My yellow synthetic jacket has become polkadolked with blue, green and purple patches covering up the holes I’ve put in it, so I can’t go long at work without being asked “Mate, what do you do to your jacket?”.
“Gnarly stuff”.
It wasn’t really gnarly stuff.
It was probably here, at work, where my super-techy outdoor jacket spends most of its time. In fact, most of the tears are probably from where I always get caught on the door on the way to the toilet.
Anyway, let me tell you about this jacket. It’s got Primaloft Gold Active Eco insulation that retains thermal properties when wet, it’s got articulated arms, it’s got an 16 CFM air permeable outer shell and the fabric has 4-way stretch. It’s just absolutely full of tech, so it’s obviously the best jacket for my needs.
My high-tech outdoor jacket was made for the mountains. At least, that’s what I wrote the product description for it. What I didn’t mention was that, much like me, my jacket actually spends most of its time the office, the car and at home, and when I go out climbing I’d probably be better off with a nice woollen jumper.
In fact, looking at a lot of the clothing I own, I wonder how much of it I actually need. If I’m honest, for the amount of time I spend outdoors I probably don’t need seven pairs of approach shoes.
A lot of outdoor enthusiasts are ‘gear junkies’, we have way too many fleeces, boots, climbing shoes, cycling jerseys – each garment boasting slightly different technology to the others. I’m guilty of this, but all the same I’m usually one of the first to judge the fashion industry as being frivolous, with people buying stuff they don’t need. What’s so different about my desire to buy the newest bit of outdoor clothing?
I’ll blame it somewhat on advertising… We’re sold the idea that the latest technology and the best brands will make us better at what we do. A MacBook will transform you into a Silicon Valley creative, an iPhone will make you more productive, those Adidas Terrex shoes – well you’re a pro athlete with those on your feet. You can’t project a boulder without a £200 down jacket, and you couldn’t possibly pedal a bike without a MTB-specific jersey.
This follows onto that idea that the most expensive item is the best item for the job when the most expensive items usually just use more technology. You see it a lot in retail – customers buy expensive products because they think that having the best technology is important, regardless of whether they need it or not. How many people want Gore-Tex and Pertex Quantum without really knowing what it is? You should probably have it, purely because it exists.
Finally there’s what your clothing says about you. In the same way that designer brands tell people that you can afford designer brands, your tech clothing is sending a message. Sure you’re in the city now, you’re at your desk job, you’re in Asda petrol station, but that’s not where you belong. You’re wearing your practical jacket, you’re above consumerism and fashion, and you belong out in some wilderness doing something gnarly. The wonderful thing about outdoor clothing is that you don’t even to do any of these things to make people think you do.
I’ve recently realised that I don’t need a lot of the gear I have for going outdoors. The mere fact that it existed made me think I wanted it, and ‘to go outdoors’ justified making the purchase. In reality you could do a lot of the things you enjoy with a woolly jumper and a t-shirt, so the next time you feel the urge to drop £200 on the latest super high-tech, high-spec, all-mod-cons jacket, just take a look at plane tickets instead.
– Hati
Hati Whiteley 