New From Lowe Alpine
Lowe's autumn 2001 range might not be out till September, but we've had a sneak preview already
Posted: 11 April 2001
by Jon
Because we're basically kind, good-hearted people here, we hacked
up to Lowe Alpine's Kendal showrooms the other week purely to check
out what's new in their range for autumn/winter 2000 and to drink
copious amounts of tea.
So what's new? This is the stuff that'll be turning up in the
shops come September by the way. Don't expect to see it now.
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Legend Pull-On - Actually we have no good excuse for
this beyond aesthetics - it's made from Special Edition, the
fabric formerly known as Regulator and offers about the
same level of warmth as the standard mid-weight Polartec
200-weight fleece, but with reduced pack size and weight.
Great fabric.
It also looks fantastic and has that 'son
of R2' sought-after fluffy look. We really like this one in
quite a shallow, acquisitive sort of way. Yes, we are really
quite predictable. But there you go.
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Old R1 Regulator - now called Special Edition - with
Powerstretch Technology We like Powerstretch a lot and
we like Regulator too. Except Regulator will be known as
Special Edition, we think. Anyway this stuff is
approximately the same warmth as standard Powerstretch, but
significantly lighter and smaller packing.
The top - available in both men's and
women's cuts - is known as the Multipro Top and the pant,
very originally as the Multipro pant. The light weight
should make it a killer super lightweight warm alpine base
layer. The thing that marks it out from Powerstretch is the
inner surface which uses little pillars of fleece to
increase thermal efficiency without upping weight. We reckon
it's unequivocally a good thing, a bit like ice cream or
chocolate, but more useful. As it has the Powerstretch-type
out, it should also be reasonably wind resistant like the
standard fabric, the one property which Regulator doesn't
really have.
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Outer Limits Pull-On - From the guys who brought you the
X-Files, er, actually more like the guys who bought you the
Belay Jacket. That was a heavy, slightly bulky artificially
insulated, erm, belay jacket aimed very specifically at
climbers. The Outer Limits is less specialised, lighter
beast altogether.
Using synthetic insulation, it's also
windproof, lightweight and packable, it says here and has
full pit-zips for cooling capabiliy. Has articulate elbows
and a neck adjuster. Should be far more versatile than the
Belay jacket, which is no longer in the range. Price is
about £80.
For around 20 quid less, you'll be able
to get a Revo Pull-On and Jacket, which use the same basic
principles, but with with fewer bells and whistles. Also
available as a vest.
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United Colours Of Lowe Alpine - not many major changes
in the shell jacket range. There's a pair of new base-level
walking jackets, the Crestone and the Kiowa, both in
Triplepoint rather than the more effective Triplepoint
Ceramic, but the established Alpine Flash and Alpine Pro
jacket are available in exciting new colours. Plus there's a
new Alpine Gaiter Pant TPC shell pant which, surprise,
surprise, incorporates an integral gaiter as well as
full-length side-zips, articulated knee and scuff
guards.
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Lowe Alpine web
site
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