Next year's cragging packs, summit-bagging packs, and lightweight shells...
Last week we had a look at Arc-teryx's award-winning, 300g climbing harnesses, but there's a whole lot more gear lined up in their 2008 range. We caught up with them in Friedrichshafen to take a sneak peak at what's in store...
Windproofs and Waterproofs
Minimalism is the aim of the game in the 2008 clothing range.
First up is the Alpha SL Pullover which uses
Gore-Tex Paclite fabric for complete waterproofing and
weighs in at 322g (300g for women).
Features include a helmet-compatible hood and two
hefty pit zips for venting, so you don’t get too
sweaty, and the damage is £195.
If you’re more in the market for a windproof next
spring then there’s one on offer called the Solano
Jacket. It’s made of Windstopper fabric with
nylon-lined sleeves for ease of movement and a
brushed-polyester lining next to the body for a touch
of insulation.
Again, it’s a lightweight little fellow, weighing
in at 333g (283g for women) and the damage on this one
is £140.
Arc’teryx say the jacket is “perfect for chilly
runs, climbing, mountain biking or 18 holes of dewy
morning golf.” We’ll take their word about the
golf:-)
Also look out for the Velox Comp Crew, the
Velox Comp V Neck and the Ether Comp
Jersey which are new baselayers in the Velox trail
running series. The main features are wicking panels
down the sides with a more robust front and back and
they’ll be in the shops for the first time next spring
too.
Packs
There’s a climbing theme to the new range of packs
for next year, in case a Warp Strength Technology
harness isn’t the only item you want to take with you
to the crag.
The chief new development is the Muira Cragging
Pack which comes in three sizes – 20l, 30l and
50l. Its key features are side zips which run the
full length of the pack, so you can see everything at
once instead of having to empty out the full contents
to retrieve the fleece at the bottom. And in case
you’re worried about all your belongings falling out
when you’re on a belay ledge, there’s a strap running
down each side to help hold things in place.
Other bits and bobs worth noting are the roll-top
closure, a bit like a dry-bag, internal gear loops,
and padded sides to protect your kit.
Weights are 1.5kg, 1.9kg and 2.2 kg for the 20, 30
and 50l versions, and the damage ranges from £90 to
£140.
Finally, there’s another new range of packs on the
cards “designed for summit sprints or as an easily
stowable secondary pack on expeditions.” They’re
called the Cierzo packs and they come in 18 and
35l versions, weighing 255g and 553g depending on
which member of the family you’re after.
As you’ll have guessed from the weight, they’re
pretty minimalist, designed to carry the bare
essentials up the final few metres to the summit and
to be easily compressible into your main sack the rest
of the time.
To give a few examples of things you can manage
without at the last gasp, the 18l version doesn’t have
a back panel and the hip belt and sternum straps are
removable just in case you want to ditch a few more
grams.
Its big brother, the Cierzo 35, contains a foam
back-pad which is slightly schizophrenic and converts
into a camping mat when it’s off duty. There’s also a
hydration pocket and an ice axe loop. And when you
want to stow the pack away, it fits inside its own lid
pocket. Handy.
If that sounds like your cup of tea, put your hand
in your pocket to the order of £35 – or £70 for the
larger version – and the Cierzo is yours.
That’s it for the new spring/summer 2008 range from
Arc’teryx, but full details of the brand’s current
range is available on the website.
