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Following on from the Patagonia kit form half way round the world and then some I was surprised to note the absence of British made suggestions.
Buying local you support the local economy and if the company has thought through its supply chain you cut the distance stuff travels and are sure people along the way are getting a decent wage.
Brant was on the radio with some jeans, I've got some Rab down kit which is excellent. what have you got? Tents, shoes, jackets, socks, whatever... .
Proper outdoor kit. - http://www.buffalosystems.co.uk
We asked if they'd help us do a HebTroCo edition - they are fully booked up with production until December 2021.
Cracking product.
Oh and Cioch. They make their own variants of Paramo clothing, all from a wee shed on Skye
Maybe I'm just too fussy but when choosing outdoor kit I'm more interested in function, longevity and often weight than I am in country of manufacture. I normally place all of those above price too.
Rapanui. Outdoors kit in a more beach/swim sense, but all organic cotton, and you can send old stuff back and they'll recycle it into new stuff
Snugpak. The factory's in Yorkshire:
perhaps not fussy, just missing the point re. shipping miles, supporting local etc. Possibly if you're planning to summit Muchu Chhish or something then the absolutely best technical equipment may be required 😃Maybe I’m just too fussy
Bit niche maybe but I see Wildcat are back making their bike packing bags again!
i second the buffalo kit, it's awesome. Having relied on it in the army for warmth and durability i can't fault it. I've also got a really old teclite riding shirt as well, as soon as it gets to around 5c, that goes on without any other layers, comfy down to around -5..
Just took a look at that PHD stuff and saw Ventile, and thought ooh i loved my old SAS Smock that was made from Ventile, so thought i'd have a gander - - -HOLY CHRIST ££££££££££££££££££££
I'm with Scotroutes on this one. Very little of the UK manufactured clothing appeals to me for a variety of reasons.
I'll add Hilltrek in Aboyne in the interests of fairness tho.
im not entirely sure anyone is saying buy british over others - but there is very good british produced outdoor kit that a lot of people wouldn't ordinarly know about - Buffalo as above, loads of my mates never heard of it, but it's awesome.
OMM? Terra Nova? Though was dissapointed to see a recent Laser Comp purchase 'made in China'... And second PHD. Their kit is A1 👍
Not got any of their kit but Keela design and manufacture in Fife
https://keelaoutdoors.com/
Carradice bags last forever and all made in Lancashire and they also make the Swim Feral Turtlebag swim bags
https://www.carradice.co.uk/
https://swimferal.co.uk/
Restrap bikepacking bags made in Yorkshire
https://restrap.com/
Wizard Works made in London
https://wizard.works/
If you're into climbing the DMM make most of their climbing gear in North Wales
https://dmmwales.com/
Alpkit do made some stuff in the UK, I think mainly their premium bag range.
Bound to be others. Google also found a slightly out of date Ramblers article showing UK made walking kit (none of you fancy bikes for them). https://www.ramblers.org.uk/news/walk-magazine/current-issue/2017/february/spring-2017/best-of-british-gear.aspx
Personally I own UK made kit from DMM, Carradice, Terra Nova and PHD and it is all great.
PHD kit is fantastic, top quality and they’ll customise most of it.
Also great people, my oldest is wheelchair and they’ve made him a custom blanket for when he’s in it. Nice people.
Are mountain equipment and montane british?
Montane certainly is. They are based in the NE. Not sure where their kit is made though.
Mountain Equipment make some of the best cut jackets this bod has ever tried on, and has been doing so for a long time. Top performing too technical wise. Based in Cheshire aren't they...though almost certainly not made there, might be wrong. One of the highest ethical ratings too.
Bridgedale socks still made in NI.
Jottnar are based in Cardiff, set up by a couple of ex-Marines.
ME are now as British as Vauxhall were... They were started by Pete Hutchinson who later 'sold out' and then later started PHD. Sadly, he died a couple of years ago. IIRC ME all but went bust under a bit of an accounting cloud and were snapped up Mike Ashleyesque but more upmarket.
Good shout on bridgedale, their merino socks are amazing.
Lomo do some decent kit and are based in Glasgow, dunno where it's made though.
This miles thing, if something's made in the UK, but all the component parts or fabrics aren't, how do we know?.
Not all of it, but most of their better tents:
Didn't Berghaus have a UK made range/project last year iirc?
www.mcnairshirts.com Certainly not cheap but it is superb clothing, and they're brilliant to deal with. Based in Slaithwaite nr Huddersfield.
jottnar is nice but expensive , and made in China
Nobody mentioned
You sure?
Second that it's very nice kit though.
how do we know?.
Have look at their website, the last jeans Madame bought for junior stated where the coton was grown, where it was woven, cut and turned into jeans. Companies that want to add value by doing things right are generally all to keen to tell you.
Some of the above aren't British made if you look:
https://rapanuiclothing.com/the-journey/
But some are:
https://www.bridgedale.com/about-us
Some of the things Madame has tracked down carry the philosphy through to the packaging and transport, a T-shirt came in zero-plastic packaging.
Not outdoor kit as such but Lusso make all their cycling clothing in Manchester. I've been buying their kit since around 1990. It's good kit and I like supporting a UK manufacturer
The Keela range in general may be quite limited in its appeal to us as mountain bikers but their Saxon is a cycling specific, genuinely good, lightweight waterproof jacket that is made locally, just over in Fife. I use a couple of other items of theirs regularly too and it's tremendous value as they're direct sale.
Arktis make outdoor/military stuff in the UK.
I have a Keela Lomond coat for wet local dog and pub walks and it's great - loads of features, good cut and it was a bargain price. I also have a Snugpack poncho - not UK made but it works well.
The issue is largely that companies like ME, Montane, Rab etc are all much of a muchness in terms of manufacturing locations with companies like Patagonia or Arcteryx, so making buying choices on the basis of where they're headquartered seems pretty pointless. I find Arcteryx stuff fits me well, and has been pretty robust, so I tend to stick with that. My 'range of use' includes regular outings on the Scottish hills in winter, in all conditions, and as a result, I tend to be pretty conservative in terms of sticking with what I know and what has proved reliable in the past. I think Norrona's design and ethics is up there with the best, and should probably get more attention than it does - a 5 year warranty on all their laminate waterproofs is standard, and I think you can push that out to 7 if you register your purchase with them.
A lot of the other stuff mentioned on here is often pretty 'agricultural' in comparison, or tends towards 'lifestyle' clothing, rather than kit designed for 'full-on' conditions in the Scottish mountains. Buffalo, Paramo have their enthusiastic followers, but their kit has limitations in terms of the range of use etc, and I've never found the 'warm and wet' approach to winter mountaineering very rewarding.
Of all the smaller companies mentioned, I think Jottnar are probably the closest in quality and design to the 'big boys' - I know it's very popular amongst a lot of the outdoor pro community up in Lochaber. Unfortunately, my typically Scottish short broad build doesn't work for the Jottnar stuff, which seems to follow the Scandi companies in terms of the tall slim body type it's tailored for. Friends who use bits of Alpkit's stuff like the Definition jacket speak highly of it, and it seemed pretty well put together when I had a look at it. I don't think either Jottnar or Alpkit manufacture their clothing in the UK though, which still raises the question of just how 'British' you're buying?
Not outdoor kit as such but Lusso make all their cycling clothing in Manchester.
That's the surprise of the year for me. I'd lumped them together with the budget brands and through total prejudice, discounted them. I read a review of one of their products, bought it and am really impressed. The fabric is Windstopper by another name and tidily sewn together by Mancunian slaves. Perfect.
Are we talking British as in British company or British as in British made?
The Chinese do some great stitching.
My idea was stuff that has at least some of the process in the UK. It might be just filling down into shells made elsewhere or the whole hog with local wool, spinning and manufacture:
https://www.blacksheepknitwear.com/pages/about-us
I know nothing about them other than the website but as someone who regards cotton t-shirts and cotton or wool sweaters as outdoor kit their range appeals. Prices are very reasonable.
EDZ make merino stuff in Maryport, Cumbria - not sure where the wool is from.
At the rate things are going, buying British might be the only option for a while - I was looking at both the Patagonia and Arcteryx webshops today, and neither of them are accepting sales from the UK at the moment!
How waterproof is Brexit unicorn skin?
Love my Keela Belay jacket, it was a bargain too. I also like Lusso cycling kit, comfiest bibs I've tried.
New Balance manufacture in the UK some of their trainers
I really like Jottnar, but their sizing is all over the place. I'm a standard large in every brand except Jottnar. They have been great accepting returns but I seem to jump between sizes.
Let's face it, all but a niche minority of outdoor clothing is made in China. Such is life.
Am really impressed with the Keela kit I’ve got - the roadrunners are great on the bike and the waterproof I have for work is as good as anything else I’ve tried including Paramo and top end goretex shells
bike-bags do made to measure frame bags
https://www.buggybags.co.uk/pages/Bike%20Bag/Design%20Your%20Own%20Bag.htm
We have keela kit for work and I’m always a bit disappointed with it. It’s like the equivalent kit from 5 yrs ago. Noth8ng like as cutting edge as someone like patagonia for example. I think keela have decent env credentials but so do patagonia. Sometimes manufacturers that don’t produce in the uk may well be more sustainable than ones that use the uk.
If you want uk based and eco cred try Finisterre for coastal/ lowland outdoor gear. They’re not outdoor gear in its truest sense but have some decent jackets and stuff that is as sustainable as you get. Expensive as a result though.
Bizarre arguments there. I can't honestly say I've seen much progress in five years and in some cases 40 years - Buffalo still does cold damp weather as well as anything. Indeed I miss some local brands from 20 years back and I'd still buy what they made then over what is available from the far east now. Mac waterproofs with a z-liner combined practicality, comfort and design in a way I haven't found since - but the market at the price wasn't enough to keep them going.
As for sustainability credentials any product that travels half way around the planet or more is going to have to work hard to compete with something made locally from local materials.
For the fans of the synthetic fleece:
Amusing to see it's Patagonia funding the research that shows it's own products are a problem.
Amusing to see it’s Patagonia funding the research that shows it’s own products are a problem.
They have a long track record of this - they do actively look for issues, particularly ones they can influence themselves.
re. AMusing
What do you want them to do? Brush the problem under the carpet? Weird comment
Amusing to see it’s Patagonia funding the research that shows it’s own products are a problem.
This is to their great credit, and I am much more likely to trust them as a result, compared to some brands whose 'sustainability' pages are just a massive word salad
Expensive as a result though.
Which, for obvious reasons of scale and the cost of UK manufacturing, is pretty much every brand on this thread.
Wasn't there a small UK company* making (no idea if UK made) MTB jackets in small runs? I can't remember there name for the life of me..
*I'm sure STW and other mtb magazines featured them quite highly.
Good thread this - cheers Educator.
Buffalo for sure, been wearing mine a lot lately walking the hounds, had it 20+ years and it's still great. We've several Sheffield made Rab jackets and a one-off down sleeping bag that are brilliant too. Whilst past it's best now our Terra Nova Hyperspace from 1996 was fab. 1990s Karrimor rucsacs likewise, one has finally given up with a ripped compression lid and sadly getting a soaking in engine oil, which I can't get out. I did have a Manchester made Sprayway waterproof that I loved, but one long wet walk in Ireland and it left a yellow hue on my rucsac back pad, so off it went.
I had a Manchester made Sprayway, it was excellent until stolen, I hope the thief made good use of it. A climbing 4 jacket too, that was made by teachers from the same school who quit to set up Climbing 4.
"Amusing" because I ran an acid waters research project funded by two of the organisations most responsible for surface water acidification. Your reactions to Patagonia are exactly what they hoped to achieve by funding the research. It's all about communication and having influence over the dialogue.
I haven't bought a plastic bottle recycled fleece since I realised there was an issue with them. The idea seemed great and the fleeces work very well, a piss off to find a flaw. I insulated under the floor of my house with recycled polyester too - at least that won't be washed. I've now come to the conclusion it's best not to by liquids in plastic bottles.
I know someone doing research at Plymouth university on retrofit filters on washing machines for catching clothing related microplastics.
not biking related but Snugg wetsuits make awesome wetsuits in a shed in newquay. Really long waiting list though.
Karrimor, Sprayway and to a lesser extent Terra Nova have all significantly declined in terms of the quality of their kit, sadly. Back in the late 80s, Sprayway's Torridon jacket was the one to have - we have a donated example in our kitstore at work that still beads in rain, although it weighs a ton and is so inflexible, it feels like putting on body armour. I suspect that, if we want a more sustainable ethos behind outdoor gear, moving away from 'fast and light' and returning to more durable face fabrics would be a significant step in the right direction.
I've always been fascinated by the enthusiasm for pile/pertex - I find it far too inflexible a system, especially working hard on the uphills, where I start to find it claustrophobically hot really quickly. I'd much rather have on a fleece top and a windshirt, where there are more options for layering.
The trouble with Patagonia's ethical stance, and someone called them out on this at the last KMFF - they are still selling large volumes of clothes the vast majority of which people could do without.
You could argue they provide a better model and people are better off buying from them than other brands, but the problem fundamentally is capitalism and the growth model which has taught us that we have to keep buying stuff to be happy/keep the economy going, and Patagonia are still feeding into that as much as anyone else.
Karrimor, Sprayway and to a lesser extent Terra Nova have all significantly declined in terms of the quality of their kit, sadly.
karrimor is a shell brand for sports direct isn’t it?
have the others declined or just not advanced?
Madame has a Snugg. It's about 25 years old and still remarkably supple. It was their top triathlon suit at the time and a few other French female athletes used them. If you have a shape that needs a made to measure suit I can't think of anywhere better to have one made. We loved the Newquay shed, proper cottage industry stuff, we paid for it then popped down to the beach and annoyed the surfers testing it.
Worthwhile stop on this purity spiral of a journey is outdoor gear exchange on facebook. Good quality used kit quite often pops up for sale at a decent price, need to be quick though.
Reuse.
I quite like Hilltrek clothing
Very expensive but the only jacket I've ever had that was properly waterproof and lasted more than two seasons.
And you can talk direct to the lady that sews them.
I think malcom is still in the same shed round the back of the golf course. Small but loyal following.
I suspect that, if we want a more sustainable ethos behind outdoor gear, moving away from ‘fast and light’ and returning to more durable face fabrics would be a significant step in the right direction.
I'm not sure that durability - ie: kit being replaced because it's actually worn out - is the driver here. More classic consumerism with people 'upgrading' to the latest, 'better' wonder fabric or design. Also, for several years, Mike Parsons who 'was' Karrimor for many years, ran a regular conference on innovation in the outdoors industry, which rapidly became more about sustainability in the outdoors industry. Mostly it emerged that sustainability is very complicated and the ecological and environmental costs of a particular product aren't always where you think they are in the process.
Ultimately the most sustainable thing you can do is simply not to buy more stuff. Don't buy new bikes, clothing, tech, just use what you have, repair it, upgrade it. I don't believe with outdoor clothing that many people - guides and instructors excepted - regularly wear it out. People just upgrade.
I need to photograph some of my kit that's still in use. 😉
Edit:
Buffalo in need of sewing. Kiwami made-before-my-eyes short in need of sewing again.