Lab Note Published: 28/06/07

The Good, the Bad and the Future

coLAB has been bubbling away in the background for the past couple of years. The basic premise has been that our combined customer base has an essential part to play in the devleopment of our products. This year we took it a step forward and introduced two specific coLAB products in relatively low volumes, just enough to get a good idea how they perform and how we can make them better next time around.

The Filium down smock and Bleat baselayer were already at an advanced stage in their development, and we have been chuffed to see our hard work receive many favourable comments. Equally you have not held back in telling us where we haven't got everything right, especially with regards to fit, Gavin posted on his Bleat,

"These are good but small. Could also do with being a bit longer. Also it would be nice to be able to roll the sleeves up, but they are too tight. Great value though. Would I buy another? Probably. Would I but another if they were a little larger and longer? Definitely."

This experience has convinced us of the value of direct feedback and the coLAB concept. However we want to make the process even better, and we can do this by making limited samples available much earlier in their development cycle. This just hints at the direction coLAB is taking and we will post more details over the summer along with an interesting competition opportunity for all gear heads.

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Kenny

Comments

Bought this for my girlfriend. Passed the ultimate test - keeping her warm (off the water) on a sea kayaking expedition. Packs very small. Brilliant.

Posted on 05 October, 2007 by Ross

Hi, bought a bleat a few months ago. Use it for whitewater and sea kayaking as base layer. Very good. Sleeves are too tight. Might be good to do a thicker version for colder weather.

Posted on 05 October, 2007 by Ross

Bought a bleat a couple of months ago and have loved it, its been great walking, biking and climbing in the lakes, wales and the peaks although after a rather harsh laundry session in Mexico its a little tight!  I lead expeditions and have found your sleeping mats and poles are fantastic and great value. I always have a stash of clippers to fix straps, attach bottles to donkeys, hold chalk bags etc. I’m looking forward to the Bivi bag…
If you need any gear testing in the field, i’ll be in a field in the San Bernadino mountians for the next 10 months.

Posted on 29 August, 2007 by Chris

Hi guys,

Just want to thank you for an awesome service, ordered an Aeric and a head torch on Sunday evening, they arrived Tuesday morning, in plenty of time for my weekend in the Peak District, starting today!!

Fabulous, keep it up!!

Posted on 26 July, 2007 by Phil Walker

Hi groovy Geeza’s

A friend and I were up on Lynn Fan Fawr in minus 5deg conditions in March.

We were discussing your range of down clothing. We would be keen to see a modular system explored by yourselves.

For example:

A Fantom with detatchable Hood = Filo
and detatchable arms = Filet

and an additional matching pair of down trousers = FOTON .

I reckon I can stretch to £250 for a down outer system that gives me 4 options in one product. Oh and of course In bright “Alpkit red” with Black reinforcements on high wear and tear area’s

i’ll Just leave you guys with that thought…

Drew

Posted on 21 July, 2007 by The Cruxster

Colab is a great idea, the bivi also sounds interesting but I’ve been unable to find info on it on the site and when I emailed to ask I recieved no reply.

Posted on 18 July, 2007 by andy ayliffe

As a long term buyer/user of Alpkit gear I’ve been impressed by everything except the Tifoon - and that was because it wasn’t easy to eat my breakfast muesli with it! Last purchase was a Gourdon which is brilliant as a motorcycling backpack - no worries about the contents getting damp in our great British weather. I’ve recommended a lot of the gear to fellow members of my MR team. I’m certainly interested in the bivvi bag, I always carry my (expensive) goretex one when out with the team - so something that could get trashed without worrying too much about it would be great. Might look at a bulk purchase for the team.

Posted on 17 July, 2007 by Denzil Broadhurst

Thats a good point by Adam, I also do a fair bit of MTB, just for fun, and quite a bit of kit I also use for walking, because its windproof and lightweight. I have bought one or too windshirts in the past and found them all to be too “flappy” both cycling and walking, so a good, clean cut close fitting windproof smock or jacket would be great. The only decent ones on the market are really far too expensive for what they are!!

Posted on 13 July, 2007 by Phil Walker

Whilst I undertake a great deal of walking and climbing - I also cycle (MTB) alot too. The mtb kit market seems ridiculously expensive for what you gat compared to the ‘walking’ market. I appreciate that not all of the alpkit stuff is directly related to cycling, but I use my HH merino bade layer when cycling as its got a long back.

When we do Polaris events, we have to carry all our camping gear with us, so lightweight and packable stuff is important.

When we’ve been to the Cairngorms, many of the walks we do are accessed by bike, so again, ensuring certain products are suitable for carrying on a bike might be useful.

I’d be quite happy to try things when we’re out in the peaks/dales on the bikes for you - just drop me line.

Have you thought about doing any more cycling directed stuff?

Posted on 13 July, 2007 by Adam Round

Just bought one of the filium smocks and found it to be really good.Also one of the daysacs cum drybags a great idea.Being in the forces i’m sure i’ll be testing these 2 pieces of kit to their limits so will keep you informed.If you want anything else tested or reviewed drop me a line

Posted on 11 July, 2007 by Graeme
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