To the Cairngorms, with Purdey and James Aiken
The explorer ventures across Britain’s wildest national park to put the brand’s new Performance Collection through its paces...
James Aiken is no stranger to demanding environments. The British-born adventurer and filmmaker has travelled the globe many times over, exploring vastly different landscapes and tackling almost every terrain there is — from Caribbean rainforest trails and the cold Atlantic waters off Nova Scotia, to the vast, snow-capped wilds of Iceland. His life is defined by time spent outdoors, often at the mercy of extreme conditions.
James Purdey, by contrast, set up shop in central London over two centuries ago — and his brand has held fast. But, while the British gunmaker’s address hasn’t changed, its reach certainly has. For decades, Purdey has equipped Royal Families for outdoor pursuits, hosted international shoots in Argentina and Botswana, and — for more than 50 years — produced ready-to-wear clothing that reflects its deep understanding of life beyond city limits.
The two working together, then, feels natural. Purdey’s new Performance Collection brings together traditional British fieldwear design and modern technical construction. From boots to baseball caps, jackets to knits, each piece is stitched through with expertise — designed to perform, smartly, in unpredictable conditions.
To put the collection through its hard-wearing paces, Purdey asked Aiken to head to the Cairngorms, Britain’s largest national park and one of our most unruly, challenging landscapes. The journey — captured in a new feature film — saw Aiken traverse mountains, forests and lochs, testing the clothing in the environments it was designed for.
Performance was the priority, and Purdey delivered. Pieces such as the ‘Cromwell’ jacket — featuring fleece-lined chest pockets, inner storm cuffs and fully taped seams — were designed to eliminate any worries about warmth, weatherproofing or waterproofing the moment you step outside. Because, only when comfort and dryness are so completely taken care of can your attention turn to the great outdoors.
During the trip, one moment stood out for Aiken: the sound of a great stag bellowing out across the glens. Protected from the elements by their Purdey kit, he and his team could pause and listen, free to take in the moment.
“And, earlier that day,” he adds, “we had climbed higher, towards a loch tucked into the folds of steep, dark cliffs. Mist drifted low across the water, lifting and settling again, never quite revealing the whole scene at once. The loch was black and still, the kind of water that absorbs light rather than reflecting it.”
Confident on the loch-side layers waiting for them — including a 100 per cent cashmere quarter zip and adjustable-waist trousers with side zips — they went for a swim. “When we emerged,” Aiken recalls, “steam rose from skin into the cool air, the cliffs looming above us like watchful sentinels.”
The collection’s footwear showcases the same balance of heritage and innovation. Purdey’s commando boots combine Veldtschoen welts with a collar padded in the brand’s Strathbeg tweed — deftly walking the line between classic design and durability. With such firm foundations to the expedition, Aiken was able to experience the Cairngorms without distraction. For these journeys, he says, aren’t about speed or conquest. “They’re about attention. About moving carefully through a landscape that has no need to accommodate you.”
This idea underpins the Performance Collection as a whole. From the ‘Stafford’ cape — a lightweight layer that repels all inclement elements — to smaller pieces, such as a merino cap that provides both woollen warmth and welcome shade, each garment is designed to be practical, adaptable, and quietly effective, wherever you may find yourself.
“And, here,” says Aiken, “good clothing and technical layers matter not as statements, but as quiet enablers, holding back wind and cold so you can stay longer, walk further, and listen more closely.”
So, whether you’re navigating the Scottish Highlands, travelling through Scandinavia, or simply spending a weekend in rural Berkshire — cradle-carrying your Sidelock in the crook of your arm — there are few better base layers, breeks and field jackets to see you through. Considered and capable, this is performance wear — but done the Purdey way.
Want to explore Purdey’s Performance Collection further? Find out more here…
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