Get in touch!There are big changes happening in the world of waterproofs . They're a long time coming and are great news for the environment BUT we will all need to learn how to use and maintain the new technologies. In this second of three special podcasts, Cathy and Wayne are joined by Laura Howe, Fabric Technologist at Mountain Equipment, to discuss how new waterproof fabrics are chosen, tested and built in to technical garment design.As technical garment users, we all need to better ...

Get in touch!There are big changes happening in the world of waterproofs . They're a long time coming and are great news for the environment BUT we will all need to learn how to use and maintain the new technologies. In this final part of three "waterproof special" podcasts, Cathy and Wayne are joined by Tim Francis Regional Trainer and Account Manager for Grangers International, to discuss why new waterproof fabrics will need to be washed and re-proofed more frequently than older garmen...

Get in touch!There are big changes happening in the world of waterproofs . They're a long time coming and are great news for the environment BUT we will all need to learn how to use and maintain the new technologies. In this first of three special podcasts, Cathy and Wayne are joined by Debbie Read, Head of Corporate Communications and CSR at Equip Outdoor Technologies to discuss why chemicals that have been used in waterproof garments for years are being phased out and how this will eff...

Planning an expedition to Greenland? Cathy and Wayne are joined by Olly Sanders to chat about how to prepare, what kit to pack, why climbing style may be dictated by your kayak, the effect of comms and tech on expeditions and why wellies are always on his kit list. There are top tips on how to travel with minimal impact, information and funding advice for those planning their own adventures all interspersed with how to pack your boat, where to strap your gun and the very real discovery that...

Ever wondered what's involved in starting a new outdoor clothing brand? Cathy and Wayne are joined by Artilect Co-Founder Trent Bush to chat about the incredible amount of passion, science, skill and global logistics involved in getting a product from concept to shelf. Based in Boulder Colorado, Artilect offer men's and women's ethically produced base layer, insulation and waterproof clothing packed full of  innovative technologies and centered around the outdoor user.  This is a...

This week Cathy and Wayne talk about head protection with Petzl sponsored athletes and climbing giants: Emma Powell and Neil Gresham. Whether you are trad, sport, winter climbing or dry tooling we delve into why you might choose to wear a helmet when you climb, different construction types, testing, safety, how to check your helmet, how to tell when your helmet should be retired and why recycling them is so difficult. Packed full of technical geekery, anecdotes and possibly a little too much...

Cathy and Wayne talk about the NEW Mountain Goat Circuit/ Cylchdaith Yr Afr Fynydd, a spectacular 50km loop in Snowdonia along the skyline from the Joe Brown's Capel Curig shop to Llanberis and back. Joined by Rab Global Sales Operations Manager Chris Vanderhoven, they discuss how the idea came about, the route, the terrain and there are lots of tips on what kit you'll need depending if you run, fastpack or backpack what is sure to become an iconic round of it's own right. The odds are good...

Cathy and Wayne are joined live from Colombia by Ben Davies and Felix Sullivan from the El Rio Hostel in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta Mountains. This very special episode talks not just about the kit needed for the nearby trek to the Lost City but also the unique relationship between The Climbers Shop and the El Rio Foundation. Listen to how buying great kit from us helps fund vital work with children in post conflict Colombia - and how you can help kids learn simply by...

Join Cathy and Wayne with Dr Matt Fuller, for a fascinating insight into down and it's amazing ability to keep us warm! Matt has a PhD in Feather and Down Structure and is Product Engineer at Mountain Equipment. This episode is a real journey, explaining how ethically sourced down ends up in your jacket, sleeping bag, or suit  from source. Learn how down is almost structurally perfect, how it works, it's longevity, why insulated legwear and skirts rock, what "clumping" is and what to do if...

Cathy and Wayne are joined by outdoor cook and all round smashing bloke Harrison Ward to talk about getting out in the fells to cook. Perhaps better known by his Instagram handle @Fellfoodie, Harrison shares his own version of haute cuisine among his native Lakeland Fells alongside his personal recovery from alcoholism and poor mental health. Harrison openly describes how combining his newly found passion for hillwalking with cooking tasty nutritious food has lead him into a new realm of...

Cathy and Wayne are joined by Voom Brand Manager and Team GB Triathalete Beau Smith to seriously geek out on nutrition for endurance sports. Listen and learn what energy bar ingredients mean, the difference between caffiene and guarana, what are the key causes of stomach issues (and potential solutions), why hydration is so critical alongside energy foods, how electrolyte drinks work, why B vitamins are so important, discover that Recovery Fudge is a "thing" and how plant protein is...

Cathy and Wayne are joined once again by the brilliant Stuart Smith to discuss  undergarments. You'll hear all about why a baselayer should be close fitting to work effectively in our climate, how they work, why some niff more than others, how to make a stinky baselayer smell better (and last longer), the difference between natural and man made fibres and what is good merino vs bad merino. There are tales a-plenty (including vanishing underwear) but beware - you may never be able to eat a...

Are you baffled by the number of different ropes available? Cathy and Wayne talk with Edelrid UK Representative Alex Smurthwaite and discover how not all ropes are equal...... Learn the difference between single/half/twin and triple ropes, why there are so many diameters, how a dry treatment keeps out more than just water, why colour is important, how to wash your rope, what the Bluesign logo means and why a "glorified angle grinder" is part of the Edelrid testing process! Listen ,learn,...

If trekking in Nepal is on your bucket list then join Cathy and Wayne as they chat with Denise Prior at Community Action Treks. She has 20 years experience and along with Nicola Terry from parent charity Community Action Nepal, explains not just the importance of packing the right kit but also how to travel and trek while having a positive impact on the country you are travelling in. Both Community Action Nepal and Community action Treks were originally set up by mountaineer Doug Scott - who...

In September 2023 Outdoor Gear Chat Co-Host Wayne Singleton stepped into the water at Bowness-on-Solway on the North Cumbria coast to "celebrate" an upcoming birthday. Some say he'd taken a wrong turn as originally, he'd started out planning to swim the English Channel. When he couldn't find a pilot he decided on a different type of swim challenge, one no-one had ever tried before - to swim the entire coastline of his home County of Cumbria. With no idea what to expect, no idea if three years...

Cathy & Wayne are joined by Author, Walking Leader and Outdoor Swimming Instructor Suzanna Cruikshank to talk about women's technical clothing for sizes beyond the norm. This fascinating insight into clothing fit follows on from our extremely successful online symposium held back in 2021. Listen as we discuss what is available, the difficulties of finding technical equipment for larger body shapes, why technical shops can be intimidating, colour, features and dodgy swim models. But...

In this episode Cathy and Wayne are joined by The Climbers Shop Manager and Spine Race veteran Chris Worton to talk about the wonderful world of trail shoes. Why are there so many different types? How is a trail running shoe different from a road running shoe? Can the right shoes make you feel less tired? How can you make shoes last longer? What is the difference between pronation and supination? What is meant by drop? gait? neutral shoes? This episode is packed with facts and information...

Cathy and Wayne are joined by engineer, sewer and outdoor equipment and clothing repair specialist; Rosanna Watson from Snowdonia Gear Repairs to delve into how to make your gear last longer. Learn about tapes, sealants, zips, seams and all the little replacement gizmo's available to make your own repairs as well as the wealth of fixes that can be done to clothing, sleeping bags, rucsacks and tents so they can be used and kept out of landfill for as long as possible. Packed full of tips,...

Ever wondered how to zip up a jacket when you only have the use of one hand? Or how to get in and out of a tent when half your body is paralysed? Cathy and Wayne are joined by the inimitable Paul Pritchard who re-defines "disabilty" with his continual adventures and expeditions after suffering a severe brain injury during a climbing accident. This podcast is a fascinating insight into adapting and using outdoor equipment for high altitude traverses, desert crossings, rock climbs and...

Cathy & Wayne are joined by Rab athlete Jon Gupta who has a wealth of experience climbing and guiding the worlds highest peaks - so many, in fact, just listening to the intro is exhausting! Kick back and join in the mirth as this chat offers a rare insight into life at high altitude and how little bits of kit and experience can make all the difference to being successful on a major expedition. Vital tips such as why you should never put your down suit on for the first time at 7000m, what...

Cathy and Wayne are back to talk about the humble hat and the many headwear items designed to protect your head from the cold, the heat, the sun and vicious biting mcbeasties. What fabrics work well, what features should you look out for, why is a hat so important, does a hat define who you are, when would you want to wear one under a hood, why did Wayne look like a member of the French Foreign Legion while running the Marathon des Sables and does Cathy really have a collection of...

Cathy and Wayne are joined by Scarpa UK Core Sales Director Glyn Padgett to discuss what sets mountain boots apart from regular walking boots. Learn the difference between B1, B2 & B3, why stiffness is critical when using boots with crampons, why size matters (even more than usual), why you shouldn't get the hump with gaiter zips, why it's not just materials that make a boot vegan friendly, amazing aftercare and the bizarre link between the boots on your feet and a famous Irish dry stout....