Things to do while in Lockdown - Footwear Maintenance
Pic above L-R - Leather Nova Tour Mammut, Synthetic/Nubuck Quest 4d GTX Salomon, Synthetic Moab Mid Gtx Merrell
Pic above L-R - Leather Nova Tour Mammut, Synthetic/Nubuck Quest 4d GTX Salomon, Synthetic Moab Mid Gtx Merrell
It's that time of the year again when we pull out our winter parkas. If yours is past it's best then here are some fabulous new ones to tempt you!
Let's start with the most expensive one first. This is the Hillsdale Parka from Columbia and the hefty price tag reflects the fact that this is down filled and waterproof - a unique combination. Coming in at €329.99 this is definitely an investment piece but it's fabulous on! The fur is removable, it has a two-way zipper to make getting in and out of the car easier, thermal reflective lining to keep you extra cosy and luxurious comfort cuffs. It's also the longest of all the parkas we stock. Fab!
Next up is the Carson Pass Interchange Jacket, €220. This is a three-in-one jacket which consists of an insulated liner jacket that can be worn independently or together as it zips into the waterproof outer shell. This makes it highly versatile.
The Women's Trevail Parka, €249.95, from the North Face is the kind of piece you will have forever! It's down filled, super slimming on, has a hood and the zoned baffles are loaded with 800-fill goose down to give you serious warmth.
Coming in at €169.99 this next parka offers serious value for money. The Icy Heights II Mid Length Down Jacket is crafted from a water-repellent shell fabric that protects you from wet weather and its toasty 450-fill down insulation make a serious statement when it comes to battling cold weather. It's longer length makes it a perfect match coat and the hood is removable too.
If you're looking for a brighter colour then look no further than the Women's Long Belfast Winter Jacket from Helly Hansen for €160. It's fully waterproof and insulated too, but it's not as heavily warm as the ones listed above- definitely light-weight insulation. Perfect for an Irish winter!
Along the same lines we also have the Hikestellar Insulated Parka from the North Face for €190. This comes down to just below the bum and is fully waterproof and lightly insulated too. The lining is a lovely, bright turquoise.
The Powder Lite Mid Jacket €139.99 from Columbia has got a great cut to it, the baffles are narrower around the hips to help create a really pleasing silhouette. Crafted of a durable water-resistant shell, with 100% polyester insulation, and Omni-Heat™ Reflective lining for extra warmth, this lightweight jacket is ready to take on winter. Featuring a flattering mid-thigh length, 2-way center front zipper, protective hood, zippered hand pockets, and interior security pocket to stash valuables.
Last but not least my own personal favourite, The Boyne Parka €189.95 from Helly Hansen. I just love all the pockets! It's fully waterproof and has 60g of insulation, so again not as warm as the big down jackets above but perfect for an Irish winter.
There are lots more jackets and coats in-store too so pop in and visit us on the Bandon By-Pass to see the full range.
Does the Dad/Husband/Man in your life dream of heading out into the hills away from mankind for days on end? Does he eye up machetes and fancy himself as a bit of Robinson Crusoe? If you answered yes, then these five products could be right up his street!
1. PRIMUS GAS MIMER LANTERN WITH PIEZO - €54.95
2. LIGHT MY FIRE FIREKNIFE - €29.95
A colourful outdoor knife with Swedish FireSteel® fire starter. The Swedish FireKnife is a collaboration between Light My Fire and Mora of Sweden - Mora has made top-notch knives for 120 years.
But this is more than just an extremely sharp, flexible and sturdy all-around knife: the handle contains a fire starter. In other words, you can gut and clean a fish, split kindling and light a campfire with one single handy tool.
3. LIFESTRAW GO 2-STAGE FILTRATION BOTTLE €54.95
The BPA-free water bottle has a build-in LifeStraw® and will filter up to 4,000 liters of contaminated water. The advanced 2-stage water filter is extremely robust and comes with a special carbon capsule. The first stage of filtration features a replaceable hollow fiber membrane which filters to 0.2 microns and removes almost 100% of waterborne bacteria and waterborne protozoan parasites. Afterward, the second stage of filtration puts water through a replaceable activated carbon capsule, which reduces organic chemical matter (pesticides, herbicides, VOCs).
€67.50 for a kettle....what???? But this bad boy weighs practically nothing - 118g!
Versatile enough to be a pot, mug or bowl, this ultralight titanium kettle holds .85 litres of liquid and comes with a tight-fitting lid and drip-free spout for smooth, easy pouring. Team with Titan Tool Spoon or MSR® Folding Utensils (sold separately) for a bare-minimum "solo" cookware kit.
5. INSECT SHIELD BUFFS - €21.50
Nothing ruins a camping trip more than when the midgies attack at the end of an evening when you're gathered around the fireplace.
This brand new BUFF® Coolnet® UV+ tubular conceived to provide full protection during summer. It combines ultimate sun protection and quick drying with the revolutionary Insect Shield® technology which keeps insects away. Breathable, light and comfortable, it is perfect to enjoy outdoor activities in open-air environments without worrying about the sun or the annoying insects.
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If you need anymore ideas pop in to Wild Side Sports where we will be delighted to help steer you in the right direction.
We have lots of families who come back year after year for Alder suits for their kids so we just want to warn you all that Alder have changed their sizing! Previously their sizing worked like this, 4-5, 5-6, 7-8 etc now they are like this 4, 6, 8 etc and we are finding that the new size 4 doesn't necessarily correspond to the old size 4-5. Confusing or what? If you need help don't hesitate to give us a shout.
Here is the new sizing chart:
If you need a smaller size then look at our Alder Toddler suits. There is no sizing chart for these but they are pretty close to the age they say in our experience.
This is where and how you should be measuring by the way....
For anyone who is particularly interested in how the age 10's are sizing up compared to the old age 9-10 Phil prepared the following spreadsheet for a customer which I thought would be useful to share (this is the accountant in him!)
And here is a picture he took of the old 9-10 on top of a new age 10 and you can see there is nearly 6 inches in the difference.
I hope I haven't confused you too much. If in doubt call into the shop or if you are buying online measure your child first! That will give you the best indication.
Cheers, Laurie
We've a great range of Repair and Maintenance products in stock at Wild Side Sports. Here are some of the best McNett products that every outdoor enthusiast should have in their tool kit.
Seam Grip is amazing. It’s an award-winning repair adhesive that can keep you dry in any weather. It permanently seals the seams on your tent, pack and rainwear. It can repair rips, tears and holes in your equipment, too. It’s your all-purpose liquid tool in a tube. Ideal for on uncoated and polyurethane coated fabrics.
The McNett® GORE-TEX® Fabric Repair Kit is the only authorised repair kit for Gore-Tex based outdoor equipment and is an essential item for emergency repairs.
This Kit contains two adhesive-backed pressure sensitive patches made from original GORE-TEX fabric which provide a strong, flexible and water-resistant infield repair.
Easy-to-remove backing tape aids instant application or first cut to the required shape and size for repairs to holes, rips or tears etc. Repaired item can be used immediately and patches are residue-free should a more professional repair be required in future. Patches can also be ironed on to provide stronger adhesion and a more permanent repair. Patches are lightweight so can be easily stored in a wallet or back pack for later use. Suitable for fast, long lasting repairs to most Gore-Tex products and other technical breathable clothing or footwear i/e waterproof-breathable jackets, rainwear, trousers, shoes, fishing waders and camping equipment i/e backpacks etc.
Increase Visibility and reduce risk with this reflective fabric tenacious tape from McNett.Tenacious Tape Reflective Tape utilizes glass bead reflective technology to reflect light better than any coloured or fluorescent tape. Apply it on clothing, backpacks, footwear, bikes, vehicles or pet accessories etc. The ultra-aggressive adhesive sticks to almost any surface without peeling and the durable and waterproof fabric performs in both wet and dry conditions.
Last but not least is the famous Tenacious Tape
Tenacious Tape by Gear Aid is an all-purpose, weatherproof repair tape that fixes rips, holes and gashes in almost all of your outdoor gear. It stays put no matter what Mother Nature dishes out and leaves no sticky mess. Tenacious Tape comes in black, clear and popular colors, so you can match your fabric for nearly-invisible repairs. Wait 24 hours after application and you can machine wash or put it in the dryer without worrying that the repair tape will peel off.
If you've any questions, or need some advice on how to repair your gear, our staff will be delighted to help you!
WHEN: THURSDAY 24TH MAY AT 6.30PM
WHERE: WILD SIDE SPORTS, BANDON
HOW MUCH: €10
REGISTER: EMAIL INFO@WILDSIDESPORTS.IE OR CALL 023-8829706
Sick of cooking the same old things on every camp trip? Bored of beans and want to expand your bonfire recipe repertoire? Then learn to camp cook from a Pro at the Wild Side Sports MSR Cookery Demo with expedition chef Kieran Creevy.
Kieran is an expedition and private chef and International mountain leader with more than 20 years experience cooking and leading in a wide variety of countries and on vastly differing terrains and climates around the world.
He's cooked a 6 course tasting dinner with matched wines from a basecamp tent, prepared homemade pumpkin and sage gnocchi with wild boar râgu at an overnight snow-hole camp in the Italian Alps and served reindeer loin with smoked beetroot, skyr and pine needle salt in the Arctic.
You'll also get a chance to cook on MSR stoves and rumour has it that he even uses dry bags to get bread to rise!
If you want to come along it's €10 on the night (for food and ingredients) and we'll have some wine and nibbles too. Places are limited and you must book in advance so please register by emailing us on info@wildsidesports.ie or ring us on 023-8829706
We're delighted to introduce another new brand to Wild Side Sports. If you've spent some time in the States you're sure to have across KLEAN KANTEEN, they make super water bottles and work hard to design durable, versatile, affordable products that replace mountains of single-use waste—and last a lifetime.
We've started off with a small enough range to see how it goes but we think there are some interesting options here.
At a full half gallon the Insulated Classic 64oz (1900ml) is the largest insulated stainless steel water bottle we've ever stocked, perfect for long trips and serious hydration needs.
This beauty comes in at a whopping 12.5" high! It also costs a whopping €63.....
This Coffee Tumbler comes in four colours, blue, red, purple and green. It's constructed with high quality stainless steel and rigorously tested double-wall vacuum insulation, the 16oz (473ML) Insulated Wide will keep drinks hot for 10 hours and iced for 30 hours. Comes with leak proof Café Cap 2.0 which keeps drinks safely contained, spill free and has easy clean construction.
The stainless steel Reflect 27oz (800ML) water bottle is beautiful in its simplicity and deliberate in its design. We took our original Classic 27oz stainless steel bottle and made it plastic free, paint free and a truly beautiful all stainless steel water bottle. Crafted using sustainable harvested bamboo, stainless steel, and food-grade silicone. Just three materials united into the ultimate expression of Klean. The full stainless bamboo cap is crafted from one piece of stainless steel and topped with sustainably harvested bamboo. It creates a full stainless steel interior so your water and other favorite beverages stay fresh and delicious. We laser engrave our logo and the bottom is embossed to keep the bottle paint free.
Also available in a smaller 532ml version for €28
The stainless steel Insulated Tumbler 16oz (473ML) will quickly become your go-to cup, easily transitioning from morning coffee to afternoon smoothie to nighttime beer. Our high performance double-wall vacuum insulation will keep drinks hot for 4 hours and iced for 20 hours. We electropolish the interior, a safe and non-toxic process, to make it easy to clean. Our included Tumbler Lid keeps splashing to a minimum and fits all our Insulated Tumblers and Steel Pints (16/20oz). Perfect as an alternative to disposable paper cups.
All of these great products are available to buy on our website - click here.