Summer Softshell Round Up Reviews by Outdoors Magic

As an independent outdoor store, we are able to pick and choose what we believe to be the best stock for each season. It is always good when others share our enthusiasm for those products. Below are some of the Summer Softshell reviews that Outdoors Magic have done this May.

Haglofs Boa Hood
An updated version of last year's excellent Viper 2 - we liked it so much we actually bought one in our size - the Boa is made from Haglöfs own brand, tough and stretchy Flexable, non-membrane fabric, which is 90% Nylon and 10% Elastane for four-way stretch.
For us it's a near perfect mix of breathability and wind and rain protection and gets worn a lot. More breathable than membrane fabrics, the close weave gives good wind resistance without getting uber-sweaty. Cut is lovely and fitted in a Haglöfs way, the hood adds versatility for stops and blowy days and there are two handwarmer pockets too. Weight is a reasonable 460g and like other non-membrane fabrics, it also works under a waterproof.
Good for - all-round mountain use outside of winter conditions.


Mountain Equipment Arrow Zip T
Another new soft shell from ME, this time it's made using EXOlite 1 which is a mix of Polyester with 5% Spandex for stretch. It's a simple, close-fitting pull-on with a single chest pocket for storage and no adjustment at hem, collar or cuffs.
Like Rab's Boreas and the Haglödfs Lizard, it's one of those soft shells that you find yourself wearing incessantly for its combination of weather protection, wicking/breathability and lightness, though it's a little more protective than the Boreas, we think though not as windproof as ME's other new soft shell, the Orbital.
Very close fitting, the sleeves aren't rollable, which is a shame as it would be nice to be able to expose those forearms for a bit of extra cooling when moving fast. On the plus side, the inside of the cuffs is seam free to improve climbing-related durability.
Good for - pretty much anything where you want a bit of close-fitting protection but not too much insulation. Wicks and breathes well. Also available in less febrile colour options...



Haglofs Lizard Top
When it first appeared last year, we did the now familiar, 'what's it for' thing, but as with some of the other lightweight soft shells here, it's one of those tops that you end up using all the time for walking, running, biking, cragging.
It uses 4-way stretch Flexable for a good balance of mobility, breathabilty and weather protection with a very good DWR. Cut is a little less fitted than ME's very snug Arrow Zip-T and you get just enough give in the elasticated cuffs for a partial fore-arm roll up. There's a single, neat, laminated pocket and adjustable hem. Slightly heavier than similar options at 330g.
Good for - another balanced all-rounder that you find yourself using more than you'd think you will.

Also available for women - Haglofs Lizard Q Top


We love to get product feedback from our customers and each product on our website allows you to do that. Please also feel free to email us at info@campfour.co.uk if you have any feedback you would like us to take into consideration or perhaps share with other customers.

To see the full review by Outdoors Magic, visit http://www.outdoorsmagic.com/gear-features/summer-soft-shell-round-up/8302.html.

Peak Plodders are on the March!

We at Campfour are very happy to be supporting some of our customers on their 2011 Three Peaks Challenge by providing Satmap GPS units and software for the event.

The Peak Plodders Team 2011

After the successful completion of The Yorkshire Three Peaks' Challenge in 2010, the Peak Plodders have decided to raise the bar, and their sights to the National Three Peaks for 2011!  This challenge comprises of climbing the three highest mountains in Scotland, England and Wales within 24 hours – 10 hours of which will be spent driving between peaks. Quite a task for an eight-man team, with a combined age of 461 years! The team, comprising of: Andy Wright, Nigel Stanley, Tony Spencer, Pete Sayers, Kevin Hodgson, Peter Heath, Steve Hayes and Keith Duffield, will walk a total distance of just over 28 miles, ascending over 11,000 feet; and cover over 560 miles, driving between mountains.

Summit of Snowdon - Training

All money raised goes to support East Cheshire Hospice - a very worthy cause.


If you would like to donate, please visit http://www.justgiving.com/PeakPlodders/.

25% Off Clothing and Other Bank Holiday Deals

The last bank holiday weekend in May. Weather has been a bit iffy this week but it looks about to change - yippee!

Not satisfied with all the great deals we have been running over the last couple of weeks, we thought we'd give you one last corker before the end of the month.

From now until midnight on Monday (30th May 2011) you can get at least 25% Off all clothing. There are also some great deals to be had on equipment too with up to 27% off Mountain Equipment Starlight sleeping bags, 20% of the Arc'Teryx Pali rope bag and many more.

Enjoy!

Montane Featherlite Marathon Jacket Product Review

Montane Featherlite Marathon Jacket Product Review
By Fran Swallow

I was pleased to be given the opportunity by Campfour to use and review this lightweight jacket. Like many of my running peers in the Macclesfield Harriers I have a couple of jackets that I use in the less clement weathers that we love so much in sunny Cheshire, but I had never used a Montane Pertex one before. I have to admit that my preconceived ideas about it were that it would be too hot to run in unless very cold and very non waterproof in the sheeting rain.

Here are my comments:

Fit and Aesthetics
  
I particularly liked the fitted style (flapping jackets can be very annoying!)  The product tag describes it as “articulated arms with a slight drop tail”,  I’m not sure what “articulated arms” means (will it help me run faster??) but there was no arm restriction, a very comfortable fit, and the elasticated cuff stopped the sleeves riding up. The jacket I reviewed was a size 10, the same as my clothing size, this gave enough space to easily get a couple of layers underneath if needed.

As you can see there are several bright reflective “scotchlite” strips good for night time visibility; the colour (cherry) was a good choice for me as I’m not a big fan of the bright fluorescent options. Other options for colour are Azure (blue) vivid green and fluorescent yellow. The zip was lightweight but easy to manipulate (I can get numb hands in the cold)
The jacket seems to be very well made, no unfinished seams, and the material feels strong (although I’ve not actively tried to rip it, as I like it too much!!) Like all jackets it wouldn’t react well with barbed wire but would no doubt be patchable.
I’m not a fan of running in smelly kit and another  big plus for me was the fact that this item can be washed at 40 degrees without any fancy treatments, very easy to maintain. The label states not to iron (I wouldn’t do this!) which made me smile, but nobody has commented that I look creased!


Weight
  

Using the jacket it did feel very lightweight, and it was interesting to compare weights with my existing Pertex jacket (won’t mention the brand!) as you can see above, the Montane weighed less than half as much. The jacket bag (which is tiny when packed!) has a Velcro strap on the side so could be used on a drinks belt if liked. For me, I’ve tended to stuff it in the corner of a bum bag (not in its mesh bag) which is just as economical with space.

The Jacket in Use

Use in Different conditions:

• Dry and cold :Good , the mesh chest pockets helped to keep it non sweaty, nice to get a couple of layers underneath.
• Dry and warm: Good to start with but I would generally take it off after about 20 mins. Easy to tie around neatly to carry.
• Drizzle and cold:  Good didn’t feel like I was getting particularly wet.
• Pouring rain and cold: (This was the one that surprised me) While there was no doubt I was wet, the jacket offered a significant wind proof layer, keeping me warmer than without an outer layer.

I run both around the roads and in the hills and the jacket performed well in both areas. I think if I was out for more than a couple of hours, or with a bad forecast,  in the hills/ exposed conditions, I’d take a more waterproof jacket as well for extra back up.

Pertex/ Breathability

Breathable running jackets are always a difficult topic! Since when you are exercising sweat is produced, there is always going to be an element of dampness!! However, because this Pertex is so lightweight and with the nifty design of two mesh vents concealed on the front, this jacket did offer good breathability, much better than my existing one. I think Pertex does have its uses,(I also have a pair of Pertex trousers) not great for prolonged exposure (all day) to heavy rain but  a good wind proof option in less extreme conditions for a few hours.

Value for Money

I am happy to admit that my approach to kit is “less is more” i.e: I don’t have a great deal and get along just fine. That said, if I can find something that I really like and is good for a variety of conditions, then I would be very pleased. From my testing, this jacket does seem to tick all the boxes, so at £45 if I can use it for several years then it is good value for money.

Conclusion

I am happy to admit that I am hooked and have been proved wrong in my preconceptions. 

• Very lightweight/ packs small
• Comfortable fit
• Easy to keep clean
• Good in a variety of conditions

I recommend that you add one to your running wardrobe today!!

Online Crazy Clothing Sale - One Day Only!

We recognise that visiting our store in Macclesfield isn't convenient for everyone, so to spread the May Bank Holiday joy a bit further, we've decided to run an online follow up to our Blue X Sale that ran in-store last weekend.

For one day and online only, we are reducing all of our clothing by a minimum of 30% and up to 50% off.

This includes all Mountain Equipment clothing which is 40% less, and some other great deals such as:


Mountain Equipment Micro Jacket - Save 50%

 Berghaus Mera Peak Jacket - Save 35%

Berghaus Blencathra Jacket - Save 50%

View all our offers here...

Happy Shopping!




The promotion ends midnight Wednesday 25th May. Terms and conditions apply. Offer is subject to availability and discounts are from SRP.

Macclesfield Half Marathon 2011

September may seem a long way away but we're starting to gear up preparations for this year's Macclesfield Half Marathon.  We are very happy to be sponsoring the event again this year.

This year, the Half Marathon will take place on Sunday 25th September. Entry is now open.  You can download an entry form, or enter online via UKResults or Runner's World.


Organised by the Macclesfield Harriers, this is a hard but enjoyable half marathon (speaking from experience), with regular changes in both gradient and scenery.  The atmosphere at the race is fantastic.  It is a serious half marathon, but at the same time very inclusive.  The Fun Run is also well established and is great family entertainment while the half marathon is in progress.

Last year saw the introduction of high visibility Ronhill Technical Tees for finishers.  This proved very popular, so the same will be happening this year.  The printed design is modern and tasteful - you often see them whizzing past you around Macclesfield town centre, as finishers continue their training.

In 2010 we had 758 finishers in excellent running conditions, and managed to raise £9,000 for the beneficiaries.  We hope to top that this year.  The beneficiaries are East Cheshire Hospice and Macclesfield Athletic Track Appeal.

We'll be there on the day although it is still under discussion who will be manning our stand and who will be running!  If you would like to race, download an entry form using this link or enter online.  For further information, you can visit the official Macclesfield Half Marathon website.

We'll be posting more information as we get closer to the event.

Hope to see you there.

Blue X Sale This Saturday...

This Saturday we're having a Blue X Sale event in-store. Clothing will be up to a massive 70% Off.  Some examples of the type of great deals you can expect are below.  The store will open as normal at 9am and close at 5pm, so don't miss out!  This offer is running for 1 day only.

For directions, visit us online.

To have a browse before-hand, visit www.campfour.co.uk.

Berghaus Blencathra Jacket
SRP £100  Blue X Sale Price £30.00



Mountain Equipment Kongur Jacket
SRP £290  Blue X Price £174



Mountain Equipment Micro Jacket
SRP £50  Blue X Sale Price £30




The promotion runs in-store only for 1 day (21/5/2011). All offers are subject to availability and Terms and Conditions do apply.