 "the modern garments offered better flexibility and movement as the layers slid easily over each other" - actually the findings of the conference (which I attended) were the opposite. Mallory's clothing was light and flexible and the layers didn't bind at all.
The lack of zips (and Velcro) was a problem though. Mallory wore three pairs of long johns topped by plus fours, all with button flies.
I doubt the 1924 Expedition started the current lightweight trend. There is rather a long time in between when gear got heavier! What is true is that a concern for minimising weight has been around since the start of recreational mountaineering.
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I am personally still a little dubious about the whole reconstruction. It smacked to me of being (some garments more than others) an example of recreating a dinosaur skeleton from a single tooth.
What leaves me uncomfortable about the whole recreation is that the project has set out to aim to recreate over light garments simply to reinforce a tenuous link with current clothing trends. Trends which I feel are often causing a compromise on quality to achieve un-needed levels of lightwieghtness (if that's a word).
Mallory was going up Everest so he needed the gear. Many people in the UK set out carrying too much kit for their needs. It may be lightweight but that doesn't matter if you don't need it! The best way to reduce weight will always be to leave stuff at home!
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 Is this the third thread on this subject?
Chris will there be a correctly reported account of this in TGO next month for us all to read?
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 Oi! It was just bad editing on my part, Charles' original copy was correct, just a bit ambiguous and I got the wrong end of the stick. Obviously I shall be wearing Burberry in future.
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Suits you sir
<gets coat and runs for door>
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 > is that the project has set out to aim to recreate over light garments simply to reinforce a tenuous link with current clothing trends
Has it? My recollection of seeing the Nova documentary was that the clothing on Mallory's body was indeed very lightweight, and commented upon by all those who saw it, resulting in many theories that he and Irvine were compromised by the poor protection is supposedly offered.
So it seems to me that the re-creation has been fairly accurate. Granted, I've not been up to check the original clothing myself...
Your comments aren't coloured by one regular criticism of Paramo clothing being heavy, by any chance...?
;-)
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 I'm disappointed there won't be any Burberry outdoor gear.
Are briar pipes back in for next year?
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Paramo stuff is heavy.
What about monocles?
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 Yes, they're heavy, too.
If you carry them in bulk.
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No idea if there'll be a piece on this in TGO. I haven't been asked to write one.
I think the reconstruction was a little more than recreating a dinosaur skeleton from a single tooth (though palaentologists will tell you that a tooth can reveal an amazing amount). There was enough left of many of the garments to not only identify the fabric but also the construction and design. I was impressed at the research that went into making the reconstruction as accurate as possible.
I don't think the aim is to reinforce a tenuous link with current clothing trends either (except maybe for the revival of wool as a base layer fabric). Overall I think the aim was to simply increase knowledge of early mountaineering ventures and also to try and find out whether the clothing of the time would have been a huge disadvantage. The main thing learnt is that the clothing would have been adequate whilst moving (but pretty chilly if stationary for long) and that the members of the 1924 expedition took care to find the best clothing available rather than just wearing old clothes, as is sometimes thought.
The individual items may be quite light but the whole clothing system isn't for the amount of warmth provided. I don't think Al Hinkes will be giving up his down suit!
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 Interesting experiment, but proof of the pudding....
How would they compare on cost though?
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Well, reconstructing Mallory's clothing took several expeditions to Everest, four university departments and years of research so I don't think the stuff will be cheap. And then the merino wool has to come all the way from New Zealand .....
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I wouldn't mind seeing a TGO article on the topic, Chris. Have a word with Cameron, maybe? Or perhaps it's too niche?
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I don't think it's too niche. At present we're all working flat out on the December issue, the content of which is decided, but once that's over I'll mention it to Cameron.
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when you quoted the author of this piece you said : "the modern garments offered better flexibility and movement as the layers slid easily over each other" however, the article reads : "the 1920s equipment offered better flexibility and movement as the layers slid easily over each other" look it up, fool
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 did'nt they wear harris tweed jackets (no joke)
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 however, the article reads : If you take the trouble to read the whole thread, you'll find the editor of this site amended the article. ... fool
Oh, I think we'll be the judge of that.... welcome to the forum, by the way. 
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 I shall reply to this thread in another two years 
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I want to know where I can get the patterns for the over jacket so I can try the outfit for myself, I know that the fabric works but it is the current cost of good silk and cashmere wool that precludes the use of classic combination without a university research budget
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This thread is from 2005!
