UKH

Now that Rab has been taken over by the dog walkers , NF by roadmen ( the drucks type not the council) what brands can I wear to identify myself as a hardcore climber ? (not that I am but I want to give that impression to people). 

In reply to Chris H:

Any of the above but with generous applications of gaffer tape 

In reply to Andypeak:

Lol yep done that - an actual genuine repair not deliberately falling into a bush and not related to placing poo bags in trees.

In reply to Chris H:

Decathlon 

In reply to Chris H:

Mountain Equipment ave been going a while without going that way...

What are they doing wrong!?

In reply to Chris H:

I rate Mountain Equipment highly.

In reply to Chris H:

Arc'teryx was a good one until recently but that's considered high fashion now. Starting to see more and more people wearing ME down jackets too.

No issues with people that aren't climbers/hikers etc. wearing the kit, just hate when the brands end up tailoring their products to suit the masses and reducing quality. 

In reply to Chris H:

Ron Hill.

In reply to slawrence1001:

But only for sport climbers, as per their motto "all for sport, sport for all" or something like that

In reply to Myfyr Tomos:

Another vote for Ronhill. Buffalo too. Navy blue tracksters combined with a blue Buffalo windshirt, liberally gaffer taped.

In reply to Chris H:

La sportiva tx4s

In reply to nikkormat:

You may jest. This is yours truly from loooong ago...😯

In reply to Chris H:

Excellent question & thread. Shame about Patagonia and Arcteryx as the gear is so good, but both def a no-no now. For finance bros and outdoor news reporters.

Mountain Equipment remains a reliable constant. I like the votes for Ron Hill & Buffalo - old school

Mammut? Ski instructors & guides. Marmot? French hikers. 

In reply to Myfyr Tomos:

You forgot to tuck your Ronhills into your socks! Or is that the traditional Welsh fashion?

In reply to bozzy:

ME is my brand of choice, both for reliable quality and because I seem to be the exact size and shape of their average Large Man, but it's got a real following in broadcast/film and TV (I work in an adjacent industry) - hopefully not a bad omen.

In reply to Chris H:

Scarpa Crux shoes and at least one Gaffer Tape patch on clothing seem derigeour.

In reply to Chris H:

If you walk down the high street in a pair of Raichle boots everyone will know you're hardcore and not a pretender.

In reply to Chris H:

It's not so much that gear has gone High Street, climbing itself has gone HS. With the massive expansion of climbing walls ("gyms" - ugh) and sport climbing it's now one of the safest physical activities going. Or so it seems to those of us who started back when "sex was safe and climbing was dangerous".

In reply to Chris H:

Whatever you've missed the point.  The trick is to actually go climbing and have a subtle veneer of chalk applied to everything.  This will also help getting a 'patina'

Climbing is not cycling.  You can't buy authenticity here

In reply to Chris H:

What gear is on point currently for climbers?

US Army/Marines combat clothing?

In reply to FactorXXX:

ME mission WLD jacket and DMM/Helix dragon cams

In reply to Chris H:

Where is the Paramo brigade when you need them?

Black Diamond, Moon, Montane would be my suggestions.

In reply to Chris H:

Thoughts on Montane anyone? (not about quality/design/features, purely thinking on brand)

In reply to bozzy:

Maybe old skool / retro is the way to go? Javlin / Helly / North Cape / Tog 24 ?  

In reply to Chris H:

Think Pink, Gramicci.

In reply to Pedro50:

Gramicci definitely not old school. Successfully rebranded as a young/contemporary fashion brand these days. The G-Pants are still excellent as ever

In reply to SFM:

Me me me! I also think Rohan make good stuff. Hah!

In reply to Pedro50:

Another +1 for Grammicci. Good stuff just well expensive

In reply to Chris H:

I know that this is against the spirit of the thread but you could identify as a hard-core climber by climbing hard instead of hoping your gear will do the job for you. Eschew boulder mats and use a threadbare beer mat. Use 10 point crampons or nailed boots and an alpenstock. By a washing line off alibiba and replace your DMM with Amazon own brand. All whilst climbing E6 grit routes.

In reply to beardy mike:

Yes i could do all that Mike (actually I couldn't as I'm sht) but how would the dog walkers know that as I pass them in my wheelchair?

In reply to Chris H:

Dryrobe

In reply to Chris H:

Go obscure European, Salewa. Millet (you even get to say, this isn't the English high St one), Montura, Dynafit, Haglof, Norrona. There's a great little and well priced brand in Italy called Rock Experience. Orthovox of course. 

Buy a bit from each and you should be beautifully kitted out and bankrupt. 😃 🤣. 

Petals, Grivel or Trab beanies. 

Just so you know, putting gaffer tape on Italian brands gets you arrested. 

In reply to Ciro:

Mainly because they got bought out by Mammut about 10 years ago

In reply to nikoid:

I've seen two Dryobe's so far this week, one out walking the dog and one shopping in Tesco.

In reply to beardy mike:

Notwithstanding the ethical problems, it is considered cheating to use a tool that is longer than the route is high.

In reply to nikoid:

With UGG boots & small dog to complete the look

In reply to aostaman:

This Is The Way

In reply to FactorXXX:

Ah, Patagonia then...?

In reply to phizz4:

I've not actually seen one for real yet, I'm looking forward to my first sighting. My wife only told me about them the other day!

In reply to Chris H:

There's only one brand for a climber to be seen in: Climbers Against Cancer. 

Look Good while Doing Good!

https://www.climbersagainstcancer.org/

Big thank you to all our Athlete Ambassadors! All profits to fund Cancer Research  

In reply to dominic o:

... and of course those of our fabulous partners and supporters: https://www.climbersagainstcancer.org/partners-supporters/

In reply to Chris H:

Mountain Equipment is so Autumn Watch and for Twitchers.

In reply to Chris H:

E9, Prana, Moon, LaSpo of course

In reply to Chris H:

Berghaus or Buffalo - but you'd need a beard (somehow I think that'll never get taken over by the masses) 

In reply to Lankyman:

One of the many faux pas from my younger days...

In reply to beardy mike:

On-point as ever Mike. 

That said I'm currently sporting a very cool "Gravity is Optional" t-shirt that my daughter designed.

In reply to Chris H:

Is it really bad to give away ropes and slings, with a warning, to newbie climbers?

In reply to Chris H:

Who cares what the dogwalkers think when you listen to punk, pull like a tractor on nitrous and have all the girls?

In reply to Chris H: anybody who is anybody only wears one off customised stuff from the special section for special people at a large outdoor brands special shop for special people . Un believably these special one off pieces are silly cheap despite having their own discrete  patch that identifies the wearer as far more cool than you . I have two such  jackets one of which has not been off my back since the days drew in . The jacket only appeared in the shops this autumn and costs way more than my special one for special people . Imagine my self satisfied smirk when I pop into fishers or costwold to check the price of the non custom versions .

In reply to captain paranoia:

Wild Things is the place to look for this:

https://www.wildthingsgear.com/

They used to specialise in mountaineering stuff, but seemed to gradually realise grubby alpinists didn't have the same financial clout as the world's richest uncle

(I secretly fancy a go with one of their Knuckle Roasters, mind)

In reply to Chris H:

Dachstein mitts.

In reply to Chris H:

Stone island and Ralph Lauren 

In reply to Chris H:

Simple - don't wear a top at all, but leave your hat on.

In reply to nufkin:

That does look reassuringly expensive...

But I thought Patagonia were involved in the ECWCS III development. I could easily be wrong...

In reply to captain paranoia:

No idea, I'm afraid. But on balance I think I'd look less askance at Patagonia being involved than many other companies, on account of their avowed do-gooding

In reply to nufkin:

I wasn't trying to criticise Patagonia if they were involved.

In reply to Chris H:

Troll

In reply to Chris H:

I did have a quiet chuckle on this point yesterday. I was looking at shoes in the depot when the guy for the shop pointed out that all the shoes on display were really for bouldering only.I suddenly realised they had on display only a couple of shoes suitable for “outside” use. Of course they are playing to the indoor market, makes perfect sense….ah we’ll have to see what V12 or Outside have.illustrates how specialised the climbing world is becoming.

In reply to DubyaJamesDubya:

Anyone suggesting Mountain Equipment and wonder why the Citadel is out of stock just needs to check out Liverpool city centre on a cold evening.

There's more 'outdoor' gear in the McDonald's than Cotswold in the winter.

That and Montane Terra's.

In reply to SteveoS:

That's fairly easy these days, since Cotswold don't seem to have much in stock...

In reply to aostaman:

Salewa isn't obscure European, it's really popular in Germany and Austria with non-mountain people. You're right in the that the Euro brands are relatively rare in the UK, but go to the alps and everyone's in them.

I think you'd need to go eastern European to get something obscure - Polish or Czech manufacturers.

In reply to Chris H:

Montane? Or is that more fell runners?

In reply to Chris H:

Wear whatever you want, just accessorise your outfit with a Whillans harness and Joe Brown helmet

In reply to kevin stephens:

Stop there...

In reply to Chris H:

Damart fleece trousers and orange balaclava

In reply to kevin stephens:

Don’t forget a pair of Galibier Super Pro’s

In reply to Chris H:

Brynje obviously. Although it might depend the sort of clubs you frequent. 

Paramo

Buffalo

my Annapurna ME "duvet" circa 1980

In reply to Chris H:

It is hard to stand out now, even walking around Tesco feels more like attending a mountain film festival than getting the shopping. 

If you just want to win with one item, then a one piece Brynje Mesh under suit is the way to go. You can get the ones without the fabric dignity crotch on special order for maximum performance. Bit chilly this time of year, but it shows your hard (and shows your not). Standing in the freezer aisle in Tesco next to an estate agent in his Rab downie and everyone will know who the real deal is.

Accessorize with a tightly rolled up pair of Ronhills strapped to your thigh in case things ever get chilly ((you are too hard to ever need them, but climbers are always prepared). Keep your life systems first aid kit strapped to the other thigh, next to your leatherman. Invest in one of those waterproof fleece lined caps with the fold up back and sides, most have little hoops at the end of the ear flaps so you can tie a bit of elastic under your chin and this is how it should be worn at all times. If you need to hear what anyone says, just lift a corner up, but there will rarely be the need for this (mostly it will just be people asking their mates if you're that famous climber off the telly, so just give them a nod and a wink). 

It's also worth letting people know you've left your Buffalo mountain shirt at home for when the real winter weather comes in (you don't need to tell everyone, just those that make eye contact). Let them know that you only wear it below -5, otherwise it ruins your acclimatization for Snowdon later in the season. 

Finally, don't use bags for life to carry your shopping, use a custom made lightweight alpine pack from an obscure brand no one has heard of (£500-800 should be enough for this). Failing that, then a faded multicolour canvas crag pack from the 80's will do, just know that you are letting yourself down. 

Hope this helps, and don't forget your walking poles 👍

In reply to Sharp:

I've been using Snell Sports branded bag for life. Am I letting myself down?

In reply to Sharp:

After a day in the mountains yesterday, I popped into a local farm shop to buy something to eat wearing nothing more than my finest Brynje fetish wear and a pair of Paramo salopettes from a previous decade. I got some looks, lets leave it at that. I am not sure if the barbour and hunter clad shoppers thought I was a rouge lakeland sheep farmer or got lost on my way to one of Germanys finest evening establishments? Thankfully managed to get out before security was called. 

In reply to Sharp:

This is precisely the info I need - many thanks !

In reply to Chris H:

TX4s and about £2000 worth of jacket topped off with a multicolour, wool, knitted beanie that looks older than the sun.

In reply to Chris H:

There was guy at wall dressed head to toe in Moon clothing. I said to him you realise you're just a free walking advert. Said his name was Ben or something.

In reply to Chris H:

well worn ventile, generic woollen balaclava, dachsteins

In reply to Chris H:

Going to the shops in Lyon i often go in my lime green montane down jacket (in winter), ronhills and some old road running shoes that now act as my approach shoes. As this is France montane and ronhill are sufficiently obscure.

In reply to Toerag:

Remembered the brand of the Czech trousers I had - Direct Alpine.  They were really good lightweight summer trousers, but shrank in the wash and became a bit too short for me. .

In reply to Toerag:

For years no one recognised my Milo trousers & I didn't know where they came from after buying them in a sale in Andorra. Then I wore them for a conference excursion in the Tatra & discovered they are Polish, & very common there.

Meanwhile no one in this part of France recognises my Montane & Mardale tops.

In reply to Doug:

On the other hand, no-one has a clue about my SNC fleece...

In reply to captain paranoia:

becoming rare even in France since they shut most of their shops, think there are now only 2 left.