New From Lowe Alpine

Deep from within the bowels of Lowe Alpine's top secret Lakeland HQ we bring you the pick of their new kit for autumn/winter 2002. This is stuff that will be in the shops in a few weeks time towards the end of summer, but isn't even on the Lowe web site yet.

Plus we've also had a chance to take a look at their new stuff for next Spring. Unfortunately we can't tell you much about it, as if we did an enormous ballistic missile loaded with explosive gum-drop tabs would be coming our way in seconds, but we can, at least, reveal just a little...

And the little is that Lowe say they are going to be using a new waterproof fabric which should be more breathable than anything else on the market - more information when we have it.

Anyhow, this is the stuff that's in the shop soon:

Apex Jacket - £270

The new Apex is the direct replacement for Lowe's Alpine Pro top end technical mountaineering jacket and like the Pro uses three-ply Triple Point Ceramic instead of the more usual two-ply variety.

It's a neat design with a softer, more aesthetic face fabric than the rather functional Pro's almost vinyl feel outer. Other features include a big, peaked, adjustable hood, articulated elbows, Watershed seamless shoulder construction, water-resistant pit-zips with velcro-fastened over flaps plus twin chest pockets also with water-resistant zips.

New for this year, the Apex has stretch panels on the hood, upper elbow and back for better mobility. Looks good too.

Stash Pull-On - £60

Available either as a jacket, pull-on or vest, the Stash is part of the new breed of fleece alternatives. In this case it uses polyester insulation in a nylon rip-stop microfibre shell to give a garment that weighs around the same as a light fleece at just over 500 grammes, but should be warmer. It also packs small and the shell material means it's windproof and water resistant, extending the range of use.

Fugitive Jacket - £220

Die-cut Velcro fastener on the main zip fastening are a neat touch, as is the hood which zips away completely for neatness. There's also a snow skirt, which zips off - only the second jacket we've seen with this neat feature, the other was from Craghoppers. Weight is 933 grammes.

Gum Drop Tabs - 4 for a penny...

Okay, it's a small touch, but all the new Lowe shell jackets get what they're calling Gum Drop Tabs - no prizes for guess ing why, though the fact that they're gummy and tabs is a big clue. They're nice and easy to get hold of and grippy too, so should make cold-fingered zip manipulation a bit easier. There's a a bad joke there somewhere, but let's ignore it . Nice, thoughtful touch. The Apex gets great big gum drops at the cuffs as well.

Wind Pro Altered State Jacket - £90

In a shallow sort of way, what we liked most was the sort of slightly fluffy pique face fabric, which you can't really see in the picture here combined with a fleecey inner face. Mmmmm...

Payette / Borah Jacket - £100

Hard to believe we know, but this rather suave looking shell jacket takes over - we think - from the conservative old Atlas walking jacket. Like the Atlas it uses humble Triple Point fabric rather than the higher-performing Triple Point Ceramic, but it looks much more 21st Century than the one colour Atlas.

Nothing dramatic in the spec, with a foldaway hood, twin handwarmer pockets and a double storm flap over the zip, but it will also be available complete with a zip-in fleece. The men's version is the Bora and the lasses get the Payette. Both look like excellent value.