Brenig

23/10/2019

After 27 years in business, Brenig is downsizing and I am taking an early and partial retirement. It's been a great time and we've met some great people. It's been interesting to hear of all your exploits and the places where you've travelled to.
Of course it couldn't have been done without the help of the many people who have worked for me and a big thanks to Lorraine Greenough and Linda Carruthers.
As we will no longer be manufacturing and have outsourced production, we have cut back on our range and will only be producing the clothing and equipment for outdoor centres for the time being. It is possible that the countryside clothing and polar/dog mushing gear will come out of hibernation, but I have to find a manufacturer for these products. However, we still have some stock of these products so if there is anything you want, let me know and I will see what is in the boxes.
Thank you to all my customers over the years and for the friends I've made, it has been fun.
Best regards
Graham Ogle

07/09/2017

It's always good to get feedback from our customers who travel to exotic (and sometimes, less exotic) parts of the world. Earlier this year, we made some bespoke garments for a customer going off to the Yukon for a 4 week canoeing trip.

"I just want to thank Brenig and Graham for taking the time to understand my exact requirements and to design a tough set of waterproofs and a Ventile jacket for my recently completed month-long solo canoe trip in the Yukon. The waterproofs kept me bone dry in the worst of downpours and the Ventile smock we, jointly designed, got used in a number of ways I couldn't have foreseen. As a barrier to the intense sun, it kept me from burning. When I was overheating, I repeatedly soaked the smock and it's drying worked like air conditioning keeping me cool. I wore it solidly for the month and it saved me from the wind and all but the worst showers. The smock is very tough; never tearing or ripping in my daily wood gathering sprees.

The service I received from Brenig and the quality of the gear is absolutely first rate. I can't recommend Brenig enough. I shall be in touch again before my next adventure."

Thanks Matthew.

I wonder how many people seeing this picture think "I want to do that"?

10/08/2017

Over the years, we've been asked to make all sorts of clothing and equipment, particularly for Polar expeditions. The most surprising of all is our Immersion Suit, meant for swimming across open water on North Pole expeditions. As global warming has led to more and more open water, expeditions are having to swim more often which puts stresses on the suits. We've updated the fabric over the years and now use a diving drysuit fabric and hand glued and taped seams. It's heavy, it's bulky, but it keeps you dry and isn't affected by the cold.
Earlier this year, we supplied one to Australian Timmy Garrett who is preparing for a North Pole Solo Expedition in 2018. Here are a couple of videos of his training in Greenland.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=seVYmRMGVTI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNI6aSray2Y

15/03/2017

Having worked with Polar expeditions for the past 20 years, we are always keen to hear how the expedition is progressing. We hear about success, failure, accidents, and of course, the weather. People describe the North Pole weather as being brutal, punishing, savage and many other words, but this blog entry by Sebastian Copeland and Mark George is one of the best I've read in a long time and it really explains what Polar travel is like.

http://www.lastgreatmarch.com/homeblog/denied

​Mission Abort—Request pick-up. I thought all night about the significance of these words, and ways to avoid typing them from my frostbitten fingers. But the throbbing I felt on my fingertips and...

10/03/2016

ISSR 2016
The award of "Most Enthusiastic Volunteer" has to go to Sylvia Rogier from France. She always had a smile on her face, was great fun and did her turn in the kitchen to perfection. You really helped to make the event a success.
I think she was also the only dog handler with lipstick on!

10/03/2016

ISSR 2016
Ensuring the trails are clearly marked and in best condition, is the job of the trail crew who go out every day to groom the trails. And once the stage is finished they have to collect all the markers, so go round each stage many times.
For the mountain stage, they were out at 06.30 in temperatures of -28C. A big thanks to all of them, Dave King, Magnus Karlsson, Håkan Olsson, Tim and the 5th member of the team. We were all rewarded with a fantastic sunrise, and warmer temperatures.

09/03/2016

Some of the finishing teams at the International Scandinavian Stage Race in Umnas, Sweden. A good event with lots of nice people; mushers, vets, handlers and volunteers. Looking forward to ISSR2017

International Scandinavian Stage Race 2016 finish

04/01/2016

Testing dog mushing clothing is a lot of fun as it involves trips to Sweden and playing in the snow. However testing waterproof clothing means going out and trying to get wet. Over the Christmas holiday, I’ve been testing a new “pump liner” waterproof system and have been blessed with perfect weather, i.e. a lot of rain and high winds.
So what’s a pump liner? It is a composite fabric with a monofilament fibre to the wearer and a brushed surface facing outwards which is heavily proofed. The outer fabric of the garment breaks up the force of the rain and the proofing keeps moisture away from the wearer. The inner surface has a low surface area and under the bodies heat, it “pumps” moisture outwards where it can evaporate. Importantly, because there is no solid film of waterproofing, the open weave means that it is very breathable. I’ve been out in some really driving rain and it has performed really well
Nothing is perfect of course, and the pump liner adds some warmth to the garment and in time, the proofing can wear off. However a wash with a reproofer will make it waterproof again.

I’ve been trying to get photos of the testing, but conditions have just been terrible. However yesterday’s walk in heavy rain was rewarded with a setting sun underneath the clouds for some great images.

23/11/2015

It's always good to see our products in action. Husky Farm Veijejaur, Sweden.