5th Anniversary Party

To celebrate our 5th year in Wayne, we're throwing ourselves a great birthday bash!  To make it even better, Patagonia is celebrating it's 40th year this fall.  On Saturday, November 9th we'll be celebrating form 1-9pm.  Food and beverages will show up around 5. Teresa's Next Door will be catering, so you can bet the food and beer will be amazing!

There will also be tons of giveaways, everyone who attends gets entered into a raffle for gift certificates from Patagonia, Arc'teryx, North Face, Horny Toad and Sorel.  Other brands will have free gifts with purchase.  For those of you that still rock your vintage Patagonia, make sure to wear it to the party.  We're giving away a $250 Patagonia gift certificate for the best vintage Patagonia piece.

In honor of Patagonia's commitment to the environment, we will also be donating 5% of sales from the day to the Willistown Conversation Trust.  The trust non-profit land trust dedicated to preserving the rural beauty Southeastern Pennsylvania.

Wild by Cheryl Strayed

By CHRISTOPHER SOLOMONPublished: October 18, 2013

New York Times

Starting in desert chaparral near the Mexican border, the route climbs (and climbs some more) along the spine of the Sierra Nevada and Cascade ranges as it pushes relentlessly northward. It crosses the western arm of the Mojave Desert. It traverses the lonesome high country of Sequoia National Park in California and Yosemite’s magazine-cover Tuolumne Meadows. It winds through stately Oregon forests near Crater Lake National Park and it skirts along the shoulders of volcanoes like Mount Rainier in Washington. Along the way, backpack-freighted hikers descend nearly to sea level (at the Columbia River) and tramp higher than 13,000 feet (at Forester Pass in the Sierra).The Pacific Crest Trail, a 2,650-mile hiking and equestrian trail that reaches from Mexico to Canada, has been called the Appalachian Trail of the West Coast. But that description does it a disservice, for the Pacific trail is longer, wilder, more punishing and also grander than its East Coast cousin.

As a memorable character, the trail is perhaps second only to Cheryl Strayed, 45, the author of the memoir “Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail,” which has sold more than a million copies since appearing in March 2012.

Continue Reading at  http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/20/fashion/the-call-of-Cheryl-Strayeds-Wild-on-the-pacific-crest-trail.html 

We're super excited about Emily Harrington! Are you? Emily will be speaking at the Chester County Historical Society, in West Chester on October 16th at 7 PM.

Tickets are FREE but you must request them ahead of time at:   thenorthface.com/speakerseries

JOIN US FOR SOCKTOBER!

Buy any piece of Smartwool Apparel and get a FREE pair of Smartwool socks OR buy 3 or more pairs of Smartwool socks and get an additional pair FREE. Happy Socktober!

The Enduring Appeal of the Patagonia Fleece

Feeling For | The Enduring Appeal of the Patagonia Fleece

By DAVID HELLQVIST

SEPTEMBER 27, 2013, 7:00 AM

Illustrations by Konstantin Kakanias

The more Patagonia remains the same, the more cool it becomes.

Patagonia — the Southern California-based sportswear brand once relegated to the world of steel pitons and bivouac sacks — has become the outdoorsy label of choice for the stylish set, with vintage versions of the classic Retro-X fleece today as likely to be worn by hipsters as they are by hippies. While Patrik Ervell and Marc Jacobs showed Patagonia-inspired jackets and sweatshirts in their fall collections, the trend seems to have originated with the Japanese, who have recently revived other earthy items like Tevas and Birkenstocks — accessorized, of course, with ragg wool socks. “It’s a style that becomes shorthand for a certain kind of lifestyle,” Ervell says about the durable fleece, which he argues is as archetypal a garment as the biker jacket or the trench. “Simple and utilitarian: it’s a very California ethos.”

-From The New York Times Magazine

Employee Pick - Carve Designs Holton Dress

Owner - Tory

I picked this dress from Carve Designs as my Employee Pick because it's really a great dress.  The denim is super soft and comfortable.  It's great to wear on it's own on those warmer fall days, or with tights and a sweater for those cooler winter nights.  Made from Tencel, it wears and washes well.  

Employee Pick - Arc'teryx Alpha SV

I chose the Arc’teryx Alpha SV Jacket because it is great for a variety of environments including multi-pitch alpine climbs, cross country skiing, as well as everyday rainy weather. The Alpha SV is a classic Arc’teryx piece that the company first started making in 1998 and it still has not gone out of style. It has won numerous awards including: Backpacker Magazine's Lifetime Award and Outdoor Gear LabEditor's Choice Award. This year the jacket has been given an update with the new and revised GORE-TEX® Pro textile that is lighter, more packable, fully waterproof, abrasion resistant and 22% more breathable than previous years' Pro fabric.  The jacket is a great mixture between lightweight and durable--enough to get you through long hikes on the Appalachian Trail or mixed condition climbs in the Pacific Northwest (like Mt. Reiner or the Northern Cascades). The attention to detail on this piece is outstanding.  Bellowed chest pockets can fit all of your gear while staying out of the way of your pack or harness and all of the seam stitching and taping is done by hand to ensure the highest level of precision.  Come into the shop and try on the Alpha SV from Arc'Teryx. 

40% Off Sale - All Spring and Summer Clothing

It's that time of year again!  All spring and summer clothing styles are on sale!  There's still plenty of summer left, so come on in and snag some great deals!  All flipflops are 40% off and we even have a selection of shoes on sale.

Employee Pick - Prana Sonja Dress

Employee:  Charlotte

After discovering a new affinity for the Prana Veeda line, I chose Prana's Sonja dress because it is made with a sustainable polyester blend complimented with a mix of spandex to magnify its everyday comfortable feel. It is a light weight dress that is easy to throw on in this unbearable heat and humidity we have been experiencing these past few weeks. I love the colors incorporated in the design and the built in bra is definitely a nice feature for those lazy days. These products claim to be "born from the experience". After wearing numerous pieces from this line, I can honestly say I feel reborn from the experience of wearing this ultra comfortable, ultra breathable, functional yet stylish dress.

Patagonia Introduces Legacy Collection

In celebration of their 40th anniversary, Patagonia is creating a Legacy Collection of retro-inspired pieces that hearken back to their early beginnings.  These items will be as cool as your dad's old jacket, just not as smelly.  The collection will include old-school sweaters, jackets and pants.  A few of our personal favorites are the Post Foamback Cagoule, the All-Wear Down Jacket, the Diamond Quilt Snap-T Pullover and the Stand-Up Pants.  You can see the whole line in the Patagonia Legacy Lookbook

Be sure to scroll to the end of the page to see a cool video explaining the Legacy Collection and to see pictures of the entire line.

These pieces will be made to the exact specifications that were made forty years ago-right down to the vintage logo.  The Legacy Collection will be extremely limited and we were only able to get our hands on a few items.  However, you'll be able to snag the Diamond Quilt Snap-T Pullover in Gray from the shop, pictured below.

Be sure to check up with us often to make sure you don't miss out before we sell out!

                               

Employee Pick - Horny Toad's Rosemarie Dress

Staff Member:  Kristen

I chose the Rosemarie Dress from Horny Toad because it's such a versatile piece.  You can throw it on with flip flops and take a walk on the beach or dress it up to go out to dinner.  It's a really flattering silhouette for almost every body type.  And just like everything from Horny Toad, the fabric is amazing.  It's a super soft jersey knit, but can still be thrown in the washing machine.   We have a lot of female customers that absolutely  love the Rosemarie Dress, they come back every year to buy the newest color offerings.

Switch your face wash, Save a fish

Microbeads in your face wash may be the cause of the next dead fish. As innocent as the activity of washing your face seems, it could have a significant negative impact on the our beloved aquatic ecosystems. According to a study published in Marine Pollution Biology, these tiny, in-disposable pieces of abrasive plastic are polluting the Great Lakes and killing the wild life. This study found 600,000 plastic microbeads in two different samples taken from Lake Erie.

After slipping down your bathroom sink, the particles are too small for water treatment facilities to filter out and in turn, the "deep exfoliates" are ending up deep in the bellies of our fishy friends. The problem expands from there when the food chain comes into play. As the bottom dwelling critters and small fish ingest the plastic beads, bigger animals such as turtles and birds are effected, depriving them of nutrients and damaging their digestive tracks.

In response to this growing issue cosmetic companies such as the Body Shop, L'Oreal, and Johnson & Johnson have all agreed to swap out their microbead products for products that use organic materials, so if your looking for a place to start, these are some safe alternatives to aid in a solution.
So wake up to a friendlier face (& body!) wash and help preserve our aquatic ecosystems.

30 % off Storewide Sale

Our Fourth of July Sale is starting today!  Come on it and get 30 % off storewide, now through July 7th.  Now that summer weather has finally arrived we've got all you need to make it a great.  Women's Horny Toad sundresses, Patagonia men's board shorts, North Face running gear and kids Keen's are all on sale.  Have you been eyeing up that great Arc'teryx shell?  Now's the time to snag it.  Stop by and save today!

Employee Pick - Chaco Z2 Pro

Staff Member: Alyssa

Hey all! My pick of the week is the Chaco Z2 Pro sandal because you can never go wrong with a pair of Chacos! Approved by the American Podiatric Medical Association, Chaco offers suberb comfort and the proper support your feet need for long hours of standing at work, walking around town, or taking an all-day hiking excursion. Some people even choose to use these guys for long back-packing trips! Since being introduced to Chacos last year, they have become my most favorite shoe of all time. What some people don't know is that the webbing of the sandal is one continuous strap that can be adjusted to fit your feet as tight or loose as you prefer. Along with a wonderful guarantee and lots of fun colors, Chaco sandals are sure to be the best shoe of the summertime to meet all your needs.

Employee Pick - Arc'teryx Venta SV Jacket

Staff Member: Mark

I chose the Arc'teryx Venta SV because I feel that it is a product that blends casual wear with highly technical features. Arc'teryx is famous for creating innovative pieces for a ton of different outdoor scenarios - and this piece is no different. With Gore-Tex Windstopper technology I'll be kept warm in gusty conditions, but the softshell fabric is less crunchy than hardshell alternatives. I decided on a medium to give me the option of layering a fleece underneath for cooler autumn days ahead.

How to Identify Poison Ivy

Here's a great infographic we found to help identify that pesky plant, poison ivy!  Happy Hiking!

Outside Magazine's 2013 Hiking Essentials - ExOfficio BugsAway Bandana

Bugs bothering you?  ExOfficio has your solution!  Their BugsAway paisley bandana helps keep bugs at bay. Use it for yourself or your dog to keep those pesky mosquitoes and ticks from eating you alive on your adventure.  Outside Magazine has listed ExOfficio's BugsAway bandana as one of the 2013 Hiking Essentials!  The insect repellent lasts through 70 washings.  It repels mosquitoes (including those carrying West Nile virus and malaria), ticks, ants, flies, chiggers and midges (no-see-ums).  If you're going to a buggy area, come on into the store, we have a full line of ExOfficio's BugsAway shirts, pants and bandanas.

Patagonia's "20 Million and Change"

Patagonia has just launched it's newest initiative, "20 Million and Change" a fund to help start-ups who follow the Patagonia philosophy of using business to benefit the planet.  They have decided to reach beyond the framework of apparel and the outdoor industry.  By providing funding to other start-up companies, Patagonia will be able to reach more people and help the environment even more.

Being environmentally conscious is an important ideal for them.  Patagonia was one of the founding members of the Sustainable Apparel Coalition, along with some of the other biggest names in apparel.   The Coalition's goal is to have "an apparel industry that produces no unnecessary environmental harm and has a positive impact on the people and communities associated with its activities".

For 30 years, Patagonia has donated 1% of it's sales to grassroots environmental organizations. Since the program began, they have given over $49 million in grants and in-kind donations to more than 1,000 organizations.  We're happy to hear that they've taken it one step further with "20 Million and Change" and can't wait to hear about the new start-ups they fund!

GoPro Hero3 Black Edition

Great for all your spring and summer outdoor adventures, GoPro's newest camera, Hero3 Black Edition.  Shooting 30 frames per second and 12 megapixel resolution, the Hero3 Black can't be beat.  Outside Magazine seems to agree with us, they've added it to their 2013 Gear of the Year Awards.  So whether you're mountain biking, kayaking, or surfing this summer and want to record all your great adventures come into the store and pick up a new GoPro!

Over 150 Trees Planted!

On April 28th we had a great turn out for our tree planting event at the Riverbend Environmental Education Center.  Customers, friends and staff came from all over to participate in this wonderful event.  We even has a couple come all the way from Atlantic City, talk about dedication!  We wanted to thank everyone who came out and all of our sponsors, Horny Toad, Patagonia, Smart Wool and Honey Stinger.

Yay for tree planting!

Check out the rest of the pictures on our facebook page by clicking here.

Visit to Riverbend Environmental Education Center

The barn at Riverbend

Today we went to visit the Riverbend Environmental Education Center to prepare for our tree planting event at the end of April.  Riverbend is a beautiful little environmental education center that was founded in 1974 and continues to thrive as a center for education.  The center holds programs for families and children, and is also open for the public to enjoy it's many trails.  They are in the middle of a reforrestation project that plans to wrap up in 2014.  We are participating in a tree planting event that we are encouraging our customers to come and join us!  The event will take place on April 28th @ 1:45.  Visit our facebook page or join our mailing list to sign up!

A frog inside the Barn at Riverbend

Saplings ready to be planted

Trails at Riverbend

Spring is finally here!

Mother Nature has finally decided to cooperate and give us some warmer weather.  Highs in the 80's today! It's time to start thinking about bathing suit season.  We recently got in another shipment from Carve and they have some really great bathing suit options.  One piece, tankini, or bikini, whatever your style is, we've got it.  We also carry board shorts and rash guards for those water sport gals out there.  Come on in today and check them out!

Spring Sale

Come on in and stock up on our new spring styles and save 20%.  The sale runs Thursday, April 4th through Sunday, April 7th.  Some exclusions may apply, see store for details. 

Guru

New to Out There Outfitters, Guru!  We're pleased to announce that we've received our first shipment of Guru Tunics.  Inspiration for these wonderful garments is Indian cinema from the 1960's and 1970's.  The designer was inspired by the "creative, emancipated   and very chic, new, art house heroines"  of this era.

Guru is a New York based company who produces tunics made from European Linen.  The garments are made in Pakistan where Guru supports sweatshop-free manufacturing and factories free of child labor.

These breezy, versatile tunics are great for the poolside or for throwing over pants and grabbing dinner when you're down in the islands.  If you're a fan of Roberta Freyman we think you'll love Guru as well.

Tree Planting at the Riverbend Environmental Education Center

Out There Outfitters will be hosting a tree planting event, sponsored by Horny Toad.  It will take place at the Riverbend Environmental Education Center.  We're asking participants to meet us at Riverbend at  1:30pm. We will have a light brunch available, then a Riverbend employee will give us training on how to plant the trees.  We expect the tree planting to go until 4:30, then everyone can come back to the store and enjoy a BBQ.  We'll have the grill fired up out back and beer in the cooler.

The first 30 people to sign up will get a free tote bag full of goodies!

Outside Magazine's 5 Best Urban Rain Jackets

Arc'teryx's Codetta Coat has been included in Outside Magazine's  "5 Best Women's Urban Rain Jackets of Spring 2013".  As you may guess, we're pretty pumped about this. It's one of the rain jackets that we happen to carry in the store (in this color in fact!), and is a great piece that many of the female employees have been coveting since it came in.

The Codetta Coat is part of Arc'teryx's Spring 2013 expansion of their more lifestyle geared 24 Collection.  The Codetta is a three-quarter length raincoat comprised of GORE-TEX® 3L fabric.  Perfect for shielding you from the wind and rain on a Spring day.  The coat of course features Arc'teryx's impeccable quality and incredible articulation of the elbows and shoulders.  Come in today and try this beauty on!

New 36 Hours Books

Here at Out There Outfitters, we're huge fans of the New York Times 36 Hours books, and we know a lot of you are too.  In fact we couldn't keep them in stock around Christmastime.  Well, to our delight a shipment of the newest release from Taschen Publishing has come in, and they're awesome!  If carrying around the original book on a quick weekend trip was weighing you down, they have split it into 5 separate books based on regions of the USA and Canada.

Unless you're packing up the VW Bus and planning the next great American Road Trip (which if you are, please bring us!), taking along the original book along with you may not be necessary.  The thinner books are great for tossing in a backpack or carry on, so you can only bring the information you need for the area you're traveling in.  

Illustration from inside 36 Hours - Southwest and Rocky Mountains

The book gives you an easy to follow itinerary for a weekend trip to many great locations in the US and Canada.  It starts with your arrival on Friday afternoon and gives a complete breakdown of how to spend your time until Sunday evening, including not-to-be-missed points of interest and great places to dine.  There's even a small map with all the itinerary items marked.  Each book is peppered with pictures and stunning illustrations that make it as much a joy to read as it is to plan your trip.

Article about Moab, UT from 36 Hours - South West

They make great gifts, or grab one for yourself to get some ideas for a summer getaway!

Worn Wear

"True stories of people and their Patagonia gear" 

 

To illustrate the almost cult like following and durability of Patagonia clothing, the company has launched a new tumblr called Worn Wear.  Fans of the brand are encouraged to send in pictures of themselves wearing their gear, along with blurb about why they love it so much.  Many have shared photos of jackets or fleece's they've treasured for many years, others have had garments handed down from parents or older siblings.  Here's an entry from a mother and daughter:

Dear Patagonia,
My favorite story about my Patagonia clothing is the story of my old, bright orange fleece I got before leaving for New Guinea in 1981. I did some parachuting, some radical jungle trekking and climbed a 15,500 foot peak in that jacket. I also made a film for ABC sports about it all, that was aired on an adventure series in 1982.
Anyway… My orange fleece was worn quite a bit over the years and was then archived in one of my many duffels full of outdoor wear. Well my daughter, who happens to be very into “retro clothing” found this old orange fleece and started wearing it non-stop about a year ago. In the mean time she started pursuing climbing, leading very difficult hard “trad” crack climbing routes in Indian Creek, Utah… It has a torn cuff and a few little worn areas but that jacket rocks !! She is quite a lovely young woman ( if I do say so, being her mother) and I love the fact that my daughter is wearing my 30 year old Patagonia jacket , and she makes it even cooler now than it was then ! I am so psyched that she is having her own adventures in it. I especially like the fact that maybe my energy from the jacket is wrapping around her like a hug from me !!
―Catherine 

Dear Patagonia,
I often joke that this old red-orange fleece is an extension of myself. There are few other items of clothing in my wardrobe that I feel completely comfortable in no matter what situation I find myself. This little jacket has been with me on a few desert tower ascents in Southern Utah, to an awful ACDC cover band show in Denver, to numerous summer nights in the Tetons where I grew up. No matter the situation, I always feel at ease in this jacket.
I rediscovered this little gem from a duffel bag full of my parents’ retro outerwear a few years ago. Funny enough, the discovery of the jacket coincided perfectly with my discovery of my passion for climbing. Through this, I reconnected with my childhood and upbringing, in which climbing played a large role. At the same time, I unearthed this article of clothing, which to me represents the continuation of my family’s love for the mountains and climbing from one generation to the next.
―Jane

New Shipment of Spring Patagonia Kids

If you're headed somewhere for Spring Break, we've got you covered.  This morning our employees were hard at work getting Patagonia's hot new kids items onto our racks.  You'd be amazed at how many itty-bitty T-shirts come out of one box!

Taking the kiddos to Disney?  Swimsuits and rash guards are great for the water parks!  We even have sun hats and UPF rated T-shirts for extra protection from the sun for the easily burnt little ones. 

Boy's Gone Again Shirt

Dress junior up in this great button down he won't mind wearing all day long.  The fabric is super breathable and will offer him some protection from the sun.  He'll be one handsome little devil. 

Reduce, Reuse and Recycle Your Clothes!

Have you heard? Two of the biggest names in outdoor apparel, The North Face and Patagonia, (which happen to be two of our biggest brands), each have their own clothing recycling program with the goals to reduce production and waste, as well as preserve resources and make the planet a greener place.

Patagonia's Common Threads program started in 2005 and has been going strong. You might have seen their surprising clothing campaign last year: a big banner on their website with the words "Don't Buy Our Clothes", urging you to not buy what you don't need... Even if that's their products. Their goal is to close the loop within their clothing production--that is, only make products--i.e. jackets, pants, etc--that can be completely recyclable. They're not there yet, but it's not far off. Watch the Common Threads video to get more inspired, and go onto their website to take the pledge yourself.

The North Face just launched their own clothing recycling program, Clothes the Loop. Their campaign has three basic principles: Recycle, which involves placing your used and unwanted clothing into recycling bins at participating stores, Reward, which gives you an extra $10 off your purchase of new gear when you recycle your old, and Renew, where all the proceeds from the program go to the Conservation Alliance.

These companies are truly blazing the trail to keep our environment clean by reducing waste and causing less harm from production. Will you take the pledge to only buy what you really need?