ENDORSEMENTS

Markus emailed us from Germany to say:

Hi CF-Team, I just received my first order and your stuff really great. Being a convinced Merino-Fan, it wasnt so much about the fabric but about the manufacturing. Fantastic stuff !!(and I have tested a lot: Icebreaker, Lundhags, Ortovox, Devold, Buff) Thanks a lot!

Customer Julie emailed to say:

I've been singing the praises of Chocolate Fish to anyone who'll listen - both for your level of service and for your products. It took me quite a while between first finding your website and finally buying my first Chocolate Fish product - but you've exceeded expectations all the way.

Nikki Ricketts, Team Leader of UK Antarctica Heritage Trust 2008-9 and 2010-11 says:

We had the most amazing season [2008-9], and the merino kit was an absolute Godsend - I became very very attached to it and it totally out-performed any of the other clothing provisions we'd been given. The [Thermadry] gloves in particular were absolutely essential and I wore them almost 24-7 - they were just fantastic - and surprisingly they came out fine in the (very rare) laundry (as infact did everything - I was prepared for things to shrink, but they didn't!). Infact, my gloves were so admired by the expedition teams that visited us on base, that they were kidnapped on one occasion, and within a few days the chillblains then attacked . I was very glad to have them back (although the kidnapper did kindly wash them in some nice smelling shampoo, this still didn't allow me to forgive him!).

Patrizio in Italy sent this review of us to Ratepoint:

I have one Taranaki 190 Zipneck and one TeMata 260 Tuara already. I am very satisfied because I am using them quite every day, and sometimes also to sleep! Tuara is perfect to maintain warm my neck without scarves, during skiing activity, or when I am going to work by bicycle, or when I am sick (contractions of neck muscles, in Italia we call it torcicollo); sometimes I used it like a hat. Taranaki is perfect in summer when you stay outdoors in night hours with the sea-wind, or during skiing activity, or also in indoor activity at home (also over pyjamas) or at work (with air conditioned very cold, sometimes I put it under dress shirt and jaket!) They are like new.

Pretty versatile gear our Taranaki! Thank you Patrizio.

Pete Macfarlane writes:

Chocolate Fish TeMata: Weight: 344g; Main Fabric: 260gsm fine Merino; Made in: New Zealand
This has been around a bit now, been worn and washed countless times. The sample's charcoal colour and slightly relaxed cut has meant it's seen as many days out as it has hill days. But on a hill is it's home, and it's strength comes from that fabric and its simple design. As I've mentioned before, a light merino base layer with a heavier merino layer over it makes for a very odd microclimate in cold weather, never too hot or too chilly, wind resistant but still airy feeling.

When layered-up the comfort remains, although drying time when you've soaked it on a steep climb will always be slower than a synthetic. But it fights back by being stink-free when you pull it on in the tent next morning. Length is great on the body and arms, the zip is a decent length and the collar is a good height and nice fit on my neck too, I can later under it and over it and still put the zip right up without any trouble.

Now here's the thing, there's no holes in this where my belt/rucksack buckle is despite my not tucking it in, so this merino isn't fragile at all which has surprised me. It's a little heavier than some, but I still pick it regularly over lighter kit because of that fabric.

Steph Duits, gear tester for Trail Magazine, has been using a pair of Freedom Leggings for four months. Steph wrote in Trail:

Boy has it been a fantastic winter for mountaineering. Cold though - I don't think I've ever been so glad to try a pair of Merino leggings. These ones from Chocolate Fish are soft, warm, comfortable, and nicely supportive. But these are a bit more special than your average leggings - they've been cleverly designed for use with a Shewee!

Science bit: in between the legs is a perfectly positioned, discreet little flap, a bit like a man's fly. And it's just the right size to allow you to use a Shewee without removing a single layer of clothing.

I think that's pretty clever! No more stripping off my climbing harness on windy belay ledges and getting a cold bum, and no more hunting around for trees to hide behind in featureless landscapes. I would love to have been in the room when the light bulb went on for that idea. Eureka!

Verdict Underwear with a secret weapon - don't be caught short without it.

I-CJW mountaineer and climber uses Chocolate Fish merino baselayer.

I wear my Chocolate Fish Taranaki Mid Layer merino top all year round. Cotton is a killer, synthetics give you that “Odeur de Homeless Person” seemingly within minutes of putting them on, but merino wool keeps you warm and smelling like a summer meadow. I like black because it absorbs more U.V. Merino costs more, but lasts much longer than other tops, doesn’t lose its shape and (because it stays warm even when damp, and doesn’t smell) you only need one.

An expert on Japanese peaks, he says of Tanigawa-dake

"More people have died on its slopes than any other mountain on earth...Avalanches in the winter, rockfall, flood and landslides in the summer."

Rather him than us - we're not brave enough :-~ - but if you want a fascinating read, his blog is here

Viv Scott in his review of Chocolate Fish Merino baselayers for UK Climbing says, after using it for trekking, climbing and skiing in Alaska, June 2009

...the best base layers I've ever used by miles and already up there with my favourite take everywhere, everytime kit... superb. Read his full review for UK Climbing (with pics) here.

Dave in France emailed us about his and his wife's recent trip to Undersåker, Sweden. He says:

It was minus 36 degrees C at the time. The Tuara channelled my warm breath upwards, which kept my face warm. We were genuinely surprised at how well the lightweight merino kept the heat in and the cold out. Indispensable items during our cold, but exhilarating week. Thank you Chocolate Fish for keeping us snuggled up.

Ondrej emails again from Slovakia to say:

I bought a T-shirt from Montane (merino/PES blend) few weeks ago. ... but it smelled badly after 6 hours of walking in 30°C... Now I regret I bought it :(( I can wear your Tee much longer with no horrible stink. Thank you for bringing these great products to us.

We say that's the problem with merino/synthetic mixes - the synthetic causes the stink and reduces the effectiveness and performance of the merino - which is why we don't do it (apart from a very little in our socks and the Thermadry gloves).

Eric in Portugal emails to tell us:

Been wearing my Taranaki Polo shirts for golf - fantastic! Even in the heat of the Algarve I can easily wear one for a week - and that's playing every day. I can even put it back on after a shower to go into the bar. Having a couple of these tops just makes life so simple when I'm out here for several weeks on end