An Introduction

For my latest  blog post, I am delighted to be collaborating with a great outdoor equipment company and writing another outdoor gear review. In this particular review, I was lucky enough to collaborate with Terra Nova Equipment, who are a longstanding outdoor equipment specialist based in the UK and an equipment specialist I have long admired, as an avid outdoor enthusiast. 

Within this new post, I hope that I will provide appropriate information about the company and their fantastic products and highlight a little more about the products, that I have managed to test out (practically) in the outdoors.

Who are Terra Nova?

The company is based in Derbyshire in the United Kingdom. Close to the beautiful area of outstanding natural beauty, known as the Peak District. Which is a mecca for anyone who enjoys the outdoor environment. Terra Nova has a longstanding history and has been producing some of the world’s finest outdoor gear and accessories for over 20 years. The name Terra Nova means ‘New Ground’ and this is reflected in their amazing commitment when making the best, high quality products, across their cutting edge outdoor range

Terra Nova produces a wide variety of outdoor gear, covering many pursuits and is therefore split into three main brands. These brands cover all areas of the outdoors and in turn offer the finest equipment and technology available on the market.

Those three brands are as follows:

The Products - I was lucky enough to test out...

The Extremities® range of products is pretty extensive and there is a wide variety of products that certainly catered for my particular outdoor needs. As you will know, from reading this website and my blog, I'm passionate about the outdoors and cycle and hike a lot.

So much so, it is vitally important for me to find and use products that will keep the extremities warm, in the harshest of weather conditions. Especially, at a time of year, when the weather can be somewhat unpredictable and down right nasty at time.

I was really delighted to have this opportunity to test out their products, in a very practical way, during my regular everyday activities. This forms the main content for this blog and you can read how they withstood my day to day challenges, by reading below.

The products I enjoyed testing and used out in the field were as follows: 

• Tuff Bags GTX

• X Touch Glove

• Power Liner Banded Beanie

How did they measure up to the day to day challenges in the Great Outdoors?

I always feel that my life is pretty varied and interesting. I cycle 32 miles every day, for five days a week, on my commute to work and back. So, you could say that I spend at least 2 hours of my day outside, in the fresh air and sometimes battling against the elements. With that said, I'm more than happy to do this, as I love being in the outdoors, but in doing such things I do need appropriate kit. That not only helps keep me warm and dry, but also reflects within the pursuits I choose to undertake.

Like everyone else out there, I love to have the best and latest technical equipment and continually desire to have kit that is both durable and built to last. Equipment can be really expensive, so you need things to last and not having to keep replacing it.

Extremities were therefore kind enough to send me a variety of their great accessories, from their extensive range of products. That helped fit my specific needs and requirements perfectly.

After receiving the items. I then got to test them out in the field. In challenging conditions and in a practical way. 

Tuff Bags GTX Gloves

Generally, I cycle and hike wearing gloves, especially during these cold winter months. It is always crucial to keep your hands warm, so it was a delight to try out some of their impressive mitts. I have owned a few pairs of mitts, in my time and always found them to be a great addition to my ever growing outdoor kit list. Especially, when out enjoying activities like skiing and snowboarding. But... it would be fair to suggest that I've never really used them out on the bike, so this was a great opportunity to see how they would shape up out in the field.

My first impressions were that they were a really stylish and comfortable glove. I had requested a size large and they fitted my hand perfectly. The material used was both extremely strong and comfortable and the quality was apparent, as soon as the glove was covering the hand.

The glove is classed as an over or outer glove. So, you can place them over the top of another pair and then wear a warmer pair underneath. As a result, they act as a protective shell and have an overall classic style, with a durable PU palm and thumb. This allows for great comfort and also an extra strong grip, especially when holding my cycle handlebars or applying the brakes on the bike.

The glove is made from a specialised GORE-TEX® Paclite fabric, which certainly helps keep the weight to a minimum and can still be highly breathable. It also conveniently packs down to a palm sized ball, making it really ideal for all sorts of backpacking trips, walking excursions and other outdoor activities. In my case, they packed perfectly and when not in use and I could roll them up conveniently into my cycling dry sacks.

In my opinion, the GORE-TEX® material used to make these gloves is simply superb and I always look for products that have this seal of approval, especially when ensuring waterproofing. These products are good and will always keep you warm and dry, whatever the weather seems to throw at you.

As previously explained, the gloves not only had a comfortable fit and feel. They were also incredible snug and dry out on the bike, in all manner of weather types. To further establish that perfect fit, there is an adjustable wrist and toggle closure. That ensures the mitt stays secure on your hand and also helps prevent any water entering through the cuff area. Which can be really irritating if it does.

In summary the main glove specifications are as follows:

• The glove is made from a waterproof GORE-TEX® PACLITE® material, which is light and durable.

• The glove is fully waterproof and breathable.

• The palm is both durable and has a PU coated palm that ensures good grip all of the time. 

• I found the gloves to be very light and compact - easy to wear and pack away when not being used.

• They have really handy adjustable wrist seals.

• There is a long cuff with a toggle seal, to ensure the hand remains dry.

My Verdict

After frequently using the gloves - in fact almost every day. I was really happy with the overall performance and I would recommend this glove, as a great glove to have in anyone's kit bag. They are a really practical pair of gloves and perfect for any type of difficult or extreme weather conditions.

They continually kept my hands warm and dry out on the bike, in some of the most challenging winter conditions. Snow, rain, strong winds (wind force 7 & 8), these gloves had the lot. After being put through their paces and keeping my 'extremities' warm throughout various different activities. I would really recommend these gloves to anyone looking for something to withstand what mother nature is about to throw at them.

X Touch Sticky Gloves

Like most things in life, I do like simplicity. So, with that in mind, I’m not really a huge fan of big, bulky gloves. Where the excess material (surrounding the glove) can restrict your movement somewhat. Meaning that the overall touch and feel can be somewhat uncomfortable at times.

I personally much prefer gloves to be fitted closer to the skin, especially when I’m out on the bike, as it allows me to feel and touch the most important cycle components, like the brakes and handle bar grips. These gloves were really excellent and size large fitted me perfectly. In fact you could say... they ‘fitted me like a glove’.

The gloves were also incredibly warm and really well made, sturdy and strong. Once on your hand, you can instantly feel the overall quality. Out in the field they continued to work well and kept out the winter cold, the strong driving winds and cold winter temperatures. The material used for the gloves are made from a lightweight, stretch fabric with a soft touch brushed back.

They are thermal, warm and remain dry. This allows for maximum warmth and overall comfort, all of the time. Besides fitting so close to the skin, it allows heat to be trapped conveniently between the material and the skin. Keeping the hand snug and warm. They are also breathable as well, allowing the hand to not overheat and excess warmth to escape naturally.

One of my favourite features, with this particular pair of gloves is the sticky palm, which I found to be invaluable when out cycling on the bike. It allowed me to feel and move the handles freely and use the brakes, even in the biting cold.

At points when the temperature was at or below freezing point the gloves still performed superbly well. My hands were kept snug, warm and I could still easily use my phone, with the added bonus of touch screen facility (in the gloves) allowing me to then touch the buttons, use apps or make calls. As if the gloves weren't actually still on my hands.

I was so very impressed with the way they performed, even when the Tough Bags Mitts were put over the top – this pair definitely did their job!

In summary:

• The Extremities performance type is Thermal.
• The material used is conductive fleece finger and thumb.
• The gloves are all touchscreen compatible - allowing you to use and touch all handheld devices.
• All gloves have a silicone print palm and fingers - allowing for extra grip.
• These gloves are quick drying, with the materials that allow for rapid drying.
• Made from 100% Polyester.

My Verdict

Overall, I found the gloves to be well made and really exceptional in quality, together with their overall exceptional performance. The warm, comfortable feel enabled them to stand up-to all different weather types, which were so prevalent in the ever changing winter environment. 

Throughout my cycling and hiking adventures they performed perfectly well and probably even better than I first expected. They were very reliable and continually stood up to whatever the elements threw at me. Whether that was out on the Dutch Polders and even in the freezing cold and snow.

Having tested these gloves on a daily basis and having feedback from my picture on Instagram accounts @garethmateblog & @garethmate, I cannot stress how good these gloves were. As a result, I feel they would serve any outdoor enthusiast well, especially someone who likes similar pursuits to me. They are well worth the money and definitely worth adding to you kit bag.

Power Liner Banded Beanie

The Power Liner Beanie proved to be another essential item, in my kit bag. It is a really handy beanie, made from lightweight stretch, thermal fabric. This product is ideal for use on its own or through layering in the colder weather.

If you are like me and always listen to your mother. You will all know that your head continually loses a huge amount of heat. For me, wearing my hat (under my helmet) out on the bike, can make the significant difference between having a cold and not having a cold. Especially, during these cold winter months. 

This beanie hat, proved its worth and was again made with the finest material, superb quality and attention to detail. The fit (on the head) was just right, not too tight and not too much room. It could comfortably fit under my helmet, without it sitting in some weird and wonderful position on the top of my head. It not only kept the head warm, but it could also kept the ears warm and dry for the duration of my activities.

For me, this is all pretty essential, as I not only hate my ears getting too cold, but it helps to block out any excess wind noise that can be so prevalent in the surrounding air. Especially when cycling into a headwind. You'll definitely know this, if you cycle a lot and have ever ridden a bike with that sustained noise, it can be a nuisance. You need something to dull the noise, but not block the sound out entirely. This product did its job really well.

On a more practical and safety side of things, you can still hear what is going on around you, so there was no trouble having my ears covered, even when cycling into the city. At this time, I was cycling in the designated cycle lanes, yet I could still here everything going on around me.

Specifications

• The Extremities performance type is Thermal.
• The hat is classed as a lightweight stretch beanie.
• This hat is quick drying, when moisture is applied.
• It has a smooth outer layer that helps to repel water droplets.
• On the inside of the hat is a warm brushed inner, that feels comfortable on the fit.
• The product is made from 100% Polyester.

My Verdict

I'm not really a hat person, but I will wear one if it is cold enough and I do prefer to wear one out on the bike, under the helmet. After putting it through its paces, I feel that the Power Liner Beanie is really worth the money and it was just perfect to test out such a well made, warm product.

As previously highlighted in the post, it served me really well and performed exceptionally out on the bike and also through some of my outdoor hikes. Throughout all of my adventures it kept me, warm, dry and was a perfect (non sliding) comfortable fit. Even when it was cold and the wind was howling, it continued to really serve its purpose well.

The price listed on the website for this  Beanie, is really affordable and its performs better than probably some of its higher priced competitors. Again, I would recommend it being part of your outdoor kit, as it packs down to nothing and it is there if you need it.

Thank You!

I really hope that you have enjoyed reading my latest outdoor product review and it has given you a further insight into not only a great company in Terra Nova but also further information and a well balanced viewpoint on some invaluable outdoor products from the Extremities outdoor range.

It has also been a great privilege to collaborate and share my humble opinions on these great products and I hope to do more in the future.

If like me, you love spending time in the outdoors and you are seeking exceptional quality and reliable gear, then Terra Nova is well worth a look. With a huge range of products and excellent customer services, I feel you cannot go wrong.

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