Ask us your questions about technical sports gear

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Theme :

Hiking

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  Question No.1
  I'm going hiking this winter and I'd like to know what garments are suitable for really cold weather
  

  Answer :
  Hello sir,
  
  Thank you for your interest in our products Stratermic.
  So you're looking for garments suitable for extreme cold? I suggest the Quechua Forclaz 800 jacket (with feather and down wadding), or Quechua Forclaz 800M (polyester wadding). Your final choice will depend on how much sport you'll be doing (intense or not), and how much freedom of movement you require.
  Generally speaking, a Stratermic-labelled jacket (down or wadding) will be fine for cold weather. If you're expecting really cold temperatures, choose a down jacket, or high density polyester wadding (above 200g).
  
  Aurélien C., Stratermic Engineer
  

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  Question No.2
  Are your garments suitable for hiking in tropical climates?
  

  Answer :
  Hello,
  and thanks for your interest in our products.
  
  The waterproofing technology on some Novadry jackets is perfectly suitable for hiking in tropical climates.
  Choose your jacket according to the intended use (find this information in store or on www.novadry.com).
  Remember also that your jacket should have taped seams (all Novadry jackets do).
  The most testing issue is breathability, or at least the perceived breathability. In high humidity environments, it is harder for the fabric to wick away excess water vapour because there is little or no difference between air humidity inside and outside the jacket.
  Regarding Equarea products, when they are worn as a base layer, they are also ideally suited for hiking in tropical climates.
  Yours in Sport
  
  Ludivine L., Novadry textile engineer and Vincent G, Equarea textile engineer
  

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  Question No.3
  

  Hello,

  On the shirt, under the labels showing the care symbols, there is another label with a symbol depicting a pair of scissors cutting a square. What does this mean?
  I have also found the same “scissor” logo on a pair of trousers...

  Store in question: Nevers

  Reference and product name: Quechua shirt and trousers

  
  

  Answer :
  

  Hello,

  Thank you for your interest in our products.
  The label featuring a pair of scissors refers to an anti-theft system used for certain products. When you pay at the till, this label will be deactivated. The pair of scissors is telling you to remove the label after purchase, as it no longer serves a purpose.
   
  Sportingly,
   
  Guilain C., Equarea Textile Designer

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  Question No.4
  I'm a fan of some Decathlon products, and am leaving a message to say how disappointed I am that you're no longer making or selling Forclaz 500 Trek boots. This was the only really top-end, high-quality and durable product… sales staff have told me that the product is discontinued and suggested other, apparently equivalent models, but none of them are as good as the 500 Trek. The sturdy and weighty outsole, the solid and high-quality nubuck leather… Why have you stopped this great quality product in favour of a series of models that all look the same and don't look that great? The Forclaz 500 had a look that set them apart. It's a great pity.
  

  Answer :
  

  Hello,

  Thank you for your interest in our products.

  The model in question hasn't been abandoned, but:

  1 – the name has changed from Forclaz 500 Trek to Forclaz 900 Trek

  2 – it has been improved:

  - the upper components are still leather (and from the same supplier) and rubber, to ensure optimum lifetime for trekking

  - the sole has been changed for a lighter and more technical sole

  - the waterproofing has been improved and the boots take up less water on contact, thanks to a membrane inserted just beneath the upper (outer envelope)

  - breathability has been increased by 30% compared with the equivalent model from last year (the FT500), using a venting concept that uses the foot's motion to evacuate hot air into a foam surround close to the foot (see the product)

  Yours in sport
  Adrien L, Novadry engineer
  

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  Question No.5
  Hello,
  How can one compare the technical scores for durability, waterproofing and breathability to compare Novadry with (for example) Gore Tex?
  

  Answer :
  

  Hello,
  Thank you for your interest in our products.
  It's not really possible to compare these brands, as we don't use the same values for ratings.

  However, here is an explanation of how we rate our membranes:
  To measure waterproofing of a component, we measure its resistance to water pressure measured as mm of water column (test based on the ISO 811 standard).
  The greater the water pressure, the more waterproof the fabric.
  A component with a waterproofing score of 2000mm resists to the pressure of 2000mm of water.

  For breathability, we measure the RET evaporative resistance (test based on the ISO 11092 standard).
  The lower the fabric's resistance, the more water vapour it allows through, and so the more breathable it is.

  Thus, the lower the RET score, the more breathable the component.
  RET < 6 = highly breathable fabric
  RET >6 <12 = very breathable fabric
  RET >12 <20 = breathable
  RET >20 = not very breathable

  Please note: as well as component breathability, Novadry products have addition solutions (such as vents) to improve product ventilation.
   
  Yours in Sport, 
  Ludivine L, Novadry engineer

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  Question No.6
  Hello,
  I bought a NOVADRY technology jacket (FORCLAZ 900 L) and I'd like to know if it protects from the cold (-10°C); it's very light and is wind and rainproof but at 4,500m I need protection from the cold. Thanks for your reply.
  

  Answer :
  

  Hello,
  Thank you for your interest in our brands.
  Novadry technology guarantees optimum waterproofing and breathability.
  The Forclaz 900 will offer excellent protection from the wind and rain.

  However, it has no quilting and is not designed to provide warmth.
  For warmth, you will need to wear a fleece, Softshell top or quilted vest under the jacket.

  Remember that the more intense your activity, the more heat your body generates, and the lower your need for insulation.
  Choose your insulating garment according to the intensity of your activity.

  For example:
  - for intensive effort (like running), a fleece or softshell is sufficient
  - for more gentle effort, consider a quilted layer.
  There is a wide range of quilted products to choose from, according to your needs. The thicker the quilting, the warmer the garment.

  This combination will offer flexibility in use: you can adapt your clothing to the frequent temperature changes found at altitude.

  We also suggest you wear an Equarea base layer, which offers active moisture management. This way you'll stay dry and keep the windchill effect down (caused by damp fabric against your skin).

  Yours in Sport,
  Aurélien C, Stratermic engineer

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  Question No.7
  

  Hello.
  I'm looking for a warm, really warm jacket for altitude trekking (3,500 to 4,000 metres), where temperatures will be between 0 and 10°C at night and mild or even warm in the day. Do you think the Wedze Warm jacket (or another model) is right with the down stuffing? What percentage of down is best for a warm jacket (200, 300, 400, 500 g? Or more?)? Why don't you give the thermal rating in cu in on your jackets like lots of other manufacturers? This would make it easier to choose. Thank you for your reply. Regards, Régis.

  
  

  Answer :
  

  Hello,

  Thanks for your question and your interest in our products.
  The DoonDoon WARM jacket is an entry level garment. It's fine if you're wearing the right base layers. It would be good also to wear a softshell jacket under, to help cut the chilling wind. At 0°C, a 20 kmph wind gives a windchill of -12°C. So if you don't have a windproof layer, you'll need warmer garments.

  The DoonDoon Maxi WARM jacket offers better thermal comfort, in particular with the hood. Or you might want to choose a hooded softshell to wear under the DoonDoon WARM.
  The DoonDoon WARM jacket has 50% duck down, 50% feathers. The minimum guaranteed cu in is 420.
  Cu in is mainly used on sleeping bags, and also for big down or mountaineering jackets.
  However, the cu in alone isn't enough to base your choice on, because a high cu in rating (which could mean a warm jacket) combined with a low density makes for a jacket that's not so warm.
  For information, the jacket in question uses 210g of down/feather stuffing.
  It's difficult to say exactly at what density a product can be called warm, because as we've just seen, warmth is dictated by the both the quality of the feathers & down and the weight.

  Depending on your activity, I suggest a hooded softshell fleece and DoonDoon WARM jacket. The jacket squashes down easily and will store easily in your pack. The softshell will be quite sufficient by day in warmer temperatures. You can adjust your insulation using the vent zips on the sides for superior comfort. The aim is to have the right level of insulation for comfort in use.
  Enjoy your trek!
  
  Sporting regards,
  Aurélien C.  Stratermic components engineer

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  Question No.8
  I have a Novadry pair of boots and I would like to know if I can use the washing-machine and dryer.
  Thank you so much for your help.
  

  Answer :
  

  Hello,
  
  Thanks you for your interest of our products.
  Shoes cannot be put in washer and in the tumble-dryer because it could damage the aspect of the outside material as well as the connection stalk-sole.  It is advised to brush shoes and of possibly to wash them with a wet toweling. Other advices are on our Internet site:
  
  Adrien L, Novadry Enginner

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