Alpkit Outpost - Issue 01

OUTPOST A MOUNTAIN JOURNAL PUBLIC ATION

the 08 Introducing NEW Sonder Bikes

The Art of Wild 12 Embrace Swimming with Lotic

INSPIRING YOU TO GO NICE PLACES AND DO GOOD THINGS. HELPING YOU START A FIRE WHEN YOU GET THERE.

THE BEST ISSUE SO FAR ISSUE 01: OUTPOST BY ALPKIT 2016

WELCOME TO OUTPOST MAGAZINE OUR ATTEMPT TO BE A BIT MORE GROWN-UP Alpkit’s been around for ten years now, so we thought it was about time we ventured into print. It’s just another way to share the cool stuff usually confined to our website, and show off some of the new things we’re doing. Don’t worry, it’s not full of models carrying suspiciously clean kit.

In fact, we’ve got some exciting new projects to talk about, like Sonder, Lotic and SteepEdge. Plus a look back and forward (if you can do that without coming unstuck) at some of our heroes like the Meeks and the Pips. We can’t commit to making this a monthly thing, but we’ll probably do four a year.

We’re always looking for inspiring stories of people in nice places, doing good things, so if you want to feature in the next Outpost, or on our Daring Deeds blog, give us a shout.

Alpkit Class of 2009 modelling Filo jackets and dreaming of one day making bikes of their own.

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10

yrs

WHERE DID THE LAST TEN YEARS GO? We know we were paying attention because we made a company. There were definitely milestones, like the first Alpkit Filo jacket. Or moving into what was a hugely depressing warehouse space, where we had to build our own offices.

All the trade shows and festivals, standing in the rain under a branded marquee. We don’t feel older. Just more experienced, and a lot more confident that we’re doing the right thing.

JOIN ESPRESSO, OUR SHORT SHOT OF NEWS, EVENTS, OFFERS: VISIT ALPKIT.COM

OUTPOST 3

HONEST, GREAT VALUE, CONSIDERED TECHNICAL CLOTHING AND EQUIPMENT.

Filoment smock in Dark Denim £99 Mamalute jacket in Flamingo £35

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Check us out. Two pages in and we’re already shouting the odds. But come on. We started Alpkit to challenge the elitism you get with some outdoor brands.

You know, the feeling that if you don’t buy this expensive backpack or that overpriced coat, well you’re not taking it seriously, and you don’t belong.

and we work with suppliers signed up to the Ethical Trading Initiative – no child labour, or slaves. We use organic cotton and source animal based materials using the most humane methods: our down comes from non-live plucked, non-force fed animals and merino from non-mulesing farms.

Well, everything at Alpkit is made to exacting standards to be technically superior even in the most extreme conditions, and to perform just as we say it will.

Because it’s sold direct from us to you, with no retailer mark-up, you don’t pay extortionate prices. We have set up a UK factory to move some production back here,

Which means everyone can afford to buy the right kit, to get out there and have fun, all year round.

OK, speech over. Here are some pictures of our superior products.

Top: Gourdon 30 waterproof backpack £25 CarbonLite pole (pair) £45 Swig drinks bottle £6 Above: Akita fleece jacket in Plum £30 Sonder Camino Ti bike from £1,499 Airlok Dual 13L dry bag £11 Left: Tom wears Koulin Tech-T in Lava £12 Ruth wears Mamalute jacket in Flamingo £35 Mujo bouldering mat £130

OUTPOST 5

DARING DEEDS REAL STORIES, EXPEDITIONS, ROAD TRIPS AND ADVENTURE.

alpkit.com/deeds

THE MEEK FAMILY Until recently, Tim, Kerry, Amy and Ella lived

THE MEEK FAMILY HAVE TURNED “a pretty normal life.” Two teachers from Nottingham, raising their daughters and wishing they had more A LOVE OF THE OUTDOORS time to spend together.

AND A DESIRE TO SPEND Then, in the summer of 2014, they sold their house, quit their jobs and took the girls out of school. The result MORE TIME TOGETHER INTO AN was a year – now nearly two – of what they refer to as ‘family ed-venture.’ See what they’ve done there?

INSPIRATIONAL WAY OF LIFE. Basically that means hitting the road, travelling the UK in search of experiences to push their physical and mental limits – taking them out of their comfort zones and expanding their minds.

“IT ’S ABOUT AT T ITUDE. THE MEEKS V IEW EV ERY THING AS AN OPPORT UNIT Y.”

Since they first popped up at an open mic session, following an Alastair Humphreys talk at our Big Shakeout back in 2013, they’ve been living that dream. But not simply because they’re exploring the wild places our country has to offer.

It’s about attitude. You see, the Meeks view everything as an opportunity: visiting a beach becomes a chance to sleep somewhere different, clean up plastic pollution, and turn that into a sculpture. Their journey is as much about giving back to people and places they visit as it is about their own self improvement and education.

If there’s anything to be learned from their lifestyle choice, it’s that getting out and enjoying our surroundings doesn’t require a knowledge of navigation, Navajo weather prediction techniques or 5000 hours practice on a climbing wall.

All you need is a bit of kit and an open mind.

If this has piqued your interest, you can follow the Meek’s ed-venture online at their blog, get a bit of inspiration from their recent book, and check out their contributions to the Daring Deeds section of Alpkit.com.

READ MORE ONLINE: alpkit.com/deeds/daddy-meek

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TEAM ANTARCTICA YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE A SCIENTIST TO KNOW THAT CLIMATE CHANGE IS MESSING WITH THE WORLD’S WEATHER. BUT YOU DO HAVE TO BE ONE TO CARRY OUT RESEARCH. ESPECIALLY WHEN THAT RESEARCH IS IN ANTARCTICA. Dr Bethan Davies and her team, led by Aberystwyth University, have a Natural Environment Research Council grant, and they’re using it to hang out in the Antarctic Peninsula – on James Ross Island in particular – to study the effects of oceanic and atmospheric warming on the glaciers there.

Why? Well, because they love a good field trip, and that area is one of the fastest-warming places on Earth. And because disappearing ice cover from this pristine region has big implications for sea level rise, wildlife, and krill (the things which feed the large stocks of fish on which we depend).

And they’ve really put themselves and their kit to the test, on ice-breakers, on ice sheets, on icy beaches and all other ice- and snow-based situations you can think of.

They’ve also introduced us to the phrase ‘bergy bits’ which is just one of many new technical terms for chunks of ice the team have developed.

You can read more about their journey, and their findings, over at alpkit.com

Alpkit sponsored the team for two seasons, following their progress since they started their training in a wet field in England, being dropped off by the RRS Ernest Shackleton on 21st January 2011, and beyond.

So far they’ve endured minus 40 degrees and below to gather rock samples to date the thinning and retreat of the last ice sheet from the northern Antarctic Peninsula, around 15,000 years ago. All that lovely data will then be shipped home to inform the models that help us predict future retreats.

“We love seeing our products stand up to Antarctic conditions.”

While we’re all for the science bit, we have to be honest and say we just get a kick out of adventure of any kind. And of course we love seeing our products like Filo jackets and Heksa tents stand up under Antarctic test conditions.

READ MORE ONLINE: alpkit.com/deeds/back-to-antarctica

OUTPOST 7

BY ALPKIT Sonder – n. the realization that each random passer-by is living a life as vivid and complex as your own. (From the Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows)

PREPARE TO CLEAR SOME SPACE ON YOUR BIKE RACK Alpkit have turned their enthusiasm, design skills and total obsessiveness about quality components into a new range of bikes. Bikes you can use every day, but which you can also push to the limits.

So far, there are three available and two in development. Hopefully, this is just the beginning.

TRANSMITTER Aluminium hardtail for big days in the mountains or at the local trail centre.

BROKEN ROAD Titanium off-road expedition bike for long rides in remote places.

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CAMINO Titanium drop-barred adventure travel bike, not afraid to leave the asphalt.

“Having ridden and tested the Sonder Transmitter for a certain magazine, I’ve placed a pre-order. Honestly the most fun bike I’ve ridden this year. Cannot flipping wait for it to arrive.” Greg May Alpkit Director Nick is characteristically super excited and reassuringly calm, all at the same time. Probably because the news that the Alpkit team are designing and personally building their own range of bikes in collaboration with Brant Richards has already sunk in for him, at least a little bit, if not for the rest of us.

Nick giving us a demo

But why now? “We’ve got a strong reputation for bikepacking gear. Now we’ve also got the skills in the business to make a decent bike – to do it as well as everyone else, but also the naivety to think we can do it differently.”

You could call it naive. Or just a refreshingly different approach. Since he and his friends started Alpkit, nothing has been off the table. “I remember one meeting where I suggested we do a mountain wine.”

First it was the Filo – a 650+ down jacket at an affordable price. So it is with the Sonder: Alpkit is all about empowering us to get out and have fun.

Instead of building a £4k full suspension machine you can only ride downhill (and have to push uphill) they’ve created bikes like the Transmitter. It has four build options starting at £849, is made to be taken out every day, but is light enough and with good enough components to withstand all the rough stuff.

“We wanted a bike to ride to the mountains,

traverse the mountains and go down the mountains,” says Nick.

Between the various incarnations of the on and off-road titanium Camino, the forthcoming Vir Fortis Fatbike and the Broken Road, they’ve begun to cover every price point, and every possible use – from multi-day off road adventures, to adrenaline-fuelled descents and continent-crossing adventures. They’ve even left room for each model to take a variety of rolling stock.

“We know that people are kayakers, bikepackers and climbers, sometimes all on the same day. These are bikes for people who don’t want to be limited, who need something they can trust.”

So, what’s next from Sonder? “If you’ve got a special requirement we could do a custom one, we can also look at how people are using them and expand within one category – like make the Transmitter out of carbon fibre, or the Camino in alloy,” Nick muses. “People keep asking how big the range will be, and the honest answer is: it changes every day in my head!”

FANCY A SONDER? Demo bikes are already at the factory store. alpkit.com/sonder

OUTPOST 9

“It’s a proper relaxed, low-key, but distinctly tribal, gently joyous, outdoors gathering.”

Jon Doran, OutdoorsMagic.

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© With Love Project

THE

NEXT SHAKEOUT: 23rd/24th/25th SEPT 2016

BIG SHAKEOUT FESTIVAL 2015 It’s big, it’s outside, and you can shake it as much as you want.

The Big Shakeout festival is a weekend of adventure and entertainment in the Peak District. Imagine all the best bits of a festival – seeing your mates, camping, fresh air, bands – but without the extortionate prices, warm lager and insane queues for the toilet.

That’s what the Alpkit founders did, and then they made it a real thing.

The format is simple: be active during the day and be entertained in the evening. For 2015, The Big Shakeout was set in the glorious, secluded Thornbridge Outdoors campground – giving us access to worldclass rock climbing facilities, challenging mountain biking, beautiful caves and fine walking terrain all within a 20 minute radius.

Obviously, we all went for it full throttle: white water kayaking, trying our hands at axe throwing, and polishing our survival skills with the School

of Adventure.

For those looking for a more relaxing time, or those with kids who didn’t want to travel too far, we saw plenty of free activities on site to keep everyone busy.

And there were taster sessions from festival partners Thornbridge Outdoors to suit all skill levels.

After a day of fun, we hung up our freshly carved fire sticks and got stuck into home-cooked food, great beer, live music, fun and games. Oh, and did we mention it’s a not-for-profit festival? So, as well as free tea and coffee, you can get a smug, warm feeling from knowing all the ticket money goes to support the Alpkit Foundation.

The next Shakeout is from 23rd – 25th September 2016.

Book now to avoid sitting at home bored and gutted.

Register your interest for 2016 tickets at alpkit.com/bigshakeout

OUTPOST 11

EMBRACE THE ART OF WILD SWIMMING NOWHERE IS OFF LIMITS WITH A LOTIC WETSUIT IN YOUR PACK

Jack and Col testing the Lotic wetsuit at Porth Wen, Anglesey.

We hate the idea of missing out. But when it comes to the open water – a tarn, a river, or the crystal clear waters lapping at the foot of that coastal path – well, it just seems a step too far. Inviting, but on anything other than the hottest days of the year, best approached with a kayak, or even a full-sized schooner.

In other words, water is something to be travelled on, not frolicked in. Which is why we’re in love with the idea behind the Alpkit Lotic wetsuit. Designed in collaboration with industry legend Dean Jackson and The Outdoor Swimming Society, the Lotic is our ticket to a whole new medium.

You can see Jackson’s influence in the extreme fine tuning. And the OSS’s knowledge in the amazing comfort features. But in true Alpkit tradition, the Lotic isn’t the preserve of competition triathletes or channel swimmers. It’s for everyone else too – and that’s anyone who wants to swim all year round, from the Great North Swim to the wild rockpools of the Peak.

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Tested in Cornwall in lake, river and sea, the Lotic’s Glideskin outer keeps you both streamlined and warm. And the neoprene is deployed in such a combination of flexibility, thickness and stretch to enhance the swimming experience.

Of course, there are loads of cool features and engineering stuff we could geek out over, but let’s just focus on two. First, whether you’re a newbie or an experienced explorer of wild wet places, you’ll appreciate the added thickness in the Lotic’s legs and bum, keeping you buoyant and out having fun for longer.

Second, like all of Alpkit’s own products, the Lotic is designed by us and sold direct from our factory on the edge of the Peak District, which cuts out the retail and wholesale mark ups you get with other brands. So you can start your open water adventure with a super-high tech wetsuit for just £135.

Durable glideskin construction, excellent temperature retention and easy to take on and off – the Lotic wetsuit is designed for open water and adventure swimming, proven in UK waters from 8ºC.

FLEXIBILITY Underarm thickness at 2mm, with shoulder and chest at 2.5mm, giving greater flexibility where you need it most.

GREATER VISIBILITY Red flashes at shoulder, wrists and ankles ensure you can be seen.

GLIDESKIN OUTER The Glideskin outer reduces friction, retains heat and is naturally dirt and water resistant, making the Lotic fast, warm and easy to care for.

INTEGRATED POUCH Keep your valuables safe.

DURABILITY A blend of neoprene and nylon in the lower leg gives more durability for this high abrasion area.

EXTRA BUOYANCY Neoprene at 4mm on the leg and 3.5mm on the back makes for extra buoyancy in the lower body for greater speed and energy conservation.

SEE THE LOTIC IN ACTION Katie Tunn lives in the northernmost house on Skye. Read her journal to see the Lotic put to the test, among her other adventures. alpkit.com/deeds/new-mountain-journal-short-katie-tunn

OUTPOST 13

DARING DEEDS REAL STORIES, EXPEDITIONS, ROAD TRIPS AND ADVENTURE.

alpkit.com/deeds

IN 2012 ALPKIT BECAME PART OF THE SUPPORT CREW FOR AN ECO-ADVENTURE We get all nostalgic with a look back through the DD archives.

For anyone with a passion for nature, the story of Madagascar is a bit of a downer, to put it mildly.

This island state off the coast of Africa is what scientists call ‘megadiverse.’ That’s a term which should need no explanation, but here’s one anyway: of the 250,000 wildlife species found in Madagascar, 70% are found nowhere else in the world. That means the island holds a hefty chunk of the whole planet’s biodiversity. Unfortunately over 90% of its original rainforest has been destroyed.

Klara Harden, cinematographer and photographer from Austria, and Karsten Pruehl, a filmmaker from Berlin, decided what was left of Madagascar’s rainforest should be protected. As you might expect, their solution was to make an eco-adventure documentary – a gripping, beautifully-shot story that will bring the world’s attention to the issue.

Or, as Klara puts it: “With Love From Madagascar is a proof to myself and others, that there still is a possibility for change. We are not helpless. We are not trapped. We have to do something against all the big problems of the world. Because we can!”

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We couldn’t let the pair set off on their journey without kitting them out with stuff like titanium cutlery, lightweight Pipedream sleeping bags and Gourdons drybags – cameras don’t like humidity.

This was a crowd-funded, bike powered endeavour, so as well as their Alpkit essentials, Klara and Karsten used donated solar-panels and cycle clothing on their tour through national parks, conservation areas and charity programs.

It was, and still is, an epic undertaking, and proof that with minimal kit and a shed load of determination we can not only get out into the wild, but also inspire others to experience, enjoy and protect it – and have a bloody good time doing it, too.

READ MORE Help support the project at withlovefrommadagascar.blogspot.de or visit alpkit.com/deeds/with-lovefrom-madagascar

HALF TERM ON THE HIGHLAND TRAIL TEN YEAR OLD TOM SEIPP AND HIS DAD WARM UP WITH A 550 MILE RIDE Tom and Rich set themselves a series of challenges in 2014, and the Highland Trail was just one.

Not sure what you did for your school holidays as a kid? We definitely went to some mad places. But not many of us can say we took on the Highland Trail: 550 magnificent miles riding on trail and tar.

But that’s just what Rich and his son Tom ‘Mini Pips’ Seipp did last May. “If you’ve ridden the 550 before, as I did in 2014, or you know parts of the route, you’ll no doubt have thought that the idea of a 10 year old riding it was a bit crazy,” says Rich.

Just a bit: the Highland Trail, a route devised by Alan Goldsmith, is what you might call ‘varied’ or maybe even ‘a bit of a killer.’ Obviously, they had some ‘help’ from Alpkit. Our own bike luggage, the Ordos 2 tent and a few other bits, as well as Rapha clothing and Exposure lights. But still.

“ Have a good time, get home in one piece, Anyway, it turns out this kind of thing is literally have a proper child’s play for Mini Pips. He and his dad have been riding in events all over the country from adventure.” cyclocross to bikepacking and everything in

between. And if it’s too easy, there’s no adventure – which is what the Seipp boys are after. “My primary aim was that we had a good time, got home in one piece, and had a proper adventure,” Rich explains.

“I made some decisions so we didn’t finish the whole 550, but I’m proud to say Tom was strong throughout – and it was good preparation for the Tour Divide.”

Yeah, you read that right. 2016 will see Mini Pips and his sidekick take on the 2745 mile, self-supported, self-timed race from the Canadian Rockies to the Mexican plateau. According to the rules, finish time should be around 1.5 times the record for the course – which means the Pips are aiming for 25 days from start to finish, or around 110 miles a day.

We reckon Mini Pips will do it in 23.

READ MORE ONLINE: Check back with Outpost in summer, or visit alpkit.com/deeds/pips-on-thehighland-trail for more.

Cahoot tandem mountain bike, coming in 2016.

OUTPOST 15

FROM GUYROPE GOURMET

Landar stove £40 Filoment jacket in Online Lime £99 Indigo headtorch £12.50 H.A.A.P. camp cook set £24 Myti mug 650 £25 16 alpkit.com

The tent is up, the mats are inflated, the lamp and the fires are lit. This is your moment of victory, of serene reflection, surrounded by your comrades – when you’re filled with the warm glow of a day well spent. Don’t ruin it with instant noodles and a soggy trail bar. Get your Kraku lit, or unpack the titanium pot and crown your achievement with the glory of a one pot wonder.

SMOKED BACON & BROAD BEAN RISOTTO A GUYROPE GOURMET ORIGINAL RECIPE INGREDIENTS (serves 2) • 1 onion • 1 tsp vegetable stock powder or a cube • 200g of Arborio risotto rice • 1.5l of water • Salt & fresh ground black pepper • Olive oil • A sprig of fresh thyme or half a teaspoon of dried • Four thick slices of good quality smoked bacon • A handful of fresh broad beans removed from pods • 1 large glass of dry white wine • Large knob of butter • 2 tablespoons of grated Parmesan cheese

METHOD Cut the bacon into 1cm chunks and fry in a little oil until crispy. Once cooked remove from the pan. Next, fine chop the onion and simmer in olive oil until it begins to soften and turn a lovely golden colour.

Throw in the rice and the stock powder or cube and stir. Add a pinch of salt and fresh ground black pepper. Add the glass of wine and stir again. Pour in the water a little at a time and stir while simmering until all the liquid is absorbed and the rice begins to soften.

The more you stir the better this gets! Once the rice loses its nutty crunch, add the broad beans, cooked bacon and grated Parmesan.

Stir well and simmer for a further two or three minutes until the rice is cooked. Add the knob of butter and stir in before serving to your extremely lucky mates.

MORE BRILLIANT RECIPES IN JOSH SUTTON’S BOOK Guyrope Gourmet is the alter ego of food and travel writer Josh Sutton. Check out his book for over 90 ideas for cooking up fresh ingredients on a two ring camping stove or barbecue.

BUY ONLINE: alpkit.com/featured/bookshelf

SHARE YOUR RECIPES ONLINE If you’re a bit of a Guyrope Gourmet, or maybe just the only person in your group of mates willing to cook something after a long day, why not send us your recipes?

alpkit.com/one-pot-wonders OUTPOST 17

COSINESS IN THE EXTREME WITH THE RIGHT KIT, THERE IS NO OFF SEASON – JUST MORE WAYS TO HAVE FUN. Cyclists, campers, climbers and suckers for a winter sunset – as you might expect, Alpkit has you covered. Whether you’re out bikepacking for a week in the Dales, or preparing for a summit push on Denali, no one does self-sufficient, sub-zero camping like us.

In fact, with an incredible design team, collaborating with industry legends, we specialise in all forms of warmth: lightweight stoves and titanium cooking gear to warm you from the inside out.

Down sleeping bags, coats and mountain tents to maintain your temperature.

Plus everything else you need to get out there and back, and generate that glow of satisfaction and camaraderie (that’s French for having a laugh with your mates).

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BruPot cooking pot £20 Bruler meths camp stove £20 Splitta camping table £15

ArcticDream 1000 sleeping bag in Blue £240 AlpineDream 900 sleeping bag in Green £230

Top: Zhota 4 season tent £500 Left: Rig 7 tarp in Chilli £60

Airo 180 self-inflating sleeping mat £40

OUTPOST 19

20

%OFF YOUR FIRST 3 ORDERS USE THE CODE:

ALK20

HUNDREDS OF MOUNTAINEERING, CLIMBING AND ADVENTURE FILMS, ON DEMAND. Imagine Netflix, but for people who aren’t glued to their sofa. Founded by Brian Hall and John Porter, the people behind Kendal Mountain Film Festival, SteepEdge is now part of Alpkit.

Sign up and you’ll discover inspiring stories of adventure, exploration and connections with wild places whether it be climbing, snowsports, riding, cycling, running, kayaking, caving, wild swimming, surfing or sailing. Essentially, everything.

Featuring the latest releases and festival awardwinners, alongside timeless classics, SteepEdge’s hand-picked collection from around the world 20 alpkit.com

celebrates critically acclaimed, established filmmakers as well as promoting up-and-coming talent.

In fact, while you’re enjoying an incredible viewing experience, you can also feel pretty pleased that 80% of the revenue from your rental or purchase goes straight back into the hands of the filmmakers.

SIGN UP steepedge.com

EVERYONE HAS THE RIGHT TO PLAY OUT Alpkit set up their Foundation in July 2015 to help people overcome obstacles that prevent them from Going Nice Places and Doing Good Things. Run by a mix of staff, customer and independent trustees, it’s funded by the company’s profits, with around 1% of annual sales going into a pot to help people enjoy the great outdoors.

THE AIMS • To help young people, especially but not exclusively through leisure time activities, so as to develop their capabilities that they grow to full maturity as individuals and members of society.

• To provide or assist in the provision of facilities in the interests of social welfare for recreation or other leisure time occupation of individuals who have need of such facilities by reason of their youth, age, infirmity or disability, financial hardship or social circumstances with the object of improving their conditions of life.

• To advance the education of the public in the conservation, protection and improvement of the physical and natural environment.

Photo: Alistair Rocke.

Adventure Medics Apex 4 high altitude medical research expedition, Bolivia.

• For the public benefit to promote the education (including social and physical training) of people in such ways as the charity trustees think fit.

• To advance sport or games which promote health by physical or mental skill or exertion and which are undertaken on an amateur basis.

So far we’ve helped train first-aiders in Nepal, given equipment for after-school clubs, activity centres and scout groups; run camping trips in the UK; canoe adventures for disadvantaged kids; and DofE training for schoolteachers, mountain leader training and explorer scouts.

GET INVOLVED You can make a donation or find out more at alpkit.com/foundation

OUTPOST 21

WATERPROOFS LAUNCHING 2016 We’ve used our design experience to create a new range of waterproofs with the multi-activity user in mind.

Kicking things off will be a smock, jacket, pants and an ultra-lightweight jacket.

COMING SOON WE’VE HAD A MASSIVE 2015, HERE IS A SNEAK PEAK OF WHAT WE HAVE IN STORE FOR YOU IN 2016.

THE BIG SHAKEOUT 2016 We’re all set for another great year with the Big Shakeout – Alpkit’s weekend of adventure and entertainment. The date is set for 23rd-25th September 2016, and the venue will be the amazing Thornbridge Outdoors.

RUCKSACKS IN DEVELOPMENT We’re still going through a bit of a prototyping phase, but we’ll have launch dates for our hugely popular bikepacking luggage and our UK-made packs very soon.

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PIPS AND THE TOUR DIVIDE Our heroes ten-year-old Tom ‘Mini Pips’ Seipp and his dad Rich will be taking on the epic Tour Divide this summer, so we’ll be following them online and in print in the next Outpost.

ALPKIT UNPLUGGED Come and see us as we tour the country through 2016.

Here’s a list of some of the bigger events we’ll be showing our goodies at. We shall also be running and attending smaller events through the year. All events are subject to change/ confirmation. So keep a watch out on alpkit.com/events or sign up to our newsletter for regular updates.

LONDON BIKE SHOW/OUTDOOR SHOW, EXCEL, LONDON ............................... 11th-14th February ShAFF ................................................ 11th-13th March MANCHESTER SWIM/RUN/BIKE EXPO .................... 18th-20th March MTB MEET UP LLANDEGLA ............. 23rd-24th April KESWICK MOUNTAIN FESTIVAL ..... 19th-22nd May THE CYCLE TOURING FESTIVAL ..... 27th-30th May THE BUSHCRAFT SHOW .................. 28th-30th May YORK CYCLE RALLY .......................... 18th-19th June TRYWERYN FEST .............................. 29th-31st July VIR FORTIS The latest addition to the Sonder family, being tested on location in the Peaks.

WILDERNESS GATHERING .............. 12th-14th August DART 10K .......................................... 3rd-4th September ALPKIT BIG SHAKEOUT, THORNBRIDGE OUTDOORS, DERBYSHIRE ..................................... 23rd-25th September WELSH CANOE SYMPOSIUM ........... 21st-23rd October TYNE TOUR ....................................... 4th-6th November KENDAL MOUNTAIN FESTIVAL ....... 17th-20th November

FOLLOW US Facebook: facebook.com/alpkit Twitter: @alpkit Instagram: Alpkit Vimeo: vimeo.com/alpkit OUTPOST 23

AS MANTRAS GO, IT’S PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD. There was a period in our lives when we had a lot of time free, so we stumbled into the outdoors. We worked in an outdoor shop, saved some cash, and got ourselves kitted out.

We travelled, did some routes and life was good. Then our kit started falling apart, we were no longer students and we realised the cost of replacing it. As we waited to pick up yet another XXL fleece in the sales, we patched up our waterproofs and wore an extra jumper in our smelly sleeping bags.

Then we realised that the passing years had taught us something: we had the experience to create our own kit. And to change the rules.

Today, we design, manufacture and source the best outdoor gear and sell direct to you.

And we work according to our own rules. If one of our products doesn’t meet your expectations upon delivery, or if it does not live up to the demands placed upon it, please return it within three years of purchase for repair, replacement or refund.

We are a small company with big plans. We hope you like what we do.

Cheers ALPKIT

HOW TO ORDER Go online, have a look around – you know how internet shopping works – or visit our factory store if you live in or are passing through the Midlands and ask for a coffee. If you can click it then it should be in stock. If you order before the postie gets here it will go out the same day and there is a pretty good chance you will get it in the following couple of days. Oh yes... and all our prices already include UK postage.

ONLINE:

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+44 (0)1773 417007

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All prices featured are correct at time of going to press but are subject to change.

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