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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 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 …

Beat the BlizzardThe aim for winter conditions is keeping yourself protected from the elements. This means that your kit needs to keep out the wind, rain and cold when you are in the hills and mountains. There are different ways to approach winter clothing and it’s important to find out what works best for you personally but this article aims to help you decide which pants may fit your needs.Softs …

This article aims to provide some simple advice for anyone who wants to start running doing more mountain and remote trail running. It is not a comprehensive guide and is just built on our experiences of running mountain marathon events, ultra-distance races and general trail, fell and mountain running.We've broken our guide down into 4 key areas you need to look at before you start running in mor …

The Fairtrade FoundationFairtrade is a movement for change that works directly with businesses, consumers and campaigners to make trade deliver for farmers and workers. It is represented by the Fairtrade Foundation.The international Fairtrade system (which the Fairtrade Foundation is a part of) represents the world’s largest and most recognised fair trade system. They are a global organisation wor …

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

Mountain Hardwear Fit Descriptions

Wool is used in outdoor gear as an insulator, usually found in lightweight baselayer garments. Merino is the most popular type of wool used in outdoor clothing. Lanolin, a waxy substance secreted by wool-bearing animals, gives Wool a special property; if you're working hard on the hills, building up a sweat and wearing wool, when the wool garment dries there's almost no odour left behind from your …

Montane took the outdoor world by storm when they introduced the Terra Pants and since then they have expaned the range with different versions for slightly different purposes, we list them in weight order lightest to heaviest and summarise the differences here so you can choose the best Terra pant for your activity.In this post we look at the full range of Montane Terra Pants and summarise each o …

If you’re thinking of buying any outdoor clothing this winter you can use this quick reference technology guide to home in on the garments that may be most suitable. 1. Gore-tex Waterproof TechnologiesNot all Gore-tex is the same.Gore-tex is one of the leading producers of waterproof fabrics for garments and they produce a range of ‘membranes’ suited to different conditions, here’s what you need t …

What is Organic Cotton?Cotton is a naturally occurring plant that has been farmed on an industrial scale for thousands of years. Organic cotton is cotton that has been cultivated to high organic agricultural standards. The production of organic cotton over conventional cotton ensure that it sustains soil and ecosystems health whilst by using natural processes rather than artificial inputs such as …

Merino is a type of wool that comes specifically from a merino sheep. The merino sheep breed came originally from Spain but was domesticated and bred on a commercial scale in New Zealand and Australia, with Australia still producing around 80% of the worlds merino today. The merino sheep thrives in hostile conditions where other breeds would perish, meaning that they have developed a high quality …