Walkhigh Mountaineering

Woodhead Mountain Rescue Team Fund Raiser

DRW — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 22:01:00 +0000

In an open letter Dave Walker of the Woodhead Mountain Rescue Team in South Yorkshire would like some moral and financial support for a trip to Kilimanjaro. Bearing in mind he's one of those rugged types that help make sure we all feel a little safer on the crags and moors around the peak district amongst other climber centric locations it feels only right that we should 'pitch' in on this one.

DWR - to heat or not to heat, that is the question

DRW — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 09:05:00 +0100

There is an ongoing debate about ironing to 'rejuvenate' the DWR finish. The care label on a jacket says it's possible while the fabric manufacturers website says preferably not, various blogs have a number of differing opinions ranging from yes, to using a hair dryer, the inside of a car on a hot day (!), draping over a radiator..........So, does the application of heat make a blind bit of difference ?

Breathability / Waterproofness and DWR - clearing up some misconceptions

DRW — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 19:07:00 +0100

So you spent a LOT of money on a high spec waterproof, the fabric is waterproof to several meters and treated with water repellancy and has a super-breathable construction but after a few outings it seems that performance isnt quite as you had imagined. Maybe you're still damp when working hard, sometimes sleeves wet out or the knees seem to leak perhaps ? Usually this is NOT because the garment isnt working correctly but CAN be because we are expecting it to do the impossible or didnt properly understand the manufacturers figures...

Edurne Pasaban - first European female to summit all 14 8000m peaks

DRW — Mon, 17 May 2010 15:34:00 +0100

Well done Edurne , only the 22nd person in the world and the 1st European woman to have completed mountaineerings ...

The World's Bouldering Elite In Sheffield - DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

DRW — Fri, 14 May 2010 11:15:00 +0100

Around 120 of the world's top boulderers will be in Sheffield in July for the IFSC Bouldering World Cup.The Sheffield round of the World Cup is one of 7 events worldwide, the other rounds being in America, The Netherlands, Austria, Germany, Russia and Switzerland.The World Cup is being held at the Cliffhanger event at Millhouses Park over two days, Saturday and Sunday, 3rd and 4th of July in the same humungous marquee as last year’s British Bouldering Championships (BBC's).The BBC's themselves will be held a week before the World Cup, 26-27 June, in the same marquee (free entry).

Advice on buying a second-hand or refurbished Versaclimber

DRW — Tue, 11 May 2010 08:24:00 +0100

Almost all the Versaclimbers are the same in terms of their mechanics - originally, only the 1:1 step to arm ratio was available but because some of the pro gyms wanted an 'easier / less intense' machine for the wide range of clientelle the Club model with its 2:1 arm:leg ratio was developed. Later came the Home model for people wishing to have a Versaclimber at home but for whom the professional models are simply too expensive.

Dont waste your vote and then complain about the outcome

DRW — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 02:37:00 +0100

I know politics is dull compared to climbing mountains, but regardless of your political views the current general election in the UK is possibly the most important one in our lifetimes and could change Britian forever. I'm old enough to have seen many governments of Tory and Labour and they have both gradually become almost indistinguishable and as corrupt and meaningless as one another. Also there has been a massive shift in the types of jobs and lifestyles in Britian over the years that has meant we all feel much more comfy than back in the 70's so feel less 'needy' as a result. That, I believe, has led to apathy among voters and a rise in the apparent support for extremist parties and a system where government has almost unchallenged, managed to make our society a more isoloated and fearful place than it should be. THERE IS A CHOICE...but YOU need to help make it by exercising your right to vote.

Volcano causing disruption in unexpected ways

DRW — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 09:45:00 +0100

When the news of the Icelandic banks loosing billions of UK money came to light that was bad enough. But now the same nation has a volcano, Eyjafjallajokull (1666m / 5466ft - although this is probably changing as I write), thats wreaking havoc with our airspace too. While the first of these disasters hasn't had a direct impact on us just yet, the latter is causing us at walkhigh a few problems...

Ordinance Survey to make its mapping FREE !!!

DRW — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 13:19:00 +0000

Under proposals put forward by the Prime minister in November a consultation about the future of the Ordinance Survey is due to conclude later this month. The challenge in our increasingly electronic age is for the OS to continue to be self-funding in the face of overhwelming competition from Google , GPS, 3G phone and other mapping technologies.

Montane select four outstanding online retailers for Pro-Store status including Walkhigh

DRW — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 22:46:00 +0000

We are extremely pleased to announce that we have achieved the Montane Pro-Store accolade that reflects our dedication to the Montane brand and the high level of support and technical expertise that goes into retailing Montane products

New Walkhigh Website is on its way

DRW — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 18:16:00 +0000

We're all excited here in the Walkhigh offices about our new fangled website thingy... lots of new brands are joining us and the site is even simpler to use and has more of the features that you will have seen on the really big e-commerce sites. You can get involved too - with product reviews and discussions on our blog and Facebook. There will be some limited edition FREE STUFF when the new site launches so keep watching out for it.

Ben Fogle blunders on Cairngorm wearing Jeans for BBC Country Tracks

DRW — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 14:49:00 +0000

Its not often that the BBC makes a glaring error, particularly with mountaineering and outdoor programmes in general being of a very high standard, however it was incredibly irresponsible to air Ben Fogle, a well respected presenter and outdoorsman, climbing (or walking depending on your point of view) to the summit of Cairngorm wearing Jeans. This is seriously dangerous stuff, why ?... read on ....

Your chance to enter one of the toughest trail running races in the world...

DRW — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 14:43:00 +0100

Take up the challenge of the Montane Lakeland 100 for the ultimate athletes or the Lakeland 50 for just a slightly more do-able event. Enter online here... What is the lakeland 100 & Lakeland 50? ...The Lakeland 100 (UTLD) takes place on the weekend of July 23rd - 25th and is the most spectacular long distance trail race which has ever taken place within the UK.

The Bog Walk High Choir

DRW — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 14:10:00 +0100

Hey hey, it seems we have a choir named after us... well, not quite, but check out these young Jamaicans having a great time. Michael Jackson eat your heart out , we're lovin' it in the Walkhigh offices!

Improving clothing size information for online purchasers

DRW — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 09:39:00 +0100

To see if we could further improve size information for online consumers, we recently embarked on a study to see what - if anything - could be improved

Which? magazine votes the Montane Atomic DT jacket Best Buy in review

DRW — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 07:53:00 +0100

As consumer magazines go, Which? is probably the best known and without a doubt the most difficult to get a great review in - why ?... because they are industry agnostic and have an internal policy of complete neutrality which ensures their readers get the absolute lows and highs of any product they review. Brave then of Montane to send the Atomic Jacket in for test ?... no, not really, with quality as high as Montane's there's little to fear of an independant review, but what a review it turned out to be.

Battling Everest for Cancer

DRW — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 14:47:00 +0100

We receive a lot of correspondence from charities and individuals looking for sponsorship for their particular cause, most of which are extremely well thought through and thorougly deserving of support. Regrettably we cannot provide everyone with meaningful support so have decided instead that to help raise awareness of these various expeditions and personal challenges and in particular provide details of how you may be able to support them.

Ever wondered what separates the run of the mill outdoor brands from the truly exceptional ?

DRW — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 14:27:00 +0100

Quality , styling and functionality are obviously all up there as key initiatives but true cutting edge technology is only available when the manufacturer 'takes part' in the sports concerned and listens and acts on feedback from customers, competitors and professionals , not just in annual board meetings, but regularly, as part of everyday life.

Litespeed Jacket - Used & Abused - Trail Magazine

DRW — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 14:16:00 +0100

The Montane Litespeed is the most versatile jacket in the Montane Pertex ultralight range - including a roll-away hood and full length zip and coming in a vast array of colours including fluorescent for visibility and olive for invisibility and just about everything inbetween, this garment is ideal for using around town or on the mountain top, running or on your bike, lazing about or working hard. Dont leave home without one... I dont !

Litespeed Jacket - Used & Abused

Trail Magazine, October 2009

Verdict - I rate it's running and walking versatility

Montane Sabretooth jacket gets high rating by Trail Magaine.

DRW — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 14:12:00 +0100

The Sabretooth by Montane is one of the most sophisticated softshell jackets that Montane has ever produced. This is a specialised garment for the technical mountain enthusiast that truly understands the need for and advantages of high specification fabrics, close fit and class leading weather proofing. Nothing flapping in the breeze and the minimum of bulk translate to a piece of clothing even suited to one of the the most demanding mountain sports: ice climbing.

Montane Dragonfly shirt rated 5 STAR in Trail magazine - BEST IN TEST !

DRW — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 14:05:00 +0100

Base layers are all too easy to underestimate the importance of but do so at your peril. Heating, cooling and moisure management as well as comfort against the skin creates a challenging enviroment that only the very best designed garment with the most high performance fabrics can tackle with any measure of success. The Dragonfly shirt from Montane meets all these requirements and more , adding a dash of style and pride of ownership to the wearer too.

Top of the range Montane Superfly XT jacket reviewed by Adventure Travel Magazine

DRW — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 13:59:00 +0100

The Montane Super-fly XT is the flagship fully protective lightweight winter choice from the Montane stable. A mainstay product in the brands portfolio, the XT offers the optimum combination of protection, weight and breathability for the serious mountain walker or mountaineer. Make no mistake, when you feel the weight of this jacket you could be forgiven for underestimating it but this is no lightweight when it comes to performance.

Montane's new Meteor jacket reviewed by Adventure Travel Magazine

DRW — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 13:56:00 +0100

Meteor Jacket is for lightweight mountain enthusiasts and has been awarded 5 out of 5 vy Adenture Travel in their latest review. As a multisport jacket it has what you need and nothing else, saving space and weight while giving the user the freedom to explore without boundaries.

Runners World Magazine reviews the Montane Featherlite Marathon Jacket

DRW — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 13:50:00 +0100

The ultralight Pertex jacket range produced by Montane are probably the best known and most loved garments from their range. With various versions available ranging from simple smocks to specialised garments for cycling, adventure racing or running are the ultimate lightweight wind proof and weather resistant jackets in the world. The Featherlite Marathon Jacket has been reviewed by Runners World recently and scored a whopping 9 out of 10

Montane Terra pants a great choice for mountaineering and climbing too

DRW — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 09:47:00 +0100

Montane Terra pants were conceived as a walking trouser but their durability, quick drying and superb fit have made them a great choice for mountaineering and climbing too. UK climbing have reviewed the pants (at last!) and agree they are suitable for scrambing and climbing both short domestic routes and for bigger Alpine routes.

Simond Makalu II and Vampire crampons recall

DRW — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 13:26:00 +0100

Despite quality control checks, it is possible that some faulty parts were used in the production of certain Simond Makalu II and Vampire crampons made in the first six months of 2006. Simond would like to examine these crampons at the factory and replace any faulty parts where necessary.

50 FREE Montane Featherlite Smocks to give away !

DRW — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 18:07:00 +0100

FREE MONTANE FEATHERLITE SMOCK worth £40.00 (RRP).

UIAA versus CE / CEN / BS and other standards for climbing equipment

DRW — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 10:18:00 +0100

When you buy climbing equipment for personal or professional use it is imperative that it meets safety legislation for your safety, peace of mind and to ensure any relevant insurance is not invalidated. While all the equipment we sell for climbing meets these stringent standards there are some variations in the standards that can cause confusion among consumers, we'll try to explain...

Members of Facebook can now get our blog sent directly

DRW — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 09:58:00 +0100

Regular users of facebook can now seach for our Walkhigh Mountaineering page and become a fan - that way, whenever this blog is updated, you get the latest info directly into your facebook profile. We'll also be posting exclusive Facebook stuff that wont be in this blog so why not get FBing.

WIN £500 OF MONTANE CLOTHING - FREE PRIZE DRAW

DRW — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 16:37:00 +0100

To enter visit the Montane / Walkhigh stand at Cliffhanger in Millhouses Park, Sheffield on the weekend of July 11th and 12th 2009.