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Evolution of PackLock (TM)--CLOTHING I introduced our Tipi shelters and Woodstoves back in 1988--under the banner of my old company, Mountainsmith. They were a major step in "out there" weather sustainability. A couple of years ago I introduced the Regulator Sleeping Bag System under the auspices of Kifaru, my newer company. These were, are, the bags I've wanted my entire career as an outdoorsman/designer, and were another big advance in outdoor climate protection. Now, the last stage--the clothing I've always wanted. Like the shelters and the sleeping bags, this garb incorporates my wants over fifty-some years of extensive wandering in remote backcountry. (Click HERE for an essay on the evolution of our sleeping bags, which you might find instructive.) Let me say at this point that this Introduction comprises the insulative/wind protection components of our clothing--the specifically rain oriented components are still in testing and will be introduced when perfected. The list of our clothing design parameters incorporates these factors: ---Most weight-to-warmth ratio possible consistent with maximum "really out there" durability. This last, performance with a backpack, was one of the paramount design aspects, and has been at the top of my personal challenge list for decades. Appropriately lightweight and windproof garment fabrics are inherently slippery--meaning the wearer of a hip-loaded modern backpack loses that great boon to weight-carrying because the pack belt/lumbar pad slips downward on the slippery garments and inevitably loads the weight onto the shoulders. Our new PackLock (PP) design solves this very serious problem, much to the relief of your's truly. We are using our own RhinoSkin (TM) fabric on this clothing, so windproofness and durability are guaranteed. So is breathability--extensive testing reveals a noted absence of "claminess" with this clothing. That contributes to it's range of comfort. So does the deep front zipper on the upper garments and the long leg zippers on the pants--for excellent ventilation. And so does the breakthrough "sealability" of the upper garments with respect to their collar and hood design. This greatly expands the low temperature performance of the Standard weight garments while allowing us to use less insulation--making the garment comfortable at higher temperatures. Overall result: a very wide range of temperature comfort. Lighter in overall carry weight too. A win-win situation. The components are very fast and simple to manipulate--no velcro-together flaps across the throat to beat your face in stiff wind, none of that. The Kangaroo pocket on jackets, vests and windshirts is specifically designed for use with a pack. The pack waistbelt passes BEHIND the pocket, allowing complete access. We achieve excellent weight to warmth performance with the combination of our RhinoSkin (TM) shell material and Climashield insulation. The shell material is very much tougher than anything else out there while providing thorough windproofness and excellent water resistance. The insulation keeps you warm even when wet, and is extraordinarily warm for it's weight. It stays in place too, allowing us to NOT have to quilt the garments; this adds greatly to that warmth-to-weight ratio. (Note: In testing with Brand X garments, over many miles under pack load, we found Brand X insulation "separates", leaving a large cold spot when the pack is off. Not so with Climashield!) Design matters in the w-to-w ratio too. I focused hard on the new collar/hood combination. That's where much heat is lost--either because of leakage of warmed air out, or from cold air in, as well as from simply inadequate "coverage"--specifically the neck and particularly the face. Accordingly, you will find our collar is very high, and adjustable, so that one can bring it up to cover even the entire nose, and then tighten it to prevent any leakage--either in or out. The hood is designed to be snug, so that there is less air to heat inside and so that one can wear a helmet OVER it. It is adjustable too--from eyebrow height for complete face protection (with the collar all the way up) to pulled back far enough to wear a ball cap under it without pushing the cap brim down, restricting visibility. The hood is removable for balmy days (except for the Windshirt, where it is so sheer it doesn't get in the way). The insulated pants are designed to be very easy to use with boots on and are capable of full leg length ventilation. They, too, will "Lock" a backpack into place such that it can't slip down. All garments self-stuff into themselves, into the zippered Kangaroo pocket on the upper garments or into either of the zippered pockets on the pants. The insulated Booties are very lightweight and very warm. Pull our Snow SlipOvers over the Booties and you have an excellent combination for exiting your sleeping bag/shelter temporarily in snow conditions. The SlipOvers are knee high, very tough, cinch tightly for deep snow, have a grippy and padded sole and are waterproof. Armoring is available for the pants, jackets and vests if you need it (and many snipers have asked us specifically for this). The armor is 500d waterproof Cordura--we intend this armor to be seriously tough! Recalling the concept we call 24/7 Climate Control SYSTEM, there's a built in compatibility between this new clothing and our Regulator sleeping bags. The hoods and collars of both are thoroughly compatible for wearing the clothing inside the bags. Doing so greatly enhances the performance of the bag--more performance for less carry weight. Furthermore, as the materials are the same there is absolute fluidity of movement when wearing the garb inside our bags--no friction at all. The clothing cannot wad itself into a constricting tangle when used within our bags. You can consider the bags and clothing a modular system. The optional Sleeves for using with our Modular Over Bag (MOB) are even the same optional sleeves as offered for our clothing Vest. In summary, we've had to build the clothing I've always wanted ourselves--just like the sleeping bags. It incorporates the long list of deficiency-corrections I've compiled over the decades I've been steadily afield. It is working very well for me, and I trust it will work for you too. |
