Another Antarctica Scientist, Phil Spindler writes:

I work at Palmer Station, Antarctica- right around the corner from Port Lockroy [UKAHT]. We met the wonderful team who work there and absolutely loved their Merino-Possum fingerless gloves. Many of us have worked on the other side where we transit through New Zealand, so we were also ecstatic to buy something made with possum fur! So I just wanted to say thank you and let you know that we think you make some incredible stuff. They come highly recommended for work in the field here, and they sure do seem to be just the thing we need! One of the Port Lockroy team, Hen, told us how one of her gloves was missing for days and they found it in a Sheathbill nest. A glove that can survive things like that (the birds are notoriously stinky, poopy, and peck at everything), is definitely the glove for us!

Motobiking customer David living in the Scottish Highlands emailed:

A few months ago i enquired about whether merino possum gloves would hold up to cycle commuting use. I bought a pair to try and you asked to know how they performed. Well so far I've found them very comfortable and am amazed at the compleate lack of seams, no problems gripping the handle bars or working brake gear levers so full marks for usability. My two concerns were windproofness and durability; when they arrived I really didn't think they would be wind proof enough but have found so far this not to be a problem. I guess the close fit helps here. The durability is a bit tricky to judge because a few weeks ago I had a accident which left the gloves and my hands a bit chopped up. They do sew back together very easily with darning wool and are still totally wearable and the blood stains completely wash out(!) Before this happened they were starting to show some signs of wear on the palm of the hand, thumb and first two fingers - the usual wear places. I would expect them to last one winter which is no less than I have got from similar weight synthetic gloves. So yes i would say they are suitable for cycling as long as it is realised that they are not going to last or perform like reinforced cycle specific gloves. They are after all just knitted wool gloves. I will continue to wear mine to destruction and then I will get another pair.

Another review, this time for our double-layer merino-possum beanies, from Scots Mountain Man Pete Macfarlane:

I like my hats so I do. For this winter’s cold camps, I have here from Chocolate Fish a Merino-Possum Beanie. First off, it’s almost impossible to describe just how soft this beanie is. Possibly it’s akin to floating in warm water under clear summer skies, surrounded by dinghies full of exotic maidens who hold bowls of fine 900-fill down to their bosoms, and scatter handfuls of it upon you as you doze lightly to the soothing strains of King Crimson’s Court of the Crimson King.

Anyway, it’s in that currently popular oversize style, that means you can pull it down over your neck or fold it up and have a cuff it that’s your bag. It’s reversible too as it’s double-thickness, plain on one side, racing stripes on the other.

I have plans for this beanie, so it’ll be a regular feature on here when the snows come in earnest. I’ll flag up how it washes after the first night I sleep/sweat in it too.

Sad to say, Petesy later reports that his partner Joycee has "appropriated" it for herself!

In a discussion on Outdoors Magic's forum as to which is the best "warm thermal hat for fishing" our merino-possum double layer beanie seems to have won hand's down :0 ! Amongst several comments, this one said:

The double-layered possum/merino beanie linked to by Martin is superb. Pricey, but then that's why I started dropping hints to friends and relatives before Christmas :-)

I've just returned from this year's TGO Challenge and used the beanie to sleep in (no hood on my quilt, so a warm hat is essential) and as a pot cosy while my food was rehydrating. Kept the meals hot and I could then wear a lovely warm hat while I ate.

Regular customer Sebastian in the Netherlands emailed to say:

My brother and I have been using your possum/merino thermal fingerless gloves on various bushcraft trips since last winter. They appear to be very durable: we have been chopping wood and breaking twigs to feed the fire and the gloves don't have a single thread pulled out of them. And besides that they are very comfy and warm. I would definitely recommend these to others.

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