Hot from the Harrogate trade show, where the outdoors industry
displays its sharpest new kit, is some of the most interesting
technical clothing we've seen for a while. Bear in mind though that
this is gear that won't be in the shops till March of next year.
Mountain Equipment has taken Gore's Windstopper N2S - Next 2 Skin
- fabric (see link to our launch report below) and used it to produce
some highly technical and well thought out mountain clothing under
the name 'G2'.
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G2 Alpine Jacket - might look
like a fleece
but Gore N2S technology means it's effectively
a soft technical mountain shell
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N2S is the technology first seen in Mountain Hardwear's Transition
'windproof baselayer' garments, but moved on another step. The latest
version has a tougher face fabric that won't pull on sharp edges or
rub under Velcro and, in the case of the Mountain Equipment garments,
will also feature a DWR - Durable Water Repellant - treatment by
Grangers to stop 'wetting out' in damp conditions.
The promise is a highly breathable, yet water-resistant and
wind-proof garment that can replace a waterproof shell in most
mountain situations. It's the detail that really catches the eye
though. Whereas the Transition kit differs little from 'normal' base
layers, ME's new clothing has had a thorough technical going
over.
G2 Alpine Jacket - £170
The Alpine Jacket has the sort of features you'd expect from a top
technical climbing shell, but is claimed to be softer, more flexible
and more comfortable. Judging from our experience of N2S so far, it
will also be much more breathable.
All that means extended, water-resistant-zipped pit-zips, four
front zip pockets, neat Powerfleece inner cuffs for wind-resistant
sealing, neck and hem cords and a neat, close-fitting technical cut
helped by strategic stretch panels.
It looks very cool in straight black, but will also be available
in red and should be very, very interesting.
G2 Ultimate Mountain Pant - £150
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G2 Pant - twisted seams, thigh
vents,
crampon patches and more
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ME also reckon to have solved the mountain legwear dilemma with
their matching pant. Taking a styling cue from Levis - just joking
guys - the pant has a twisted leg seam and lower leg zip, together
with hard-as-nails Armorlite crampon protection patches on the inside
lower leg. Walk-in overheating is catered for with thigh-venting
pockets equipped with the ubiquitous water-resistant zips. Stretch
knee panels should sort out those high-stepping dilemmas on steep
ground and an integral snow gaiter stops snow sneaking up your
ankles.
For the less technically minded, there's also a more basic G2
pull-on at £120, which features the Powerfleece cuffs, a deep
front zip and draw-cord neck fastening. Should be good for more basic
hill use and winter mountain biking.
We reckon you're going to see a lot of these beasts grazing in high
mountain pastures next year. In the shops from March 2002.
Other Mountain Equipment Stuff
Elsewhere the range has tweaked rather than being radically
overhauled with the new for 2001 rucksack range continuing alongside
the traditional range of Ultrafleece and down products. There are
neat updates to some of the Ultrafleece clothing though.
Britain's favourite mountain fleece, the venerable Ultrafleece
Mountain Jacket (£90) has had a good tweaking for 2002. The
excellent light and wind-resistant main fabric remains the same, with
drawcord waist and hem, but the floppy, loose hood we disliked in our
last site review of the garment, has been replaced with a new,
close-fitting Powerfleece stretch hood for increased warmth and
better fit under a shell hood.
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Britain's fave fleece gets a
stretchy new hood for 2002
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The Ultrafleece salopettes also get another update with a 'new look
and active; cut based on the Kongur shell salopette. Best move, we
reckon, is the incorporation of a new stretch panel at the knee using
Malden's Powerstretch Windpro to improve mobility and high steps in
particular. Some of our favourite winter legwear just got better.
