FREE SPRING 2019 Please Take ISSUE 106 A Copy Inspiring Adventures since 1957 | Keswick, The Lake District The view from Gimmer Crag ©athenamellor NEW KIT OUR CAIRNGORMS WINTER WIN! ARRIVALS AMBASSADORS CARTHARSIS FIRST A FJÄLLRÄVEN Jon Wickham shares Introducing some Gaining winter The first Winter KEB JACKET the latest with us special people confidence Tea Round is achieved Worth £265 Page 5 Page 14 Page 16 Page 22 #GetInspiredGetOutside WELCOME TO THE SPRING ISSUE OF OUR GEORGE FISHER MAGAZINE Your guide to what’s new and exciting this season, plus plenty more to inform and entertain. Like the store itself, we like to think that The George Fisher Magazine is a celebration of adventures in the great outdoors both in the Lake District and around the world. ‘Just before sunset at Kelly Hall Tarn’ @carmennormanphotography STAFF PICKS Our staff favourites here at Fishers.. Lifeventure wallets Bothy bags (group shelters) from A top travel gift idea, this is sized to fits in your pocket Lifesystems and Rab easily, has all the card compartments you need, and A group shelter is basically a tent includes a coin zipped pouch. It also features RFID (radio but without any poles, they come in frequency identification) protection which protects your different sizes based on how many contactless cards against ‘skimming’. It closes easily and people you can fit inside. Primarily simply and is very hard wearing. Rob says, “I bought one they are an emergency shelter, ideal for getting you out of the elements last summer and used it as my travelling wallet, but once when you find yourself in trouble, but they can also be used for shelter my leather wallet gives up (which is not far off!) this will whilst you’re having your lunch or even as a portable baby changer! A very become my everyday wallet.” handy piece of kit, and a must for anyone who spends time out in the hills. Rob Pratt Dave Hill Books: Over the Hill at 60, The Wainwrights revised, and Top Wainwright Outdoor Tech Power-Banks Barry Holmes takes on the Lakeland fells, fueled by cake! Part love-letter to the Lou recommends the Outdoor Tech SPEEDCROSS 5 Lake District, and part journal of a runner finding his stride, Over the Hill at 60 is a Rugged power bank. Here’s what she had gorgeous hardback that will absorb and inspire anyone who has set their eyes on the to say about them; ‘’These are great for high places of Cumbria – and then set off to conquer them. anyone needing some extra power while The new editions of Wainwright’s Walking Guides to out and about. Whether that’s camping, the Lake District Fells have been comprehensively or a weekend away from plugs and THE RAWEST power, these are perfect for people who revised with paths, maps, diagrams and route descriptions checked and corrected throughout, go through a lot of charge fast! You can undertaken by writer and designer Clive Hutchby, charge smart phones, tablets, watches author of The Wainwright Companion. and more. They come in three different sizes and prices, and even feature a very EMOTION Finally: Top Trumps but with Wainwrights, what’s not good torch.’’ to love! Liz says that as far as games go, this may be Lou Haughlin the first one she could win! Liz Woodham All available by the click of a mouse from georgefisher.co.uk Want to read The George Fisher Magazine regularly? There are several options: pick up a copy in store, read it on our website, sign up for our email newsletters, or check out our social media. If you’d like to receive The George Fisher Magazine by post – contact us on the number below, email [email protected] or send us a message on Facebook. We publish quarterly in March, June, September and December. #GetInspiredGetOutside www.georgefisher.co.uk | 017687 72178 | Phone and website orders received before noon are delivered free overnight (if over £30 value) #GetInspiredGetOutside 3 SPRING WEATHER – BE PREPARED SPRING ONTO THE FELLS Apparel and Footwear buyer LISA BERGERUD on getting dressed for the British spring Equipment and Accessories buyer JON WICKHAM on new Spring kit e have a lot of exciting new gear arriving this significantly reducing condensation. This means that In backpacks, Montane continues to innovate, Wspring! there is no requirement for an inner tent, increasing moving ideas from their running vests to daypacks liveable area, whilst reducing weight. with the Trailblazer series. The Trailblazer 30 and Innovations in backpacking gear are lighter, while still Trailblazer 44 have adjustable backs, allowing a offering durability. Sleeping mat stalwarts Therm- MSR’s Hubba Shield series (marketed as the Hubba wide range of fit. The double chest straps and wrap- a-Rest have brought out a new lighter version of NX in the USA) brings two innovations. First, the new around hip belt give greater stability for moving their NeoAir mat, the UberLite, and at only 250g ‘Xtreme Shield’ flysheet is now even more durable, quickly, while easy-reach pockets give access to this looks sure to be on many backpackers’ kit lists. ensuring your tent will last much longer. Secondly kit. For longer adventures, Montane have added a They pair very nicely with the new Sea to Summit MSR have introduced Easton ‘Syclone’ composite backpacking sack to their range; the Naukan 60 is Spark (men’s) and Flame (women’s) sleeping bags. poles, which give more flex than aluminium and only 900g but carries a big load with comfort. With use of very light fabrics, coupled with 850+ fill reduces the likelihood of a pole snapping. power hydrophobic down, we think that these are Osprey already has a very light backpacking sack, Our third tent brand is Hilleberg, and we will be the lightest bags on the market, and reasonably the Levity 45, and for 2019 this is joined by a female stocking their new Allak 3 tent in green, red and priced for such quality. Sea to Summit also make a equivalent, the Lumina 45. At only 770g and with a sand. In response to growing demand, we have range of mats, and we have selected the Ether Light ventilated back, every backpacker should try on one increased our already large range even further. This XT Insulated. This has a unique ‘Air Sprung Cell’ of these really innovative packs. will include all the ‘Yellow Label’ 3-season tents as construction, made up from dozens of air chambers. well as most ‘Red Label’ and ‘Black Label’ tents. We In daypacks, Osprey and Salomon have new choices. iving in Keswick we know the weather can do I’m also excited by the women’s Zeta SL waterproof In spring and summer it’s usual for us to also need This gives the mat a flatter profile, reducing weight. Lanything at any time, and (with the exception pants (£190) in Night Shadow to match the stormy a light insulation layer, although last summer all expect to have the largest Hilleberg range in the UK, The Osprey Kestrel 38 (men’s) and Kyte 36 (women’s) of last summer) you need to be prepared for spring sky. They’re a beautiful fit, with a zip fly, and my testing had to be done in northern Norway; From Rab, the new Alpine Pro offers great design and are happy to order if we don’t have stock. packs are larger daypacks, ideal for longer days out. and quality at a very reasonable price for a down Salomon also makes an entry into daypacks with its everything! Looking back at photos from last you’ll be happy to wear these all day long in the rain. my preferred Arc’teryx insulation was a Konseal If your camping trips are more leisurely than bag, while the new Marmot Trestles Elite Eco bags Out Day 20+4 packs; great for summer adventures, spring we had snow, then were thrust straight into The Arc’teryx legwear theme continues with the Jacket (£130) which uses Polartec PowerDry grid lightweight, then take a look at the new Therm-a- use recycled synthetic insulation, made from plastic with a clean, simple design. blue skies and sunshine. Palisade Pants (£115), great classic walking trousers fabric, a fast-wicking, quick-drying travel piece, plus Rest MondoKing mats. They offer levels of comfort but also for women I’d suggest the Oriel leggings in the Atom SL hooded jacket (£170) with its light that would otherwise be going in to landfill. So this spring I’m fully expecting rain and looking closer to a nice hotel than a campsite! For chilling If running is your thing, take a look at the Osprey a durable nylon knit fabric (£75) teamed up with the insulation; my go-to camping jacket. forward to testing the new Arc’teryx Zeta SL jacket We welcome back a small British brand; Lightwave during the day, or a night under the stars, then why Katari 1.5, a compact pack with a hydration bladder. very successful Taema T-shirt (£50), they will work (£280.00), made from the new improved next-to-skin In footwear, I’m really looking forward to using the is the sister to mountaineering brand Crux, and not try an ENO hammock. They have exploded in It’s great for those who prefer to run without a bum well at wicking any moisture on any speedy hike Gore-Tex PACLITE Plus fabric. Arc’teryx describes it Arc’teryx Norvan LD Gore-Tex shoes (£170) on produces specialist gear for backpackers, including popularity in the US, due to their bright colours.