Blog

What is BPA?BPA stands for bisphenol A. BPA is an industrial chemical that has been used to make certain plastics and resins for well over 50 years now. BPA is found in polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins. Polycarbonate plastics are commonly used for storing food and drink, like water bottles. Over the time frame that it has been used and the extent of products which have used it research has …

What is Bluesign?Many outdoor companies have placed great importance on environmental sustainability and many more brands are starting to realise the significance of it now. Either way it is good to know that more companies are considering their environmental impact in production processes for their goods. This focus on factors other than profit goes hand-in-hand with the increasing consumer aware …

What are PFCs?PFCs (per- and poly-fluorinated chemicals) are all completely man-made chemicals which do not occur naturally. They are commonly used in DWR (durable water repellent) coatings and waterproof membranes. These fluorochemicals have been used for some time to give clothing water and stain resistant properties. Until fairly recently there were very few alternatives so as it became obvious …

What is an R-value?The R-value is a measure used to rate how well your sleeping mat will stop heat loss. Thermal resistance is the measurement that indicates a materials ability to insulate - there are a number of different ways to express this but, as they all measure the same factor, they are all related. The starting point is the R-value.In the past, some brands quoted the R-value in SI units, …

There are three main types of synthetic insulation and we discuss them here and give other advbice on choosing sythetic garments.

In this post we look at solution dyed fabrics and explain why they are more environmentally friendly.

Polartec are a legendary manufacturer of performance fabrics for the outdoors, we summarise their range featured in our products here - click through the links on this page to learn more about each on, including what we think.

Our guide to the key benefits of using Trekking PolesMany people new to hiking and backpacking question whether or not they should use trekking poles. There is a misconception that trekking poles are for older walkers and you don’t need them if you are young. The reality is that trekking pole benefit people of all ages. They might take a bit of getting used to but it’s well worth taking to the tim …

My tent pegs went from new to mangled in ten days, so some thoughts are in order, and if you've ever wondered which pegs and how many to take on your trip then read on.In the beginning...Most people start with the pegs they are given when they buy a tent, invariably though they err on the heavy side and there aren’t enough. Manufacturers typically supply the minimum number of pegs to pitch the ten …

The EN13537 Standard - EN13537 requires a thermal manikin test which produces four temperature results — upper limit, comfort, lower limit and extreme.These interpret as:Upper Limit — the temperature at which a standard man can sleep without excessive perspiration. It is established with the hood and zippers open and with the arms outside of the bag.Comfort — the temperature at which a standard wo …