Ultra-lightweight trekking boots, Stretch Gore-Tex Pro Shell, the Roc Hard and soft shell shorts.
The
Haglöfs
spring/summer 2010 range is about to hit the stores and we
thought you'd appreciate a quick whisk through the
highlights in both
clothing and equipment.
The Grym Boot...
The oddly named
Grym trekking boot
has already won two awards for innovation and is very light for a full-on, stiff-soled mountain trekking boot -
around 1560 grammes for a pair of men's 8s - but not, says
Haglöfs,
delicate.
The company has used a combination of advanced fabrics to achieve a 45%
weight reduction compared to previous materials. The upper is made from
SuperFabric, which is more resistant to cuts than Aramide fibres while
the full rand is made from lightweight Smartlite.
There's also a Gore-Tex liner, a SOLE anatomic footbed, EVA mid-sole
with PU heel wedge and a Vibram Four Season outsole. They look big and
chunky, but pick one up and it feels like it's full of helium.
Price is the one thing about this boot that isn't lightweight, we're
talking around
£235...
Ratio Jacket
Headlining the Haglöfs clothing range is the
Ratio Jacket, made
from new Gore-Tex Pro-Shell 3-layer Stretch fabric. It's been designed
so there are, and we quote: 'high-tech materials at critical points
subjected to the most intensive movement.'
We've been using the Ratio this winter and it's a lovely piece of kit
that's beautifully designed and put together - good colours too - with
all mod cons. That means pit-zips, pockets, a wired peak on the
helmet hood, lazer-cut pockets, micro-taped seams and more.
Weight is a real 440g for a men's size large. Like the Grym it carries
a hefty price tag,
£475
no less, which is primarily because the fabric is very expensive. It
certainly feels nice, and very light, comfortable and mobile, but we're
not sure it offers many signicifant benefits over normal, non-stretch
Pro Shell.
Lizard Soft Shell
Also new this Spring are the Lizard soft shell top and
matcing shorts. Both simple, lightweight wind resistant and very
breathable, they're made from non-membrane Flexable fabric with
four-way stretch.
The top is a simple pull-on with breathable panels under the arms,
articulated sleeves, a single chest pocket and adjustable hem. We
reckon it's one of those things that's going to get used a lot. Weight
is 355g for a large.
The matching shorts - yes, soft shell shorts - use the same,
fast-drying, four-way stretch fabric are cut knee length and have hand
pockets and a single thigh one. The crotch is gussetted for easy
movement.
We've used mountain biking shorts in a similar fabric before for
walking and scrambling and they do seem to work really well in a medium
to warm mountain environment giving a bit more protection than
conventional shorts but without a breability penalty.
Rocs Optimised
We liked last year's Roc mountain packs and for 2010,
they've been optimised and expanded with three new models appearing.
The Rocs are conventional top-loading sacs in a selection of sizes. The
Roc comes in 25 or 35-litre versions, then there's the new
Roc Speed which is a lightweight summit pack with a capacity of 25
litres.
The 30-litre Roc Hard - also new - has been built for durability
without being lardy. The Roc Ice is made for winter snow and ice use
and has a 35-litre capacity with double ice tool attachments and an
expandable front pocket designed to hold your crampons.
The packs use high spec materials throughout and have removable HDPE
framesheets with a combination of a single aluminium stay and double
glass fibre rods adding stability and support.
Pants
Last but not least, we've always liked the cut of
Haglöfs
legwear, they manage to avoid the awful high-waisted dad slacks look
that seems de rigeur for outdoors trousers, so we're looking forward to
trying the Climatic Pants Mid Trail versions with new cuts - Low Cut
for women and Loose Cut for men.
Lots of pockets combined with quick-drying and wind-resistant Climatic
fabric.
Full details of the Haglöfs Spring 2010 range are now on the
web site
at
www.Haglöfs.se.
