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Product Use
Getting the most from your products
Sizing advice - slim-fitting
The Griffon is designed to be a slim fit, but is coming a bit slimmer than normal. If you prefer a looser fit, it's worth going for a size above what you normally would.
Bike Luggage Size Charts
Click the link download the PDF size chart for our UK made bike luggage.
If it's the Rando weatherproof bike luggage that you've got your eye on, then click this link instead...
Fitting the Exo-Rail system
This PDF includes instructions for:
- fitting the Exo-Rail system to your seat
- attaching Exo-Rail compatible seat packs
- attaching non Exo-Rail compatible seat packs using the Lumpa harness.
How to attach your handlebar luggage to your bike
Handlebar luggage is quick to attach and much more accessible than seatpack luggage. In this short video Fran runs through a couple of options for loading up your bars ready for a bikepacking adventure.
How to pack a Double Dozer
So you have gotten yourself a Double Dozer, a lovely 2-person sleeping mat for comfy nights of camping with a friend. As can so often happen though, when it comes to packing up everyone else suddenly becomes very busy and has to run off somewhere to do something "super important". Here you sit, with a mamoth of a mattress wandering how on earth you can possibly get it back into its bag...
The Double Dozer is quite the beast but it can be packed single-handedly with a little practice. This is a little step-by-step for how you can get your mattress back into the bag on your own, just make sure you have the elastic straps close to hand before you start!
1 - With both valves open, fold the mat in half lengthways and start rolling it up. Kneel on the roll as you go to squeeze more air out.
2 - Once you have rolled it up do up both valves and then unroll the mat
3 - Roll it again, this time with the valves closed.
4 - Once rolled, keeping as much weight on it as you can open one valve at a time to let the air out then close the valve again
5 - If needed, repeat step 4 to get a bit more air out
6 - Keep the mat tightly rolled (I find hugging or a good thigh-grip works best) and get the elastic straps around it
And that's how to roll up the Double Dozer on your own.
My shell doesn't feel breathable/ waterproof
So you bought a waterproof jacket, now here's how to get the most out of it.
A layering system only works as well as the poorest layer in the system (the weakest link in the chain, if you like). It doesn't matter if you are wearing the most breathable waterproof in the world, if you are wearing a cotton t-shirt underneath it, you will get cold and damp. Likewise, if you are wearing a non-breathable insulation piece underneath your shell, then that will limit the breathability of your clothing system – not the waterproof shell.
Your baselayer needs to wick moisture away from your skin, and your mid-layers need to provide insulation but allow moisture to pass out easily. Fleece is great at doing this in most environments, and for colder conditions, breathable insulation (like the Katabatic) works really well.
Wear the appropriate amount of clothing for your activity level. Start off cool (especially if you are going to be walking uphill) as you will soon warm up once you start moving. Add layers when you stop, rather than having to stop to take off layers when you are moving. Adding a waterproof layer will make you feel warmer, as it cuts out the effects of the wind. So when you put your shell on, you might want to consider removing a layer underneath to compensate.
If you are wearing too much, you will sweat more and that means your clothing system must work harder to get rid of this moisture build up to stop you from feeling damp inside your shell. Insulation layers for static use i.e. down jackets, traditional synthetic insulation, are great if it is extremely cold or you are moving slowly, but often if you layer a waterproof shell over the top you will wind up overheating and accumulating moisture inside your shell. Keep those items for use when you are static, or if it's cold and dry use them as your outer layer instead of your waterproof shell.
A few top tips:
- You don't have to wear your waterproof if it's not raining (shocker!). Yes it works as a windproof layer, but sometimes this is overkill and you'd be better off and more comfortable not wearing it.
- Keep it clean! Your waterproof will work better if you keep it clean and re-proof it when necessary.
- If you are running in a light weight shell, try to adjust your rucksack so it doesn't bounce around, as this can cause excess abrasion on lightweight fabrics.
- If you carry your ice axe down the back of your rucksack (between the shoulder straps), be careful where the adze sits: most fabrics aren't ice axe proof!
What type of gas canister do I need?
All our stoves use a threaded gas cylinder, although they can run with a camping-gaz cylinder with an adapter. There are more blends of camping gas than there are blended whiskeys, and in the case of gas, a single malt isn't always better. Most gas is a mixture of propane, butane and isobutane, in varying quantities which generally you don't need to pay much attention to.
In cold weather below 10C (so pretty relevant in the UK year round), the blend of gas can actually be quite important. First time for an AlpChemistry lesson from an old GCSE Revision book. The boiling points of the main components are as follows:
Propane -42C
Isobutane -12C
Butane 0.5C
These are the temperatures at which the gas will vapourise, the higher the ambient temperature is above these temperatures the more the pressurised gas wants to be free and so exerts a higher pressure on the cylinder. Hence for camping we don't use pure propane despite its cold weather suitability; the cylinder would need to be super thick and weigh a tonne! On the other hand, butane at 5C is very close to its boiling point so isn't so fussed about being contained in a canister. But, this means that the vapourisation rate isn't enough to power your general stove. A combination of these properties is needed, so we combine the gases! We can also add some isobutane to the mix, it's basically butane with a facelift, same number of carbons and hydrogens just rearranged more efficiently so the boiling point is lower (I didn't pass A level chemistry so can't say why).
In short, for regular use a blend of butane and propane will be absolutely fine, but when the going gets cold, get a isobutane/propane mix (generally advertised as a winter blend) you will notice the difference, especially with our Kraku, Landar and Brukits. The Kraku is a little different as it has a preheating tube which acts a turbocharger for stoves in cold weather. The cold gas from the cylinder is heated well above its boiling point before burning so it burns more efficiently. This doesn't change the overall pressure in the canister so isobutane is still an advantage, but you can also invert the cylinder to help boost performance.
Gas at altitude
This shouldn't make a difference for stove use, in fact, the higher you are the greater the pressure differential will be which makes the gas work better. However, it also tends to get colder the higher you climb (about 0.5C for every 300m gain) which makes the gas not work as effectively. Ultimately this means that the gains and losses balance out so that altitude makes little difference! Though for an isobutane mix you are still limited to around -7C.
Make your stove work better in the cold
No-one wants to have to wait longer for their pasta to cook after a long day winter climbing, let alone when you're camping in a freezing Scottish layby. So here's a few tips for getting your Alpkit stove working better in the cold:
Start with a warm canister - stuff it under your jacket, or keep it in your sleeping bag between uses.
Keep it warm by insulating the canister from the snowy ground - a simple wooden chopping board works well if you're car camping, or a bit of foam mat.
Get a windshield - if it's cold, it's probably windy, a Concertina will keep the precious heated air close to your pan and keep the flame from blowing out.
How fast do BruKits boil?
Support Hero, Dave, tested how many cups of tea he could make with the BruKit Jackal and Wolf - the results were fascinating!
First, Dave tested the boil times. The best times were acheived with an (almost) full 230 g gas canister with a propane/ isobutane mix:
Next, we tested how much gas the BruKits use and how the amount of gas in the canisiter affects the time taken to boil. Dave found the following using a 100g canister:
Each 500 ml of water boiled uses 5% of the gas in the canister
With a full gas canister, BruKit can boil 500 ml of water in 3 mins 10 sec
With an almost empty canister, this boil time increases to 4 mins 40 sec
8 l of water can be boiled with 80 g of gas - that is 32 cups of tea!
The average boil time is 3 mins 24 sec across a whole gas canister.
How do I change the lenses on my Krugers?
Interchangable lenses on sunglasses can be a bit fiddly but it is easy once you get the hang of it. Simply, hold them upside down with arms facing away, holding lens gently. Then bend the frame so that the nose piece moves away and then lens will pop out. Then simply wiggle the new lens in.
Do the Jackal and Wolf pot supports fit the original BruKit?
The pot supports supplied with the BruKit Jackal and the BruKit Wolf do not fit on the original BruKit as the size of the burner has changed. There are currently no plans to provide a pot support for the original BruKit.
Mountain Tent Dimensions
Is this bag waterproof?
strong>We are very cautious how we use the word waterproof. It means different things to different people, and with specialist equipment it is worth qualifying what we mean by it. Most people get it, but the reality is that it would only take one person to read waterproof with a capital W, pop their expensive Nikon camera in one of our bags and go for a swim. . we know how that might end.
All our drybags use fabrics that are waterproof and constructed with seams that are either welded or taped. The construction is waterproof but these products are not rated as immersion proof, i.e. not designed to go underwater.
Roll top closures
A drybag closure is a roll top which is a reliable and proven mechanism for creating a seal against water ingress from splashing and spray - however it is not pressure tested and its effectiveness is dependent on you to get a good seal. We do not make any claims these bags are immersion proof but they will do a great job of keeping your kit dry in a down pour.
Zipped closures
Water resistant zips such as those used on our DryDocks also protect against rain and spray, but they are still not immersion proof.
There are other considerations to take into account, such as the duration the bag is exposed to water, rubbing, pressure and condition. To take the ambiguity out of a term such as waterproof Boffins have invented a system for rating the effective waterproofness of things and have called it the IP Code. Generally dry bags will fall under IP 64 - dustproof and protect against water splashing from all directions.
Our advice as always is double bag your valuable items, water has a habit of getting anywhere.
Self-Inflating Sleeping Mats: First use and care guide
When you get a new self-inflating sleeping mat, the first thing you'll probably do is celebrate - hooray!
But there are a few other vital things that you need to do as well. In this video, Hero Fran runs though the first use instructions for your new mat. He also shares few tips for making your sleeping mat last as long as possible and perform at its best, handy!
The dog ate your headphones and you don't want to wake up your pet spider? Read on for written instructions...
What's included with my mat?
Your mat comes with a repair kit including fabric patch, glue, and instructions. Hang onto it, you never know when you'll need it!
When it arrives
Inflate your mat as soon as it arrives, (and preferably not on its first trip) as it takes a while for the foam to decompress the first time. We recommend leaving it for a minimum of 30 minutes, but the longer the better.
Inflating your mat
Unroll and open out your mat.
Open the valve and breathe into it a few times.
Once the mat is firm, close the valve.
Packing your mat
Open the valve and roll up the mat, kneeling on it as you do so to squeeze the air out.
Once rolled, close the valve and unroll the mat.
Open the valve and roll up again, squeezing all the air out.
Storing your mat
It is best to store your mat uncompressed, unrolled, and with the valve open. Find a cool, dry spot that's out of direct sunlight for your mat to live in, like down the side of a wardrobe or under the bed.
How to attach a Koala seat pack to your bike
In this video I cover how to attach a Koala to your bike. It's essential that you take time to pack your Koala well and that you tighten the straps as much as you can to get the best performance from it.
Compact Ultra trekking poles
In this video I give an overview of the Compact Ultra trekking poles including how to set them up, adjusting them and how to use them.
Storing Gas in your BruKit
In this video I cover how to store a 230g gas canister inside your BruKit with the burner to make a realy neat little cooking bundle. You can fit 100g canisters in too as they're much smaller, but if you want more gas then the BruKit can handle it.
Packing your sleeping bag in an Airlok
In this video I show how to pack your sleeping bag into a much more managable shape for getting in your backpack or duffel - in an Airlok drybag.
Can I use 18650 batteries with Prism 550?
The size of 2 CR123 is slightly smaller than 18650 and the voltage is different. 2 CR123 is 6V while 18650 is 3.7V , to use the 18650 battery we would need to redesign the product circuit and the size of the head light. So the answer is no.
Alpkit's ethical down policy [pre-winter 2016]
UPDATE: As of winter 2016, we will only be using down that is certified by the Responsible Down Standard. For more information, please see the Product Team's spotlight article.
The information below is applicable to all down products made by Alpkit before winter 2016.
At Alpkit we do all we can to make sure the goose down and duck down that we use in all our products is ethically sourced. We only source non-live plucked and non-force fed goose and duck down. We work very closely and visit our factories regularly to see for ourselves that the ethical standards are upheld. From 2016 we have started to introduce down that has been certified by the Responsible Down Standard. The first product to use this don is our Cloud Cover quilt. This mark is an added reasurance that the down in these products does not come from birds that have been live-plucked or force-fed, and that their welfare has been protected from the time they were hatchlings to when they are slaughtered.
Here's a longer article that Nick wrote in 2014 about how we get our down and where it comes from.
How do I get my wetsuit on?!
Unless you are in to 70's glam rock (or even the 80's climbing scene) then a wetsuit will probably be the most close fitting item you will ever wear. But do not despair! We have all tried one on and it is possible! Just trust us.
Download our Fitting Instructions PDF
Top tips:
- It is worth bearing in mind that the glideskin neoprene is incredibly delicate. This may seem like a bit of a conundrum for something that is so difficult to get on.
- Fingernails are hazardous to neoprene. It is imperative that you do your upmost not to impair the material with your nails; you may need to exchange it for a different size! Also, make sure to wear swimwear under your wetsuit for the same reason.
- It is advisable to trim and file your nails before attempting to try on your wetsuit. If you are still concerned, you can use gloves to help protect your wetsuit.
- When pulling the wetsuit up, try to pull from inside the suit- if this is not possible, ensure to use the pads of your finger tips- not the ends.
- The girls in Customer Service have found that working the wetsuit over your hips can be a bit of mission. Be prepared for this when you put your suit on and just stick with it! You will be rewarded with glorious open water swimming.
- Try your wetsuit on when you are cool and remain calm! If you get hot and sweaty, it will be much harder to put on!
Step by step:
- Get the wetsuit as high up your legs as possible before attempting to pull it up your torso. The ankle cuffs should be a couple of inches up your leg before you pull the suit up the length of your legs./li>
- With one leg in, pull up from the bottom of the suit leg, gradually moving the neoprene up the leg using the inside of the suit to pull the suit up (similar to putting on a pair of tights). Do the same with the other leg. Get the suit as high into the crotch as possible.
- Pull the wetsuit up over the torso and fit the arms in the same way that you just fit the legs: pull the wrist cuff to a couple of inches up from the wrist bone and then work the neoprene up into the arm pit as much as possible.
- Flex your shoulders backwards as you pull the zip up.
- If necessary, bend forwards and gently pull the neoprene up from your stomach. Use the pads of your fingers!
- The wetsuit should feel 'comfortably compressing' when dry and may feel tight around the collar. In the water you want the wetsuit to fit as closely as possible to prevent water from collecting in the crotch and waist.
- The wetsuit needs to fit along the torso length and at the waist. If you can grab a few inches of neoprene from the zip when you are wearing it, then it may be too big.
- Getting a wetsuit off is easier when it is wet. When trying to get your wetsuit off whilst dry, we found it far easier to pull the wetsuit inside out.
Further reading/ watching:
Outdoor Swimming Society Top Tips
Head to the Hills wetsuit fitting guidelines
Huub Design wetsuit fitting video
Is it okay to cook in my BruKit or BruPot with the neoprene cover on?
The neoprene cover can be used whilst cooking with the BruKit since the stove is at a set distance from the pot. However, the BruPot is a little more complicated as it can be used with all sorts of different stoves so we recommend to only use the neoprene cover to retain heat after cooking, not whilst cooking. Potentially, a stove could have large flames that go round the BruPot which could melt the neoprene.
Which gas canisters are compatible with your stoves?
Our gas stoves are designed to be compatible with EN417 compliant gas canister manufacturers, however variation in tolerances do occur across both manufacturers and batches so you should always check your canister works before relying on it in the wilderness. When testing in house, we have not experienced any issues with any canisters, however our customers have reported that Coleman canisters may need a little extra tightening to the stove.
Brukit - 100 g and 230 g canisters should fit nicely inside the BruKit along with the stove for storage. Some canisters have a slightly more protruding lip at the base; this can make a 230 g canister stick when packing away into the BruKit pot.
Landar - 450 g Coleman canisters are not compatible due to the profile of the canister
Most gas canisters available on the market will be suitable for summer use with very similar performance. Once you get to temperatures below 10 C, it is important to check to composition of the gas as certain mixes will perform better in cold weather than others. Compositions comprising of isobutane and propane perform well in colder temperatures.
Is it possible to over-tighten stoves to gas canisters?
The short answer is yes. It is possible to over-tighten stoves which can damage the valve on the canister. This will stop gas coming out or could possibly make it leak. Different stoves will need a different amount of tightening but generally screwing it up until it feels secure is all that is needed. For example, with BruKits we advise screwing the burner onto a canister by four full rotations. In general though, if you're straining then its too tight.
Can I use a different pan on my BruKit burner?
Brukits are not compatible with any other pot or pan unless using the accompanying pan support. Using a non-compatible pot directly on to the burner element of your BruKit will not allow the heat and flames to dissipate correctly and can lead to significant damage to the plastic components of your BruKit. This will make your BruKit completely unusable.
With the pan support attached to the BruKit burner, you can use any suitably-fitting pan with your BruKit.
Where do we measure arm length from?
To work out how you measure up against our clothing, grab our sizing chart and a tape measure. The arm length of our jackets are measured in centimetres from the seam joining the collar to the top of the shoulder down to the wrist cuff.
How to attach an Airlok XTra to your handlebars
A flexible and popular technique for increasing the load carrying capacity on your bike is to strap a dry bag to your handlebars. This can be either strapped directly to the bar or for extra security strapped to a harness system such as our Kanga.
Our Airlok Xtra is an ideal dry bag to use thanks to 4 hypalon tabs through which you can thread the securing straps. Common sizes are 13l and 20l dry bags, although in winter some people go even larger so that they do not have to compress their sleeping bag or down jacket so much. The largest Airlok that will fit onto drop bars is 13l.
To create this simple system all you need is a Airlok Xtra dry bag and a set of Dual straps.
Bear Bones guide to the Rig tarp
A lightweight tarp is a remarkably flexible shelter solution. It can be strung between two trees, propped up with a trekking pole, pulled out from a stone wall or even stretched over a bike. As a product things do not get much simpler, however the skills required to master this rectangular sheet of nylon are higher than you would need with a tent. Sometimes a little inginuity is called for but once mastered you will be rewarded with some amazing nights in the outdoors.
In this 2 part guide Stuart Wright of Bear Bones Bikepacking takes us through some classic tarp set ups.
Help me pick the right size
Don't choose a Medium jacket just because the last t-shirt you purchased from the high-street was a medium. Some people prefer a tight jacket, some go baggy, some like to wear it over another jacket, some like to expose their hairy chest and wear it next to their skin.
The Alpkit Fit. Please remember that these are technical garments; they are designed to function with the rest of your clothing system.
For a Filo or Phantac, we are assuming you will be wearing a baselayer and a fleece. So if you are a sized 40 chest we recommend you choose a Alpkit Medium for a snug fit over a baselayer and fleece. If you know you are going to be slinging it over your shell as a belay jacket you should take a size up. Please refer to the individual size charts on the pages below.
The Filoment, Heiko and Katabatic jackets are designed to be a little more slim fitting than Filo and Phantac jackets. We expect them to be used as a mid-layer or light insulation layer. If you choose your normal size, we would expect them to fit over a base layer or t-shirt and a light fleece.
Our Definition jacket is designed to have enough room for several layers underneath (although a Filo may be a bit of a squeeze!)
Arro, Balance and Pulsar are designed to be worn with a baselayer and fleece or very light insulation layer. If you plan to wear it over a larger down jacket, you will need to go up a size.
Gravitas designed to fit over light layers only; a baselayer and perhaps a very thin fleece. More than that and you will want to go up a size.
We expect our mid-layers to fit perfectly in the middle! So we presume that they will be worn over a baselayer or t-shirt and, at times, under an insulation layer. They are a slim fit so if you plan to wear an extra fleece between the baselayer and mid-layer, then you will want to go up a size.
All our baselayers have a slim, next to skin fit. This said, they are not 'skin-tight' so you can wear them casually without anyone knowing that you have stepped straight off the mountain and into the nearest cafe.
Always have a read of the product information for hints on intended use and fit guidance.
(Hint: scroll down! Our size chart is at the bottom of each garment page)
How do I prevent condensation in my tent?
Ventilation / Moisture Control
The key to stopping moisture and condensation in your tent is good airflow. Ventilating the tent during use and while it is pitched will allow moisture to leave and stop it settling on the inner tent. Due to the flexibility of the tent door zips you can create good circulation through the breathable inner allowing the Vestibule Ventilation Hood (VVH) to keep the weather out whilst encouraging airflow around the tent. A footprint can be used to reduce the moisture accumulation on the groundsheet, especially in inclement weather or when pitching on snow.
Winter camping tips
Even though the weather is colder it is still important to ventilate the tent to avoid condensation, which in severe cold weather may freeze during the day and drip on you at night when you warm the tent up. Keeping as much moisture out of the tent as possible will also stop it increasing in weight when you have to carry it back home. To stop moisture transferring from the ground using a footprint under the inner will also add some insulation.
Building a small trench in an unused tent porch will cause some cold air to sink before reaching the tent, keeping you slightly warmer, but don't forget it is there in the middle of the night. Using snow around the base of the tent will keep it anchored down and add some insulation. The snow valances on the Heksa are specifically designed for this.
SLEEP - optimising your sleeping bag's warmth
A good night's sleep in the outdoors can make the world of difference to the experience. We are often asked "How warm are our sleeping bags?" and this is an impossibly hard question to answer because there are so many factors that can influence a goods night sleep. S.L.E.E.P is an acronym we have developed to help you understand about these factors.
Surface- what are you going to sleep on?
Layers - What are you going to wear inside your sleeping bag?
Eat & Drink - Have you got enough fuel to keep you warm all night?
Extremities - Can you sleep when you have cold feet?
Protection - How are you going to stay dry?
You Warm the Bag
A comfort or season rating on a sleeping bag is there as a guide only and should be used in conjunction with other key factors to ensure you balance price, weight and bulk with a good night's sleep. Unless you can find a sleeping bag that has an inbuilt heating system a sleeping bag by itself cannot heat you up. The only heat source within a sleeping bag is you. A sleeping bag only provides insulation to ensure any heat you generate only heats the air around you.
So let's break it down, first we need to look at ourselves and ask some simple questions.
Do you sleep warm or cold?
If you are the sort of person that needs an extra blanket when your partner is sweating under a summer duvet you are going to need more insulation from your sleeping bag and will probably need a bag with a lower comfort rating.
Are you going to be doing a lot more exercise than you would normally do before using the sleeping bag?
If you crawl into a sleeping bag tired and hungry after a hard physical day you body isn't going to have the energy it would normally have to continue keeping you warm through the night. Again if you're not used to physical exertion, especially at altitude you might need to look at sleeping bags with lower comfort ratings.
Do you wriggle or move about during sleep?
A sleeping bag retains your bodies heat by trapping warm air around you. If you wriggle and move about a lot during sleep your sleeping bag may act like a set of giant bellows, pushing warm air out and sucking cooler air in. Sleeping bag baffles helpreduce this but again you may need a sleeping bag with lower comfort rating. A few technical sleeping bags have less insulation on the base than the top. The theory being that insulation is crushed when you lie on it so why bother with putting as much there. If you move around during sleep the panels with less insulation could end up being on top of you and the fuller top sections crushed underneath you.
Are you used to living in the temperatures that you plan on using the sleeping bag in?
If you like the sun and can be found huddled up by the fire when the mercury starts to drop anywhere near zero, chances are you're not a fan of the cold. If you're heading off somewhere colder than you are used to your body will probably react more severley to this and again you may need to look at sleeping bags with lower comfort ratings. However if you can expose your body to lower temperatures, especially your extremities, and acclimatise them the more comfortable you'll feel when you eventually get there. Before our extreme bike rider Paul Errington set off on the Arrowhead Race in Alaska he sat in front of the telly with his feet and hands in buckets of iced water.
So now we know a little more about how we sleep we now need to look at the climatic conditions we'll be sleeping in.
How humid will it be?
In the UK our weather tends to be humid and this can make temperatures around zero feel much colder. In the Alps and other large mountain ranges the air tends be very dry and for some sleeping at very low temperatures can feel similar to temperatures in the UK of 10-15ºC warmer.
How high are you sleeping?
Sleeping on the top bunk probably won't have much effect butif you're sleeping at altitude even one night your body will be using a lot more energy to keep itself going. To compensate you are going to have to make sure you take on extra fuel (food and water) to keep it running warm.
How cold is the ground?
Conduction through the ground is the quickest way to lose heat whilst sleeping. If you are going to be sleeping on frozen ground or snow it is probably worth spending some money on your sleeping mat as well as your sleeping bag.
Now let's ask some questions about how you are going to use the sleeping bag.
Does the sleeping bag need to be compressed to transport it?
Most people think their sleeping bag needs to pack up as small as they can make it. For some this is an important factor but for most we do it because that's the bag it came with. Simply put though the more you compress a sleeping bag the longer it will take for the insulation to recover to its best. A great deal of lightweight backpackers are starting to opt for larger, lighter rucksacks and rather than filling them with more kit they simply leave key insulation items like sleeping bags and down jackets as uncompressed as they can.
Can I keep a sleeping bag dry?
A wet sleeping bag will always feel cold. A wet "down" sleeping bag will have almost no insulation to it at all. This scares a lot of people away from down sleeping bags but in reality most people are able to keep a sleeping bag dry enough to retain the majority of its insulation. If you have tried to clean a sleeping in the bath you will know it takes a surprisingly long time to completely wet one out. What a lot of people forget or do not realise is that a sleeping bag retains a lot of your bodies perspiration, especially if used in a bivi bag. In warmer weathers this isn't a problem because the sleeping bag stays warm and this perspiration simply evaporates. However in sub zero conditions as soon as you crawl out of the sleeping bag there is no longer a heat source to evaporate that sweat enabling it to freeze around the insulation. One or two nights of this won't have a dramatic effect, but continued use without intervention will have a negative effect on the sleeping bags performance.
Asking yourself all of the these questions will help to ensure you are prepared for the conditions you may face and hopefully you will have chosen a sleeping bag adequate for those conditions. If you're pushing your sleeping bag towards its limit or you push your body harder than expected you'll hopefully understand why you may feel colder than expected. Last of all we need to look at the engine heating the bag, you! Unlike a car you can run on all kinds of fuels and you need to think carefully about what fuels you run best on. A chocolate bar will give us a quick hit of energy but it won't last through the night. In colder conditions, especially when you're tired or at altitude your body won't feel like eating or drinking so it is extremely important you monitor this and fuel yourself adequately. Shivering is your bodies involuntary response to cold and by firing your muscles quickly it helps generate heat. Falling asleep while shivering is extremely hard so if you feel cold before going to bed do some simple exercises before climbing into your sleeping bag. We're not talking a full workout here but a quick jog on the spot, some frantic arm flapping will help you physiologically when going to sleep.
Remember it doesn't matter how thick and fluffy your sleeping bag is... YOU WARM THE BAG!
Left or right zip
A little question but so many people ask us that we think it is worthy of its own sticky. So just what do we mean by a left or right zip?
Basically it is the side the zip is on when you are laying face up in your sleeping bag. So most right handed people would go for a left zip since it is easier to reach across your body and operate the zip.
With some of our range you can connect two sleeping bags side by side with opposite zips - so this could help if you want to get cosy. Currently our SkyeHigh, AlpineDream and ArcticDream bags have compatible left and right zips but please check with our Customer Support Heros to make sure.
How to use trekking poles
Wrist loop, pole length and a relaxed attitude
It is important to put your hand in the strap correctly, you do this by putting your hand through the loop from underneath, enough so that loop goes to about the wrist, and then grab hold of the handle. When the strap is the correct length it should allow you to grip the handle comfortably. Too short and the strap will feel tight around the wrist too long and you will feel no support. The trick here is not to hold the handle too tightly, let the strap do the work.
Adjusting strap length
If you need to adjust the strap length you can do this by pulling the strap that has the small plastic wedge, this then releases the other strap so you can either make it bigger or smaller.
Adjusting the length of your trekking pole
The next thing to adjust is the pole length. The pole is made of three sections with each joint having a small plastic wedge that when you twist the smaller pole clockwise tightens and anti clockwise loosens it (see diagram). Set the lower section to the "Stop" mark and then adjust the length of the pole so that when you are holding pole you elbow is at 90° to the pole with pole hanging straight. You may find that on soft ground particularly snow the pole sinks in (even with the basket on) and you may need to adjust the length to maintain the correct angle.
It is also best to adjust the trekking pole length to suit the terrain. On accent you could shorten the pole and on descents lengthen it or just use the palm of you hand on the top of the pole. When traversing a slope or on a zig zag path it maybe be best to have one long and one short and swap them at each turn. But just remember you supposed to be walking not adjusting you poles, but when you need a rest on a uphill slog it is always best to have something technical to adjust rather than blame your fitness.
So your hands are in the strap correctly and you have set the pole length just how you like it, How do I actually use them. Good question.
Firstly don't grip the handle to hard, it is the strap that should be doing all the work. Have a relaxed grip that allows the trekking pole to have natural swinging action. You should use opposite pole to the leading leg, so right pole left leg and vice versa. The position of the pole plant should be roughly level with your foot but it's what ever suits you.
It is important to remember the limitations of your trekking poles, especially when the terrain gets tricky. Very often it is best to pack the poles away which allows you to use your hands to better advantage.
Trekking pole links
How to roll up a dry bag
AlpNick shows us how to roll up our Airlok XTra dry bags..
Can I use Lithium or rechargeable batteries?
Our Gamma, Trinity, Glowe and Manta lanterns have not been designed to work with lithium or rechargeable batteries. These batteries have a high output during discharge which means they can cause the lights to overheat and possibly damage electronics and LEDs. We recommend using a good quality alkaline battery such as Duracell. Cheap batteries are more likely to leak and leave a gooey mess on the contacts.
We sometimes hear of batteries not working in the Gamma due to their size - after extensive research, well forgetting to get new batteries on most trips and having to buy anything from a cheap co-op or a really expensive re-chargeable in a hurry and I've found that even batteries all labelled triple A are of varying size.
How breathable is the Hunka bivi bag?
Using a Hunka bivy bag as part of your sleeping system will protect it from rain, drips and snow. What the Hunka is not is a permanent waterproof cover for your bag. Even though it is breathable you are likely to get a build up of moisture inside the bag which over period of time will make you bag feel clammy and eventually go mouldy. At every oppurtunity you should let your bag air.
Current Goretex/Event air perm bivi fabric get 25,000mvtr, old Taslan Gortex around 15,000 and our fabric about 10,000mvtr which in real terms means that if your not breathing into it, then it is breathable enough. Some conditions you do get condensation on the inside of the fabric but for most people this seems to be managable.
How do I stuff my Hunka?
The Hunka includes an integral stuff bag at the footend of the bivvy bag. To store your Hunka in the intergral stuff bag, simply turn the pocket inside-out and stuff the Hunka inside. We have found that rather than rolling the Hunka into the pocket, just good old stuffing it in is the best method!
If you have used your Hunka in the rain, try to ensure that it is thoroughly dried out before storing. The optimum storage, especially for longer periods, is for the Hunka to be hung up in a wardrobe, or similar.
Which sleeping bag is suitable for my Kilimanjaro trip?
We have had quite a few customers choosing our down sleeping bags for their trip to Kilimanjaro. They have taken the SkyeHigh 900 on both camping and hutted Kili routes. It is recommend taking a sleeping bag suitable for temperatures ranging between -10oC and -20oC. If you are camping up on the crater and you are unlucky enough to get a cold night you are going to be at the end of that scale so be ready to boost it with a down jacket by stuffing it inside the sleeping bag as a floating blanket. SH900 is also more comfortable at lower altitudes where you will spend more of your time and have a more practical bag at the end of the trip.
Check out our spotlight on Kilimanjaro.
Down is escaping, is this normal?
All our fabric is technically down-proof but there are two situations in which your down may appear to be migrating. The first is that sharp quills may poke through the fabric or stitching. 'But I thought this was down!' The quality of down we use is 90/10, this means 90% is the really fine down plumes you expect while the other 10% is less pure and may include small feathers. Slowly remove the jacket and attempt to pull the feather back into the jacket from behind. Scrunch up the fabric between your thumb and forefinger to close the pin sized hole left in the shell. This will happen more when the jacket is brand new. The second possible explanation is that you have big hole that needs immediate repair. Again remain calm and don't under any circumstances move. Ask one of your expedition buddies to find the gaffer tape.
Let's say the average down jacket has 300 grams of down in it. A gram of down is made up of about 500 filo plumes or bits of down. So that means in your jacket you have roughly 150,000 bits of down. If you are worried that your jacket is leaking a few feathers here and there, please don't. Even if you were to lose 10 bits a day, it would take about 41 years before you had none left. And thinking about it, as you lose down the pressure inside the baffle would reduce making it harder for individual bits to force their way out. So let's say the pressure reduced by 50% in 10 years reducing the loss to 5 bits per day you've now got 62 years left. I think I am rambling a little here. Suffice to say unless you have a stream of down pouring out of your jacket or sleeping bag don't worry about the odd feather or bit of down.
Can I zip together long and short sleeping bags?
It is possible to zip together a long and a short sleeping bag but the zips are different lengths. This means you may have a gap of 5cm or so at the top where the longer zip is exposed.
The zips are guaranteed to be compatible if bought from the same batch. If purchasing bags from different batches, it is still likely to be compatible but it is not guaranteed.


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Aldous Hiter, a long time Washington County resident, will run for a position as a county supervisor in the upcoming election. His hopes are that, despite his name bearing a resemblance to Aldoph Hitler, he will be elected nonetheless, since he plans on running as a Republican. Hiter said, "I heard that even Adolph Hitler could win in Washington county if he had an "R" before his name, so I figured I'd give it a shot. In most places, people look twice at my name and get a little uncomfortable before they pronounce it, but generally not in this county."To read more, a subscription is needed: Click here to subscribe
Hiter to Run for Office in Washington County
- Details
- Category: Satire
- Written by Brian
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subset: commoncrawl


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With the encouragement of a friend and in response to a fantastic workshop on reading for preaching (thanks to the Center for Excellence in Preaching), I accomplished my goal to read 60 books last year. Before you think I accomplished some super-human feat, the 60-book total consisted of everything from children's books to multi-volume trilogy novels. Some books were about leadership and some books were just straight up fiction. Variety of genre and length gave me the motivation and space to read 66 books instead of 60!
About five of the books I only read halfway (I know, that sounds like cheating). The books just didn't capture me, and I won't be returning to them. In that sense, I consider the book "read" just not finished. Tony Reinke says you should give every book up until [100 pages minus your age]. Once you've read to that page number, you can drop the book if it doesn't grab you. Thankfully, only a handful of books were cast aside.
As part of celebrating my goal, I thought I'd share my top 5 reads of last year. This isn't a list of the top books of 2016 because many of the books I read have been around for a while. I just got to them last year. I ranked the books on sheer enjoyment of the story + impact (how many times I talked about/referred to the books in conversation, sermons, etc.) + recommendations (how often I recommended the book to someone).
So without further delay, here's my unofficial list of 2016. Continue reading


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Planning together but working individually, Blufflands Alliance partners help landowners, communities, private conservation groups and public agencies to permanently protect the region's natural resources.
The color-coded areas on the map at right show where each of the Alliance's six core partners work. Additional partners and collaborators are listed below.
Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation
Founded in 1979, this nonprofit conservation group has protected more than 100,000 acres throughout the state of Iowa – including more than 40 sites in the Blufflands region. Some of INHF's best-known area projects include the Heritage Addition to Effigy Mounds, Mines of Spain State Recreation Area, and many private conservation easements. The organization also publishes a variety of free landowner booklets.
Jo Daviess Conservation Foundation
The Jo Daviess Conservation Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable and educational organization, founded by area residents, for the purpose of protecting the natural heritage, spectacular scenery, and agricultural character of Jo Daviess County, IL. JDCF uses a variety of techniques to accomplish this mission such as educating people about land stewardship and resource conservation, partnering with willing landowners to protect land through conservation easements, land donations, or land acquisitions, supporting recreation that promotes appreciation of our natural resources, and working with other like-minded organizations.
Minnesota Land Trust
The Minnesota Land Trust permanently protects land and water resources, assists communities in achieving their conservation vision and engages Minnesotans to connect them with their natural heritage. MLT has permanently protected more than 36,000 acres and nearly 750,000 feet of shoreline in more than 400 projects around Minnesota, including a special emphasis on the Blufflands Region.
Mississippi Valley Conservancy
Mississippi Valley Conservancy is a regional, non-profit land trust based in La Crosse , WI that has permanently conserved about 12,000 acres of blufflands, prairies, wetlands, and streams in southwestern Wisconsin since its founding in 1997. MVC's mission is to conserve native and working landscapes that enrich our communities through private, voluntary action, for the health and wellbeing of current and future generations. MVC has been recognized for its conservation leadership through many achievement awards, including Land Trust of the Year (WI 2008) and Friend of Conservation—Outstanding Organization (WI 2009). MVC works cooperatively with individuals, businesses, conservation groups, local units of government and state and federal agencies to protect the best our landscape has to offer.
Natural Land Institute
The Natural Land Institute is one of the oldest land conservation groups in the Midwest. Since 1958 it has helped to preserve more than 15,000 acres of land in Illinois, including Hanover Bluff, Apple River Canyon and an addition to Milan Bottoms Wildlife Refuge. NLI works with private land owners and other conservation groups and agencies to protect natural land in the Mississippi and Rock River basin of Northwestern Illinois for people, plants and animals.
West Wisconsin Land Trust
For more than 20 years, West Wisconsin Land Trust has worked with its members and partners to conserve over 25,000 acres of farms, forests, lakes, prairies and streams in western Wisconsin, including the diverse blufflands of the upper Mississippi River. WWLT works with private landowners to find a protection strategy that best fits their land conservation goals. West Wisconsin Land Trust is a regional land trust serving 20 counties in western and northwestern Wisconsin.


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Liquid B12 Sublingual 2000 mcg with B Complex by Solgar provides an easy to use B Complex formula
Neurological function such as brain spinal and optic nerves and proper blood cell functioning require vitamin B12 For the heart vitamin B12 helps maintain healthy homocysteine levels in the blood and helps restore energy levels
Methylcobalamin Liquid provided by Douglas Laboratories provides 1 000 mcg of highly bioavailable vitamin B 12 in a tasty and convenient liquid
Offers vitamin B12 blend for nerve and mitochondrial support in liquid form
B12 5000 Liquid by Pure Encapsulations provides 5 000 mcg of vitamin B12 as methylcobalamin in a convenient liquid bioavailable form
B12 liquid supports nerve cell health neurological function energy production and immune system health
Methylcobalamin is the active coenzyme form of vitamin B12 prepared as a liquid for rapid and efficient absorption
B12 10 000 mcg Nutri Dose is a convenient and palatable liquid formulation that is absorbed quickly by the body delivering rapid energizing nutrition
Vitamin B 12 Cyanocobalamin is a water soluble vitamin necessary for the maintenance of a healthy nervous system and for the metabolic utilization of fats and proteins
B Complex Liquid combines B1 B2 B3 B5 B6 and B12 in a convenient great tasting liquid form free of artificial flavors and sweeteners
A water soluble vitamin necessary for the maintenance of a healthy nervous system and for the metabolic utilization of fats and proteins
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To Our Valued Customers,
We will be applying updates to our phone system today, June 13th, beginning at 5:00 PM EDT. This will cause disruption to our phone service, including sudden disconnects and extended periods of downtime.
Our customer service department will remain available via LiveChat and Email. You can also leave a voicemail, and we will return your call the next day.
Thank you for your understanding,


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Creating A Solid Research Paper Title On Information Technology
One of the most important things that you might not know yet about information technology is that this is one of the easiest units to pass at the moment. There is a very good reason why we consider information technology to be one of the easiest to pass, especially because of the ease of access to information. Whenever you get online, you will hardly go a day without finding some new invention, idea or concept that is related to information technology. Therefore there is a very good chance that you will not need to struggle with getting a good topic for your paper.
The following are some of the best ideas that you can take into consideration whenever you are looking for a solid research paper title to present for your exam purposes.
- Current affairs
- New developments
- Latest technology
- Trends in the industry
Current affairs
There are a lot of current topics that you need to consider in the market. When you take time and learn about some of them, you will be able to come up with a very good topic. This is actually a good idea that you can think about, because you will be able to showcase to your teacher that you are up to par with the industry.
New developments
In the information technology world there is always something new coming up from time to time. Every other time you will find new designs, new upgrades and improvements that will help you present a good paper. Therefore you should not have a hard time finding a topic that you can work with in this regard.
Latest technology
The latest technology that is available in the market will also present you with a very good idea on the title you can use for your paper. Not so many students ever take their time to keep up with the current technology. As an information technology student this is imperative; it is actually one of the most important things that you must learn is to keep up.
Trends in the industry
If you are looking for a title that can help you present a good paper with respect to information technology, you need to look for avenues where trends in tech are discussed. Look for websites, blogs, magazines or anywhere else from where you can get such information and you will be good to go.


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"Hold on, hold on, lets do a little bit of math." Music to my ears! We are back on track with shooter prototyping.
Updates 10/14/2018
The students finished up the Congressional App Challenge submission! Check out the YouTube video. Good luck everyone.
Thank you Texas Workforce Commission
We received a wonderful email this week from First in Texas – We are fortunate enough to have received the Texas Workforce Commission Veteran Team Grant for the 2019 FRC Season! Several of the students are preparing a video to …


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@ Vice President, Product Management, E*Trade.
Matt is Vice President of Product Management in E*TRADE's Trader Strategy Group, responsible for active trading customer experience and platforms for E*TRADE. Matt came to E*TRADE through the 2014 acquisition of OptionsHouse.
Prior to joining OptionsHouse in 2014, Matt worked at Scottrade and AIG in a variety of product, strategy, and guidance roles. He holds FINRA Series 4, 7, 24, and 66 registrations.


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- Exclusive development of 33, 3, 4 and 5 bedroom homes
- Close to world renowned Gleaneagles Golf Club and Auchterarder
- Panoramic views of the Ochil Hills
- Within reach of Dundee, Perth, Edinburgh and Glasgow
- Excellent public transport links
This exclusive development of luxury homes at Graemeslea, Aberuthven, places you in the heart of the Scottish countryside, close to the world famous Gleneagles golf course and with far reaching views of the foothills of the Highlands.
It's an inspiring place to raise a family and these stunning homes, on such a select development, create the perfect feeling of a true community.
This exclusive development, in an attractive village setting close to the quaint town of Auchterarder, is perfectly placed for commuting to all the surrounding cities, with excellent road and rail links across the region.
Glamis – 4 bedroom home
Price from £270,000
- Open plan kitchen dining room
- Separate Utility room
- En suite to master bedroom
- Built in wardrobes
The Glamis is a stunning four bedroom detached home with open plan kitchen dining room, separate utility room, shower room, spacious living area and bedroom to the ground floor. The first floor includes a further three bedrooms with built in wardrobes, family bathroom and en suite to master bedroom.
Weaver – 4 bedroom home
Price from £280,000
- Spacious kitchen with utility
- Separate lounge, dining room and study
- Downstairs cloaks
- Two en suite bedrooms with built in wardrobes
Harmonious family living comes easily in a home as well planned and spacious as the Weaver, including a separate lounge, dining room and study plus generous kitchen with utility and downstairs cloaks. And the spacious feel continues upstairs with the two primary bedrooms both en suite with built in wardrobes, two further bedrooms and a family bathroom.
Welford – 4 bedroom home
Price from £301,000
- Modern open plan kitchen and family room
- Separate dining room
- Study
- Utility room
- Two en-suite bathrooms
With a spacious layout, the Welford provides plenty of room for even the most active of families, with separate lounge and dining room, study, cloaks and an extensive kitchen with family area and separate utility to the ground floor and four generous bedrooms to the first floor, including an en suite master bedroom and family bathroom.
An idyllic Scottish retreat
If you prefer life in the country, Graemeslea is the perfect haven. Exquisitely located in the breathtaking scenery of the picturesque Perthshire countryside, featuring stunning panoramic views of the foothills of the Highlands, few areas can match the spectacular beauty of Aberuthven. Graemeslea consists of 33 stunning 3, 4 and 5 bedroom, detached family homes. Stylish and spacious, designed to meet the demands of your lifestyle, these homes are ideal if you're looking to put down roots in this beautiful rural location.
Picturesque country living
Set in the quaint rural village of Aberuthven, yet within easy reach of Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dundee and Perth, Graemeslea offers all the serenity you could ever imagine. Listen to the Ruthven Water falling into the Earn a short distance away, or take long, meandering walks through the glorious countryside. Surrounded by peace and tranquillity, this is a perfect retreat, yet so convenient for all amenities.
Relaxation or adventure
If you fancy pampering yourself, the prestigious Gleneagles hotel and the Crieff Hydro hotel and leisure resort are close by. There are fabulous opportunities to enjoy a wide variety of leisure pursuits across this beautiful region. Perthshire is a golfer's paradise, with courses for beginners to skilled professionals at Auchterarder, Whitemoss, Aberuthven and Dunning. Or, experience hill walking, horse riding, fishing and falconry in the striking Scottish countryside.
Marketing Suite Open: Thursday to Monday 10am – 5.30pm
Call for more details: 0845 676 0423
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text: It is clear that construction has made a comeback along the Costa del Sol with many new developments springing up. The once familiar horizon filled with cranes is once again visible up and down the coast; great news for the economy and for consumers. In this regard, Marbella officials say they have experienced a surge Continue Reading


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Are you looking for ways to sell overstock or product that don't sell as fast?
This reward gives you the option to give a special discount for a certain product - it is a great way to manage your inventory!
To set up Product discount voucher:
1. Go to 'Manage' and click on 'Create new reward'
2. Choose "Product discount (voucher)
3. Enter "Product ID" and "Find product"
4. Choose product SKU
5. Paste URL for the product
6. Enter discount amount
7. Enter "Cost to redeem"
8. Write "Terms and conditions"
9. Click "Create" and the voucher is ready!


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We supply the know-how to recognize opportunities and implement buyer-seller strategies that are impervious to ups and downs of the economy and the real estate market.
Using our imagination and impeccable work ethic, we will custom design an approach that's perfect for you.
Reba Miller
Senior Sales Executive,
Associate Broker
Michelle Miller
Licensed Real Estate Salesperson
Julia Cole
Licensed Real Estate Salesperson
Vanessa Grasso
Licensed Real Estate Salesperson
27 East 61st Street
21 East 66th St 7-FLR
26 East 63rd Street, 12BCDG$1,000,000 Price Drop
21 East 66th Street, 11th Floor
21 East 61st St 9-E
56 Leonard Street, 14BEDowntown Condo w/Luxe Amenities
815 Park Avenue, 7/8CSophisticated Duplex Living
26 East 63rd St 2-A
160 Central Park South 705
26 East 63rd St 6-A
44 East 67th St 7-DE
425 West 50th Street, 11F
261 West 25th St 1-D
21 East 61st St 6-F
241 5th Ave 10-B
425 West 50th St 11-C
150 East 61st St 7-E
605 Park Ave. 10C
222 East 80th Street, 7ABLarge Space with Great South Light
330 East 75th Street, 32B
26 East 63rd Street, 6BSuperb and Mint Condition
400 East 54th Street, 24A2BR/2BTH Full Service Condo
330 East 75th Street, 8B
175 West 12th Street, 11JGorgeous Views of the West Village
400 East 54th Street, 29A2BR/2BTH Full-Service Condo
100 West 58th Street, 3C
340 East 23rd Street, 4D
400 East 54th Street, 28F2BR/2BTH Full-Service Condo
400 East 54th Street, 19A2BR/2BTH Full-Service Condo
160 Central Park South, Residence 2511
330 East 75th Street, 14E
400 East 54th Street, 31B1BR/2BTH Full-Service Condo
605 Park Ave. 10BPicturesque Park Avenue and Open Sky Views
400 East 54th Street, 6A2BR/2BTH Full Service Condo
502 Park Avenue, 12HFive Star Living in a Great Location
400 East 54th Street, 22B2BR/2BTH Full-Service Condo
26 East 63rd Street, 11CCONDO on Madison/east 63rd with or without Tenancy
400 East 54th Street, 20D1BR/1BTH Full-Service Condo
205 West 54th St 11-E
315 East 70th Street, 1H
400 East 54th Street, 16D1BR/1BTH Full-Service Condo
400 East 54th Street, 21G1BR/1BTH Full-Service Condo
330 East 75th Street, 11J
26 East 63rd St 11-D
220 Madison Avenue, 8F
400 East 54th Street, 20GSponsor Sutton CONDO
330 East 75th Street, 10K
179 East 79th St 7-C
212 East 48th Street, 9BSpacious 1BR with Wood-Burning Fireplace
26 East 63rd St 8-E
21 East 61st Street, 7AFurnished Space with Great Light
21 East 61st St 7-A
21 East 61st Street, 9EWorld Class. Fine Finishes. Top Service.
56 Leonard Street, 14BEDowntown Condo w/Luxe Amenities
44 East 67th Street, 9CBeautiful Duplex with Central Park View
26 East 63rd Street, 10ABLoft-like Condo Just One Block from Central Park
26 East 63rd St 10-AB
330 East 75th Street, 25BCSweeping Open Views Throughout
21 East 61st Street, 6-F
26 East 63rd Street, 4F
429 East 52nd Street, 29ABNo Fee Sutton Rental
44 East 67th Street, 9DE1 Block from Central Park
330 East 75th Street, 17A
205 East 85th Street, 15E
80 Riverside Boulevard, 3CDesigner Furnished Home at The Rushmore
26 East 63rd Street, 8AHigh Floor, Spacious Home w/a 5-Windowed Corner Living Room
429 East 52nd Street, 36CRenovated 3BR w/Stunning Views
26 East 63rd Street, 9F
26 East 63rd St 8-A
330 East 75th Street, 37AOversized Windows with Stunning Views
241 Fifth Avenue, 10B
425 West 50th Street, 11C
330 East 75th Street 8-B
429 East 52nd Street, 35HNo Fee Sutton Rental
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45 East 80th St 5-A
26 East 63rd St 11-C
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429 East 52nd Street, 22CConvertible 2BR 1.5BTH w/Views
429 East 52nd Street, 35ANo Fee Sutton Rental
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429 East 52nd Street, 15JLarge 1BR/1BTH
429 East 52nd Street, 14DNo Fee Sutton Rental
429 East 52nd Street, 10ALarge 1BR/1BTH
333 East 34th Street, 14AHigh Floor with Views Facing North
330 East 75th Street, 12KSpacious and Sun-filled Upper East Side Condo
200 East 90th Street, 5ASpacious UES Apartment
26 East 63rd Street, 4EPrime Location on Madison and 63rd
26 East 63rd Street, 2DCondo in Luxury Building


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Rails 4 Test Prescriptions in print; 50% off select paperback books
December 10, 2014
Now in print and shipping: Rails 4 Test Prescriptions: Build a Healthy Codebase, available from pragprog.com/book/nrtest2. Get ahead of the pack and whip your Rails apps into well-oiled figthing machines for the new year. Get a copy for everyone on your team!
And don't forget it's day two of our special Ten Days of Gerbils:
Save 50% on the featured paperback holiday gift book of the day. Today's selection is:
- Dart 1 for Everyone: Fast, Flexible, Structured Code for the Modern Web (pragprog.com/book/csdart1)
Finally, be sure to read this month's issue of PragPub magazine: all about Resource Oriented Computing. Don't miss it at theprosegarden.com (note the correct link this time!)
Rails 4 Test Prescriptions: Build a Healthy Codebase
Your Ruby on Rails application is sick. Deadlines are looming, but every time you make the slightest change to the code, something else breaks. Nobody remembers what that tricky piece of code was supposed to do, and nobody can tell what it actually does. Plus, it has bugs. You need test-driven development, a process for improving the design, maintainability, and long-term viability of software.
Containing both practical code examples and discussion of why testing works, this book starts with the most basic features delivered as part of core Ruby on Rails. Once you've integrated those features into your coding practice, you'll learn how to use popular third-party testing tools such as RSpec, Mocha, Cucumber, and factory_girl. You'll test the component parts of a Rails application, including the back-end model logic and the front-end display logic. Using Rails examples, you'll learn how to use testing to enable your code to respond better to future change. Plus, you'll see how to handle real-world testing situations.
This completely revised edition contains a new tutorial, as well as new examples throughout the book. Many chapters, including the JavaScript chapter, have undergone major changes to reflect new tools and new practices. And there are brand new chapters on testing for security, and testing external services.
Three RSpec 3 Features You Should Try
RSpec 3 is a major upgrade. In addition to solidifying changes in RSpec's syntax and internals, it also added a number of new features. With these new features, you can specify the behavior of your application more flexibly and more exactly then before. Here are three new features of RSpec 3 or 3.1 that can make your tests more clear and precise.
For much more information on how to use RSpec in the context of test-driven development of a Rails application, read Rails 4 Test Prescriptions!
1. Verifying doubles
A typical RSpec test double (sometimes called a mock object) is used to stand in for a real object in your system. However, the double does not know anything about the object it is replacing. This leads to a common problem where you specify that a double should respond to a method that is not actually defined in the code. As a result, the test passes, but the code calling that non-existent method fails when the code is executed outside the test.
Verifying doubles solves this problem by allowing you to give RSpec a little bit of information about the object being replaced so that RSpec can fail the test if an undefined method is called. With the configuration option
verify_partial_doubles set, then any double you set on an existing object will validate that the object responds to the message. For example, if you say
allow(user).to recieve(:name).and_return("Fred") then the verifying double will cause the test to fail if
User#name is not defined.
You can also create verifying doubles that are not extensions of existing instances by using variants of the RSpec
double method. These extensions include
instance_double("User") and
object_double(User.new). In both cases, the resulting double will insist that any message expectation sent to it be already defined -"in this case, already defined in the
User class.
2. The
have_attributes matcher
Ever written a spec that ended like this:
expect(user.name).to eq("Noel Rappin")

expect(user.height).to eq(140)

expect(user.handedness).to eq("left")
It's dreary and becomes hard to read.
have_attributes matcher to the rescue.
expect(user).to have_attributes(name: "Noel Rappin", height: 140, handedness: "left")
You'll get a nice error message telling you which attribute or attributes don't match.
3. Compound Matchers
RSpec 3 allows you to chain matchers using the
and method to chain two matchers that both must pass, and the
or method to chain two matchers where only one needs to pass.
For example, let's say you were checking that an inputted value had a couple of different characteristics. You might have in the past have done this:
expect(name).to start_with("Noel")

expect(name).to end_with("Rappin")
In RSpec 3, you can also express the same expectation with
expect(name).to start_with("Noel").and end_with("Rappin")
If only one of those expectations needs to be true, which would be somewhat awkward to express before RSpec 3, use
expect(name).to start_with("Noel").or end_with("Rappin")
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text:
I received a link to the Helping Lost Pets (HeLP) website this week and I would love to share it with all of you. This is a site which provides a database of all the lost/found pets in your area. You can join, opt in/out of email alerts for animals in your area or you could even help pair up dogs/cats! This seems to be a great resource and it would be good to see it fly. Read below for the HeLP PSA.
Helping Lost Pets (HeLP) is not just a website to help you find your pet, it's a pet help network. A community of pet lovers with a common purpose, to help pets and their guardians to enjoy a long, happy and healthy life together.
This new central database will solve two major obstacles in finding a lost pet. The time required to notify others that may be able to help the pet home. Our solution to these two key problems are:
1) With a large membership base, this system will get the message out quickly and to a large number of people in the area. It will allow a poster to instantly printed and distributed. The faster a message can be put out, the better the chance of finding the pet. People with a missing pet are spending hours and hours posting on many different sites. They could be spending this time searching for their pet. If someone finds their pet, they may not make the connection because they are not looking in the same location.
2) This system has the ability to target lost pet information to specific areas so that people are not receiving lost pet information for pets that are no where near them. This will save people time.
Many similar services in use today charge a listing fee. The usage of HeLP is absolutely free. The development and on going costs are fully supported by advertising and sponsors.
So if you have lost or found a pet, or want to know if a pet is lost near you. If you want to find an emergency vet clinic, vet clinic, pet store, pet groomer, dog trainer, doggie day care, pet shelter, pet rescue or any other pet service provider, then join our community. It's map based, so you can pinpoint where a pet was lost or where pet services near you are.
Key Features
* It's map based, so it's visual
* Centralized database of lost/found pets and pet service providers
* Search for lost or found pets
* Set up your profile to receive email notifications of lost or found pets in your area
* Search for pet services
* Find pets available for adoption
There are posters you can use at this site here that will help you to spread the word. Who knows, maybe you can help out your community by using this site??
Sometimes making a difference doesn't cost a thing.


text:
Driveway Cleaning Testimonials
Can't fault Sean and his son who did the work. Arrived exactly on time, explained everything and got on with the job quickly and efficiently, was really impressed with how speedy they were. They cleaned up any splashes on windows etc and left everything spotless. Sean came back later in the day to re-seal when the drive was dry, as he'd promised. All in all it was a hassle free experience and the drive looks completely like new. Already booked them for another job, and have no trouble highly recommending them, quite a rare thing these days to find reliable trustworthy workmen I've found.
Customer in Ilkeston
Our 22 year old drive, which Shaun and his team have cleaned over the years, again looks like new. Thank you, I would definitely recommend EMCS.
Customer in Ilkeston
I have used Premier before and once again they were superb. The quality of the work was excellent, and they were incredibly careful, meticulous and competent. And they are also very nice people; thoughtful, courteous and trustworthy.
Customer in Nottingham
Excellent. First class job from a polite, skilled operative. Very good equipment all property cleaned. Well after job, including windows.
Customer in Nottingham
Sean and Harry were lovely to deal with from when we received the quote through to completion of our drive. We had to re-arrange the date and they were fine with this. They are very friendly, professional and thorough - we are really pleased with the results. We will definitely use Premier Clean again. We have already recommended them to friends and family.
Customer in Nottingham
Shaun and his son have made an outstanding job of my mothers driveway, it now looks like new and she is delighted with the finished result. As my mother is 93 years old, all communications were done through us (daughter and son in law). They were asked to phone before turning up so we were able to be there and not to unnerve her, they did this every time, turning up promptly, after each visit they cleaned up, were very polite, we cannot thank them enough for the professional way they carried out the job, and will have no hesitation in using them again.
Customer in Belper
I dealt with Sean, great chap. Polite, prompt, courteous and an excellent tradesman.
Customer in Nottingham
They were amazingly good. Perfect time keeping, ultra polite and courteous. Their workmanship was professional and cleared the site afterwards. Fabulous.
Customer in Derby
Arrived on time and did an excellent job.
Customer in Ilkeston
We have used Premier Clean for several years to clean our carpets and our drive needed cleaning so I had no hesitation in contacting Shaun and his son Harry to do the work. As usual, they were punctual, reliable and did a great job. Would have no hesitation in recommending them.
Customer in Ilkeston
Friendly, professional and work completed to a high standard. I would have no hesitation in recommending them to friends and would definitely use them myself again.
Customer in Nottingham
Amazing results, it looks like its just been laid, Brilliant job. Thank You. Both father and son very friendly polite and professional , I would definitely recommend to family and friends.
Customer in Nottingham
Id like to say what a brilliant job Shaun did for me, he even put all the furniture back for me without me asking him.
My mum will be phoning you sometime next week to have her settee and lounge carpet cleaned as she has the decorators in at the moment.
Mrs Watson - Kirk Hallam
Just a note of thanks for the excellent service I received from your company last week. I was quite sceptical about using a company to clean my carpets and suite. I've looked at leaflets many times that have come through my door but felt insecure. However, as soon as I phoned in I felt I was dealing with a decent company.
Very pleasant staff on the phone and I appreciated the call the day before you arrived and the operatives name. He worked so well and I'm delighted with the results. So few firms these days want to give 100% to the customer, I can say premier clean do.
Thank you all p.s you are welcome to quote me as a recommendation.
Mrs K. Scofield - Spondon


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We New Yorkers are a spoiled bunch with Broadway right in our backyard.
But for much of the country, theater isn't so easily assessable. To that end, pop culture media company Shout! Factory has a new imprint, Shout Broadway, which will bring some big shows to Blu-ray and DVD. The initial releases, available now, are "Gypsy" starring Imelda Staunton, "Candide" with Patti LuPone and Kristin Chenoweth, and "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street" also with LuPone.
amNewYork did an email interview with Shout! Factory's Senior Marketing Director Dayna Cramer and Acquisitions Consultant Garrett Lee about the Shout Broadway series.
Why were those three shows the right ones to start this new series?
We were thrilled to have the opportunity to release the brand-new, critically acclaimed production of "Gypsy," plus … "In Concert" presentations of "Candide" and "Sweeney Todd." All three have Stephen Sondheim's involvement — he wrote music and lyrics for Sweeney Todd, the lyrics for Gypsy and contributed to the lyrics of "Candide" — so we thought they aligned beautifully as a series launch.
What criteria goes into choosing shows for Shout Broadway?
We're looking at titles [shows/film adaptations] that have ties to Broadway, either having been staged there or with performers who have a Broadway history. Attending a Broadway show, whether it's in New York or on tour, is such a great and memorable experience. We want to bring the best possible performances to theater fans so that they cannot only enjoy them again and again, but also share them with their families.
What is next for Shout Broadway?
Three new Blu-ray additions, for starters: We're very excited to be adding the 1972 film "Man of La Mancha" (Peter O'Toole/Sophia Loren) to the imprint in April, followed by two beautiful stage productions: "Rodgers & Hammerstein's Oklahoma!" (starring Hugh Jackman) and "Kiss Me, Kate" (starring Rachel York) and making its Blu-ray debut.
What are some of your dream shows that you'd love to get for the series?
What are the odds of getting the original Broadway cast of "Wicked" to reunite? And "Hamilton." We'd love to put that out!


text:
SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Sangamo BioSciences Inc. SGMO, -5.37% after Thursday's closing bell priced an offering of 3.1 million shares of common stock. The Richmond, Calif.-based company said the underwriter, Piper Jaffray & Co., has been granted an option to buy up to 465,000 additional shares to cover over-allotments, if any.
Sangamo BioSciences prices offering of 3.1 mln shares
Quote References
-0.47 -5.37%


text:
Robert Stetson is a partner with Bernkopf Goodman specializing in complex civil litigation and alternative dispute resolution. Bob represents a variety of clients ranging from individuals to multi-national corporations in all phases of litigation including trial and appellate practice. He has significant experience in disputes involving corporations and other business organizations, construction projects, contracts, real estate, landlord-tenant, and shareholder disputes. His practice includes both state and federal court proceedings, as well as arbitration and other forums for alternative dispute resolution.
Bob is a graduate of the National Institute for Trial Advocacy. In 2018, Bob was named a Fellow of the prestigious Construction Lawyers Society of America.
Every year since 2014, Bob has been named a Rising Star in the area of Business Litigation by New England Super Lawyers.
Memberships & Activities
Legal Memberships
- Massachusetts Bar Association
- Boston Bar Association
Professional & Civic Activities
- Member, Town of Easton Planning and Zoning Board
- Fellow, Construction Lawyers Society of America
Honors & Recognition
- Graduate, National Institute for Trial Advocacy, 2018
- Named New England Super Lawyers Rising Star (Business Litigation) 2014-2017


text:
Part of the "Revenge of the Spider-Slayer" story arc
Part of the "Big Time" storyline
Previous Issue
Next Issue
- With my spider-strength, speed, and agility nothing could've stopped me from landing any sports scholarship-- or getting on any professional team I wanted. Nothing except a sense of responsibility. And a tiny bit of pride.
- -- Peter Parker
Appearing in "Revenge of the Spider-Slayer (part one): Army of Insects"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- John Jonah Jameson Sr.
- May Jameson
- Carlie Cooper
- Mary Jane Watson
- Flash Thompson
- Betty Brant
- Mayor J.J. Jameson
- John Jameson
- Alistair Smythe
- Scorpion
- Fly-Girl (First appearance)
Other Characters:
- Captain Dale Redfield (First appearance)
- Horizon Labs
- Jurgen Muntz (First appearance)
- Max Modell
- Lynbrook (First appearance)
- Muldoon (First appearance)
- New York City
- Hunter College Sportplex (First appearance)
- Horizon Labs
- New Jersey
- Vertex Shuttle
Synopsis for "Revenge of the Spider-Slayer (part one): Army of Insects"
Peter, May, Jay and Mary Jane watch Carlie at her roller derby match. Mary Jane watches how Peter is, noting that Peter hasn't been happy for a long time. After ages, Peter finally managed to balance his civillian life, superhero duties and get a girlfriend. However, she recognizes that he did it all of that without her. Mary Jane then shrugs off those feelings and decides to be happy for Peter and Carlie.
In New Jersey, the Spider-Slayers arrive at the the Andru Air Force base, as they are monitored by Alistair Smythe. They watch as J. Jonah Jameson arrives at the base. Jameson and Marla talk about the launch. Marla says that Max Modell is monitoring the launch. Jameson and Marla then meet with John and Max Modell, who tells him that Peter will be coming to the launch.
After the roller derby match ends, Peter and Carlie skate together, but Peter ignores his spider-sense to make Carlie think that he isn't good at it. As Carlie goes to the showers, Peter then uses his spider-sense to skate properly, just as Mary Jane comes to see him. Peter and Mary Jane talk about him revealing his secret to Carlie. Although Mary Jane says that he should tell her, Peter replies that she must know him as Peter, not as Spider-Man. Carlie arrives and Mary Jane leaves the two. Peter and Carlie leave the court, and Carlie says to Peter that she is good friends with Spider-Man. Peter then realizes that with all the people Carlie has lost or gone away, Spider-Man is the closest thing she has to a best friend. Carlie says that they should pair Spider-Man with Mary Jane. Surprised, Peter accidentally hits his face against a door.
The next day, Peter comes to the launch. As Max Modell and Peter preapre for the launch, Peter's spider-sense goes off. Peter runs off as the launch starts prematurely. Suddenly, one of the scientists is revealed to be one of the Spider-Slayesrs. All the Spider-Slayers attack the base and Smythe reveals himself to Jameson. The Spider-Slayers then attack Jameson and Jay, but Spider-Man appears to defend them. Jameson demands Spider-Man to save his son. Knowing that John doesn't have a chance to defend himself, Spider-Man goes to save him. Shooting a web, Spider-Man manages to cling to the shuttle. Suddenly, he is attacked by Mac Gargan, the Scorpion.
Appearing in "Lock and/or Key (part 1)"
Featured Characters:
Synopsis for "Lock and/or Key (part 1)"
Mayor Jameson is presenting Spider-Man the key to the city, which Captain America asked him to do earlier. Suddenly, an all-new Power Man disrupts the crowd and attempts to defeat Spider-Man. In a flashback, we see the new Power-Man training with Iron Fist, who tells him that the one superhero he never managed to defeat was Spider-Man, because of his spider-sense. In the present, Power Man lands a punch and starts gloating about how he's better than Iron Fist now. Spider-Man ties Power Man to a tree while he does this, where Spider-Man learns that the only reason Victor is here is because he got a tip about the key. The key to the city is revealed to have been stolen during the fight, and Alvarez tells Spidey that the one who gave him the tip is named Norton G. Fester, who Spider-Man knows as the Looter.
Solicit Synopsis
REVENGE OF THE SPIDER-SLAYER Part 1 of 3 "Army of Insects" THE SCORPION was just the beginning! Alistair Smythe, THE SPIDER-SLAYER, has returned, and Mac Gargan isn't the only subject he's upgraded. The Spider-Slayer is about to unleash an entire INSECT ARMY on Spider-Man's world! And as part of his ultimate revenge, Smythe is out turn one of Spidey's first ever victories into one of his biggest losses. Everyone is at risk. Big changes are coming! Don't you dare miss an issue! All this, plus an all-new story showing a hidden side of Mac Gargan's past!
- This issue is reprinted in comics and books, see reference for more info.[1]
See Also
- Write your own review of this comic!
- Discuss Amazing Spider-Man Vol 1 652 on the forums
- 8 Images from Amazing Spider-Man Vol 1 652
- 1 Reprints of Amazing Spider-Man Vol 1 652
Links and References
- ↑ This issue is reprinted in the following comics/TPB's:
|Like this? Let us know!


text:
Many in the audience were upset with our government due to the misuse of taxpayer dollars, and our diminishing rights to real food. The movie portrayed policies that attacked small farmers who employed local, organic and sustainable practices.
We like to stay POSITIVE, and focus on what we CAN DO! Read more below:
1. Over 200 people showed up to watch the pre-premiere of Farmageddon. We ran out of chairs and it was standing room only. This shows that a lot of people care about food freedom.
2. We raised over $700 for the Farm to Consumer Legal Defense Fund and the Weston A. Price Foundation. Please consider joining the Weston A. Price Foundation, and the Farms to Consumers Legal Defense Fund. This will allow us to build our membership and connect with local chapters across the country. Click Here to Become a Member or Donate.
3. We are working to gather signature for the LabelGMOs.org campaign to place an initiative on the ballot to require labeling of GMO's in California - Click here for more information.
4. Read the story of Selma Rubins to the Rescue at the Farmaggedon event and follow her example.
5. Come to one of our meetings, not only to educate yourself and have fun, but also to meet new friends and ensure that our children will have healthy and safe food sources to pass on to their children. The next two events are:
- July 21 - Nourishing Our Children Movie
- July 31 - Potluck and Mini-Fermentation Workshop at Shepherd Farms


text:
William Versino
Marina High San Leandro, CA Class of 1972
Personal Info
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- William Versino
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- 1972
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text:
This article foregrounds discrepancies between vernacular singing in England and the work of London's Folk-Song Society during the 1890s. Figures such as Lucy Broadwood, Kate Lee, and Hubert Parry acted as gatekeepers through whom folk culture had to pass in order to be understood as such. Informed by colonialist epistemology, socialist radicalism, and literary Romanticism, what may be termed the "folkloric imagination" concealed the very thing it claimed to identify. Folk song, thus produced, represents the popular voice under erasure. Situated as the antidote to degeneration, burgeoning mass consumer culture, and escalating urbanization, the folk proved to be the perfect tabula rasa upon which the historiographical, political, and ethnological fantasies of the fin de siècle could be inscribed. Positioned as a restorative bulwark against the shifting tides of modernity, the talismanic folk and their songs were temporal anachronisms conjured up via the discursive strategies that attempted to describe them. Increased attention should hence be paid to singers such as Henry Burstow and the Copper brothers of Rottingdean in order to rescue their histories from the conceptual apparatus of folk song.
- © 2018 by the Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved. Please direct all requests for permission to photocopy or reproduce article content through the University of California Press's Reprints and Permissions web page page, http://www.ucpress.edu/journals.php?p=reprints.


text:
HbA2 Controls for
Minor Trait Testing
The normal adult blood level of HbA2 ranges from about
1.4% – 3.2%.
However in cases of β-thalassemia, where there is a deficit in production of β – chains, the levels of HbA2 can be elevated above 3.5%. Hence the measurement of an elevated HbA2 blood level has become the single most important diagnostic test to identify carriers of the β-thalassemia trait.
The Trilevel HbA2 levels are:
Level 1: 2.0 – 3.2
Level 2: 3.5 – 4.0
Level 3: 5.5 – 7.5
The total Hb concentration of the lyophilised control is 90 – 110g/L.
The extendSURE control kitset comprises a set of trilevel lyophilised controls that covers the patho-physiological range. They have an unopened shelf life of 3 years stored at 2°C – 8°C with open vial stability of 4 weeks. They are suitable for the main methods used to quantify HbA2 including Cellulose Acetate Electrophoresis with elution of the separated bands, Anion-exchange Micro Column Chromatography, Automated High Performance Liquid Chromatography and Capillary Electrophoresis.
Contact us for more information.


text:
Middle East: Towards more sustainable luxury products?
Consumer mindsets are evolving in the Middle East on sustainable development and corporate social responsibility. According to a White Paper recently published by the Chalhoub Group, sustainability issues are growing in importance within the region's public policies, corporate strategies and the expectations of residents. Furthermore, a new type of consumer, somewhat distancing itself from the materialistic world, would be emerging.
Speaking about sustainable development may seem paradoxical in a region that built much of its prosperity on the exploitation of huge stocks of fossil fuels and where shoppers have once again taken the top spot in terms of highest international spenders! However, the notion is gaining ground in Gulf countries as local governments try to address the challenges of the future.
In order to decrease their dependence on non-renewable resources, most of the region's states have launched plans to promote economic diversification and innovation. They are also increasingly adopting standards aiming at reducing the environmental footprint, in particular in the building sector. Another important effort is education, with the aim of reducing youth unemployment in societies that have experienced high population growth rates.
Evolving mindsets
Consumer research conducted by the Chalhoub Group on corporate social responsibility in the United Arab Emirates shows that residents are concerned about their community and environment. Actually, 64% of respondents claim to engage in environmentally friendly activities, ranging from recycling to saving electricity and water.
However, the expectations towards corporate sustainability are much higher than towards personal sustainability. Indeed, 83% of respondents expect the shops they buy from to engage in environmentally friendly activities and 68% feel brands do not care enough about the environment and the community. However, while 73% expect stores to recycle products, 64% are not interested in the environmental impact of their purchased products.
"Overall, consumers expect corporate sustainability engagement in the areas of employee, community and environment," explains the Chalhoub Group.
Commercial and corporate initiatives
Business initiatives addressing these new concerns are emerging. FutureFashion.me, for instance, is a marketplace for sustainable clothes and accessories.
Regional home and décor retail chain The One is another example. The company is strongly committed to corporate social responsibility and has been recognised in this area with many awards, notably winning 4 years in a row the 'Most Admired Responsible Retailer of the Year - Retail Middle East Award'. As part of its 'Do Good' initiative, The One is promoting ethical sourcing.
A new consumer type
Luxury in the region is still largely characterised by abundant consumption. Emirati teens are spending six times more on average than global teens, according to research by AMRB and TRU. Within the luxury sector, the Chalhoub Group research shows that the affluent GCC consumer spends on average US$ 2,400 per month on beauty, fashion and gifts.
However, according to the Chalhoub Group, "a new archetype is starting to emerge with a greater sense of pragmatism in their relations with luxury brands."
Still very much in its infancy, this new consumer is somewhat distancing itself from the materialistic world and is beginning to appreciate luxury for the experiences and the enjoyment it can bring. These persons typically have a passion they like to share and bond is their key driver. In the relationship they seek in–store, knowledge of the brand's history and heritage as well as deep understanding of how the product is made are paramount. The sales staff needs to become story–tellers, helping them immerse themselves in the very essence of the brand. In terms of products, they will be attracted to bespoke and 'made to measure' items.
Ancient traditions have shaped the region's societies for centuries (solidarity, frugality, sustainable architectural traditions, generosity towards the community, hospitality, gifting, family), are supporting the drive and the mindset for sustainability. "Luxury in the Gulf shows a promising future as it echoes these deeply rooted traditions and culture," concludes the Chalhoub Group.