As with many North Face products the Arctic Parka is a best seller, normally selling out within days of arrival at our shop. To find out why the Ladies Arctic Parka is such a huge seller we asked Sarah to take it for a test, just as she did with the North Face Womens Resolve Jacket a few weeks ago.

Looks and Feels Great

When I think of winter I think of the cold, wind and rain… and not forgetting snow. Luckily the Arctic Parka can deal with all the winter weather you can chuck at it, and you will still be nice and toasty. Add to this the jacket looks and feels great, and already I think we are on to a winner.

• The North Face Decagon Jacket Review
• The North Face Cats Meow Sleeping Bag Review
• The North Face Mica 12 Review

The North Face are famous for quality and style, whether it’s a duffle bag or a waterproof jacket, the North Face can always be counted upon to be awesome. Today we are taking a look at one of the best sellers in our range, The North Face Womens Resolve Waterproof Jacket (not to be confused with the Resolve Insulated Jacket).

This review is written by my partner Sarah, who did a field test for this review.

• The North Face Atlas Triclimate Jacket Review
• Breathable Waterproof Fabric Care
• Cumulus Mysterious Traveller Reviews & Tests

The North Face brand is one which is known for producing supremely high quality and innovative products. Today we are taking a look at a waterproof jacket which has been part of their collection for a few years, the Atlas Triclimate Jacket.

The Atlas Triclimate Jacket claims to be a versatile 3-in-1 jacket providing optimal cold and wet weather protection. So as part of this review we’ll be examining just how versatile this jacket is and whether it really does offer such great protection as it claims, we’re not sceptics but we like quality to be proven.

• Berghaus Twister Review by Trail
• Winter can now arrive! The North Face McMurdo has landed
• Waterproof Clothing Technology

The award winning and much loved ME Kongur at £252 is a lot of money, so why wouldn't you want to protect it?

Breathable waterproof fabrics such as Gore Tex, eVent and Gelanots are highly technical and can be expensive. So it is not surprising that there are numerous products on the market that claim to protect and prolong the life of waterproof clothing. Is it necessary to use these fabric care products or will my waterproofs be ok as long as I simply look after them?

• Which Mid-layer Fleece is best?
• Review of The North Face Women’s Resolve Waterproof Jacket
• The North Face Decagon Jacket Review

In this series about bicycle touring, we have looked at the types of cycle tour and sleeping and shelter issues. In this article the question of clothing is examined.

The Mountain Equipment Mistral like the Salomon Fast Wing Hoodie is versatile, lightweight, windproof and stowable.

Clothing

The order of the day is versatility. Versatile clothes are essential when space and weight are important, Zip-Off Trousers are ideal when travelling light as they can be worn as a pant or shorts. Wicking items can be easily layered, washed and dried.

• If Santa Shopped at Cheaptents
• Which Mid-layer Fleece is best?
• Waterproof Clothing Technology

Bicycle Touring is an exciting, healthy way to spend your free time, either on your own, with friends or even your family! In my previous article An Introduction to Bicyle Touring the main forms of touring were defined. For most Cycle Tours the gear needed will essentially the same, although it will depend upon how much each individual cyclist is prepared to carry, what they view as essential items, what level of comfort is required, what terrain and distance the tour will cover and whether there are any support vehicles to carry equipment.

• Mountain Bothies – a fun way to enjoy the outdoors!
• Cumulus test results and reviews…Ultralight 200
• Cumulus Sleeping Bag Reviews

After my recent post on bamboo fabrics Graham left a comment stating that bamboo might not be as environmentally friendly a fabric as I had first thought. Had I been greenwashed? Is bamboo eco friendly? Well after some research I discovered the answer is yes and no.

The process of producing the raw bamboo does have a low environmental impact. However when it comes to processing the bamboo into a fabric there can be a significant ecological impact. Basically there are 2 ways in which bamboo can be turned into a fabric, mechanically or chemically.

• Where do the MSR Hubbas get their name?
• Breathable Waterproof Fabric Care
• SPF, UPF and UV Protective Clothing

Nowadays everyone is becoming more environmentally aware, trying to be carbon neutral, buying organic, and minimising their impact on the environment. Outdoor gear manufacturers have been quick to jump on the bandwagon and are  offering  outdoor clothing made with eco friendly fabrics. What I want to know is what exactly are these green fabrics, how do they preform and are they actually any good for the environment?

Bamboo Clothing

Bamboo growing - Source : steve webel flickr

What is Bamboo fiber?

• Why Nikwax is worth every penny…
• Waterproof Clothing Technology
• Baselayer Advice and Climate Control

Outdoor People

Outdoor gear, sports and camping are definitely our thing.  Each of the team at CheapTents.com, enjoys their own range of outdoor sports and activities from leisurely walking to travel and triathalons, or from climbing to mountain biking and bivouacking.  For this reason, we take a great interest in a wide range of outdoor gear and how it performs for it’s designated purpose.  So for this matter we thought we would plant this knowledge down into a library of outdoor resources for others to share…

• Ultralight Backpacking – Tips for being more lightweight
• Glossary of Outdoor Gear Terms
• Where’s my nearest indoor climbing wall?

 

Check-out CheapTents.com’s new sale items including discounted outdoor gear and camping equipment in the online shop!  Click here to be sent directly to the page:

 

OUTDOOR GEAR SALE!

 

• Outdoor and camping advice is our thing…
• Summer Family Camping Tips!
• Camping Tips for Complete Beginners