by thinkmarsh | Jul 11, 2018 | clothes, product review
I know what you are thinking. #woolinsummer? Am I crazy? I assure you, I am not. In previous blog posts, I have waxed lyrical about the benefits of merino wool. I wear merino socks all year round and merino base layers in the winter. When we went to New Zealand a few years ago, we visited the Ice Breaker outlet four times and stocked up on cycling gear, socks, running tops, and base layers.
Icebreaker recently contacted me about their Cool-lite(TM) range. It helps make their clothes more comfortable and breathable in hot and humid temps (exactly what we have been experiencing in London). Aside from the other benefits of merino (no smell build up and moisture wicking), Cool-lite(TM) also is made from sustainably-sourced eucalyptus. Nearly 100% of the solvent used to make up one of the components of Cool-lite(TM) is recycled too. Sounds good to me!
This long heatwave has given me ample opportunity to put Cool-lite(TM) to the test. I wore the Cool-Lite(TM) Sphere Short Sleeve Low Crewe Cook Reflected shirt (130g for those that know their base layers) a few days when we had some time scheduled outdoors with dog walks and meeting friends in the park. The short sleeves, rather than a vest, were nice as it prevented my shoulders from burning. My husband didn’t report any smell issues by the third day of wear. Although I was warm in the direct sunlight, it wasn’t unbearably hot in my t-shirt. The sizing of the shirt seems a little big. I usually wear a medium in shirts (large if it is a womens cut). The shirt I am wearing is a medium and felt a bit roomy. On the other hand, maybe all of my calorie counting is paying off! If you decide to order one, you might want to double check the sizing guide first.
Based on this trial run, my Icebreaker shirt is already packing in my duffle bag for Love Trails Festival this weekend. It will be perfect for wearing around camp in between runs. It will dry fast on my clothes line and shouldn’t smell too bad by the time I get back to London. I am also bringing:
- Camping clothes lines to dry out wet gear
- Swim suit for run/swim
- Sunscreen
- Bagels and peanut butter for easy portable snack
- Luchodillitos for energy on a run
- Headlamp to pitch tent in the dark
- Mermaid bunting to hang on the outside of my tent to make it easier to find
- Kindle for reading and writing
- Spiky ball for massaging
- Sunglasses
- Reusable water bottle
- Quick drying towel for swimming and 3 min showers
- Flip flops for camp
- Antihistamines and nasal spray
- Solar charger power pack
- Cash and card for food and drink vendors (fingers crossed they stock Diet Coke)
I have never been to Love Trails (or any kind of festival, really) and would appreciate any and all advice you have about what to pack and what to leave at home. I am hoping my packing list for a 24 hour relay race will be a good starting point. The tricky thing will be carrying everything on the Tube to get on the coach to the festival site in Wales. Hopefully my 90L duffel bag from Kilimanjaro can hold everything, including my tent and sleeping bag. We shall soon see.
Thanks to Icebreaker for gifting me this shirt for review. All opinions are honest and my own.
x
by thinkmarsh | Jul 6, 2018 | clothes, Kilimanjaro, product review
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| First outdoor campout in the UK was with Adventure Queens along North Downs Way |
I am fairly certain my body struggles to regulate its temperature. When I get cold, I tend to stay that way. Sleeping as a child, I would have 10-15 blankets on my bed. To this day, I always sleep with socks on and religiously wear merino wool during the winter. On the flip side, such as this Wednesday, London was so hot I couldn’t cool down on my midday run. I was so desperate to cool off I took my shirt off and ran in my sports bra.
Staying warm was one of my big concerns for Kilimanjaro. We climbed on the cusp of the rainy season which meant the weather would be unpredictable and probably wet. I religiously use an electric blanket in the winter back home and wasn’t confident a hot water bottle would be sufficient on the mountain. Luckily, the good people at Polartec sent me the Norrona Lofoten Alpha Raw zip made with Polartec Alpha to test out. The hoodie is bright orange, which is very handy when I need to find in a dark tent. It also makes me easy to spot at a busy campsite. It has a insulating hood, integrated hand gaiters, and warming pockets. It is also very light and packs down small in a vacuum bag when travelling.
 |
| How I slept during my Kilimanjaro trek |
With my luggage weight on Kili limited to 15 kg, I wanted to test out the hoodie before my trip. In January, I joined the Adventure Queens for an overnight wild campout along the North Downs Way. I chose to bring my two person tent rather than sleep outside under the stars. It was due to rain a bit that weekend and being mid-winter, the temperatures were already low. I packed the hoodie in my rucksack and put it on once the sun started to set. The cold damp was starting to creep into my bones as we sat around the campfire telling stories and roasting marshmallows. I ended up sleeping in the hoodie and stayed fairly warm overnight. As I emerged from my tent the next morning, I found the air to be crisp so kept all of my upper layers but swapped my thermal tights for jeans.
 |
| Post-breakfast hike with new friends |
After breakfast, we broke into groups and too a very low-key hike through the local woods. There were a few hills which took some effort due to mud and warmed me right up. I had to tie the hoody around my waist to prevent overheating in my two other layers.
 |
| Along the way to the top of Kilimanjaro with the hoodie under my rain jacket |
The Lofoten Alpha Raw zip passed the test for me after this campout and made it onto my packing list for Kilimanjaro. I used the same approach on Kili as I did on the January camp out, sleeping in the hoody every night but also used it as one of my eight layers on summit night. The guides recommended seven layers but I get cold so I added an extra. It turned out that seven would have been the correct number! We summited at 8:30am and were so hot by the time we got to the top. I stripped most of my layers off at that point and carried them down in my rucksack. If I had a choice, I would always choose to be a little bit warm over a little bit cold so I didn’t mind carrying the extra weight.
 |
| At the top with eight layers on top and four on the bottom |
The Polartec Alpha fabric was originally designed for U.S Special Forces to be used in both dynamic and static situations. It is extremely breathable, lightweight, and dries fast. This means you don’t need to stop mid-activity and add or remove layers. It washes well and the hoodie didn’t leave fuzz everywhere even though the texture is fluffy.
Polartec Alpha is a fabric I will be sure to lookout for in the future when I am investing in new pieces for future outdoor adventures. Being lightweight, packable and versatile for layering makes it a good staple to keep in your rucksack.
How do you keep warm on your outdoor adventures? Leave a comment below and let me know.
by Mollie Millington | Jul 6, 2018 | clothes, Kilimanjaro, product review
|
| First outdoor campout in the UK was with Adventure Queens along North Downs Way |
I am fairly certain my body struggles to regulate its temperature. When I get cold, I tend to stay that way. Sleeping as a child, I would have 10-15 blankets on my bed. To this day, I always sleep with socks on and religiously wear merino wool during the winter. On the flip side, such as this Wednesday, London was so hot I couldn’t cool down on my midday run. I was so desperate to cool off I took my shirt off and ran in my sports bra.
Staying warm was one of my big concerns for Kilimanjaro. We climbed on the cusp of the rainy season which meant the weather would be unpredictable and probably wet. I religiously use an electric blanket in the winter back home and wasn’t confident a hot water bottle would be sufficient on the mountain. Luckily, the good people at Polartec sent me the Norrona Lofoten Alpha Raw zip made with Polartec Alpha to test out. The hoodie is bright orange, which is very handy when I need to find in a dark tent. It also makes me easy to spot at a busy campsite. It has a insulating hood, integrated hand gaiters, and warming pockets. It is also very light and packs down small in a vacuum bag when travelling.
|
| How I slept during my Kilimanjaro trek |
With my luggage weight on Kili limited to 15 kg, I wanted to test out the hoodie before my trip. In January, I joined the Adventure Queens for an overnight wild campout along the North Downs Way. I chose to bring my two person tent rather than sleep outside under the stars. It was due to rain a bit that weekend and being mid-winter, the temperatures were already low. I packed the hoodie in my rucksack and put it on once the sun started to set. The cold damp was starting to creep into my bones as we sat around the campfire telling stories and roasting marshmallows. I ended up sleeping in the hoodie and stayed fairly warm overnight. As I emerged from my tent the next morning, I found the air to be crisp so kept all of my upper layers but swapped my thermal tights for jeans.
|
| Post-breakfast hike with new friends |
After breakfast, we broke into groups and too a very low-key hike through the local woods. There were a few hills which took some effort due to mud and warmed me right up. I had to tie the hoody around my waist to prevent overheating in my two other layers.
|
| Along the way to the top of Kilimanjaro with the hoodie under my rain jacket |
The Lofoten Alpha Raw zip passed the test for me after this campout and made it onto my packing list for Kilimanjaro. I used the same approach on Kili as I did on the January camp out, sleeping in the hoody every night but also used it as one of my eight layers on summit night. The guides recommended seven layers but I get cold so I added an extra. It turned out that seven would have been the correct number! We summited at 8:30am and were so hot by the time we got to the top. I stripped most of my layers off at that point and carried them down in my rucksack. If I had a choice, I would always choose to be a little bit warm over a little bit cold so I didn’t mind carrying the extra weight.
|
| At the top with eight layers on top and four on the bottom |
The Polartec Alpha fabric was originally designed for U.S Special Forces to be used in both dynamic and static situations. It is extremely breathable, lightweight, and dries fast. This means you don’t need to stop mid-activity and add or remove layers. It washes well and the hoodie didn’t leave fuzz everywhere even though the texture is fluffy.
Polartec Alpha is a fabric I will be sure to lookout for in the future when I am investing in new pieces for future outdoor adventures. Being lightweight, packable and versatile for layering makes it a good staple to keep in your rucksack.
How do you keep warm on your outdoor adventures? Leave a comment below and let me know.
by Mollie Millington | Apr 26, 2018 | clothes, fashion
Last Friday, I had time to stop by The London Sports Show at the Truman Brewery in Shoreditch. I didn’t know much about it before I arrived, other than new brands would be featured, as well as free fitness classes and panel discussions. There were about 10 brands on display (all new names to me), each with a small collection of items available for purchase. The thing I found most interesting was that most of the brands had the founders there, meaning I could talk to them directly about their passion projects and what inspired them to take the leap into entrepreneurship. Many still worked full-time while trying to build their brand in their free time. I told them I could totally relate!
Here are a few of the brands that I was able to learn more about. For a list of all of the brands that took part, click here. I should add that I am by no means a fashion person. I will always go for function over fashion when it comes to clothes. But if I look good in it too, it is an added bonus!
First off, it was fabulous to run into former London blogger, Babs, at the event. Turns out, she has been creating a new fashion brand since I saw her ages ago. Adinkra Yoga offers comfy cotton shorts and pants in beautiful West African prints. With an elastic waistband, this kit is versatile enough to be worn at yoga and summer festivals.
Form yoga mats really caught my eye. Heidi and Toby co-founded this carbon-neutral brand. The yoga mats have gorgeous designs with geometric patterns to ensure you are in the proper position. The mats are made of 100% recycled rubber and come in a rectangle or circular shape. You can also throw the mats in the washing machine, which I think is the best thing ever.
One piece of kit that caught my eye was the Be Brave Be Bold tank from Boudavida. This brand offers a range of sizes from 8-18, with a design ethos of flattering cuts for all body shapes giving women the confidence they need to be active. Using technical fabric, there is something for just about everyone in their collection. They also donate 5% of sales to projects that support womens sport or individual female athletes.
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| One of the free classes |
MYSPORTLONDON had bold primary colours in smooth technical fabrics for men and women. Lots of thought went into each design. For example, the leggings don’t have a seam over the IT Band, which helps prevent irritation. The high waist can be worn up or folded down, depending on what activity you are doing. The technical leggings have a gusset, reflective detail on the front and back, as well as a zippered pocket to store your essentials.
Italian fabrics help create the Yummy Yoga Girl‘s legging collection. Her tops have unique shapes, with cut out shoulders and backs. All pieces are really affordably priced too. Her website has several free yoga videos, so you should definitely take a look if you want to work on your practice in your own time.
Last, but not least is Refill. Vlad was the first brand owner I met and was very passionate about his product (it was his first time at a show). Refill is a double-insulated steel water bottle with a copper lining to help preserve the temperature (hot or cold) of your beverage. It comes with a regular cap, as well as a sports lid with straw, so that you can keep your bottle in hand no mater what activity you are taking part in. Refill advocates a ‘refill’ lifestyle, where you take time to rest and recharge. Cutting down on plastic use is a big thing right now, so we have one bottle in ‘pure black’ for you to win! Details below!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Did you make it to the pop up? Which brands did you love?
by thinkmarsh | Apr 26, 2018 | clothes, fashion
Last Friday, I had time to stop by The London Sports Show at the Truman Brewery in Shoreditch. I didn’t know much about it before I arrived, other than new brands would be featured, as well as free fitness classes and panel discussions. There were about 10 brands on display (all new names to me), each with a small collection of items available for purchase. The thing I found most interesting was that most of the brands had the founders there, meaning I could talk to them directly about their passion projects and what inspired them to take the leap into entrepreneurship. Many still worked full-time while trying to build their brand in their free time. I told them I could totally relate!
Here are a few of the brands that I was able to learn more about. For a list of all of the brands that took part, click here. I should add that I am by no means a fashion person. I will always go for function over fashion when it comes to clothes. But if I look good in it too, it is an added bonus!
First off, it was fabulous to run into former London blogger, Babs, at the event. Turns out, she has been creating a new fashion brand since I saw her ages ago. Adinkra Yoga offers comfy cotton shorts and pants in beautiful West African prints. With an elastic waistband, this kit is versatile enough to be worn at yoga and summer festivals.
Form yoga mats really caught my eye. Heidi and Toby co-founded this carbon-neutral brand. The yoga mats have gorgeous designs with geometric patterns to ensure you are in the proper position. The mats are made of 100% recycled rubber and come in a rectangle or circular shape. You can also throw the mats in the washing machine, which I think is the best thing ever.
One piece of kit that caught my eye was the Be Brave Be Bold tank from Boudavida. This brand offers a range of sizes from 8-18, with a design ethos of flattering cuts for all body shapes giving women the confidence they need to be active. Using technical fabric, there is something for just about everyone in their collection. They also donate 5% of sales to projects that support womens sport or individual female athletes.
|
| One of the free classes |
MYSPORTLONDON had bold primary colours in smooth technical fabrics for men and women. Lots of thought went into each design. For example, the leggings don’t have a seam over the IT Band, which helps prevent irritation. The high waist can be worn up or folded down, depending on what activity you are doing. The technical leggings have a gusset, reflective detail on the front and back, as well as a zippered pocket to store your essentials.
Italian fabrics help create the Yummy Yoga Girl‘s legging collection. Her tops have unique shapes, with cut out shoulders and backs. All pieces are really affordably priced too. Her website has several free yoga videos, so you should definitely take a look if you want to work on your practice in your own time.
Last, but not least is Refill. Vlad was the first brand owner I met and was very passionate about his product (it was his first time at a show). Refill is a double-insulated steel water bottle with a copper lining to help preserve the temperature (hot or cold) of your beverage. It comes with a regular cap, as well as a sports lid with straw, so that you can keep your bottle in hand no mater what activity you are taking part in. Refill advocates a ‘refill’ lifestyle, where you take time to rest and recharge. Cutting down on plastic use is a big thing right now, so we have one bottle in ‘pure black’ for you to win! Details below!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Did you make it to the pop up? Which brands did you love?
by thinkmarsh | Oct 23, 2017 | clothes, product review
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| Mammut shorts on the move |
About a third of my wardrobe is activewear. I tend to prefer technical fabrics over cotton because I have trouble regulating my body temperature and prefer to wash things after wearing a few times to reduce my impact on the environment. As I have mentioned before, I like to trial test products a few times before I let you know what I think. Here are a few pieces I have been trying over the last few months.
The first are Mammut MTR 71 Shorts, which I found to be super versatile. I used them for marathon training, indoor cycling, dog walks, and plain old home workouts. Having the inner shorts helped prevent chafing between my thighs when I had longer runs planned. There is a small zippered pocket in the back on the waist and a key pocket on the inside front. The fabric is breathable and very stretchy due to the spandex component. The large was a little big on my thighs so I found the inner shorts would sometimes ride up. I think if I had the mediums, it would have been fine. There is also an antimicrobial treatment to the fabric to reduce odor, which means you can pack light on a camping trip without having to worry about worrying about the smell.
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| Mammut shorts and my OgiYogi hoody |
My OgiYogi hoody and leggings came to me in May. We had such a fantastic summer, I haven’t had a chance to wear these until recently. I am so sad because they are truly amazing! The leggings fit perfectly and are great at balancing my body temperature when I start sweating. I also found the print flattering event though I normally avoid horizontal stripes. The merino and bamboo hoody is super soft and warm, with a concealed zip and thumbholes (check it out in the above photos). It has pockets and a longer length torso. I do wish the zipper would open from the bottom because the longer length has to fit over my hips which it does but I don’t think it is super flattering. I guarantee I will be living in these pieces this autumn for running, spinning, and lifting. And sitting on the couch while I write blog posts.
You might not know that Hunkemoller sells more than lingerie. They recently started offering sportswear in a variety of styles (including a Blogger line). I received a black Hunkemoller top with a mesh back panel in early 2017 and have found a ton is uses for it. The front is a solid piece of black fabric with a normal crew neck. When we went to Cape Town, it was a beach cover up and a cute top to wear to the bar.
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| Breakfast on the deck before swim time |
The back really is the fun bit. In London, I use it as a layer to go to the gym over a bright sports bra. Unfortunately, this particular top isn’t available any more but there are new lines offered several times a year.
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| Ready for a night out |
If you have any questions about these pieces, leave a comment below and I will get back to you as soon as I can.
Thank you to all of the brands for providing me with samples to try. All opinions are honest and my own.
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