climbing tool design uptodate: GORE-TEX Active Shell: Field Trials

18 months ago i was sitting in another bi-annual meeting at GORE HQ in Livingston perusing the latest collection of new fabrics that were being past around, waiting for that moment when any flicker of imagination would be caught by something really new, i remained firmly in my seat, my imagination firmly sedated. This was nothing unusual, its not easy developing new fabrics and the really good ones take time. It was only as we came towards the end of another lengthy meeting that a new fabric was casually passed across - probably not our thing, more for running but you might like it was the comment. It was GORE-TEX Active Shell. Lighter and significantly more breathable, what was there not to like? And so started the development of the latest range of jackets which have hit selected stores this past week.

A murky day on the Lakeland fells back in early Spring

I'll admit to having something amounting to a large degree of healthy scepticism when it comes to new fabrics (in fact quite alot of things according to my colleagues), whatever the various statistics we get bombarded with from test houses and fabric mills, working in the real world, in the mountains is what I care about and I think our partners at Gore actually quite like our honest assessment of what is passed our way, but on this occasion it was genuine excitement. Here was a fabric, that if the rhetoric were true would provide a garment that was considerably more comfortable to wear, even for hard aerobic activities, whilst being lighter than previous GORE-TEX jackets. The only downside, it wouldnt be as durable, but that was hardly a surprise.

Active Shell in the bag - Sometimes its just too nice! Nothern Cairngorms.

And so the months past by and the final test garments were ready to go. Since then I have ran over the fells near to home in all sorts of conditions and not once, even when running hot, have i noticed anything close to condensing moisture on the inside. In short it works, in the mountains, in the rain, where it matters.

Definitely not nice. Head down for a wet day in the gloom.

Active Shell even with all its different methods of construction, I'll be totally honest is not the lightest waterproof fabric out there - but thats not really the point. It is light, dont get me wrong, but what it really is, is a genuinely breathable and totally waterproof package which if you're wanting something to actually wear whilst on the move rather than simply carry in pack is simply quite remarkable compared with previous waterproof fabrics I've used.

Enjoying a cool evening running around the Kentmere Horseshoe

So since getting my hands the development version of what was to be our Firelite Jacket, which is the simplest and lightest of all the jackets in our mini Active Shell collection, i've attempted to document a few of these outings.

Not always successfully - fell running whilst a) focussing on the ground in front b) holding onto a camera c) holiding onto an over enthusiastic sheepdog d) trying to breathe and e) battling the constant battering of gales rolling in off the Atlantic is not always easy but hopefully you'll get enough from these photos and short video clips to get the idea!