Sprayway New Kit Scoop

We popped over to see Manchester-based gear guys Sprayway the other day and took a quick look at their latest kit. We've already told you about their interesting new wired clothing, but we thought you might also like a look at what they have coming out in the next month or so in their spring/summer 2007 range.

Fading Jackets And Pants

Sprayway is using something called Pigment Print for some of their range of clothing this spring in both waterproof and non-waterproof fabric. It's a way of applying dye to fabric so that it fades through washing and wearing - think denim - to give a faded look to the fabric. There's around 20 per cent fade in the first wash.

It actually looks really cool in the flesh and means you can have a subtly different waterproof shell jacket. What's more the treatment doesn't have any drawbacks as far as the performance of the garment goes.

The men's version is called the Evolution and the women's is the Mica. Both use Sprayway's own brand hydro/dry waterproof and breathable fabric and retail for £100. Subtly different and nicely cut too with a detachable hood. Great for round town or general use we reckon. Apologies to Sprayway's Nick Purcell, the latest victim of our strange ability to take truly unflattering photos, sorry Nick.

As well as the waterproofs, you'll also be able to find technical pants in the Lifewear range using the same fading process.

Great Budget Waterproofs

We were also very impressed with Sprayway's sub-£100 waterproof shell jackets. To be honest, at £80, you expect quite a basic jacket, but the Illusion - below - and Mirage jackets, for men and women respectively, turn that on its head.

Using hydro/dry in a two-ply version with stretch no less, they have the sorts of features you'd expect from far more expensive kit. That includes a detachable hood with stealth chin-guards for better looks and facial protection, wired peak and even a lazer-cut chesty pocket. The fabric has a lovely soft feel too. Looks like a great value general waterproof. Just about the only downside is the weight, a relatively hefty 890 grammes odd.

The new jacket falls into the same price bracket as the company's best-selling Hydrolite jacket. That's a neat 510-gramme beast with an incredible specification for the money - this is the company that made the first £100 Gore-Tex jacket remember.

The Hydrolite uses a two-and-a-half ply hydro/dry flex fabric with stretch, is cut with a neat drop tail and features a removable and packable hood with wired peak, lazer cut chest pockets, articulated sleeves and more. A lot of jacket for £80 and in the current range - women's above.

The fabric is Sprayway's own-brand Hydro/dry Plus in a three-ply version and again you're getting lazer-cut pockets, removable ZAP hood with wired peak and lots more. Again it looks stunning and the price is impressive for a fully welded garment. Again it's in the current range.

Kid's Stuff

Sprayway has a wide range of children's outdoor clothing and fresh out for this spring is some amazing stuff called Energlo. It's a glow in the dark waterproof and breathable fabric that absorbs natural light during the day then uses it to glow in the dark.

It's self-powered rather than reflective and was inspired by 'bioluminescence' in deep sea creatures, it says here. The new Wombat Packaway is fully waterproof and has Energlo panels incorporated into it. Here's how they look in a darkened room with just a minimal charge from artificial light...

And here's the same jacket without the Redybrek effect in normal light.

Gore-Tex for Kids

This is a peak into the future as it's not out until this autumn, but Sprayway is launching the first Gore-Tex jacket for kids that we know of.

It's a two-layer Gore-Tex shell jacket called the Cougar TL and available for both boys and girls. Price is going to be £70 and it looks spot on.

You can find full details of the current Sprayway range at www.sprayway.com. Coming soon, details of Mountain Equipment's latest kit. And look, it really is Gore-Tex :-)