I’m looking forward to next years Challenge. No let me correct that I’m looking forward to what happens after next years Challenge. Give me a chance to explain.
One of the Challengers attempting their first cross
ing is a well known US Lightweight Tarp/Tent manufacturer. Now one of the complaints about lightweight gear especially the shelters from the US is that they are not designed for the varied and often very wet weather we have here in the UK.
So with this guy coming over hopefully with one of his own creations, he will get to experience the UK weather in all it’s glory.
Once he has completed his crossing I’m hoping he will return home with plenty of notes. Notes that will translate into modifications or tweaks to existing products, and new designs that take into consideration the weather conditions that we get in the UK. Weather conditions that have been experienced first hand.
The great thing about the majority of these US companies is that they are small(ish), produce great products, listen to their customers and feed that back into the product design. However there is no substitute for first hand experience of the conditions that your customers use your product in. So it is great to see that one such company will be doing that, even if it is a by product of them enjoying themselves on the worlds premier backpacking event.
PS. It should be noted I am still looking forward to the Challenge itself as well.
All the best ‘kit’ businesses are ‘us’ who have set up to produce/sell kit rather than ‘outsiders’ moving in! The time to worry is when such businesses are passed on/bought out and then run by accountants!
Yes accountants do tend to suck the life out of a company when thay take over.
Hey! Accountants have feelings too you know!
Yup, just like taxmen. And maybe politicians…
Or maybe I only encounter the evil ones?
You’re talkin’ Henry Shires, right Darren? I used one of his Tarptents on this year’s TGOC and other than the fact that it was a tad draughty (and therefore cold) at times didn’t have a problem; I’ve used it several times before in Scotland quite happily.
The shelter didn’t really need any tweaks, just my sleeping bag needed a windproof barrier (to stop the wind from the outside getting in, not vice-versa!).
Best shelter designer out there in my opinion.
I’m sorry I won’t be on the TGOC in 2010 as I’d love to meet Henry again… maybe we’ll sneak up to Braemar with the ‘van!
John, thanks for that feedback and yes you guessed right.
Hope you and family can make it to Braemar, there will be a few bloggers there as well. A surprising number got on this year.