The X Flies Unzipped...

Okay, so the 'Never Stop Exploring' label tagged inside the flies is a neat joke, but TNF's new range of A5 'bouldering' clothing looks like anything but ...

We've seen the range for real and it looks fantastic - unfortunately we can't show you the pics till next month, on account of upsetting tender European sensibilities, so for now you'll just have to take our word for it.

So what is it? TNF are calling it 'bouldering clothing' but really it's pure casual, slacking gear including loose canvas pants, garish and not so garish surf-type shirts, tees, and a load of very neat women's halter tops and the like. Think climbers hanging round a VW camper van at Yosemite's Camp 4 and chilling after a day on the rock as the sun sets, says TNF UK's Keith Byrne who reckons A5 will 'grow and grow and grow'.

Even better, it'll be exclusively available from outdoors shops rather than mainstream high street fashion retailers and the prices are amazingly reasonable. We're talking around 40 squid for a pair of pants and 32 of your English pounds for a typical surf shirt and, like we said, we were blown away by the looks, the detailing and the quality.

If you're thinking Quicksilver for outdoor people, you're probably not far off the mark and we can promise you that you'll be hearing a lot more about A5 in the future - it's named after an American Big Wall grade if you were wondering.

So is there anything wrong with it? You bet, the stuff won't be in the shops until early next year, which is bad, cos we want some now. Pics to follow once those pesky Europeans have seen the stuff in the flesh.