Firstly though, we would like to run you through what's so special about Fjallraven and what sets them apart from our other brand offerings in store.

Fjallraven was started by Ake Nordin in 1960 when he developed an aluminium-framed backpack from his basement in Ornskoldsvik, Sweden, and it was lighter and stronger than anything of its time.

He then developed a condensation free tent before introducing the Greenland Jacket to the world. Inspired by a Scandinavian expedition to Greenland, Fjallraven's first piece of clothing used his new G-1000 material, waxed with specially created Greenland Wax. This jacket was hard wearing as well as wind and water resistant, and it quickly became a trusted favourite with nature lovers. The Greenland jacket still sits in the Fjallraven range alongside many other garments made from the famous G-1000 material, as well as new fabric technologies that have been introduced over the years.

G-1000
Since the original G-1000 fabric was developed in 1968, Fjallraven have developed a range of different versions that can be seen within our range this year. Fjallraven's cornerstone material is a very hard wearing blend of 65% polyester and 35% cotton, and this is used for everything from backpacks to jackets and trousers. By adding the Greenland wax it becomes water-resistant and even more wind-resistant and durable.                               G-1000

See below a selection of garments using G-1000 fabric that are part of our range this year...

Mens Barents Parka ;

The Mens Barents Parka is the "Beast" of our range this year. Using G-1000 original and Heavy Duty for extra strength, with 150g/sqm Supreme Microloft insulation and Hydratic liner, this Parka is warm as well as wind and water-proof. You can depend on the Barents Parka to stand up to whatever you throw at it this winter!








 Mens Sormland Padded Jacket




From Fjallraven Hunting Range, the Mens Sormland Jacket was our best selling jacket last winter. This Jacket showcases a classic toned down style using rustle-free G-1000 Silent Eco. As well as this, the Sormland utilises a Hydratic liner and is lightly padded with G-Loft Supreme Compact to keep you dry and comfortable in changeable weather. Reinforced with G-1000 Heavy Duty on the shoulders and elbows, this jacket is a great choice for days out in the countryside

Earlier this year, I was asked whether I would be interested in participating in the Fjallraven Classic in Sweden.

Not knowing anything about it, I immediately said yes... I had never been to Sweden after all.



Once I briefly read what the Classic involved, I was very glad I had signed up to it! Trekking 110km through the Swedish back country with everything you need on your back seemed like the perfect getaway to me.

I also thought about what a generous offer this was from Fjallraven, a brand we had only recently started to stock in store.

So the day came to head to Sweden... a 3am taxi to Heathrow, a flight to Stockholm and then an internal flight up to Kiruna in the Arctic Circle.

I was worried I wasn't going to be in the best state to start the 110km trek first thing on the Friday morning, but as we started to descend towards an airstrip surrounded by the most beautiful Swedish Forests, there was great sense of excitement on the plane full of participants - and I was buzzing.

Upon arriving at the "basecamp" that evening, we signed in and collected our map, food and gas. We then checked in to our accommodation before heading off to an introductory talk welcoming us to the Classic...

This was the first point at which I truly understood what the Classic was really all about. Karl Hard, the event organiser, took us through the history of Fjallraven - explaining that from it's foundation, Fjallraven had been a company that is committed to making nature more accessible. He also described the Classic as not only a trek, but also a celebration of the outdoors! Inspired and raring to go, we headed back to our hut to pack our bags and get our heads down. It would be an early start the next day, so we needed to be well-rested and prepared.

After a quick shower, we jumped on the coach for an hour long journey to the starting point at Nakkaluokta. I was already very impressed by how well-organised this trip was - with 2000 people participating from countries all around the world. I was also moved by how friendly the Swedish people were, many of them volunteers who were here purely because of their love for the outdoors.


Soon enough, one of our group started to flag a little, suffering from the first of many blisters to come. We decided to pitch up for the night and found a lovely spot right next to the small lake, just off the trail. We all unloaded our camping equipment before having the inevitable kit comparison session that you’d expect with four people who work in the outdoor retail industry.

Whilst we have stocked Fjallraven for the past two years, our current range is more expansive than ever before. Whether you're looking for a new fleece, a hiking rucksack, a waterproof shell, a warm woolly hat, comfy hoodies, the classic Kanken backpack or even a pair of jeans - you'll find all of that and more in store and online.

With all of these new options, curating an authentic outdoors look has never been easier! What makes this brand extra special is the quality. When purchasing a Fjallraven product you can be assured that it will last - fitting in perfectly with our commitment to  quality brands.

To continue the theme of quality, with elegance to match, we have started stocking Dubarry for the first time this autumn.

This luxurious range includes the iconic Galway boot, a waterproof leather country boot that provides an extra burst of warmth and comfort on chilly days.



This boot is highly breathable and quick-drying, with a Gore-Tex lining to pack that extra punch of full weather protection.


As well as knee high boots, we also have the ever popular Antrim, showcasing a sleek yet rugged Chelsea boot design. This is ideal for men who want something smart yet also incredibly functional. With the incorporation of Gore-Tex technology, this boot ensures your feet are kept dry and comfortable, whatever the weather. As well as this, Dubarry's signature DryFast-DrySoft leathers work to maintain these comfort levels.


To pair up with our boot range, we also have some beautifully crafted Donegal wool jumpers, waxed cotton jackets, checkered shirts and cable knit sweaters for that complete country aesthetic.

Whatever brands you choose to shop at the Complete Outdoors, you can guarantee that whether it's luxury or the bare essentials - quality will be on your side.

At the Complete Outdoors we review a lot of tents before coming to a final decision about whether or not to add them to our range.

With this in mind, we thought this year we would give you a little bit of background into the some of the tents we've reviewed, as well as our thought process behind why we now stock them.

Here are our reasons why we think these are 5 of the best lightweight backpacking tents around.

SUMMARY

Are you looking for a tent range where the manufacturer asks the end user how do we make our tents better to suit your needs? Then better still they listen to your feedback, and go and make the tents?
Introducing the Vango XD backpacking tent range.
If you are you a group leader, say of a scout group or DofE school group, and you're looking to improve the outdoor kit in your stock room, then the Vango Xd tent range is for you. Bigger, better, stronger. The Vango XD trekking tents are constructed with extra durable materials and components, and are more resistant to wear and tear.



The above words are easy to say and type but what have the guys at Vango actually done to improve their existing tents?

Glad you asked. Here are the answers:

1) THE FLY SHEET & GROUND SHEET

The fly sheet is a tough 75 denier polyester which also has a ripstop design worked into it. This means the material has an increased strength compared to the standard backpacking tents and the ripstop gives the flysheet a tear protection.

We all know tents that are loaned out from kit stockrooms get a lot of use and maybe don't get the same love and attention compared to your own tent. So when damage does occur, such as a hole on the flysheet, the ripstop design will reduce the progress of the tear. So that's the roof improved but what about the floor? Good news! The groundsheet has a top spec of 150 denier and has been integrated and manufactured to withstand high levels of usage.

2) THE VANGO XD TENT POLES

When you think of tents braking, what is one of the first thing that stands out in your mind? Tent poles!!

So how are these Vango XD tents any different? Glad you asked! The XD tent range now comes with a pole first aid kit which includes a spare pole section keeping the tent self serviceable for longer.

2) THE VANGO XD TENT PEGS 

Finally let's not forget about the small and simple things. The alloy tent pegs have been made thicker so they are less likely to bend (we have all experienced that, more than once!).

Ever think much about zips and pegging points? The guys at Vango did too, so all have been beefed up on the XD tents, protecting them from heavy handed users.

CHECK OUT THE XD TENTS!

Vango trekking tents have always been great but now with the XD you can have tents you can trust. In Vango's own words these tents are seriously tough, light and easy to pitch. The XD tents are a must look at if you are in the market for a new tent, or looking to invest your funds to replace your tired tents in your kit room.



So what models are available, and what are their specs? Have a glance below at the current Vango XD models you can get from the Complete Outdoors.

TEMPEST XD TENT

The Tempest XD takes the highly popular tunnel tent and modifies it with reinforced materials and components. Ideal for high volume usage, the XD model retains all the features from the original in one robust package. Available in 2-man and 3-man tent configurations.

HALO XD TENT

The ever popular Halo has been developed into an extra durable spec. This 3-man tent is extremely simple and quick to pitch which is perfect for youth groups and long expeditions.

ELIXIR SERIES

MSR Elixir 3 tent

HUBBA NX SERIES

MSR Hubba Hubba NX

The Numbers...

	Hubba NX	Hubba Hubba NX	Mutha Hubba NX	Papa Hubba NX
Capacity (person)	1	2	3	4
Packed Weight (kg)	1.29	1.72	2.26	2.96
Pack Size (cm)	46 x 15	46 x 15	53 x 17	53 x 18
Internal Dimentions (cm)	216 x 76	213 x 127	213 x 172	218 x 236

2018 MSR TENT SUMMARY

MSR offer a fantastic range of tents and between the Elixir and Hubba NX Series you have a great choice for 3-season backpacking. Value for money wise it's hard to beat the Elixir but if you're looking to go lighter the Hubba NX series is the way to go without sacrificing the liveable space.