Vango AirAway Awnings Demo Day

Don't miss our Vango, drive-away van awnings, Open Day - 

We are hoping to pitch our new 2015 Vango AirAway Awnings near Truro on one of the coming weekends. This will give you the opportunity to see the awnings pitched alongside the vans so you can see the differences between the models, sizes and how they attach to the vans. Models include the Idris, Kela 2 and Saperra 2 models of AirAway awnings.

If you would like to register your interest please email us at:

enquiry@penroseoutdoors.co.uk

Please leave us with your name, telephone no. and email address.

Date to be confirmed, but we will let you know as soon as possible.

Ride Helix Snowboard 2015

The new Helix, from Ride snowboards, is the latest installment of the Ride and Akomplice Collaboration series. At a first look, you will notice something unique about its shape that differentiates it from other boards; this is its' “Asymmetric Hybrid Twin Shape”. With the understanding that your ergonomics of your toe and heel side are different, so why should your side cuts be the same? As a result of this, the Helix comes with a much deeper side cut on the heel edge. This helps to make any terrain your dealing with feel more natural and much more balanced. This helps ensure that riders can keep an aggressive style on any feature in the park.

As for Technology, the Helix features some of Ride’s latest snowboard technology to assist in performance.  Firstly the Helix has “Carbon Array 3”, which features three widespread carbon stringers that are underneath the top sheet at the binding zone. Carbon Array three gathers input from any stance width and all pressure angles, this rider input is then channeled to the opposing contact point to provide extreme board control on any environment.

Additionally the Helix has Ride’s exclusive sidewalls, “Slimewalls”. Ride’s Slimewalls are much more forgiving ductile that your average boards, absorbing impacts rather than defending against them. The Helix' Slimewalls can absorb those impacts on account of the sidewall’s Urethane construction. The urethane also helps to reduce the effects of chattering dramatically and ensure that you get the best out of any riding surface.

SHOP RIDE HELIX

Providing the Helix with its aggressive snap and responsive snap is Ride’s “Pop Rods 2.0”.  Pop rods are essentially a camber construction on the baseline, assisting in providing smoother landings, increased pop, and added snap all without any additional stiffness. This is perfect for any rider aiming to fully snap around in any rotation and pop out of any rail feature with ease.

The Helix has also seen great success in the competitive snowboard scene. Team rider Yuki Kadono, has been riding the Helix for the 2014/2015 pro series and continues to ride even the Helix even now. Yuki Kadono has good results on this board in the X Games and Air and Style competitions. With a Gold in La, a bronze in Innsbruck Air and Style competitions and another bronze medal in the X Games Big Air Final.

Overall, The helix is a great in the park with its freestyle construction, providing riders with the technology and board feel for any park feature. However the Helix’s freestyle construction also allows for riders to take it anywhere else whether it’s jibbing around the mountain or you name it. This board is packed with tones of technologies to improve performance in any environment, headlined by its unique Asymmetric side cut making shredding that much better. The camber baseline really helps to keep a long lasting snap to the board, also maintaining its high responsive feel.

At Penrose we can confidently recommend the Helix for any rider looking to have progress in the park and anywhere else on the mountain. The technologies included in the Helix make it a high performance durable board that’s going to last as long as you will.

SHOP RIDE HELIX                                     PenroseOutdoors.co.uk

Buffalo Clothing

‘Function Not Fashion’

Buffalo was created to meet the needs of those who take on the challenge of outdoor activities seriously, beyond that of the summer enthusiast, and who are looking for outdoor clothing that will perform, whatever the activity and weather conditions they’re up against. Whether it's mountaineering, hill walking, climbing, skiing, multi-terrain biking or canoeing, function is more of a priority than fashion.

‘Function not fashion’

Buffalo products have been tried and tested (rigorously over at least a Scottish winter season!!) and are intended for use in extreme conditions. Whilst a shirt, jacket or pair of trousers cannot just make you comfortable, they could possibly be instrumental in saving your life. And in life threatening conditions, colour and style become unimportant.

Buffalo originated the Pertex/Pile concept in the late 1970's, after developing Pertex with Perseverance Mills Ltd.  So what is this concept and what does it do?

The Pertex/Pile concept is a densely woven capillary fabric, which absorbs and disperses moisture very quickly along its fibres and over the surface area, where it then evaporates. It is extremely windproof, breathable and repels external moisture, when used in conjunction with the insulating pile fabric, made by Buffalo. The end result is a system, which ensures the user is warm, whilst wicking moisture away from the body and repelling external moisture.

Since this concept evolved, these fabrics have been technologically improved and the range of clothing and sleeping bags set the standard in the field. This ensures maximum comfort in cold, wet conditions. From zips, to threads, all of the components of a Buffalo product have be thoroughly tested and are the best available. Their quality and performance can be judged from the fact that RAF Rescue Teams, Under Water Rescue Teams, Mountain Rescue Teams, Association of Mountain Instructors and Police and Fire Service Emergency teams all buy Buffalo.

The Buffalo range avoids any unnecessary features like zips and pockets, no unneeded seams to allow moisture penetration and thus causing chilling, and no yearly colour change in an attempt to be fashionable. The aim remains the same, function before fashion- performance and durability being the only priority.

'Clothing and Sleeping Bags for the Serious Outdoor Activist'

How it works

At its origination, Buffalo clothing was designed to be used as a single layer system of winter clothing, which would controversially replace the multiple layers of conventional winter clothing for climbers, winter hillwalkers and fell runners. The level of comfort reached saw the system taken up for use in many other outdoor activities. With this cross-over of uses, Buffalo, in contact with people repeatedly putting themselves and their clothing into the most extreme weather conditions, went on to design clothing for specific activities, developing the fabrics used to include other climatic conditions.

Keeping your skin dry

The key to remaining comfortable in the outdoors is to stay dry. Your skin chills around 40 times quicker when you're wet than when you're dry, so Buffalo clothing is designed to keep you dry. By having highly breathable garments, along with fantastic ventilation and a close fit, you need a surprisingly small amount of insulation to keep warm when active.

Get the correct fit

Buffalo clothing works if the primary layer (shirt) is worn next to the skin and is a close fit. If the customer measures as a size 40" chest then 9 times out of 10 they should have a size 40" shirt. Going for a macho size 44" will only decrease the performance. Whilst wearing any Buffalo garment, your body heat will drive any moisture away from the skin and onto the outer fabric, which by capillary action will disperse it, and the wild will help evaporate it. This whole process will keep you comfortable, whatever the conditions. It’s important to get the correct fit so the body doesn’t have to heat up so much 'dead' air, greatly increasing the breathability and therefore the comfort level.

Ventilation

Another key to keeping the skin dry is ventilation. Very slight adjustments of the zips will make a great difference to the warmth of the clothing. If it gets too hot unzip a little and too cold, zip up again. This zipping and unzipping can be done all day without having to stop once to add another layer or take one off like the traditional layering system and other 'Soft Shell' systems. It enables the wearer to keep the same temperature all day.

Although Buffalo isn't 'waterproof', even the heaviest downpours will not make you uncomfortable. If it is very wet or cold, a secondary layer is sometimes required. However, never wear a waterproof over any Buffalo garment. Why? The wind can't get to the outer fabric and evaporate the moisture, so much and more water will build up in the system and the wearer will start to get cold. This is due to the fact that a waterproof layer is not breathable enough. No waterproof fabric is breathable enough to cope with the amount of moisture a Buffalo Shirt can move away from the skin.

When you need more protection, you can use one of Buffalo's Jackets. They use the same materials as the shirts, and will continue the moisture management system without impeding the breathability. Here at Penrose Outdoors we stock a range of Buffalo Jackets, for use in a variety of activities and conditions, including the very worst winter weather.

Buffalo Belay Jacket

This jacket from Buffalo features Classic Pertex Shell and 'AquaTherm' pile lining. It is a lightweight, short, compact alternative to the Mountain Jacket for climbing, skiing, caving, cycling, canoeing and all year round casual use.

• Packs away small and light.
• Windproof to 50mph.
• Internal baffled two-way front zip.
• Two pile lined, zipped outer pockets.
• Touch-and-close cuff adjustment tabs.
• Touch-and-close attachment on collar for hood (available separately).
• Scooped back.
• Weight: 626g
• Sizes: 36/38/40/42/44/46

Buffalo Fell Jacket

A new, stylised Jacket for Men, providing all of the Buffalo Performance with an extremely tailored appearance, whilst featuring a PForm Shell with 'Teclite' Pile Micropile Lining. Its attention to detail is very high, and fits very well to give plenty of freedom of movement. Alternatively it will suit a city environment too.

• PForm high performance mini ripstop outer shell
• Fast wicking Teclite micro-pile lining 
• Attached Teclite lined fold away hood
• Internal storm baffle on two-way front zip
• Two zipped outer pockets
• Touch-and-close cuff adjustment tabs
• Elasticised hem adjuster
• Sizes: Small, Medium, Large, Extra Large
• Colours: Dark Russet, Bark.
• Weight: 512g

Ideal for a multitude of outdoor uses including fell walking, low level trekking, snow sports and general outdoor activities.

There is also a Women's alternative to the Fell Jacket. It features the same PForm Shell with 'Teclite' Pile Micropile Lining as the Men's Fell Jacket, but it is a lighter alternative to the Ladies Belay Jacket, but more suited to Women than the unisex 'Teclite Jacket'.

BuffaloFell Jacket- Women

This new Ladies Jacket features Buffalo’s 'Teclite' Pile Micropile Lining with a high performance, mini rip stop, highly breathable, water repellent, Performance 6 shell. This gives the jacket the acknowledged performance of the Buffalo ‘Teclite' range with the addition of improved design features.

Ideal for a multitude of outdoor uses including: fell walking, low level trekking, snow sports and general outdoor activities.

• PForm high performance mini ripstop outer shell
• Teclite micro-pile lining
• Attached Teclite lined fold away hood
• Internal storm baffle on two-way front zip
• Two zipped outer pockets
• Touch-and-close cuff adjustment tabs
• Elasticised hem adjuster
• Stiffened peak in hood
• Weight: 487g

 

Buffalo Special 6 Shirt- Men

The Special 6 Shirt has been Buffalo's bestseller for multiple years. It is thoroughly used in the outdoor world for a variety of pursuits and disciplines as it combines a lightweight Pertex Outer with an AquaTherm Pile Lining to make it highly wind, water and abrasion resistant, super warm and ultra quick drying.

Key professionals including Police, Armed Forces, Emergency Services, Mountain Rescue and Expeditions have used this jacket successfully for a number of years. It has been tested over 30 years in the most hostile conditions.

 

• Classic Pertex shell
• AquaTherm pile lining
• Windproof to 50mph
• Storm baffles on neck and side zips
• Cut 5cm longer than the Buffalo Mountain Shirt to allow rain run off
• Hand warmer pocket
• Large front map pocket
• Rucksack hip belt can be fastened through hand warmer pocket
• Tape and buckle waist adjuster
• Touch-and-close hip adjusters
• Touch-and-close cuff adjustment tabs
• Touch-and-close attachment on collar for hood (available separately)
• Eight ventilation controls on each shirt, including two-way side zips
• Weight: 675g

The Buffalo Special 6 Shirt works most efficiently when worn next to the skin, so sizing is important, as the shirt should be close fitting without being restrictive.

We have a great range of men's and women's Buffalo clothing at clothing at Penrose Outdoors, why not check it out?

Shop Buffalo Clothing

Brasher Footwear. The end, or new beginning?

 Brasher has long been known as a premium British outdoor footwear manufacturer using top quality materials like Pittards leather. Founded by Olympic gold medallist Chris Brasher in 1978, Brasher has become a firm favourite of hill walkers and hikers here in the UK. So its sad news indeed that the Brasher name, as of Spring 2015, will be no more - but its not all bad.

Berghaus, with whom Brasher is being merged, is also a well respected British company that also has a innovative and respected history in outdoor and mountain wear. Their walking footwear has many fans, especially their synthetic walking footwear such as the Explorer boot that is popular among Duke of Edinburgh and Ten Tors participants. So one can hope, that with Brasher's superior mastery over leather and anti clogging soles, combined with Berghaus' success with synthetic materials that this merger will produce some fantastic footwear in the near future. Firm Brasher favourites like the Fellmaster, Hillmaster, Hillwalker and Supalite will continue to exist with Berghaus branding and some minor improvements such as Vibram soles. The new Berghaus equivalent Brasher models will still be made using the same, permanently waterproofed, Pittards leather and still feature a Brasher engineering label.

In truth, the two companies have both been owned by the Pentland Group since 1993. So this amalgamation should not be huge surprise to those in the industry. It could also be deemed good fortune for both companies too, ensuring their continuation in one form or an other in an extremely competitive global market. Their promotional line for the merger 'Two great British Brands Merging' is hopefully indicative of a British super brand coming in to existence and long may they last.

Berghaus introduces the new Hydro Shell technology

With 50 years of experience developing waterproof garments, Berghaus has had great success engineering garments for any adventure. New for 2015, Berghaus have introduced the Hydro Shell technology that is 100% waterproof and breathable, guaranteed to keep the wearier drier for longer, whatever their adventure. After being in development for nearly two years, the Hydro shell technology has been tested in the harshest conditions, it's expedition proven and also athlete authenticated.

Sustainability is one of Berghaus's focuses when developing Hydroshell, with the aim to develop fabrics with a lower impact on the environment than their foregoers. 2/3 of the environmental impact made by clothing happens during the consumer's use of the product. Hydro shell garments have been designed to considerably lessen their environmental impact, especially when it comes to excessive water consumption, one of the textile industries most environmentally damaging outputs!  

You can see from the chart above how small the difference is between Hydro shell's performance before and after washing, and when comparing it to Gore-Tex and other competitors, it seems to perform better after a wash!

Berghaus is the first brand to integrate Odour resistant technology- the 'Argentium Backer', so the need to wash the product is reduced; water, time and energy are saved, and the products lifetime is extended. All of the products incorporate a long lasting, proven durable water repellent finish DWR, meaning they require less re-proofing. The Nylon fabrics used in the Hydro shell garments offer excellent durability whilst also extending the useful lifetime of the products.

The fabrics used deliver all day comfort and performance to match effort, and are packable to ensure you can take the garment on every summer adventure you approach. Berghaus' new range of Hydro shell products will be available from March 2015. 

Penrose Outdoors goes international!

Penrose Outdoors goes international! 

Penrose Outdoors recently shipped out the Outwell Hartford XLP Tent all the way to a family who were camping in the states. They kindly sent us a photo and video of them putting up the tent and they have already spent 15 days in it, at various spots on their trek across the USA, from coast to coast. After finally arriving on the West Coast, they Smith family made a video of the tent setup time lapse under the California Redwoods in Big Sure, California.

Check out the video here: http://vimeo.com/101592450 

First Truro Methodist Beavers Demonstration Evening

First Truro Methodist Beavers

On Thursday 26th June 1st Truro Methodist Beavers arrived at Penrose Outdoors for an out of hours demonstration on various camping equipment. The evening started at 6pm and lasted for an hour. 

The Beavers were split into 3 groups. Group 1 were shown a demonstration of putting up a tent, group 2 were shown how to pack a rucksack and group 3 got to test the Wayfarer Food range. Each demonstration lasted for 20 minutes and the groups then alternated so everyone had the chance to participate in each demonstration. 

The evening was a huge success and enjoyed by all! If you would like to arrange a scout or cub evening, please enquire instore or write us an email at enquiry@penroseoutdoors.co.uk, or even drop us a Facebook post!