Hardwear Sessions

A Winter Jacket That Charges Your Gadgets

October 2, 2009
By Rik Fairlie

Available in the Refugium Jacket and Women's Radiance Jacket | Photo Courtesy of New York Times Blog

Yep, that's right. Reach into the front left pocket and you'll find a power adapter that enables you to charge your iPod, digital camera, GPS device or cellphone -- no matter if you're riding a mountain bike or roaming snowy city streets. The heating and power capabilities are made possible by the addition of rechargeable lithium-ion battery and heating system developed by Ardica Technology.

Read more on New York Times Gadgetwise Blog.

By Shannon Davis posted on Backpacker.com

The author demonstrates proper hitchhiking technique while wearing a kilt. | Photo Courtesy of Shannon Davis posted on Backpacker.com

Be bold and wear this hiking kilt on trail--you (and the ladies) will thank us!

First off, it's a kilt. Not a skirt. There were definitely a lot of "hey, cool skirt!" comments floating around. There are basically two ways to respond to this. 1) Correct that person, as I mostly chose to (the irascible approach). 2) Just say "thanks, man" (the hell cares approach). But one thing's for sure: Wearing a kilt definitely requires an attitude that's both bold and carefree. If you don't have this attitude naturally, a kilt will help you foster one along. It requires cojones.

And speaking of cojones, after I stepped out of the car, only 2.3 seconds passed before another person in our group (a woman!) lifted up my kilt. In addition to drawing attention, a kilt also apparently erases social mores. Women, at least initially, do not respect the kilt in the same way that men respect a skirt.

But how does it perform in the mountains...Read more on Backpacker.com

In this video Mountain Hardwear Athlete, Kenton Cool talks about the South Col Pack, Ghost SL Sleeping Bag, Navigation Pants, and the Argon Jacket. He makes some good points explaining why this gear is perfect for the Alps. For example, " The Navigation Pants are made of stretchy, semi waterproof material with an internal gator at the bottom. The color is fantastic for the alps; it is not black. The cool color is perfect for when the sun comes up on the glaciers so you will not fry in them. They are indestructible and have a built in waistband to cinch so you don't have problems with your harness." Click on the images below for more details.

Dougald MacDonald, past editor in chief of Rock & Ice, regular contributor to Men's Journal, Outside, Backpacker, and more likes our Runout Pants.

"Mountain Hardwear Runout climbing pants. Super-comfortable. Fit well under a harness. Look good enough to wear out to dinner--at least until you smear them with chalk and aluminum grime from your rope."
- Dougald MacDonald's Blog, themountainworld.blogspot.com

The Runout Pant has a Crag™ Canvas Body that is 100% cotton canvas. Heavy duty, durable cotton canvas "breaks in" beautifully with time and washing. Pigment dyed, peached face. 8.5 oz/yd2.

• Lots of pockets for storage
• Adjustable drawcord hidden inside hem to cinch pant leg
• UPF 50 sun protection
• Integrated webbing belt with buckle closure for easy fit adjustments
• Durable canvas fabric great for day cragging
• Inseam gusset and articulated knees for mobility
>>Where to buy

Ardica is the leading developer of miniaturized portable power systems. Their latest introduction, the Moshi Power System, generates 40W of power from a lightweight, flexible and portable planar array of lithium ion batteries. This system can power and charge a wide variety of electronic devices while simultaneously delivering comforts like heat and sound to garments, bags and more. Find out more about the contest here.

Mountain Hardwear uses this device to heat your core and charge your electronics. This technology is found in the Refugium Jacket and Women's Radiance Jacket.

Notes from Patricia Bamert, Office of Ueli Steck

Mountain Hardwear Alpinist, Ueli Steck has packed his bags to conquer Makalu with the following Mountain Hardwear gear.
Sub Zero Jacket Designed for cold weather climbing and mountaineering, 650-fill goosedown with Taslan reinforced abrasion areas take on the weather and your pack with ease.	Hooded Compressor PL Jacket Superlight, PrimaLoft® ECO fill provides excellent warmth-to-weight ratio, insulates when wet, compresses easily, and is good for the planet. Specifically designed for alpine pursuits where moisture and weight are factors.
Power Stretch Jacket An abrasion-resistant jacket with the stretch, warmth, and breathability of a fleece, and the protection of a soft shell. Treated with an advanced surface-fusion polymer for wind- and water-resistance. Wear alone or use as a mid-layer.	Compressor Pant Superlight, PrimaLoft® ECO fill is high-loft, warm, and good for the earth. Specifically designed for backcountry activities where moisture and weight are factors.
Phantom 32° Our most popular down bag, the Phantom™ 32 is a really light, warm and compact two-season sleeping bag. The Phantom 32 is built to a snug mummy fit from Superlight 15 denier fabric and insulated with 800-fill down. Ueli Steck will also be using the the Bunker Expedition tent."
Absolute Zero Mitt 3 layer Conduit™, Duraguard™ palm, Keprotec® reinforcements and a warm, ThermicMicro™ liner mitt make our top-of-the line mountaineering mitt essential gear for high altitude and deep cold. Keprotec® reinforcements and a rappel-tough Duraguard™ palm handle rocks, ropes and ice in freezing conditions. The removable liner mitt has an improved fit with increased articulation and snug elastic at the wrist to hold in heat and increase warmth.
Quark Jacket The super lightweight, super breathable, highly waterproof Mountain Hardwear Men's Quark Jacket revolutionizes technical shells. Using only super soft tricot and a Conduit laminate, this ten-ounce jacket cuts out the middle man without sacrificing protection. You'll barely notice the Quark Jacket on your back or in your pack, but you can't ignore the 20K-rated waterproof coating and welded seams keeping you dry during an alpine storm.	Belay T Short Sleeve Fast drying, wicking and soft. Seams rotated from pressure points and flat lock seams for comfort. 88% Supplex nylon, 12% elastane jersey. Lightweight, soft hand and wicking finish. 4.6 oz/yd2.

Do Mountain Hardwear employees wear what they sell? The answer is yes. Check out the "Hardwear Crew" Tab located on theMountain Hardwear Facebook Page (Seattle Store, Portland Store) to see what Hardwear gear we wear. We look forward to your feedback and encourage you to share your favorite MHW gear.

Sean McDevitt in the "rain room" testing the Spring 2010 tent designs | Photo by Roland Dare

Do Mountain Hardwear employees wear what they sell? The answer is yes. Check out the Mountain Hardwear Facebook Page (Seattle Store, Portland Store) to see what Hardwear gear we wear. We look forward to your feedback and encourage you to share your favorite MHW gear.

Jason Miller reviews the all new Mountain Hardwear Fluid 10 on Feedthehabit.com

With all the hydration packs currently on the market, there are only a handful that I can totally recommend (Deuter comes to mind). But, the new Mountain Hardwear Fluid 10/18/26 hydration pack lineup looks like a great foray into the market. The best feature is the frame sheet, dubbed HardWave, which looks like an accordion going top-to-bottom for a back-conforming fit, but still providing torsional rigidity. Another bonus of this design is its ability to conform to the contours of your back while providing excellent breathability.

An additional innovation on this pack is the OTF (On-the-Fly) Compression system that allows you to cinch down the entire pack from the hip. This ingenious design has long been needed in the market. I always complain when packs don't have compression straps to cinch the load, but this one takes simple compression straps to the next level by allowing you to cinch the entire load down from the waistbelt. Capacity is 600 cu. in. and weight is 1 lb. 4 oz. with an MSRP of $80

View Mountain Hardwear Fluid 10 photos here: Feedthehabit.com
Visit MountainHardwear.com to view Backpacks.

View More Pictures from the Designers' Rainier Trip

About a month ago, the Mountain Hardwear design team headed to Mt. Rainier. Here, our materialogist Gaston McMillan describes the trip's impact upon his design philosophy. Gaston first delivered this piece as a presentation at the Industrial Fabrics Association International's annual conference in Las Vegas. Gaston gave his presentation the day after the team returned from Rainier.

By Gaston McMillan

I've just come from a climb on Mount Rainier in Washington. The peak is at 14,400 ft and is a wonderful place to spend time as well as the premier training ground for anyone going to greater, more difficult places like the high ranges in Alaska or any of the 8,000M peaks around the world including Aconcagua, K2, or Everest. Rainier is a big powerful mountain with beautiful glaciers, laid on the shoulders of a sleeping volcano. I was there with the Mountain Hardwear product managers, several of our designers, and the Rainier Mountain Institute guides with whom we work. Our intention was to first; be able to spend time with and get meaningful feedback from the guides -- unfiltered -- on our gear and the means of communicating more effectively in the future; 2nd, to have a meaningful, shared experience among all of us and 3rd, to attempt to ring that bell at the top, or more plainly, to try for the summit.

Our athletes and field testers have long wished for a lightweight softshell designed for high-impact aerobic activities, something that could stand up to inclement weather, feel good next to the skin, and accommodate a wide range of movements. When Gore-Tex introduced a new generation of WINDSTOPPER fabrics, including a stretch knit, our designers realized that they had found the perfect starting point.

By Alex Baires

Pull out your camping gear one more time before the weather changes. Or, if you need to upgrade, consider treating yourself to a Mountain Hardwear Light Wedge tent, Foray pack, or award-winning UltraLamina bag. These, among with a few select other Mountain Hardwear equipment styles sold in the U.S. come with a "Leave No Trace" outdoor ethics tag. This is our way of asking you to take a minute to think about your impact on the outdoors during your trips.

In a joint effort with Leave No Trace, Mountain Hardwear included outdoor ethics tags with approximately 7,000 packs, bags, and tents sold in the U.S. this Spring/Summer. We plan to continue this program next Spring/Summer and in the meantime, feel free to use this PDF file to print your own Leave No Trace outdoor ethics tag (on recycled paper, of course). Or, we would be happy to send you a tag if you send a self-addressed stamped envelope to:

Mountain Hardwear Gives Back LNT Outdoor Ethics Tag, ATTN. Alex 4911 Central Ave. Richmond, CA 94804

Looking forward to a good winter with lots of good snow in the mountains...

By Sean McDevitt
Mountain Hardwear Design

When we started the Viperine tent project, we set out to make the most efficiently designed, 2 person tent that was actually livable but light enough for backpacking. We wanted it to be strong enough for most conditions but competitive on weight and price. We build a lot into our tents, such as welded zipper flaps and full taped perimeter seams — features that our competitors often skip. These features add weight and cost but also add functionality. In a world where customers shop on weight per square foot, we are challenged to deliver tents that live up to our standards of quality and still deliver on weight. Eventually, after much work, our lead tent Designer Martin Zemitis came up with what we think is a ground breaking design.