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Now it is time to release the hounds to see if they can find us! I hope you really did not take the time to read this.
This year the American Alpine Institute presented six awards at the annual Outdoor Retailer Show in Salt Lake City last week. The equipment and clothing awarded the AAI Guides Choice designation have proven to be of the highest quality in their product category. The awards are determined on the basis of excellence in design, performance, and durability demonstrated in rigorous international field tests conducted by professional guides of AAI. Evaluations are made throughout the year in desert, cold weather, rain, snow, high wind, and high altitude environments. The American Alpine Institute has no financial ties or financial interest in any manufacturer or distributor. All testers and their expenses are paid by AAI.
A core group of AAI professional guides conduct Guides Choice field tests year round, throughout the world. Tests may be completed in a single long season (for example five summer months of intensive climbing in South America), or over several seasons (for example McKinley expeditions in the spring and Himalayan expeditions autumn). Because of the intensity and constancy of use, the wear and stress that gear receives during these tests corresponds to many years of use by a recreational climber.
The following pro
ducts won this year’s Guide’s Choice Award:
Patagonia Guide Pant
The guide pant is comprised of a tough, weather-resistant nylon/polyester/spandex blend that both breathes well and retains its shape. The guide pant is a lighter alternative to many of the other options on the market, but not too light. Patagonia found a great compromise in the epic balancing act between weight and warmth. This product is just about the right for everybody.
Many of our female guides found that these pants fit better than any of the alternatives. The cut of the women’s guide pants is both feminine and comfortable. AAI Guide Mary Harlan felt that they were the best option on the market for female climbers.
Patagonia CSS Technology
Like all new products, two to three years ago the stitch-free composite seam system technology (CSS) had a few problems. Patagonia worked to eliminate these problems and this year after extreme testing in a variety of environments, our guides found absolutely no problems with the CSS technology.
Patagonia’s CSS technology provides for jackets that are streamlined without extra bulk, weight or material. Sewn seams are far more vulnerable to abrasion, wear and leakage than the durable non-stitched seams found in Patagonia’s modern jackets.
Buff for 
Buff Original Headwear
The Buff is a multifunctional article of clothing that may be used as a scarf, a neck cover, a face cover or a hat. Many guides find a variety of other purposes for the product. Over the last couple of seasons our guides have begun to wear these on a regular basis. Indeed, it has become almost a part of the AAI guide’s uniform. “When it’s too warm for a balaclava, but too cool to go without, the buff is the perfect piece of clothing,” Senior AAI guide Justin Wood said. Such a sentiment is common among the guide staff.
MontBell Ultralight Thermawrap Parka
The MontBell Thermawrap Parka is an incredibly well designed and functional mid-weight layer. The Exceloft synthetic insulation stays warm even when wet. The combinations of fabric and insulation are designed to dry extremely fast. This makes the jacket a valuable piece in warm and wet environments like the one that we have in the Pacific Northwest.
As part of a layering system, our guides found that the jacket performs extremely well. Some of these light to mid-weight jackets are too warm to be used as a part of a layering system. This particular model doesn’t have that problem. On Denali our guides found this to be a good top layer low on the mountain and a phenomenal mid-layer as the temperatures dropped higher up.
Black Diamond Quantum Pack
Our guides found the 55 liter Quantum Pack to be an exceptionally well-designed backpack. This stream-lined pack feels bigger than other packs of the same volume. This has to do with its longer/taller profile. It’s built with ultralight, durable and water-shedding VX 21 Polyant laminated fabric and lined with lightweight 30d SillNylon. In other words, the pack is tough, light and carrys loads well. There are no extra bells and whistles. It is a good pack.
Black Diamond Anarchist Ski Pack
The 42 liter Black Diamond Anarchist Ski Pack is a durable well designed pack with the multi-day backcountry skier in mind. There is enough volume in the Anarchist to cover the minimalist skier for up to four days in the field. The pack’s expandable top-loading design features a side-access panel for easy admission. Its sleek design allows it to compliment the skier’s movements.
Like the Quantum Pack, the Anarchist is tough. The 420d nylon fabric and 1300d Ballistic reinforcements offer water-shedding, long-wearing performance. Our ski guides put this pack to the test, working it through day after day of deep powder in the Sierra and the San Juans and brushy wet approaches in the Cascades.
Mountaineers Books Outdoor Experts Series
A few years ago Mountaineers Books introduced a new series of “how-to” texts. The books took off in a way that went far beyond anyone’s expectations. This series of books now includes some of the most well-known outdoor education writers and climbers in the field. Kathy Cosely, Mark Houston, Craig Luebben, Jared Ogden, Molly Loomis, Martin Volken, Margaret Wheeler, Scott Schell, Andy Tyson, and Will Gadd are just a handful of the well-known mountain guides and climbers that have contributed to the series.
Voilé Telepro T6 Avalanche Shovel
One might think that a shovel is a shovel. But when our guides are up on Denali in -30 degree temperatures, trying to dig out a tent platform during a storm, a good shovel may make the difference between frostbite and comfort. The T6 Avalanche Shovel was the only model not to break or become damaged during our eight expeditions to the tallest mountain in North America this year. If that isn’t enough reason to give this product the Guide’s Choice Award, then we don’t know what is…
Here is a good video explaining the Kaenon product!
08.13.08 | Author: Jason Mitchell
I’ve tried a number of sunglasses from all the top companies over the years: Smith, Oakley, Scott, Ryders, Julbo and others. Each one offers something unique and is made to fit different size faces or made to serve a specific function. Lately, I’ve noticed a trend towards offering more and more polarized lenses.
As such, I’ve had a number of polarized sunglasses and goggles come my way. Polarized lens technology has been around for a long time, but some do it better than others and some lens materials are better suited to it than others. I had a chance to sit down with Derek Newton, the local Kaenon Polarized sales rep while at Outdoor Retailer. He showed me a thing or two about the Kaenon Polarized lens that blew me away.
I approached Kaenon Polarized like the many other sunglasses I’ve seen in the past–they’re all high quality, they all block the sun’s rays and they all offer protection, but why Kaenon? As it turned out, the lens story is pretty much a no brainer. When it comes to polarized lenses, the best lens is a glass one. But, that doesn’t always work for all activities because glass lenses can shatter, they are heavier and you have a limited amount of frame styles that you can mount to a glass lens.
Looking at a standard polycarbonate polarized lens through a bright light, you could see the distortion around the edges–something I’ve seen before with polycarbonate polarized lenses. But, with the Kaenon SR-91 lens, there was no distortion. On top of that, the standard vertical flip of the lens should yield a blackout lens (showing the polarization at work). With the polycarbonate lens, it didn’t totally black out, but wit the Kaenon SR-91 lens it did.
On top of the pure optical quality that is next to glass, the SR-91 lens is nearly scratch-proof, shatter-proof, bullet-proof and flexible. The material isn’t stiff like glass or polycarbonate, so it absorbs shock when dropped.
Kaenon Polarized SR-91 Lenses Feature:
With so many styles to choose from, I zeroed in on the sport-specific styles. The two frame styles that stand out here are both the Kore and Hard Kore. Each one features a sport-friendly wraparound design with open frame designs and rubberized nose and temples.
In the past, I’ve been mixed on polarized sunglasses–mainly because of the lack of optical clarity. I also live in Utah and don’t spend much time on the river or at the beach. Though every time I go home to Seattle, I appreciate the polarized lens technology as I goof off on the Puget Sound. But, with Kaenon’s lens technology, optical clarity and light weight, the potential is there to have the perfect sunglasses for all conditions that just happen to be polarized.
The Kore is their original cycling and skiing-friendly sunglasses and is available in a variety of frame colors, lens tints and lens sizes (S, M, L). MSRP is $209.00.
As mentioned above, Kaenon Polarized sunglasses are available in many frame styles. They focus on providing a high-quality lens in a fashionable design. With all that variety, there’s bound to be one that suits your tastes and activity.
Kaenon lenses are impeccable in any tint. They’re fashioned from a proprietary cousin of polycarbonate called SR 91 that almost glasslike in clarity, but strong as any material out there. These happen to be an oh-so soothing gray that let in 12 percent light. Polarized? Kaenon is all polarized, all the time, a certified hydrophobe, and antireflective. Baton has a frame that begs to be fondled. Clear on the inside, a nifty wood-grain exterior that they call Ocean Reef. See that side logo? It’s screwed into the frame—nice bit of detailing, as are inset nonslip rubber bits where frame meets nose. Baton is beefy yet sleek, an 8-base wrap styled to suit normal-sized faces. You can’t look bad in unisex Baton. Comes with a bomber case and lens-cloth bag. $209. Info: kaenon.com.
| These comfortable, agile salopettes could become a permanent resident of your gear bag. “Gear Up” from our July 16, 2008, SW eNewsletter Jul 15, 2008 By Michael Lovett (More articles by this author) |
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Here’s what happened the one time this year I went racing without my Slam RC Long Johns: a cool breeze blew in, my butt got soaked, and, on the rail in between shivers, I vowed never to leave the dock without these indispensable salopettes on board. Slam’s RC Long Johns– which complement the RC Spray Top, also designed with input from Russell Coutts–are well suited for around-the-buoys racing because they get the job done without too much fuss. The use of Slam’s special Advanced Technology Fabric not only makes the RCs waterproof, windproof, and breathable, it also makes them lightweight and easily compressible, so they don’t occupy too much real estate in your gear bag. For cold-weather sailing, the generous, ergonomic fit integrates well with base layers. In warmer weather, slip the wide-cut legs over your sailing shoes and shorts whenever conditions call for a last-minute costume change. Elasticated mesh shoulders provide reassuring comfort and allow full range of motion. Tough Cordura material reinforces the seat and knees, providing a layer of protection when scrambling across the deck. Thermo-taped seams prevent leaks. I haven’t used the RCs enough to confirm long-term durability, but halfway through the season they don’t show any signs of wear–surprising, considering their feather-light feel. In terms of function, my only gripe is that the thigh pocket requires two hands to unzip. The chest pocket works fine. The RCs come in two color schemes, silver/red and yellow/black. I chose the silver/red, which looks fairly modest…from the front. On the back, SLAM, a big company logo. On the seat of the garment, a big red patch dramatically increases the probability of attack by charging bull, and, as I mentioned in my review of Sebago’s Plunge sailing shoes, draws funny stares in Thai restaurants. |
| These lightweight sailing shorts are perfect for hot-weather sailing. “Gear Up” from our July 30, 2008, SW eNewsletter Jul 28, 2008 By Michael Lovett (More articles by this author) |
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The “How awkward would you feel wearing this item into a Thai restaurant?” test has figured prominently in my recent reviews of Sebago sailing shoes (not too awkward) and SLAM salopettes (very awkward). I, for one, like to know just how dorky a given piece of sailing gear is going to make me look in the eyes of the non-sailing public. Camet’s Hobart Extreme Technical Shorts pass the Thai test with flying colors. Despite their tech-y name, these shorts have a remarkably simple look. If not for the tiny, red, “Camet” logo above the left hem, you’d never know the Hobarts were designed with “extreme” activity in mind. The absence of cargo pockets–or rear pockets for pad inserts–cuts down on the bulk, and the use of a feather-light, water-repellent, UPF 40 nylon keeps the garment’s total weight at a mere 9 ounces. With an adjustable Velcro waist and a casual, 10-inch inseam, the Hobarts are comfortable enough for a long day on the water and discreet enough to wear to dinner afterwards. They may look modest enough, but the Hobarts benefit from all of Camet’s careful, race-inspired design, from the tough Cordura fabric reinforcing the seat of the garment to the large, obsessively stitched button. If it’s any testament to techiness, I saw the crew of Speedboat wearing the Hobarts at the start of the 2008 Newport-Bermuda Race. The best thing about these particular Camet shorts is their spartan design. Four pockets is plenty. I have no use for a floral stripe. Silver (or sand) is a good color– not so dark as to absorb heat, not so bright as to reveal the stain from the spilled beer I just sat in. Did I mention these shorts are quick drying? |
ROTTERDAM, Netherlands, July 30 /PRNewswire/ — A new metallocene based polypropylene (PP) fiber produced under the trademark Dryarn from Italian synthetic fiber manufacturer Aquafil has been selected by Italian sportswear manufacturer SLAM to create a jersey for the national sailing team that will compete in Beijing 2008.
SLAM chose the PP fiber, based on a Metocene PP resin produced by LyondellBasell Industries, due to the unprecedented levels of comfort and performance it achieves in skin-contact textile applications. “We believe this is the first time that a PP resin has been used to produce nautical sportswear, which has historically been the domain of polyester and polyamide synthetic fibers,” said Bernd Schuetz, Global Business Manager for LyondellBasell’s Metocene resins.
The wicking effect
The Dryarn fiber was chosen by SLAM to produce the “Area 51″ jersey due to its wicking effect, which conducts perspiration away from the skin to the outside where it evaporates. This leads to a sweat expulsion rate that is nearly eight times higher than polyester, which leaves the wearer dry and comfortable. The fiber does not allow humidity to collect close to the skin, and it retains none of the microorganisms that create odor in garments made from synthetic fibers.
As climatic conditions at the Beijing 2008 regattas typically exhibit high temperatures and high humidity in the port of Qingdao, where the competitions will be held, tests were carried out to assess the performance of different fibers. The results confirmed that the jersey kept the wearer significantly cooler and drier than cotton or other synthetic materials. Athletes who participated in the tests reported that they felt dry 30 minutes after completion of the test. These trials have shown that Dryarn out-performs competitive materials in terms of wearability and comfort.
Lightest yarn in nature
Metocene resin can also be used to produce yarn with outstanding lightness characteristics. With a specific weight of 0.9 g/cm3, Dryarn is an extremely light yarn, which provides 20 percent weight savings compared with other fibers on the market. In addition, the fiber’s excellent resistance to sea water conditions and abrasion makes it a good choice for the demanding nautical environment, as sea water can cause fading and brittleness.
Metocene resin provides a narrow molecular weight distribution that improves the mechanical properties of the fibers, which enables up to 30 percent higher tenacity over other PP-based fibers comparable to polyester and polyamide fibers.
LyondellBasell sees nautical sportswear as just one of a growing range of applications exploiting the outstanding skin-contact characteristics of Metocene-based fibers for use in demanding conditions.
Aquafil (http://www.aquafil.com) is an Italian company with headquarters in Arco di Trento (Italy) and about 2,000 employees working in 11 factories in Italy, Slovenia, United States, Croatia and Thailand. There is a strong synergy between the activities of the three Business Units (carpet yarns, textile yarns, Plastics Engineering/Polymers), characterized by a high level of innovation and product diversification. http://www.aquafil.com - http://www.dryarn.com
SLAM, founded in Genoa in 1979, is the Italian leading company in technology clothing for sailing and is well established in the sportswear sector with expanding collections for men, women and children. http://www.slam-shops.com
LyondellBasell Industries is one of the world’s largest polymers, petrochemicals and fuels companies. We are the global leader in polyolefins technology, production and marketing; a pioneer in propylene oxide and derivatives; and a significant producer of fuels and refined products, including bio-fuels. Through research and development, LyondellBasell develops innovative materials and technologies that deliver exceptional customer value and products that improve quality of life for people around the world. Headquartered in The Netherlands, LyondellBasell (http://www.lyondellbasell.com) is privately owned by Access Industries.
There’s no place on a company’s balance sheet for garbage, so most executives don’t think much about it.
But with oil and other commodity prices surging, some companies are reconsidering trash. They recognize that used-up products are the sum of their raw materials, energy, and labor: With another wring of the sponge, more value can be extracted. So they’re essentially running their supply chains backward, a process called “reverse logistics.”
Genco, a privately held company in Pittsburgh, has lately seen brisk reverse-logistics business. It helps retailers such as Best Buy, Sears, and Target find buyers for products that are returned as defective or broken and would otherwise be landfill fodder. A recent KPMG study suggests companies can recover up to 0.3% of annual sales this way. (That’s $100 million in the case of Best Buy.) Genco has even spun out a reject-pile brokerage business, called Genco Marketplace, that connects sellers and buyers with $5 million a day in junked goods.
Some companies are keeping the efforts in-house. Carpet makers Interface and Shaw Industries collect used-up materials to feed back into production. The hurdles have been numerous, they say, but both expect to enjoy cost advantages over others that produce from scratch.
Outdoor gear maker Patagonia is one of the most ambitious reverse-logistics pioneers. Its Synchilla Vests consist of fiber recaptured from old fleeces and T-shirts—even those sold by rivals. Customers drop worn duds at a Patagonia store or mail them to a distribution center. A subcontractor turns them into new fibers. More than 90% of the fabric is spun into new clothing, says Patagonia; the rest becomes a cement additive.
Patagonia concedes that its process costs more than virgin polyester, but there’s an environmental mandate from Yvon Chouinard, Patagonia’s founder and majority owner. “[He] really wants us to plan for the end of oil,” says spokeswoman Jen Rapp. For most companies, though, it’s all about money. “The real value of reverse logistics is turning trash into cash,” says Curtis Greve, a Genco senior vice-president. There’s a clear spot on the balance sheet for that.
SLAM will be at Pietro D’Alì’s side once again as he takes part in the 39th edition of the Solitaire du Figaro – the tough, legendary, solo race divided into various legs – which starts tomorrow, 25th July, from La Rochelle in France.
Over the 1880 mile course, subdivided into three legs, Pietro will have the best garments from SLAM’s most technical, “Advanced” collection at his disposal.From the foul weather gear category he will have use of both the “Ocean Waves” model and the Spray top with matching Long John. The rest of his kit will comprise of the Anemon bag, both summer and winter “Seamless” underwear (truly appreciated by Pietro, especially for long distance races), Almeria. and New Hissar Bermuda shorts, New Mistral and Prince Evolution shoes, and the short and long sleeved versions of the Zip Grinder.
Pietro is the only Italian amongst the 54 participants.
The first 465 mile leg will end in Vigo, Spain.
The Second leg, scheduled to depart from Vigo for Cherbourg-Octeville on 31st July, is 590 miles long.
Then, the 8th August will see the start of third and final leg – the longest in the history of the Solitaire du Figaro – 825 miles which will circumnavigate the Isle of Mann in the Irish Sea, before heading for l’Alber Wrac’h, which is back in France.
Pietro will sail aboard Mc Louis.
Go for it, PIETRO!
