Mike in Braemar Ventile Smock
Customer Mike Wilkins recently sent us a photograph of a recent trip in the Franch Alps wearing a Braemar Smock. He writes:
‘I enclose a picture from this years Alpine trip to Chamonix with one of your single olive ventile smocks on the summit of the Tete Blanche 3429m above Les Tours in Chamonix. It was a bitter wind of -10 with wind chill and with just a base layer and thin microfleece I was toasty under the smock’
We rested at a mountain lodge at 3400m for a few hours of sleep, during which time the Braemardried out completely.
At around 2:30am we continued on to the summit in still damp weather. We reached the summit (3700m) just in time for a lovely sunrise (5:10am) and triumph. Descent of the mountain was slow and steady, and we were greeted at the lower levels by a continuous downpour which really tested the smock. Again no problems, just some stiffening of the fabric but no leakage or noticeable wetness inside the smock.
All in all I was extremely impressed with the performance of your product, which proved it’s worth from start to finish and now I have my sights set on a more ‘bespoke’ version made just for me!
Musaab Aljanabi
Mt Fuji Crater
All the best
Musaab on Mt Fuji
So, many thanks for responding to my needs – I really appreciate it. Nowadays I find such communication between retailer and customer to be quite rare and it’s frustrating!
I was also invited to share my photos of the climb, so here’s a brief (and I hope not too boring) account of the climb and smock performance notes, plus photos attached.
We started the climb in earnest at about 2,300m (7550ft) to fair weather. After about an hour or so however, things changed and the tone was set for the rest of the climb (in total abut 12 hours) with fine misty rain and light wind. Conditions persisted, with rain getting heavier the higher we went, with only occasional breaks and gaps in the cloud. Throughout this time, the Braemar smock dealt with the situation perfectly. Rain beaded and rolled off the fabric all over, apart from the hood, which stiffened (the famous ventile ‘cardboard’ effect) but remained effective.
Another point to note, and a key reason for my choosing ventile, was temperature regulation. Due to the fact that the climb was in summer, temperatures were wide ranging (from 20 to 4 degrees c, low to highest elevation) and as a result many people – especially those wearing more ‘modern’ garments – were sweating profusely in the early stages, so were just as wet inside as out. Not me however, the breathability of the fabric was great and I had no trouble maintaining a comfortable body temperature (btw, inner and mid layers were merino wool – merino long sleeve undershirt and Ullfrotte gilet).
View from Mt Fuji
Only minor is that the front pocket of my bro’s Braemar ripped when he tried to put the OS map -which was covered in a waterproof Ortlieb map pocket- into it. The front pocket was just too small. (The OS map was one of the Active Map Series,which is laminated and quite tough. We put it in the Ortlieb pouch because of the strong winds, so we could hang it around our neck) Back home we contacted your office in order to get some ventile fabric to fix the hole and to make the front pockets of both our shirts somewhat larger. Thanks again for sending a sample! My mom -who is great with sewing machines- did a perfect job at the pocket remake. The pocket now measures 40x28cm and works great with larger maps.
Carl Rouse wearing a Braemar Smock in Nambia
John Green of Hilltrek is seen on the left is relaxing with Robbie MacIntosh of Anatom at the Scottish Game Fair at Scone in glorious sunny weather
We had a very sucessful Scottish Gamefair last weekend where we introduced our products and services to many new customers.
There was much interest in our Dee Wading Jacket and in our made to measure service.
Field Sports users are very familiar with Goretex but not with the atttributes and benefits of Páramo, Nikwax Analogy and Cotton Analogy.
Sometimes we felt like missionaries rather than an outdoor clothing business!
We also had Superfeet, Anatom Boots and Teko Socks on the stand from Anatom.
Are our products taking off at the Game Fair?
The 14th annual Ballater Walking Festival has just taken place with the event again being fully subscribed.
We sponsored the photographic competition which was won this year by Margaret O’Hara with a photo from Loch Muick.
To find out more about the Ballater Walking Festival and register your interest for 2012 see the website.
‘Last March I have been to Swedish Sapmi (=Lapland), once more. We have been cross-country skiing for 10-days. Most of the time we made a campsite, and from time to time we have been using mountain huts. This time the weather was sunnier, but also colder then 2 years ago.
I have been using my Braemar Ventile Smock most of the time. It performed very well in the cold, with temperatures of -20°C without windchill. The fabric stayed supple (it was as flexible as in warmer conditions). I have been using the smock as a kind of windstopper and we have had some severe winds. In this area there is always wind and no protection.
The cargo-pocket is great to put some extra mittens or a hat.
At night the smock was used as a pillow.
As we where doing some physical exercise, it was great to regulate the temperature as sweat evaporated easily.
Really splendid piece of kit’
Nicholas
If you see see tired looking heavily laden walkers in the Highlands in the next few weeks they are likely to be TGO Challengers.
The TGO Challenge is a long distance walk, for up to 300 participants, across the Highlands of Scotland which has taken place every May since 1980. It was the brainchild of the well-known writer and mountaineer, Hamish Brown.
Challengers, as the participants are known, can take either high or low routes within a maximum of 15 days.
There are 12 permitted start points on the west coast and North and South limits on the East Coast.
We see many Challengers in Aboyne and at Hilltrek we offer a cup of tea and a seat for weary feet.
Several customers are Challengers in fact several years ago a customer from Belgium popped in to buy a Paramo jacket before starting the challenge.
This year the TGO Challenge started on 13th May and you can actually track the rapid progress of some of the Challengers on a section of the TGO Challenge website.
The TGO Challenge is sponsored by TGO, the walkers’ magazine, Rab, the outdoor equipment specialist, and the adventure trekking company Himalayan Kingdoms.
For more information see the TGO Challenge Website
Earlier in the year we sponsored the Active Schools cross country series in Aboyne. Recently John presented the prizes to the winners of the Primary Schools races.Comment from
“The Active Schools cross country series in Aboyne was aimed at engaging children in the local community in a fun, competitive, outdoor, and affordable sport which can take place on their doorstep. The series also encourage individual development as pupils were given their individual times, in their appropriate age groups, which enabled them to have a goal for each race in the series. The series was well attended with 45 primary and 14 secondary pupils, highlighting some excellent runners in the area.
These races prepared the youngsters for some other local events such as Run Balmoral in which Braemar Primary won the small schools trophy this year.
The series was thoroughly enjoyed by both children who participated and parents who helped out, therefore we will definitely be hosting some more in the future to help develop this local activity”
To find out more about the Active Schools Program and you want to get involved see Sports Scotland
Royal Blue Double Ventile Braemar in action
