Outdoor Gear Glossary

Warm Zone uses a unique process to engineer varying levels of insulation right into the fabric giving warmth where you need it most. Weight is kept to a minimum while performance is improved. This technology is unique to Lowe Alpine.

Research has identified key areas where warmth is needed most (including elbows, wrists and kidneys) and where breathability needs to be increased. Warm Zone tops are optimized when wearing a pack. They are also reversible, allowing insulation performance to be controlled even further...The raised pile on the inside increases insulation values by 25%, or alternatively reverse to adjust its performance.

Waterproof, breathable, glove inserts used throughout Outdoor Designs' Summit and Summitski collections - providing an additional removable waterproof layer to these walking gloves.

First introduced in 2004, Watershed SL is one of the lightest and most durable flysheet fabrics available in its class. Now using Terra Nova's 'Anti-blast' UV protection system technology.

In 2005 Terra Nova developed a new flysheet fabric for their lightweight tent range, offering greater weight savings, including a better UV resistance with no reduction in water resistance.

Terra Nova's Endurance flysheet fabric provides one of the highest durability to weight ratios currently available. Updated for 2005 with their 'Anti-blast' UV protection system technology.

The seamless shoulder design sheds water fast and relocates seams to less vulnerable areas for greater comfort and durability.

To avoid the accumulation of snow around the lid of your rucksack the Weatherlock closure under the lid includes a spindrift collar and a 'skirt' to create a seal between the snow and your dry gear.

Parallel design used in ski and walking pole compression straps / attachment systems, giving fast and secure positioning onto rucksacks that are glove friendly too. As they are alloy they are tougher than tyical hardened plastics.

Nikwax Windproof uses a closely woven microfibre fabric which cuts wind chill and protects your insulation but still allows the movement of moisture away from the body. It can be treated with Nikwax durable water-repellency to deflect the rain.

Key benefits:

• Prevents windchill, to keep you warm.
• Easily treated and re-treated with Nikwax Aftercare products to keep you dry too.
• Excellent moisture vapour transfer or breathability minimises condensation.
• Extremely resilient and durable fabric, it won't degrade in UV light
• Folds or compresses without any damage making it ideal to carry

Some clothing manufacturers provide a measure of their items' wind permeability, also known as CFM (Cubic Feat per Minute) rating. It measures the air (in cubic feet) passing from one space through to another space. Therefore an item of clothing with 0 CFM will not allow any air through that particular fabric.

This often refers to the different shape of a 'typical' woman, which might include a top having a narrower waist or shoulders, or shorter back for a backpack.