'Now I've nowt against change as long as it's
not for any good reason' - outdoors chronicler Alfred Todger takes a hard look at the lightweight revolution in clothing and equipment.
Muckthwaite, Friday 10 November, 2006
I'm a long-time reader of Try Going Outside Magazine and its
strident but committed take on the outdoors. Recently t'magazine's
been changing though. Now I've nowt against change as long as it's
not for any good reason, but I find it disturbing that emphasis on
gear testing has been towards lighter and lighter equipment and
clothing.
Now, there's various things as worries me about this. For
starters, when wind gets oop on Muckthwaite Moor, I tell thee, tha
needs as much heavy kit as possible just to keep tha feet on
t'ground. Then there's issues of durability. All my kit sees daily
use, fleece, for example, makes excellent birthing rags for
t'snacksized cows, while I'll often wear my boots in shower to reduce
chances of athlete's foot.
Would modern kit stand oop to this sort of treatment, I wonder?
Then by a strange coincidence, phone rang. 'Och, is that Alfred?'
Asked voice. 'This is Campbell McFleece, editor of Try Going Outside.
I'm pleased to tell you that you've been selected by computer from
our subscribers to win a complete set of ultra-lightweight outdoors
clothing and equipment.'
I've won nowt since the free holiday in Rumania as I gave to
Gladys Douthwaite next door, so as you can imagine, I was very
pleased. And just two days later, Jack from t'post office dropped by
with a large, but surprisingly light box.
Well, I fair ripped it open and believe you me, I were disgusted
by the flimsiness of the contents. There were a pack as looked like a
plastic bag with two strings for straps, a windproof top as was made
of crinkly tissue paper and, well, the list went on.
Biggest disappointment were the lack of tent as my old Shackleton
Discovery Extreme pup tent is on t'last legs. Eventually I came
across bag marked 'Bob's Tarps'. Opened it oop and there were a large
plastic sheet and some string; I tried wrapping myself in it but me
feet stuck out of end. I have to be honest, I fair shook me head in
frustration. I'm not even a tall fella neither.
Then it struck me, the whole lightweight revolution - I realised -
is down to interweb. Seeing as 98 per cent of people now order
everything bar toilet paper on line, it's carriage charges yer see,
make things lighter and they're cheaper to post. People can't afford
to pay carriage charges on proper traditional outdoor kit, so the big
brands have made stuff lighter and lighter...
Now like I said, I've nowt against change, as long as it's not for
any good reason. I threw tarp and the rest of it on t'fire, grabbed
my faithful Ventile Smock, pulled on me old Hawkins Mountaineer boots
and set off for t'moors.
Campbell McFleece I thought, for all your Welsh mountain DNA, you
know nowt about real walking kit. Burns nice though, the lightweight
stuff. Much better than natural fibres...
Alfred Todger
