see that blue in the shops?
Closest below is the update to the Mid Flex pants that I’ve been wearing recently, similar in the construction with the big stretch panels and much of the detailing, but the leg pockets have moved to a side-entry type. Just as I got used to the horizontal entry pockets…
Behind those are the Mid Fjell’s in non-stretch Climatic. The legwear range is huge and diverse, sizes now go from XL to XXXL (34-46 in the girls) and it looks like there’s more leg length choices than there has been as well.

The highlight of my day were the Amfibie Q Shorts above. Hipster-style softshell shorts (theysay, hotpants I say) with a 70’s style metal buckle closure. The long versions are at the back.
Techno hotpants. Yes.
Below we have the other end of the spectrum, wummins Rugged Mountain Pants in badass black.

The hooded Juniper that’s coming out in a few weeks continues into next year with some new colours for boys and girls, the curry/mal version closest to us is the one I like. It looks kinda old-school. Their hoodless version are regular Junipers, and all of the above are in Bluesigned Polartec Micro.

I took some pelters last year when I got all excited about the Lizard Top and Shorts, “over-expensive jumper”, “it’s pointless” they said. Well, the Lizard kit has been a hit, and it stays in the range with some new colours.
The shorts below were a sell-out, so not only are they back again, they’re joined by the new Lizard Pant. The Pant’s are cut from the same Bluesigned Flexable softshell fabric, are pretty minimalist for softshell legwear. There’s a drawcorded waistband, tapered lower legs with plain hems, three pockets, crotch panel and that’s it. These’ll be really versatile, the cut will suiting biking and running, as will the fabric, but the “regular” looks will suit any outdoor stuff. Nice.

The popular Viper II gets an update and becomes the Boa above. The non-membrane Flexable fabric gets the Eco stamp from Bluesign and the updates include new cuffs with thumbloops and great coverage for the backs of your hands. Mens and wummins again, new colours (that’s bracken I’ve got on), and if it’s as good as the Viper, it should be a winner.

The Intense series carries on much the same, clothing and packs. There’s new shorts, the knee-shorts and leggings have been tweaked and there’s a new zip-neck t-shirt. I tried in on, and it’s nice. Not enough short-sleeve zip-neck out there.

Above I’m visiting my past with a Winstopper shell jacket. It’s called the Bora and it reminded me of a Karrimor Activent Alpinits thing I had many moons ago. You don’t see much Windstopper shell these days, I remember it as being pretty good, I’m going to have a rake in the attic.
More Winstopper below with the Pareas Hood nearest, which has the more breathable Flexable rear panel, and the heavier duty full-Windstopper Eryx at the back. Gus is trying to swallow the walnut from his Walnut Whip whole in this shot.

Below is the new LIM jacket (no longer with the Ultimate tag), new fabric, new construction (really, we did an A/B with an old one to check) and a little fatter at 300g. The new fabric is very soft and rustle-free for Paclite. I’ve got an old tatty one of these and one from last season and I think they’re underrated. There can’t be many jackets this light and as well featured with a full-length zip?
There’s still matching LIM pants, now in three leg lengths for all sexes.

That’s the Arete Gore-Tex jacket above, it’s more of a general piece, but when you’re using lightweight stuff all the time you forget that this kind of kit is actually pretty nice to wear.  It’s always good to see that there’s no slacking off in cut or articulation through the range, the general pieces will work as well on a hill as the top-end kit.
Shell pants with pockets? Not enough of those, so we’ve got the Velum (R) and Incus (L) below. Worn in winter over a set of merino leggings you’d be set, and you’d save weight in your pack. They come in Haglöfs’ own Proof fabric which is decent enough, but is recycled and recyclable with it’s polyester membrane.

The Proof collection continues below, from the (I don’t mean this unkindly) dog-walkers Velum at the left, through the Pannus (in the girls colours) to the technical-specced Incus at the end.
I’ve said this a lot, kit in non-branded fabrics is vital. We need innovation, some risk taking in the marketplace, and economics being what they are we might be lookibngf more and more at non branded fabrics on our backs.

The Ratio above is the top-end Pro-Shell jacket, and in colours that delight the heart and soul. 420g for a 4-pocket/pit-zip/mountain-hooded jacket is not too shabby.
The new Pro-Shell/Paclite mix Electron is below. Seems like a nice alpine-style shell, good pockets and a clean look to it.

That’s not the Spitz above, it’s the Zenith, which is a Spitz cut from Proof 3-layer recycled fabric.
Top-end design in an own-brand fabric,  £275 versus £360 for a Spitz?

Haglöfs sofshell pants are making a bit of a comeback over the next couple of seasons. The Eryx Windstopper mountaineering pants are above right, with the slightly lighter-feeling Flexable Flint Pants beside them, both new.
The Flint’s have internal gaiters, leg pockets, both have Keprotec kick patches on the inner ankles and the Eryx have thigh vents.
Below are the mens Shist (R) and the wummins Shale in the bracken colour, although both come in black and apparently won’t have those blue zips. Bugger.
These are year-round general purpose mountain pants, understated (apart from the zips) and in the new eco-friendly version of Flexable. If Haglöfs are following their own pant advice here they should be good.

Gus was pleased that finally some Haglöfs insulation will be available during the summer. The magic Barrier Vest and matching  jacket, black-only, guys and gals.
I was pleased too, I just don’t look it in that Viper softshell cap.

Mither’s soup was a highpoint and wearing a Solar II hat indoors had it’s own pleasures.

Above and below is the new Roc Legend. It’s a (Vibram) sticky-soled approach/scrambling shoe. A neat upper, lacing to the toe, Sole (more on them soon) insole inside, rands front and back, sweat-sucking microfibre lining and nice colours too.
These have been a hit with the buyers it seems, expect them in the shops next March. And like most Haglöfs footwear, it’ll come in UK half-sizes.

That’s the Stroll Q GT boot above, I just kinda likes it’s friendly looks. Not enough suede in my life.
That’s the revamped Crag’s below, splash of purple on the girls’ version. It’s a good shoe, I bum around in my non-lined version quite a bit. Grippy outsole unit.

His and hers Exhales and Exhale GTs above. It’s Haglöfs most “trail shoe-ey” model, but still quite beefy, good for general hill use.
Below are the Grym Hi’s which I will not be testing. The regular Grym’s really were a revelation though, not shin splints, no blisters, no pissing and moaning from me when I had them on.

That’s the Corker XS, a 5L version of the regular Corker (below) which has been Holly’s changing bag for the past 2 ¾ years. But she’s getting to be a big girl now and doesn’t need a changing bag, so we’ll had a world exclusive first test of that purple one above from the girl herself soon enough.
The Corkers are odd looking packs and probably get overlooked because of that, but they’re tough as hell, very useful for lots of things (how many rucksacks can really claim that) and seem to be waterproof. Made from recycled materials too.

That’s the various Tight packs above. 1 million sold in the last ten years. Bloody hell.
The styling is very un-British again, but the usefulness is high and the spec choice is varied. The colours too…

The Actives base layers keep the new plain look with the lighter fabric. Still, don’t think I could my belly in long enough to get a shot of myself in one of those white tops.

There we go, a look at some of the bits and pieces. I like the looks of a few things in there, that shirt below being #1.
Nice to see the Lizard range expanding, and to see the fabrics increasingly moving down the sustainable route.

Oh, and the colours. The colours…

However, for the moment I have something else to do, and that’s to give away the LIM35 pack below, courtesy of Haglöfs UK.
Did I say give? There is a question first, and this is a good one. We all hear “Why did they discontinue…”, “Why don’t they make…, “Wummins gear is…”, so my question is:

What do you want Haglöfs to make for you?

Now, they might not make whatever you suggest, but they will know all about it, because I’m not judging it, they are. So “an orange and purple fleece” isn’t going to win.
So, softshell socks, Gore-Tex head bucket, fleece nose hoppers, bring back the Triton, whatever you like, funny, weird or serious.
Stick your suggestions in the comments box below.

I’m kinda pleased with this compo, it’s a great prize because I’ve done hundreds of miles with the LIM45 (stick it into the search box on here to see!) and I know how good it is. The LIM35 is just the right size for lightweight backpackers, so there is much joy to be had.
And for a bit of fun, while they weren’t looking I stuck that nice banner inside the pack, so winner is going to get that as well.

T’s & C’S; sign in, write something, maybe win a thing. Haglöfs don’t get your details and I won’t try to sell you central heating later on.

First up is a bit of news that I’m delighted about, and that’s Harvey’s new British Mountain Map of the Southern Highlands. It’s got Ben Lomond, Arrochar Alps, Ben Lui, Ben More etc I’ll have one to show and tell with as soon as it’s printed, which won’t be for a couple of months yet so don’t don’t start demanding one from your local Millets just yet.

Next up is some new kit from regulars of these pages, PHD. Now I love that orange, but apart from that it’s really good to see the range diversifying at a proper technical level at time when so many folk are targeting the casual wallet.
I’ve had a few comms asking about the new kit, but I haven’t seen it yet. I will be seeing it at the start of August though, I’ve got something a little special coming up: a day in the life of PHD.
I’ll be spending a day at the factory, talking to the folks, seeing how the gear is made and fingering lots of kit. I’ll be taking notes, photies and maybe some short film pieces too. Should be a blast.
Now, if you’re wanting to ask them any questions, or find out anything specific, post it here and I’ll take it down with me.

Also, I’ll be visiting Alpkit HQ, I’ve been promised cuppas and a look at some secrets. Same as above, any questions for these guys, flag it up.

Sooner than that will be Haglöfs 2011. I’ll have the usual in-depth look at the guys and gals kit and bring back the news, be it good or frustrating. Questions for the big H? Post them here.

In-between some of the above will be a day in the Lakes with Montane to see 2011’s gear. The new designer’s drawings have now been transformed into kit, and in their own words, they’re psyched for the new collection. Questions? Wire in.

The KORS show is in August, I’ve got meetings with a bunch of folk familiar and new to the blog. August really is going to be gear apocalypse on here.

Lastly, I have in my possesion (have had for some time if I’m honest), the ansewrs to the X-Bionic Wallaby giveaway. Live next week, with a wee look at some new kit.

But after the increasingly painful gap of the last few weeks, the hills are again top of the list. Kintail as soon as the clouds lift, and then somewhere I haven’t been for a wee while, Assynt. Suilven’s the target, but I’ve got business with Cul Mor as well. I cannot bloody wait.

The Trail mag that’s just out is the lightweight special as well as the 20th anniversary issue, and it really is full of stuff and things.
I don’t mention my Trail stuff much, I probably should as most of my trips would make more sense if the route in the mag was flagged up. Like the Beinn Fhada trip, anyone who read the July Trail will know why I re-pitched the tent at lunchtime on day 2. Aye, it’s all about the photies.
This months route is the South Glen Sheil Ridge, and it was fun trying to shoehorn that amount of description into 500 words, I love the shot they chose for the introduction page too, I can remember standing there. Brilliant night that was.
I really enjoy doing the routes, and I think I’ve gotten better at making the words less dry as time’s gone on, helped by an understanding and long-suffering editor, for both my frequent Scottishisms and lateness with copy. I do try and make them all a little different from the usual routes you find in the guidebooks, but still accessible to readers. I also try and get my trail shoes into shot in every one…

But, the biggest fun bit for me this issue is the Wheelie feature. Unlike my previous feature, I read this one right away when I got my copy of the mag, I wasn’t apprehensive this time. The reason being that I just sat down and wrote this one, no inner turmoil or trying to fit some imaginery Trail-compatible format that I’d invented for myself. The word count was about average for a blog post after a trip, so er, I wrote a blog post. Banter, odd references, cheek, attempts at humour and outpourings of joy, all the usual shit I put on here, it’s all there. As are “burn” instead of stream, and “wee” instead of small.
I had fun with the boxouts too, lecturing some poor reader on what gear they should be carrying. There’s a few extra points I’ve underlined about packing light in the main text, things I would probably let go when writing on here, but important enough to stick a flag on in the mag.
The funniest thing about it is that I took all the photies myself with a 10 second timer, I wonder if any readers will spot that? At least it gives me an excuse for taking so bloody long to do the walk. Oh the amount of reversing I had to do with Wheelie.
Now, I probably sound like I’m all pleased with myself here, well I have to say that I kinda am. I really enjoyed doing it, the trip and the writing, and I’m happy to stand behind it as the best I could do on the day, there’s no big bad editor to blame for changes or cuts as I think it was tightened up both minimally and brilliantly by the folks in Peterborough, if anyone thinks it’s pish, it’s my fault alone.
But, I’m entirely aware that its just a few pages in a mag packed with articles from writers who do this stuff every day, so I know my place.
As anyone who has a blog will know, reaching people, communicating your enthusiasm, insight or simple joy at being outdoors or elsewhere is a wonderful thing, and I love having opportunties to do that.

I didn’t really write the trip up properly on here, I thought it would have ruined any chance I had of writing a ”fresh” article, and now having the read the thing I was right. Learning.
It was great fun though, but as usual I started late…
I stopped at Pitlochry to see the guys in Escape Route, who liked the look of a Wheelie in-store for hiring out, but cuppas and banter there meant that time evaporated. I picked up some supplies in town, the wee deli made the biggest fluffiest tastiest sammidges I’ve ever seen, and them hit the cross-country road to Braemar, where a few TGOC stragglers were wandering around looking for new shoes.
The drive to Linn of Dee is glorious, and packing in the carpark amogst the trees was a leisurely affair, with gazing at the sky through the branches taking priority over actually getting ready to go. Never in hurry am I.
Wheelie’s huge, I packed the regular gear into stuff sacks, eVent ones from PODsacs and Sea to Summit, and some regular Exped rolltop drybags. There was plenty space though, so I started sticking in more food, and a bottle of Irn Bru, my PHD down gilet, and I lied in the feature, I had three hats as well extra stuff and things just to pad it out a little. But here’s the thing,  I really couldn’t feel the weight, pulling more is “lighter” than carrying less.
All the stuff that happened is in the feature, apart from the stopping and starting to do the photies, that was funny as hell. If I haven’t had the blog and was used to placing myself in shot I’d still be up there now, walking up and down whispering one thousand, two thousand, three…
It was doing that that robbed my of my time to climb the other summits, that was the only downside. It didn’t feel like I came away with a second prize though, it was a fantastic trip, rich for both the eye and the heart. I rediscovered the Cairngorms after all.
My time at camp was brilliant, I had pastries, biscuits, three different types of coffee, Pot Noodle in-a-bag and more, it was a super comfy time I had up there, and still went to the summit with just a poly bag hanging from my shoulders. Magic.

The tatters of the weekend blew about my feet like a whirlwind of crisp pokes in a playground twister.
Plans had come to nothing, illness, inconvenience and insubordination seems to fit together quite well, so I’ll blame those.
I climbed into the attic to check the pressure on the heating (yes my filling loop is up there, what about it?) as it was gurgling when it came on for the hot water. I felt like I should be pushing a wooden box of dirt from my ever extending escape tunnel back to the hatch as I crawled about under the stupidly placed beams, but instead I climbed onto the roof.
It wasn’t a bad enough weekend that anything untoward was going to happen when I got up there, it’s just that summer takes the sunset out of view and the colours spilling over to the front were so damned cheerful I wanted to soak some of it up.
I wonder what the neighbours though of the bloke on the roof with a headtorch and a camera?
There’s been no sirens, so maybe the curtain twitchers were a’ watchin’ the fitba.

I was flicking around the ‘net looking at bits and pieces, I fancied a new pot, a big one like my Optimus Terra Weekend, but lighter. The options aren’t that inspiring, most have short unisulated handles, which I am not keen to go back to, and the nice looking Tibetan pot with the long handles has been out of stock everywhere since 1978. I knew Backpackinglight.co.uk had taken on Evernew in the UK and as it turns they do a model the perfect size, with all the features that I wanted. 
But, I’ve also got a mag feature coming up later in the year, the premise of which really needs a change from my usual roaring gas stove, so after a chat with Bob about the burner side of things, not only have I bought myself the nice new pot that I was after, in for test I’ve got the Evernew stove system, some cookwear and also some of BackpackinglightUK’s accessories.
You know me, I like fast and easy, a cuppa in three minutes or my left eye starts twitching. So like getting a GPS in, this is the right thing for me to be doing, a different pace, unfamiliar methods and kit to get the brain working, all-new is all-good.

Above is the Titanium 900ml pot, I know it’s a good size for me as it’s pretty much what I use anyway. The wee deep lid is either good for you or it isn’t, me, I think it’s a handy wee thing, but the plastic coated handles are a must-have. The short handles that you get on most other cookwear just don’t come close. I reckon more folk don’t do it this way at the welding has to be better due the the leverage exerted on the join with a full pot, so rightly or wrongly, long handles say as much to me about a manufacturer as they do about my un-burnt fingers. The volume markings are handy, the lid is a nice fit, there’s no spout at one side to piss-off the corrie fisted and it really is light at 124g.
The quality of the titanium is something that Evernew are keen to point out, and there is truth in the spin. With material that thin (the pot and cookset flex easily in your hand) you have to have confidence in your material and your processes or you’re going to have a big pile of unsellable mishapes in your factory store.

The Titanium Solo Cook Set below is a great wee thing, coming in at 148g for the whole package. The 400ml mug slips onto the 750ml pot, the mug has insulated handles as does the pot, but where the mug sensibly has mug-shaped handles, they’re the long kind on the pot. The burner fits inside, with Trivet or DX stand, and this makes it a great compact system.
I like the idea of this, in some ways it takes me back to my single pot/no mug days of a few years ago in it’s pack size, but it’s the best of both worlds here as the mug is pretty much invisible.

Above is the Ultralight Titanium Alcohol Stove with the optional Titanium Trivet potstand already fitted. It’s simplicity itself, well made and light 36g and 15g respectively. I really am looking forward to setting this up on a summit somehere and seeing how I get on, the boil times on BackpackinglightUK look fine.

The Ultralight Titanium DX Stand below is an add-on or a stand-alone piece. You can use it as a stand/windshield for the burner which looks like giving good boil times or as a wood burner, as it has the grate and enough slots to stick in fuel. At 56g it’s another bit of unnoticability.
I think the Solo Cook Set will suit the burner in it’s various combos better that the 900ml pot due the the width and capacity, but I’ll try the various combinations and see what turns out best.

Bob also sent some cuttings of his Pot Cozy material and a Super Thin Windshield, both of which are rather nice and should help me get the best out of the Evernew kit.
I know I always bang on about faffy stuff, but I think this’ll be fine once I’ve done the intial admin on it all. It’s actually, I have to say, kinda good fun.
I had to go and buy meths (praise be for a GoOutdoors in Clydebank) and I got the wee Vargo bottle with the imperial measurements on it to take on the trail.
Ha, it’s purple. More of this stuff as we go.