Philippe Gatta tested the jackets in the Himalaya
Two innovative clothing designs have bagged Berghaus a couple of industry awards at the giant Ispo show in Munich.
The Sunderland-based brand picked up a gold award in the outer layer category for clothing with its VapourLight HyperTherm jacket, voted top item in its category and also shortlisted for Ispo product of the year.
The HyperSmock also picked up an award in the same category. Both were developed by its MtnHaus team.
Berghaus said the men’s and women’s VapourLight HyperTherm FZ reversible jackets are designed to offer new levels of comfort, breathability and adaptability in insulated products for summer.
Insulation comes in the form of Berghaus’s new synthetic Hydroloft 40g/sq m filling.
The VapourLight HyperTherm, with its cooleer side on show
Hydroloft is a synthetic form of insulation formed out of super-fine polyester fibres. It mimics the behaviour of down by trapping body heat using small pockets of air, but as it is synthetic, it continues to perform when wet and it does not migrate around a product.
Because Hydroloft does not migrate, Berghaus said it is able to combine it with less tightly woven inner and face fabrics, allowing perspiration to escape while the wearer is on the move and significantly increasing the comfort delivered by finished products when in use.
Worn one way, the HyperTherm FZ has a very wind and resistant Berghaus AF face fabric, rated less than 15cfm; when reversed, the face fabric allows more airflow through the jacket – greater than 50cfm – providing an ideal balance of insulation and breathability while moving fast, the company said.
Both sides benefit from a durable water resistant treatment and the HyperTherm FZ weighs just 160g in a men’s size large, 80g lighter than its closest known competitor according to Berghaus.
The VapourLight Hyper Smock is the world’s lightest waterproof jacket, according to Berghaus, weighing in at 110g, 30 per cent lighter than its nearest known competitor.
Made out of a 7-denier face nylon ripstop fabric with an ultra-light PU coating, it has fully taped waterproof seams, delivering a hydrostatic head of 7,000mm. The minimalist design includes an adjustable hood and small sleeve pocket, and it packs down into a stuffsack with dimensions of just 12cm by 8.5cm.
Berghaus-sponsored Philippe Gatta used the HyperTherm and Hyper Smock while running more than 1,000km of the high route of the Great Himalayan Trail in only 33 days.
Gatta was accompanied by his wife Anna for most of this adventure, who said: “Philippe and I put all kit to the roughest test.
Berghaus Hyper Smock in its stuff sack next to a small mug
“We were closely involved in the development and testing of the HyperTherm and it was specifically designed to help us on the Great Himalayan Trail.
“We really liked what Berghaus had produced before we set out and our Himalayan adventure confirmed that it’s a phenomenal product. We wore ours almost all of the time and the reversible concept is very effective.
“The smock is very waterproof and works amazingly well. Together, we have used it during a 10-hour day with heavy snow and rain for over eight hours.
“Nothing to say, other than it really works. We were not wet underneath.”
David Heath, Berghaus vice-president for product and marketing, said: “This is fantastic news for Berghaus and highlights the phenomenal work that our MtnHaus team does.
The Ispo Awards are highly sought after, so to win two in the same category really shines a spotlight on the high level of innovation that we have been able to bring to garment design and development.
“We are really excited about the potential of the VapourLight collection and this major international recognition for two of the range’s key products is a big boost.”
The Berghaus HyperTherm and Hyper Smock will be available online and selected specialist outdoor retailers from March.
