Berghaus unveiled 2010 footwear, clothing and packs to the press in the Lake District.
We've just spent a couple of days in the Lake District with
Berghaus being
introduced to their
latest
outdoors clothing, packs and footwear due out in early
2010.
We've already previewed some of the new stuff in our
show
report from Friedrichshafen a month or so back,
but we got a much better look at the kit this time and had the chance
to use some of it on the hill, specifically on a day out over
Striding
Edge.
In the relaxed atmosphere of the Inn on the Lake, Glendridding,
Berghaus product managers took the outdoor press through the latest
developments and answered questions from the floor before handing over
to Sir Chris Bonington for an entertaining look back at 40 years of
Himalayan climbing achievement - something that Berghaus is celebrating
next year.
Clothing Developments
Colour, women, cut and Windstopper were some of the buzz words for
2010's Berghaus range, we were told. The most obvious new product in
the top of the range Extrem technical mountaineering kit, is a new,
lightweight jacket called
The
Dru - below - which is made from Gore-Tex Paclite Stretch
and has a full Raptor helmet-compatible helmet hood.
We're not huge fans of Paclite here - Pro Shell is almost as light and
tougher - but Berghaus says that using the lighter fabric has helped
them keep the price of the Dru to around £150. It
has a claimed weight of 399 grammes - erm, yes, 399 - and sports
p[it-zips, twin pockets and water-resistant zippers.
We're not sure what the Stretch element will achieve, though if the
jacket is a snug fit, it might make all the difference... There are
men's and women's versions.
There's lots of brightly-coloured lightweight Windstoppper - above -
waiting in the wings as well, in some quite lurid colours. We suspect
it's aimed mainly at the continental European market where Windstopper
goes down better in the cold, dry mountain environment.
Finally, the Tech T range of baselayers gets a quiet revolution. Fabric
uses a permanent silver ion treatment called Argentium to reduce pongs
and allow multi-day wear, while there are now three cuts - a
close-fitting, skin-hugging performance cut. A looser active cut and
finally and even looser casual sort of fit.
The assumption is that the more performance obsessed you are, the
skinnier you'll be, which may or may not be correct. The fabrics all
have a Sun Protection factor of 50 plus as well and use denier gradient
yarn to wick effectively.
M any of them also have mesh areas in strategic regions - armpits for
example - to improve breathability. Oh, and they look quite nice too.
Pack Attack
The big story in packs is a new Freeflow back system
called Freeflow Pro. Unlike the existing Freeflow system, which uses a
board plus Delrin rods tensioned by a mesh panel, the new version uses
two parallel stiff aluminium bars to shape the air gap,
Because they don't collapse under pressure, this means the gap can be
narrower for better load carrying efficiency - the load stays closer to
the body - there's buit-in flex, so the frame moves a little with your
body and finally, you can sit on the pack without it collapsing.
If you look at the image
above you can see both new - left - and old - right - systems and just
about make out the significantly smaller air gap on the new version
which is possible because the stiffer alloy rods no longer deform in
use.
It reminds us of several other models on the market, which use metal
frames, albeit slightly differently. Also new is a lot of perforate
EVABreathe foam in the shoulder straps, new funkier styling, buckles
and bits and a reinforced Revolve hip-belt which flexes enough to
accommodate different pelvis variations.
And to be fair, they do look nicer as well and, over a day on
Helvellyn, seemed to carry pretty well with no obvious levering away
from the back, though loads were relatively light. Capacities are
20,30,40 and 50 litres with the two largest capacites having a separate
lower base compartment with bivi divider.
Footwear Firsts
Finally, the footwear team has been busy too. There's a
been a lot of research into the already effective Opti-Stud sole unit
to make even better with some serious work on spacing and shaping the
studs for effective mud clearing as well as grip. Lots of techy looking
slides show this..
The new sole, they say, grips better - with more shear resistance - has
more contact area, sheds mud better and works better in the wet.
New for the spring are low versions of the popular Explorer boot
featuring the new Opti-Stud sole and the proven Explorer
last. Then there's a much more contemporary version of our favourite
lightweight fell boot, the
Pro
Rush Mid.
This has been properly ruggedised for next year. The geeky looks are
gone and instead you get a tougher, albeit slightly heavier boot with
integrated toe and heel protection, a concealed EVA mid-sole and high
quality nu-buck leather uppers.
The EHS - Ergonomic Holding System - reminds us of Salomon's old
X-Adventure 7 classic lightweight - which is probably a good thing -
and of course there's the new Opti-Stud sole unit.
There are both mid and low versions in the range and while they look
unusual, they should be rougher and tougher then their predecessors
without being excessively heavy. Weight is around the same as the
Explorer series for the Mids. We're looking forward to trying them.
Finally, the Cuesta 2 - above - is an updated technical approach shoe
with most of the work having been done on the sole unit. This is a
special, grippier Opti-Stud variant with a 'technical toe-edging panel'
for improved performance when scrambling. They seemed quite at home on
Striding Edge.
All the above are available early in 2010. You can find more Berghaus
information at
www.berghaus.com.
