Products that have stood the test of time
This week the Queen became the longest reigning monarch in British history. A lot has changed in outdoor innovation in the length of her reign, but many brands have a key piece or range that has stood the test of time and lasted for years. Lets celebrate some of those long running outdoor reigns.
In an ever changing environment such as the outdoor industry, products come and go every season and some you may not hear of again. However year after year a select few products have proven so popular with outdoor enthusiasts that brands just have to bring them back. This is usually a sign of fantastic quality, value for money or a product that does exactly what it is intended for.
Here are a few products that we have selected for a salute of respect.
Hillmaster Walking Boots
The Hillmaster is a walking institution, they’re probably the pair of walking boots any first time walker picks up in our stores because the style is so recognisable. The Hillmaster model has been around for over 30 years and it’s comfort fit, slightly wider footbed has always been a favourite with walkers. Last year Brasher was purchased by Berghaus which left an uncertainty for the Hillmaster, but Berghaus chose to continue with this popular line and created an up to date version with plenty of upgraded features.
Leatherman Wave Multitool
You shouldn’t be surprised to see a Leatherman make this list, a brand that boasts a 25 year warranty is bound to have a product or two that have survived the test of time. While Leatherman’s first multitool the ‘PST’ created in 1983 was retired in 2004, their most popular line is without a doubt the Leatherman Wave. The Wave was originally created in 1998 and retired in 2002, two years later Leatherman realised the popularity of the Wave and brought out an updated version with bigger knives, stronger pliers and more. To this day the Leatherman Wave is still an international best seller for the brand.
Paramo Alta
Paramo are a brand built to last and they’re proud of it. While Paramo products have often been described as having an old fashioned look, their technology is still some of the best around. The brand have stuck by the Alta as one of their most popular jackets, having won many awards over the years. The brand are only up to the Alta III this year, which shows how much they have stuck by the jacket since they went into manufacturing in the 90s. Ask anybody who owns a Paramo, and they’ll probably tell you it’s the best jacket they own.
Petzl Tikka
Petzl are arguably the king of headtorches. The Tikka ranges that you see in store began back in 2000 with the introduction of the brands first LED headlamps. These headtorches are so popular that year after year they are upgraded, improved and still capture the public’s interest. To say the brand created their first headlamp in 1973, it’s certainly an area they know plenty about.
Berghaus Mera Peak
The Mera Peak is arguably one of the most recognisable waterproof jackets around. The first iteration hitting the market in the winter of 1991, and has continued to receive upgrades to the present day. The jacket has long been a favourite with mountaineers due to it’s versatility and durability. Very few jackets in the outdoor market stand the test of time, and the Mera Peak has done well to see off plenty of competition in it’s 24 year reign.
Scarpa Manta
The Manta is still arguably one of the more popular mountain boots on the market. It’s earliest versions can be tracked back to the 70’s. These along with SL versions at the time were looked on as witchcraft due to being so much lighter than most other boots at the time. Those early editions would probably be considered quite heavy by today’s standards, but Scarpa continue to experiment with the Manta to retain quality and make the boot lighter with each variation.
Outwell Montana 6
It’d be hard to do a long running products article without mentioning Montana 6 from Outwell. This tent feels like it’s been around forever, but really it was only released in 2005, making it a youngster on this list. The Montana stands alongside the rest because it is arguably one of the most loved, and most popular lines in it’s field (no pun intended). Reliable and sturdy are what people want and the Montana never fails to deliver. Long may it’s reign continue.
Craghoppers Kiwi Trousers
When customers come to our stores looking for walking trousers, the Kiwi is the one product that most will know. The Kiwi trousers in different variations have been around since 1997 and in that time have become an institution for casual and walking wear for outdoor enthusiasts. These days are variants to suit any time of year: The standard Kiwi, Kiwi convertibles with zip off sections, and winter lined Kiwis for those winter months. At 18 years old, the Kiwi is looking as good as ever.
There are plenty more we could have added to this list. What all these products have in common is reliability and the brands quest to continue to improve on what is already successful.
Have we missed your long running favourite? Let us know in the comments below.
