Words: Josh Lee
In association with:
Claiming just under three decades of combined experience in the United Kingdom Special Forces, Louis Tinsley and Anthony ‘Staz’ Stazicker, founders of high-perfomance outerwear brand ThruDark, are deeply driven by the notion of crafting some of the world’s hardiest and most durable gear.
“Conquer any environment in men’s high-performance outdoor clothing forged for battle with the elements. Whether you’re after outerlayers, mid-layers, or base layers, our innovative designs have got you covered,” so states the label, the owners of which have undergone large stretches of time in some of the world’s most inhospitable, demanding environments and thus know the significance of having – and also lay claim to the skillset that allows them to expertly trial and develop – premium attire for the most challenging ventures. (ThruDark’s moniker, itself – one meant to represent persistence through arduous scenarios and hardship – reflects this endurance-centred ethos.)
Through the pair’s close contact with high-specification equipment (and thus the ability to always analyse the way it performed); their passion for the area; and their global contacts within the special operations forces, the label, which was founded in 2016, has lead the fore for creating gear aimed for a wide spectrum of climates, whether that be the humid jungle, the wild temperature drops seen in the tundra or the aggressive heat of the desert.
“Our products are manufactured to the highest standards using a diverse range of world-leading fabrics that are continually tested and developed by ourselves and our close network of operators around the globe,” says Stazicker.
Forming a key part in the brand’s bevy of goods is the ‘Rōnin Tanto Full Zip Snow Jacket’, a piece of kit made for enhanced Alpine sports performance and produced from cutting-edge DValpine membrane that comes courtesy of pioneering textile manufacturer eVent®; the made-for-mountaineering ‘Strike Pants’, which is breathable and wind- and water-repellent; and the ‘End of Days Parka’, designed for Arctic expeditions and crafted from the same material that is used on modern ballistic armour.
man wearing watchman boonie hat
Of late, Tinsley and Stazicker’s company has launched the ‘Oryon’ range, which, on this occasion, zones in on handling conditions – both dry and damp – of relentless, ferocious heat and is targeted at those who seek adventures in such places: “It’s aimed at the navigators, the pioneers and for those that chase nothing but the chase itself. Whether you’re on a multi-day expedition, trekking through sweltering desert sands or carving down a teeming jungle waterway, ‘Oryon’ is a celebration of journeys and the intangible instinct that drives us on.”
To target this specific area, the new line – which is expressed in a tightly edited selection of colours, including the label’s signature ‘obsidian black’ and ‘wolf grey’, khaki and sand – builds upon traditional layering conventions by drawing upon a set of next-generation smart fabrics and perfectly tuned ventilation systems, all of which is evidenced in the bevy of lightweight technical shirts, T-Shirts, trousers and an easy-to-pack, windproof shell jacket.
The marquee fabric that’s showcased is the ‘Super-Biflex Chrono-Carbon Rip-Stop’, which has been conceived by MecTex, a Lombardian mill that leads the way in making high-performance stretch fabrics, and uses carbon in order to maximise robustness and thermal regulation and in a way that doesn’t add heft or bulk. When in play, it withdraws heat from the body during the day, but retains warmth for the night, when the mercury is known to drop dramatically in desert environments.
There’s also the debut of the company’s own-crafted original fabric, whose details are showcased on the previously noted ‘Windguard’ jacket, a packable item defined by its weatherproof shell.
Then, rounding out the new fabric offerings is the inclusion of the ‘Delta’, by Polartec (a textile company that, for this occasion, pivots its focus from insulation to ventilation), which provides the foundation for two new half-zip t-shirts, one long-sleeve and the other short. For this, the material’s underside is strewn with ‘elevated touch points’ that, in effect, raises the item off the skin in order to boost airflow and also wicks away perspiration and diverts it to the product’s exterior.
Moreover, to further enhance the ventilation properties of each garment while keeping all at a minimum weight, a dual system, used for both storage and breathability, has been incorporated – notably, each pocket on all new items has been formed from mesh fabric and is secured with a semi-lock zip, meaning that, when not being utilised for carrying extras, can be opened up and used as further sources of ventilation.
For the rest of the range, ThruDark has leant back on the tried-and-tested merino wool, which, due to its thermal-regulating, anti-microbial and odour-resistant properties, features in the ‘72 Hour T-Shirt’, named so as it’s aimed for multi-day expeditions in which packing the bare minimum is necessary.
Extremely practical, built for the harshest conditions, and with looks that are as singular as the performance, ThuDark’s new ‘Oryon’ hot-weather collection is, in typical spirit of the brand, a workhorse of a collection that’ll last for seasons to come.
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