STORM ON THE SLOPES OF YŌTEI

Our ambassador, climber, highliner and skilled ski mountaineer Danny Menšík took the opportunity to test the Storm and Spike jackets and Powder pants while he was a guide for the Sherpas Ride on the Japanese island of Hokkaido. Our friend and renowned photographer Jara Sijka followed him around with his camera. 

Yōtei (1898 m) - inactive stratovolcano on the island of Hokkaido

Danny and the Storm jacket, in flight

Hokkaido is renowned for its excellent snow conditions, and this year was no different. Danny had plenty of opportunity to give our equipment a good workout. This time, we'll see how he liked the redesigned Storm jacket. 

Below you can read an excerpt from the log we use for feedback from our gear testers:

IV. Description of the conditions under which the product was used.

I used the Storm primarily as a ski jacket, very intensively. Except for ski touring on nice days when I took it out on the downhill, I skied in the jacket all day with my pack. All in all, about 50 ski days (about 30 freeride days at the resort, 20 days of skialp tours).

V. Comments on the product (construction, functionality, design, etc.)

In general, I like the jacket very much! The cut and especially the length of the Storm suits me the most for skiing and skialp of all the Tilak jackets. Although this jacket was probably originally designed more for hiking, trekking, city,... so for me it's a great jacket for skiing and skialp as well. When I look at it from a skiing point of view, it's not heavy duty armor, but a very nice light jacket that allows easy ascent, doesn't take up much space in the pack, protects me just fine from snow, rain, wind, and most importantly, because of how long it is, it doesn't roll up on the body below the pack's hip belt and prevents the snow from getting in. Besides, I'm a big fan of subtle and dark colors, so I really like the new colors the Storm comes in. 

Danny really hit the mark here, the Storm is originally designed as a hiking jacket, but we have lengthened it and added a ventilation system to the armpits. Maybe that's why it's now a good fit for snowboarding or skiing. The jackets are almost sold out at the moment, but we are sewing more right now. They will be available soon, and supplemented with one new color option.

ANORAK - WHAT IS IT REALLY?

Definitions vary across manufacturers, but one thing remains common - it's a jacket with a hood that doesn't have a long zipper in the front, but pulls over the head. The zippers on the sides can help with this. The anorak is very similar to the parka in this respect, but when we look for details we find that the parka was originally longer, perhaps even more insulated than the classic anorak. When the Inuit sewed the original anoraks, they usually used caribou or seal skins. We have taken inspiration from them only in design, using 100% cotton instead of leather. How does that work, you ask? You can find out below.

SIMPLE AND FUNCTIONAL

It is really true, there is no need to look for any technical details on the anorak, on the contrary, its advantage is its simplicity and in case of an emergency, the possibility to repair it relatively easily in the field. Our ladies' Frigg is proof of this. It has an opening on the side, which allows you to access the pockets in the bottom layer of clothing, and also serves as a vent. There's also a large front pocket with an organiser, which is handily covered by a rain flap. A simple drawstring hood and a tunnel-shaped front pocket where you can hide your hands, or perhaps your gloves.

But the major advantage of the Frigg model is the material used. Ventile® does not rust, is mechanically resistant, breathable and to some extent waterproof. The jacket will therefore please all nature enthusiasts, photographers, or simply all hikers who want to enjoy the mountains wearing natural material. 

Thanks to its high mechanical and fire spark resistance, the Frigg is perfectly suited for outdoor use. At the same time, it looks very understated and you can definitely use it for casual wear.

In the large front pocket you will find a few smaller "pockets in pocket". The anatomically shaped sleeves have an asymmetrical Velcro cuff at the ends.

FUN FACT: WHAT IS VENTILE® ?

Ventile® is the forerunner of modern membranes, developed in Manchester during World War II. The material was intended for the production of protective clothing for fighter pilots protecting military convoys in the North Sea. Overalls made of this material increased the success rate of rescuing pilots from the icy sea by 80%. How is this possible?

The secret of the material lies in the use of very long cotton fibres (only 2% of the world's cotton production meets the requirements for Ventile®) for the yarn, which are woven into a very tight weave. Ventile® has a 30% denser weave than conventional fabric. When exposed to water, the fibres absorb it and increase their volume. This completely closes the gaps in the warp and the needle punctures and prevents further water penetration. Ventile® is highly water resistant, but is not 100% waterproof by current standards and is not a replacement for modern membrane materials with taped seams. Like any natural material, it is not colourfast and will fade and acquire the right patina with use and washing. Ventile® does not rust and its high level of waterproofing and fire resistance makes it a sought after and time-tested alternative to synthetic materials. It has a loyal following amongst Bush Craft enthusiasts, nature enthusiasts and photographers.

In our range you will find the Odin anorak for men, the Loke full-length jacket and the Frigg anorak for women. We also get great feedback on the Lofoten pants.

RETURN OF THE SHORTS

They're finally back! Originally we were going to wait until May to announce the Return of the Shorts, but the weather forced us to speed up production. And so, after all these years, we've made simple and functional outdoor shorts again. 

Two front pockets, two back zippered pockets and two thigh pockets, also zippered. Belt with buckle closure. Thanks to the blend of polyamide and spandex, they are pleasantly breathable, elastic and yet retain good mechanical resistance.