Wilderness gear editor Matthew Cattin provides a round-up of the new and interesting products and innovations he’s discovered lately.

Five decades of Macpac adventure shown in one photo 

Macpac has shown how far it’s come in 50 years by recreating an earlier alpine photo.

The original photo, taken in 1975, shows four Canterbury Mountaineering Club climbers using Macpac’s first internal frame pack, the Torre Egger, in front of its namesake mountain in Patagonia.

The bulky canvas packs, and the bare legs beneath them, create a strong contrast to the recreated image, taken in February this year on a New Zealand Alpine Team mission to again climb the iconic peak.

“It’s considered the hardest mountain in Patagonia to summit,” NZAT’s Dan Joll said. “Getting the right combination of fine weather, windless skies and ice-free rock is never easy there. A strong team with the best lightweight alpine climbing kit is essential.”

Macpac sponsors the NZAT and supplied the climbers with re-imagined NZAT Pursuit 40 alpine packs made with a lightweight tear-resistant fabric.

A limited run of Pursuit packs will be available later this year.

Icebreaker’s 100 per cent merino wool Shell+ garments are wind and water resistant

Icebreaker offers sustainable second life for old gear

Pre-loved hiking garments can avoid the landfill, thanks to a newly announced partnership between Icebreaker and textile recycling company Upparel.

From March 27, consumers can donate used garments to icebreaker Touch Lab stores, where they will be turned into a recycled fibre to be used in home insulation, couch cushioning and pet beds.

“We’re focused on ensuring (that) the lifecycle of a product has minimal impact on the environment,” Icebreaker senior manager of global materials Jordi Beneyto-Ferre said.
“Upparel gives consumers an easy way to give their pre-loved clothing a second life.”

Customers who donate at Icebreaker stores will also receive a $10 store credit.

The announcement coincides with the roll-out of Icebreaker’s autumn collection, including its first 100 per cent natural outer layer that’s water repellent and wind resistant, the Shell+ jacket.

TNF’s Summit Series is moving with the times.

The North Face amalgamates two iconic gear collections

A relaunch of The North Face’s Summit Series has seen two of the brand’s popular collections merge into one.

TNF is joining its Summit Series (alpine gear) with its Steep Series (snow gear) into a combined Summit Series in an attempt to keep with the “modern mountain athlete”.

In a statement, TNF said: “Rather than focusing on a singular activity, people often combining several disciplines during a single mission, which requires a kit that can be adapted to multiple activities, conditions, and output levels.”

Fix it yourself zipper design unveiled

US performance clothing company Artilect is working with YKK, the world’s largest zipper company, to claim user-repairable zips – the world’s first.

It’s hoped the technology will create safer garments for hikers, and prevent gear from going to landfill or needing replacement.

“The zipper slider can be replaced by the wearer in the field or at the retailer, allowing the jacket’s usable life to be extended many times over, without the need to send it back and forth to a repair facility,” Articlect’s CEO Trent Bush said.