THE HOPE Foundation has organised a celebrity climb to Everest Basecamp to raise money for its work among the very poorest street kids in India. So what do you need for your next Everest expedition?
Mammut Albaron Jacket Swiss outdoor specialists Mammut started as ropemakers back in ’62. That’s 1862. They still make ropes and now just about everything else for the mountains too.
- The Mammut Albaronis a classic lightweight alpine shell, with Gore-Tex 3 Layer protection. Suitable for everything from expeditions into deepest Nepal to a European ski break, the Albaron is an ideal flexible technical jacket for use at higher altitudes. Of course, it'd also do the business on the sideline at some wintry weekend schools match. It's all in the detail: underarm ventilation lets you cool from your exertions. The drawcord hem can be adjusted with one hand. All the zippers are two-way and sprayproof, including those on the two big, glove-stuffable pockets.
- CostMammut Albaron Jacket, €373 from Basecamp, Abbey St, Dublin.
- Mammut Mountain Trail GTX BootsMammut boots cut it too. The Mountain Trail GTX is a three-season boot, with a good balance of stiffness (A8 on their flex index). This makes them perfect for backpacking, light alpine terrain or indeed a day out in the Reeks or in Wicklow. Fully waterproofed thanks to its Gore-Tex lining, it has a Vibram MT-traction sole and Mammut's proprietary Motion Control for great support. So it's a fully jargonised boot. Memory foam in the tongue and heel customise it to the user's foot for maximum comfort. All this boot technology is wrapped up in a nubuck outer for a good-looking boot to boot.
- CostMammut Mountain Trail GTX Boots, €195 from Basecamp, Abbey St, Dublin.
- Páramo Cascada TrousersThese are from the same guys who invented Nikwax waterproofing, or rather, from the same guy, Nick Brown. Páramo uses so-called "directional" fabrics, which direct moisture away from the skin and allow it escape through the outer surface. This is the Cascada's great calling card: they're ideal hiking trousers with articulated knees, a double-layered seat and elasticated waist, but they're breathably waterproof too. So you don't need unders and overs, although they do have three-quarter length side zips for easy mountainside wardrobe revisions. And the blokes' versions have flies for a different take on moisture release. For those of us with built-in boilers that keep us running hot, the only possible downside of a pair of Cascada is they're pretty warm. But in the Himalayan foothills, that'd be a positive advantage, of course. And one final discreet sensory plus over more standard waterproofs: they don't swish and rustle.
- CostPáramo Cascada Trousers, €145 from Basecamp, Abbey St, Dublin.
- Silva Trail Runner Head TorchA further essential bit of kit is a good head torch and Silva make some of the best. This model's particularly lightweight at just 70gms, which fits with its trail-running credentials. That makes it a good all-rounder too, and it's tough as you like. With 80 lumens from one high-powered LED and a pair of standard diodes, the Trail Runner can beam to about 45m ahead and has a good flood spread for close-in uses such as dark-as-night fumbling with the aforementioned Cascada fly. It has a nice rotating action for directing, and the strap and battery case are all ergonomically designed to give unnoticed wearability. You can even stuff the batteries inside your jacket to keep them warm in more extreme conditions. Takes two AAs for about 48 hours use.
- CostSilva Trail Runner Head Torch, €60 from Basecamp, Abbey St, Dublin.
Basecamp is sponsoring the Hope Foundation Everest Challenge. You can track the team’s progress at hopechallenge2010.com.
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