This is a monthly series of recommendations by the owner Yamane. I would like to introduce interesting gear and clothing that I can confidently recommend. I think I will be introducing a variety of items. I hope you will feel free to take a look.


Well, the summer of 2024 was long. And autumn is also long, or rather, even in November, the days are not too cold. Am I the only one who feels that winter is getting shorter every year? It's a blessing for enjoying the outdoors, so it may be an advantage that we can still do things that are hard to think about at this time of year. There are few insects and it's not too cold at this time of year, so there are plenty of fun things to do, such as camping, hiking in low mountains, and stealth camping.

I want to enjoy the outdoors regardless of genre, so November is full of things I want to do, such as trail running, hiking, and camping. I do trail running as a form of training every day, but when it comes to hiking and camping, there are times when I feel like just enjoying it very leisurely. When hiking up a nice route in a low mountain, I want to spend my time leisurely reading a book or drinking coffee, I don't want to get dirty, and I don't want to sweat as much as possible (laughs). Then, on the way back, I want to go out into town and have a nice drink.

When that happens, I end up hiking in the mountains near the city on a nice day, but sometimes I only climb so low that I can't do anything about it. Can I really call it hiking? Sometimes I feel like just being in the mountains is enough.



So I would like to introduce some stylish clothing that you can wear in the city. I like to wear it everyday, but I would like to wear it in the mountains. Each one has its own interesting points.

First, let's take a look at the concept of the brand THINKWOOL, which was launched this year.

[THINKWOOL] Think Wool
Earth tech wear™

The brand will launch in 2024 as a clothing brand that researches and develops new possibilities for wool.
Wool is the ultimate sustainable yarn, made by shearing the fleece of sheep every year. In Japan, wool is often thought of as a winter item, but it is a natural functional fiber that can be used all year round. Wool absorbs and releases moisture more than three times faster than cotton, so it always keeps you dry.
It also has excellent temperature regulation, making it useful even in the middle of summer. It can be used all year round. Due to its versatility, wool is described as a "second skin."

The biggest difference between this material and 100% synthetic fiber is the comfort and antibacterial properties (less odor). It is perfect for businessmen who travel a lot and those who don't like washing clothes every day.
Wool is comfortable to wear, but it has weaknesses in terms of abrasion resistance and strength. These disadvantages have been improved by using cutting-edge synthetic fibers. We have also created a material that can be used safely by people with sensitive skin who find wool itchy.

THINKWOOL® is a blend of wool, the ultimate sustainable natural fiber, and cutting-edge synthetic fibers developed with all of our intelligence.
Earth Tech Wear™.

This is a brand that specializes in merino wool, and the all-black color is clean and simple. The overall silhouette is loose and extremely comfortable to wear. The good points of merino wool are stated in the brand concept, but I think the benefits in real life are as follows:

The antibacterial and deodorizing properties keep it clean, so you can wash it less often.

As a result, damage to the fabric caused by washing can be reduced and it can be used for a long time.

Can be worn all year round

It has high thermal insulation properties, keeps you warm when it's cold, and is highly breathable when it's hot, so it helps maintain a constant body temperature. Merino wool fibers are very fine, and by trapping air, they create an insulating layer that helps prevent cold air. In addition, it is breathable even when you sweat, so you can stay comfortable without moisture building up.

Of course, depending on the thickness, it can be hot in the summer, but the fabric used in mesh polo shirts is thin and technical, so it seems like it would be suitable even in the summer.

Elegant

People with beards like me tend to look dirty. Even in winter, I wear sandals on my bare feet, so I sometimes get strange looks on the train. I'm sensitive to people's gazes. But if I wear merino wool, it's a miracle. I think people will think, "Wow, you're wearing elegant clothing!"

THINKWOOL is a hybrid fabric made of merino and synthetic fibers that can be used in the mountains.

Parkas may look heavy at first glance, but they are actually light and easy to wear. It contains synthetic fibers to increase durability, so it's easy to wear to the mountains. Recently, when it's a little cold, I often wear a parka when I go to the mountains. It looks good on its own and keeps out the cold, so it's versatile, going from the city to the mountains and back again. You can also wear a polo shirt as a base layer, and you can even wear it to a slightly nicer store. It gives the impression of a technical version of John Smedley.

TW BRUSHED LINING PARKA LS

TW MESH POLO SHIRT LS

List of THINKWOOL items →

STONEMASTER

Stonemaster is also a staple for me. It has the details of classic climbing pants and a wide silhouette. It is a brand that often uses technical materials and is often worn for everyday use. I recently wore cotton pants for morning activities with my children. It's also great for skating. Polartec® Alpha® pants are a winter staple, and they're the perfect pants for a relaxed mountain style.

Pants made with Alpha

Another interesting thing is the clothing made from a fabric called Minotech.

[MINOTECH®]
Water-repellent fabric that slides water off and keeps rain off Mino is an ancient Japanese rainwear made from rice. Inspired by the structure of this raincoat that "slides water off and keeps rain off," we added a micro-garter structure (a structure that allows water droplets to flow in the warp direction, and a convex structure in the weft direction to reduce the surface tension of the fabric so that water droplets roll) to the surface of the fabric, allowing water to slide off.
Furthermore, this water repellency allows the garment to be non-laminate, which allows steam generated from the body to be quickly released to the outside, reducing stuffiness and maintaining comfort.

The details of the climbing pants and cargo pockets create a silhouette that is not too thick. I have loved cargo pants since I was a teenager. I still check them out. It is surprisingly hard to find good cargo pants that you can wear in the mountains, so I am very happy. The jacket is roomy and I can wear a fleece underneath, so I wear it as a set.

STONEMASTER
SM TERRAIN CARGO PANT MINOTECH-ST

SM DETACHABLE HOODIE JACKET Minotech-ST

SM PANT Nylon Rip POLARTEC® Alpha®

STONEMASTER × ROKX CLIMBING PANT

ltm×[sn] Merino shirt for the mountains and the city

I don't think any other outdoor manufacturer could produce the feel of this shirt. Outdoor wear tends to be technical, but this shirt has the details of an old work shirt and a silhouette that takes into account mountain activities, making it one of a kind. Yes, it is. I think it's a silhouette that suits everyone. I think it can be worn either oversized or just the right size.

ltm×[sn] Merino shirt for the mountains and the city

MINUS33

Not many people know this, but this brand was established in 2002 in New Hampshire in the northeastern United States as a factory brand of "LW Packard," a woolen fabric manufacturer founded in 1916. It is a brand that produces very solid products, so you can feel safe in their products.

Among the MINUS33 items, there was one that particularly caught my eye, so I selected it for you today. The first one is a pair of fingerless gloves with slightly longer fingers. You might imagine that your fingertips get cold, but if you keep the back of your hand and wrist warm, your fingertips won't get that cold. Of course, it depends on the temperature. Simple fingerless merino gloves with longer fingers are surprisingly hard to find. With these gloves, you won't have any trouble using your smartphone or reading.

MERINO WOOL FINGERLESS GROVE

The second and third are neck warmers and scarves. After using various neck warmers, I realized that if you want to keep sweat out, a short one is better, but if you want to keep out the cold, a long one is better. I want to use it like a balaclava. If it's too short, your neck will be exposed and it will be cold. If you use it like a balaclava, it's bound to be cold, so it's better to make it longer. However, if it's too thick, it will heat up, so it's best to make it just right. I found this at MINUS33. It's 66cm long and made of thin material, so it's easy to use.


Woolverino Micro Multiclava

The scarf is 100% merino. It is medium-weight and long. It's cold to wear a hand towel on a mountain in autumn and winter. It can also be used as a belly warmer.


Everyday Knit Scarf

So, this time it's like a special feature on Yuruyama. I haven't decided on the next theme, but since it's December, maybe it would be good to give a gift related to the outdoors that won't fail? It's hard to give a gift that won't fail, isn't it? I'd like to be told the opposite, but I'd like to introduce some gift ideas by budget that I think are good.

November 13, 2024

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山根

ROCK STEPPERS店主。ビールが好き。トレイルランをメインに活動しているが、山遊びはなんでもやりたい。Youtuber活動してみたら意外と面白いのでなんとか続けていく。いつかはどんな形でも良いので超超長距離にトライしたい。