Category Archives: General

Dakine Prospect Bib Snow Pants Review

February 10, 2017 Rob Leave a comment

As people back home have probably heard Europe has had a slow start to the season with unseasonably high temperatures throughout December. However when it has snowed this year it has been falling intensely with two 50 cm plus snow falls in 24 hour time periods. This has provided us with a wide variety of condition to test the Dakine Prospect Bib Snow Pants!

Dakine Prospect Bib Snow Pants

The first impression you get from the Prospects is how incredibly light they are compared to other winter pants. This lightness provides a fantastic feel when skiing and touring as you aren’t restricted by any heavy materials. They are built from 3 layer Gore-tex which provides the trousers with a formidable shell against all conditions. Despite being out on a few torrential ski days this year I am yet to see the trouser soak through even when sat on wet chairlifts. The bib design is a great feature for any powder lovers as it ensures protection of your base layers even on the deepest of days and the occasional tumble!

However it is not just in miserable conditions that the Prospect shines. I have been touring in them in +15 and there lightweight breathability means that they control your temperature very well. With multiple vents featured on the trouser you are able to make quick adjustments whilst on the route up as well as insulating your warmth at the top.

We have been skiing for eight weeks now and as stated the condition have been tricky with plenty of grass and rock on show. This has highlighted one of best features of the Prospect.The reinforced cuffs at the bottom of the legs have made them considerable more durable than other snow pants. Despite being scraped between rocks and ski boot on numerous occasion they are yet to show any sign of wear and the strong boot gators stay firmly attached to the boot.

Overall I would say that the Dakine Prospect Bib Snow Pants are a great piece of kit which when utilised with good base layers provides exceptional performance in the majority of condition a mountain can throw at you.

General

Patagonia Outdoor Clothing

December 30, 2016 Tallington Lakes Leave a comment

Tallington Lakes are proud to announce the arrival of Patagonia Outdoor Clothing to the Pro Shop. Patagonia’s ethos is to “build the best product” and “cause no unnecessary harm” to the environment; which is important to us too!

Firstly we are keen to provide our customers with products that are fit for purpose; products we know will perform in the extreme environments we call our playground. Whether skiing or snowboarding; we have a selection of Patagonia clothing that will enable you to remain comfortable on the mountain. By layering a mixture of the breathable, insulating and waterproofing garments you can regulate your body temperature to the surrounding weather conditions; ensuring you can perform to your best.

The ladies and men’s specific fit are both made to the highest standards, and should last you for years. However if it doesn’t Patagonia are keen to repair it for you; check out their ‘Ironclad Guarantee’.

Secondly, like us and our customers, Patagonia care about the environment. We all love the ‘great outdoors’, so it’s important we take care of it. Patagonia, and many of the other brands we stock, is looking at ways to produce products of an environmentally friendly nature. They have gone to great length to ensure the sourcing and production of the garments has the least impact on the environment. And because Patagonia products are built to last, the impact is reduced further!

So if you are looking for the ‘best product’ and ‘care about the environment’ why not pop in store, or go online, and check out our range Patagonia Outdoor Clothing – you won’t be disappointed!

Alpine Skiing, General, Snowboarding

Falke SK2 Ski Socks Review

November 23, 2016 Sammy Leave a comment

Whether you are a skier or snowboarder, you know a full day in boots has the potential to get sore, and really ruin your holiday. Falke want you to enjoy skiing every day – all day, and their socks really show this. The Falke SK2 ski socks feature a medium level of padding in stress zones like your shins and instep for protection and comfort, along with an asymmetric right and left toe box.

I’ve worn my SK2 socks while both skiing and snowboarding on our own dry slope here at Tallington Lakes, and at two different indoor slopes, and I think they are fantastic! All the padded zones aren’t just for looks; I really felt the difference. The padded zones on the shins are really effective for reducing that pressure you can sometimes feel when pushing forward into your boots. With some socks, the padding can cause a bit of rubbing due to how they are knitted, but with Falke’s socks that’s reduced due to the thin terry style knit giving it a softer, less abrasive feel against the skin.

falke sk2 ski sock — All the padded zones aren’t just for looks; I really felt the difference.

I had my ankle reconstructed when I was younger which makes it a lot less flexible than it should be, and some days my ankle feels particularly stiff which mean I really have to force my foot into the boot which can really hurt. Now, I’m not saying these socks removed the issue but I did notice the reinforced instep helped to ease the pain which is really nice!

Once my feet get cold, there’s not really much I can do to save them. I’ve got quite a few different brands of ski/snowboard socks and considering these Falke socks are a merino wool blend, rather than 100% merino like some of my socks, I was pleasantly surprised as to how warm they kept my feet, and how breathable they actually felt! Not only do these ski socks feature the usual merino properties of heat retention, and moisture wicking properties they have merino’s natural odour control, which is ideal if you need to wear them more than once… ‘Cause honestly, whoever says they don’t try get multiple days out of a ski sock is probably lying to you…

Another cool thing about Falke socks is that they also do socks that are designed for snowboarding, with snowboard boots and bindings in mind. So, whether you are a skier or a snowboarder they have designed socks that’ll keep your piggies warm while protecting your shins, ankles and toes from pressure bruising, leaving you to enjoy the day from your morning on piste all the way through to après ski in the evening!

General

Arbor Fish AC 39” Skateboard Review

September 19, 2016 Tallington Lakes Leave a comment

As an avid skateboarder, as a kid, I was looking to reviewing the Arbor Fish AC 39” Skateboard. Long gone are the days of kick flips and concrete half pipes, instead my board of choice is on the snow. However, in the summer months I need something to fill the gap left by the lack of snow on the hills, and I feel like I may have found that something.

Arbor Fish AC 39” Skateboard

The first difference between the Arbor Fish and my old trick skateboards is the length – measuring at 39”, in comparison with the 28” lengths of my old boards. Instantly the extra length gives a much more stable ride, and therefore an overall more enjoyable experience as I’m not in constant fear of falling onto concrete at high speeds.

The large Sucrose Initiative Mosh Series Wheels are super smooth, and give an effortless ride even on brick-laid pavements. They absorb all the small bumps and pebbles, and the bearings make one push last what seems forever. The wheels are softer than the trick skateboard’s, making your cruise silent, compared to the extremely loud trick wheels. This also means heads won’t be turning and pointing their annoyed expressions your way as you ride by.

arbor skateboard with lake in background — The Arbor Fish skateboards don’t have a nose or tail like a traditional skateboard, which can take some getting used to.

The Fish skateboards don’t have a nose or tail like a traditional skateboard, which can take some getting used to. Rather than using the tail to control direction, leaning from side to side changes the direction of the trucks and wheels. It gives your ride a much surfier, snowboarding feel, which would explain why I personally enjoy it so much.

The Arbor skateboards are available with a range of unique artwork – the Photo Collection, Artist Collection, and Bamboo Collection to name a few. A number of the boards have Lucid Grip in place of the traditional black grip tape. Lucid Grip is clear grip, made of crushed recycled glass which is sprayed on the board, giving a natural wood appearance. So basically they look awesome too, as well as being extremely well-made, solid skateboards.

Thanks Jake (Snowboard, Skiing and Climbing Instructor)

General

Oakley Fuel Cell Prizm Deep Water Polarised Sunglasses Review

July 26, 2016 Tallington Lakes Leave a comment

If you are wondering what the new Oakley Prizm Deep Blue Polarised lens is like then look no further. We were lucky enough to try a pair of Fuel Cell’s with the Prizm Deep Water Polarised lens out at the Waterski and Wakeboard School.

Oakley Fuel Cell Sunglasses

The Fuel Cell design has been around for a while. The frames have an wrap-around athletic feel, for full eye protection, whilst looking good for day-to-day wearing. The lightweight O Matter gives the glasses all day comfort and makes them durable. The unique Oakley Three-Point Fit ensures the glass frames only make contact with the bridge of your nose and behind the temple.

The Fuel Cell frame dimensions from Oakley are as follow:
Lens Width 60mm
Bridge Width 19mm
Lens Height 40mm
Temple Arm Length 130mm

So if you know your face dimensions you’ll know if they fit, if not why not pop in store to try them out?

Oakley Prizm Deep Water Polarised Lens

The Prizm Deep Water Polarised Lenses are perfect for use out on the water as well as walking around on land; unlike the ‘Shallow Water’ version which assumes you are under a canopy and therefore not as dark. Deep Water Prizm technology provide superior control of light transmission; where colours are manipulated to maximise contrast and enhance visibility, for those on the water, by filtering out the blue and enhancing the greens and reds. The Oakley Polaroid technology filters out 99% of reflective glare and haze, which can be a problem when looking at water, to improve clarity further and reduce eye strain from squinting.

As I was wearing them driving the water ski slalom course the water became a dark grey colour with the buoy colours popping into the forefront of my vision. This function not only works when the sun is bright, but also when there is a grey sky overhead. Which is perfect for our ‘British Summers’.

Looking into calm, flat water you almost lose the surface completely; it’s like putting your face into the water with goggles on! When the water was choppy or frequent ripples you could still see colours and outlines of objects deep down.

I don’t usually wear sunglasses because I become aware I’m wearing them and they then feel uncomfortable. These glasses are the complete opposite. I found I could wear them all day and forget they are on my face because your vision isn’t impaired by them in any way.

Thanks Stephen (Water Ski & Wakeboard Boat Driver)

General

Oakley Jawbreaker Sunglasses Review

May 27, 2016 Paul Leave a comment

Oakley Jawbreaker Sunglasses are just a bit tasty! Customer review.

I recently purchased some Oakley Jawbreakers from Tallington Lakes Pro Shop. They are an out and out sports eyewear piece. There’s no way they could ever look good as fashion eyewear, so don’t even think about buying them as a cross over. Don’t be that guy!

Oakley Jawbreaker Sunglasses

The styling is pretty funky and gives really nice shelf appeal. A great range of colours that will leave you torn with the right decision. (I spent a fair amount of time in Tallington Lakes Pro Shop annoying the team, switching glasses in the mirror). The style in no way compromises the function, that’s important. They’ve managed to create a cool looking eyepiece centred on a really solid performance criteria.

I usually race the bike section of a triathlon wearing a helmet with built-in visor. I never tend to bother with glasses any other time as I “know I am wearing them”! That’s my issue, anything that I’m consciously wearing annoys me. I bought the glasses reluctantly as I was undertaking a desert run, no glasses would be suicidally crazy! I thought I’d give them a whirl on my long Sunday bike ride. They felt like I was wearing the visor, because I had massive field of vision, Oakley’s standard and incredible visual clarity, comfortable and ergonomically designed. The adjustable arms did nothing for me in the shop, I felt it was just something to break and a potential weakness in the design. Actually they were immediately useful. I had them on the smallest setting when running. They fit perfectly, When I went out on the ride I had them on their maximum limit. It held them more securely in my helmet and gave me the confidence that I wasn’t going to loose my lovely looking new purchase, or be forking out for new lenses once I’d lost them to the tarmac.

oakley jawbreaker white prizm road sunglasses — These Oakley Jawbreaker sunglasses have the Prizm Road lens.

The lens popped out incredibly easy, if I wanted. It is painfully simple and really obvious. It feels robust and trustworthy. I’ve worked for Oakley retailers in the past, you dread that moment when a customer asks “so how does that lens swap over then”? Once you’ve worked with them for a while its not a drama. You did however see the Saturday boy fill with fear and look for you to step in when confronted with the same request. With the Jawbreaker this isn’t/shouldn’t be the case. It’s very simple. I say the system is obvious, but unlike previous models once you’re wearing them its not entirely obvious to everyone in the world that the lens has the capacity to be changed. The usual strategy of sticking a giant lever on the glasses was always fairly crude and ugly, this system is way more refined.

My old glasses let you know you were wearing them. Your peripheral vision was constantly reminded about the perimeter of the glasses. These have no such issue. The field of vision was exceptional. If you want an out and out sports piece that will perform exceptionally well, these are my recommendation. Running or cycling, they’ve performed impeccably. I’m not traditionally a sunglass wearer! I just had to wait for the right product to come along, and the Oakley Jawbreaker was the one!

General

Oakley Moonlighter Sunglasses Review

May 6, 2016 Sammy Leave a comment

So what are the new Oakley Moonlighter sunglasses like? I had the good fortune to try a pair, with Frost frame and Sapphire Iridium lenses.

The Moonlighter’s are a perfect mix of the retro late 80s style, with modern Oakley technology. The frosted frames are not only a cute colour combo with the sapphire coloured lenses, but they are incredibly durable and lightweight due to their stress-resistant O Matter frame material. Comfort and performance is important to Oakley, so they have a unique Three-Point Fit design that holds lenses in precise optical alignment, while their Unobtanium nose pads ensure a snug, and secure fit.

The Sapphire Iridium lens add a cute and bright ‘pop’ of colour to your day, at the same time they protect your eyes from UVs with Plutonite lens material, which filters out 100% of UVA/UVB/UVC & harmful blue light up to 400nm. And, like all Oakley eyewear The Moonlighters include High Definition Optics (HDO) which is a collection of patented technologies that allow Oakley eyewear to meet or exceed the testing standards of the American National Standards Institute for optical clarity, visual fidelity, and impact resistance.

The Moonlighters are designed for a petite face shape measuring at:
Lens Width53 mm
Bridge Width17 mm
Lens Height42 mm
Temple Arm Length139 mm

So if you know your face dimensions, you’ll know if they fit. Or you can pop in-store and try them on!

The more I wore them (and cheekily checked out my reflection) the more I liked them. They fit comfortably on my face, and they certainly made things clearer and reduced the glare/sun strike on our artificial slope. I think the only negative I have about the Frost Sapphire Iridium Moonlighters is that the lenses are not polarized, however, other styles have polarised lenses. Apart from that, I think these shades are pretty neat. And, if you’re someone who wants trend and functionality out of a pair of sunglasses, I would highly recommend you try these out! I mean, they’re cute, lightweight and durable… What more could you want?

Thanks Sammy (Snowboard and Climbing Instructor)

General

Roxy Relay Leggings Review

April 26, 2016 Sammy Leave a comment

I recently got myself a pair of the Roxy Relay Leggings and it’s safe to say I am in love.

They almost look as good as they feel. The fabric, which is 78% Nylon and 22% Lycra, feels lovely, super lightweight, and breathable. The ones I have are an incredibly in your face bright pink, with what I like to call, black racing stripes and a cute tropical design on the calf. They really stand out. All the Roxy Relay Leggings come in beautiful bright colours and designs, and have reflective tape and a Roxy logo at the bottom of the lower leg. Even better, the colour won’t fade as they are made with Xtra Life Lycra fabric for excellent recovery and colour retention.

roxy leggings two styles — The ones I have, Azalea Stripe (right) are an incredibly in your face bright pink, with what I like to call, black racing stripes and a cute tropical design on the calf. Psychedelic Dream Combo Tomato (left).

Now, I’m not exactly the tallest person with being 5’1” and I usually really struggle with trouser legs being far too long and bunching up around my ankles. Yes, these leggings do bunch around my ankles, but nothing major like most do. Yet, there is enough length that I can say with confidence these would be great on taller girls too.

The fold-over waistband is high enough that you can comfortably exercise without indecently exposing yourself, or have to worry about continuously pulling them up because the waistband also includes Roxy Jacquard Elastic on the inside, and an adjustable tie on the outside to ensure a glove-like fit.

The fabric is thin enough to be quick drying and breathable, yet I wasn’t concerned about them thinning out and being see-through when climbing and abseiling on the climbing tower we have here at Tallington Lakes, which again saved me from embarrassment. The soft flatlock seams didn’t make me uncomfortable while climbing and hanging in some usually uncomfortable positions which was a huge bonus.

All in all, these leggings are amazing, comfortable, and cute while being incredibly functional. I never thought I would so highly recommend active wear but Roxy have really done well with the Relay Leggings! At Tallington Lakes Pro Shop we sell the Roxy Relay Leggings in Psychedelic Dream, and I recommend you buy them before I do because they are amazing!

Thanks Sammy (Snowboard and Climbing Instructor)

General

ISPO

February 12, 2016 Tallington Lakes Leave a comment

So what is ISPO you might be asking yourself. Basically it’s an international exhibition displaying some of the world’s most exclusive and innovative sporting goods.

It all started way back in 1970 with the first exhibition of its type opening its doors on March 8th with 816 exhibitors from 25 countries covering a huge 45,000 square meter space. Over the three day event 10,777 industry professionals visited catching the attention of both the events management and world media.

people looking at skis — The latest ski products on show at ISPO!

The event grew year on year and 2010 saw the 70th event and ISPO’s 40th birthday which had a record breaking 175,000 square meters of exhibition space fully booked! So if you’re interested in reading about the most innovative products for next season, click here.

Finally remember to save the date February 5-8 2017 for the next ISPO exhibition!

General

Mons Royal Merino Wool Base Layers

January 30, 2016 Tallington Lakes Leave a comment

Mons Royale is from Lake Wanaka, New Zealand. Lake Wanaka is one of the adventure capitals of New Zealand, with anything from winter sports such as skiing and snowboarding to summer activities such as mountain biking. And a good Merino wool thermal base layer is advisable with any of these sports.

However rather than just sticking to looking at just the performance of the thermals, like some of the other brands, Mons Royale wanted to create a base layer that, as well as having the performance, had a look and style for everyday use. Who’d have thought – cool thermals!

drums of merino wool — Merino wool has many qualities!

So why all the fuss about Merino Wool?

Mons Royale uses merino wool because it has many qualities, suitable for a baselayer:
It’s soft on your skin. Merino wool is finer than traditional wool which therefore makes it softer on your skin.
It keeps you warm, even when it’s wet, and breathable. The wool has a natural crimp which provides superior insulation and breathability.
It can help regulate your body temperature. Merino wool has the ability to ‘wick’ away moisture which will help regulate your temperature.
It dries quickly.
It doesn’t stink; you can wear it for longer before washing. The natural antibacterial properties of the wool means that it resists odour build up by locking the molecules in the fibre and releasing it when it’s washed.

So there you have it; performance thermals that look good – so 30 million sheep say! To check stock of Mons Royale thermals, please click here.

Thanks Molly (Chief Instructor Snow)