the theUpdateUpdate SUMMER 2010 - ISSUE 71 SUMMER 2010 - ISSUE 71 georgefi sher.co.uk New summer stock now in! See inside for a full round-up of new clothing and equipment IT’S SILVER FOR GEORGE FISHER If you’re a company working in the outdoor business then environmental considerations should be high in your agenda. Not just because the products you stock are connected with the mountains, but mostly because people in the outdoor business are passionate about outdoor activities and the environment they play in. At George Fisher we’ve defi nitely got more than our fair share of climbers, runners, skiers, bikers, walkers and backpackers. This is why embedding ‘sustainable management’ into our everyday life at the store has been a natural step, and everyone in the business feels they have a part to play. We all agree we have a responsibility to minimise our impact on the environment, both locally and globally. Andy Airey and Carol Suddaby receiving the CBEN silver award from Louise Back in 2008 we took our fi rst steps towards giving a structure to our Lund (centre) of Cumbria Rural Enterprise Agency at the CBEN awards efforts, working with Cumbria Rural Enterprise Agency towards their Cumbria Business Environment Network (CBEN) awards. The CBEN over the last year we’ve cut our energy consumption by over 13% and process audits George Fisher against stringent criteria, and we were reduced the quantity of landfi ll waste by over two-thirds, or 77,000 litres. awarded Bronze back in 2008 for work including waste re-use and ethical sourcing of bags. These efforts have helped George Fisher gain CBEN Silver this year, which we’re particularly proud of. Plus we’ve managed to raise £4661 for Nurture The next stage is tougher; as CBEN puts it, “This is an award for Lakeland, our local conservation charity, over the last 12 months. No resting organisations and companies who are prepared to make signifi cant on laurels though - next year we’ll be working harder to try and achieve progress along the road of environmental management”. Two of the biggest Gold! challenges we’re facing at the moment are reducing our energy use, and reducing the waste we send to landfi ll. So by looking hard at what we do, See page 16 for Carol Suddaby’s report on our efforts. SUMMER GEAR NOW IN STORE! This is always a great time of year because all Bergerud reminds us how to make sure the latest lightweight summer clothing and we stay hydrated in the hills. John equipment is now ready in the store, and the Wickham checks out the ‘do’s and longer days and warmer weather are perfect don’ts’ regarding wild camping, for getting out walking, climbing, biking and we feature product focus and camping. articles on Rab and Royal Robbins. Plus we have a guide to In this issue we have plenty the best mountain shoes, whether of stories about you’re walking or running. new products. Andy Airey looks Plus of course the latest news, and at warm-weather articles from our regular columnists clothing while Lisa Bill Birkett, Mark Seaton and Des Oliver. phone and website orders received before noon are delivered free overnight georgefi sher.co.uk 1 t 017687 71801 • weekdays only the Update SUMMER 2010 - ISSUE 71 ALWAYS ONE STEP AHEAD. At Asolo and W.L. Gore we work together to make the comfort of your feet our business. Our latest footwear range is more than just waterproof, more than just breathable - It is totally ‘climate comfort engineered’ to keep your feet dry and comfortable. The result is a range of footwear designed to give you the greatest comfort, the best fit and the highest quality. So step into the latest Asolo and GORE-TEX® footwear and stay one step ahead. For more details contact Asolo on 01539 740 840 email [email protected] or visit www.asolo.com MODEL FEATURED: FLAME GTX. ASOLO & GORE-TEX® FOOTWEAR - PARTNERS IN THE PURSUIT GORE-TEX®, GUARANTEED TO KEEP YOU DRY™, GORE® OF PERFECT FOOTWEAR. and designs are trade marks of W.L. GORE & Associates. 2 the Update SUMMER 2010 - ISSUE 71 OUTDOOR LAYERING NEIL MCADIE FROM RAB EXPLAINS HOW REVISITED THE ‘LAYERING STORY’ HAS BEEN UPDATED Not so many years ago, choosing outdoor clothing for your trip to great example of this is the Rab Vapour-rise jacket which is wind resistant, the mountains was a relatively simple affair. We had all heard of extremely breathable and comfortable through a range of activity levels or layering and the choice of a wicking base layer, warm mid layer and a temperatures. This is the very essence of an active windproof mid layer. waterproof outer shell was straightforward. So far so good, but the problem was that the system lacked fl exibility to adapt to different Other windproof and lightweight options are better climates and meant that you had to wear a waterproof to protect from thought of as ‘stopping layers’. Typically these the wind - even on a dry day. are light to carry, completely windproof and offer more warmth with less breathability. Perhaps Thankfully the last ten years have seen huge advances in fabric technology the ultimate examples are Primaloft insulated offering lighter, more breathable and more fl exible options than ever before. garments, with tiny pack size and low weight yet It’s a complex area however, and a short exploration of the pros and cons of instant warmth (try the Rab Photon Jacket or what’s on offer will help in fi nding the garment most Generator Jacket in this class). Light and warm suited to your activity. they most certainly are, but at the expense of breathability. So play them to their strengths Most of us have worn fl eece and fi nd it lightweight, and carry one for lunch stops, cold summits comfortable and breathable but the wind whistles and overnight camps. through. Replacing this with a windproof mid layer for walking and mountaineering is In conclusion there are now a huge number the crux of the issue. Technical windproof of products out there that let you enjoy the mid layers can be most easily divided into hills without relying on your waterproof as a ‘active layers’ and ‘stopping layers’. windbreaker, but understanding the fabrics Rab Photon Hoodie is crucial to getting the most out of them. Active layers are designed to provide Breathability is the key for active layering, maximum breathability when on the and lightweight warmth is the key for layers move. They will also be windproof, or to pull on when you stop. Combining these will give you the very best of more likely highly wind resistant, and what is now out there on the market to keep you comfortable and safe in the form the ideal mid layer for walking high hills. Have fun! Rab Vapour-rise jacket fells or climbing on multi-pitch crags. A MAPS FOR FREE? UNFORTUNATELY NOT Our last issue of The Update includes the standard 1:50,000 Landranger and 1:25,000 Explorer maps. featured news that a European Instead a new product is to be made available; unfortunately this OS directive might result in Ordnance VectorMap District map is unlikely to have the detail required in rural Survey maps becoming free. areas to make it much use for walking, but we will see. Whoopee, we all cried. However The situation with users having to pay for the same Landranger and just before Easter the government Explorer mapping twice, for instance for use on computer and then on released details of the free mapping GPS, remains completely unchanged. Having dangled the prospect of to be available under the new OS free maps in front of us, perhaps it is now time for Ordnance Survey to OpenData scheme. Much to our review its pricing? ViewRanger mapping app on the iPhone disappointment this no longer 3 the Update SUMMER 2010 - ISSUE 71 GEAR ROUND-UP Andy Airey reckons we’ve got it covered when it comes to summer sun Here comes summer… hopefully! We must deserve a good both blending organic cotton with 55% hemp. The fl attering cut of the summer this year after the recent washouts. Surely a proper Island Top (£49) and the linen-like fabric mean this has been a real winter should be followed by a proper summer - if that’s the case favourite; combine it with the Island Pant (£69) to make your easy then we are prepared! wear/easy care set for hot weather travel or those balmy summer evenings. Our range of Royal Robbins clothing has proved to be the most popular for years; the combination of colour, fabric and design has hit For those of you who want to project a positive the nail right on the head. Best seller this season has been their Cool environmental statement then go for Patagonia’s Mesh range; Royal Robbins Cool Mesh fabric is now a blend of regular Live Simply T-shirts; organic cotton of course, men and organic cotton, it has a much softer handle get a deer print and women a guitar, we have a than its predecessors and the open mesh couple of colours of each and both men’s and weave ensures that it is ideal for hot summer women’s versions cost £29. days when you need to fi nd comfort. If you need functional clothing for mountain Women gain three Cool Mesh pieces in a activities then you require something quick-drying selection of colours - a Short and harder-wearing than cotton or hemp.