Marine Xped, owned and run by former Royal Marine Commando Chris Craven,
opened just 3 months ago in September 2017 on Foss Street in Dartmouth. It is an independent retail outfitter specialising in expedition quality outdoor clothing and equipment. Chris spoke to By The Dart about his new venture.
What’s special about the clothing and equipment you sell?
We sell the best in clothing, footwear and equipment that provides excellent performance, robustness, water-proofing, comfort and functionality. We sell you a product that will truly last and don’t expect to see you back to replace it for many years hence. If you’re planning to walk the South West Coast Path, compete in the Ten Tors challenge or go offshore on your yacht, then we can supply pretty much all you need.
Your background as a mountaineer has had a big influence on your new venture?
Absolutely. I have mountaineered recreationally and whilst in the Royal Marines where I was an expert in mountain/artic warfare and survival. If you’re up a mountain, you need clothing and footwear that’s warm, waterproof and comfortable. But it must also fit you well, however strenuous your movements might become.
The products I sell have been developed on the mountains and I am keen to see them cross-over into other outdoor pursuits such as walking and sailing. When I left the Forces, I caught the sailing bug and have sailed and raced offshore extensively ever since. I use this same clothing when I’m sailing even though the brands we sell are not immediately recognisable as yachting brands – the latter uses pretty much the same materials but the technology has yet to catch up with the dexterity and quality of fit and functionality. This cross-over is now extending further – some of our outdoor jackets are sufficiently light and water proof, they’re being bought not just by sailors but even golfers as well!
What sort of outdoor brands do you sell?
I have paid close attention to brands that are highly respected in the mountaineering community. These include Mountain Equipment, Gregory packs, Ortlieb, Petzl, Zamberlan, Optimus, GSI etc – I only deal with niche brands that have their operations based in the UK, Europe or North America, not mass-produced outside these core areas. Many of these tend to be family owned businesses that have a long and deep knowledge of their products and customers.
There are numerous high street chains that will sell outdoor clothing but they don’t have the same robustness, wet proofing and durability. Of course, quality comes at a price – we tend to focus on the mid to high price range - but they will last you much, much longer. You’ll also find that we will pretty much match the prices of such goods online but here you can try something on first before buying – especially important if purchasing walking boots.
If you buy a rucksack for a teenager doing their Duke of Edinburgh challenge on Dartmoor, you’ll want something that will last them many years – our trekking packs can cost anything from £90 - £145. But you’ll quickly spend that over a couple of years replacing rucksacks that are good only for a package trip to the sun!
I try and sell expedition proof equipment - you can visit our shop and buy almost everything you need apart from your personal stuff for an expedition, anywhere in the world. That said, we can sell you a high quality sleeping bag that will keep you warm all year round on your boat or one that will keep you warm even on the Cairngorms in mid winter but will still fit snugly and easily into your backpack.
We don’t just sell clothing but all the other gear you’ll need when outside e.g. our robust and waterproof clothing and food bags will just as easily be useful on a boat let alone outdoors in a tent.
We may be limited on space in the shop but we can quickly find and, if necessary, source the size or product you need within 48hrs.
Has the technology in outdoor wear changed much in the past 10-15 years?
Incredibly so – mostly in the fabrics and materials now used. Fabrics nowadays are designed to breathe from the skin outwards – this hugely improves the comfort of clothing whether out on the hills or on the boat. This encourages people to go the extra mile or push themselves to do something again.
The design of the garments may not have changed much – we still sell a jacket (the LightLine) that was originally designed in 1973 but still sets the benchmark for lightweight, technical duvet-type jackets. It radically changed the way mountaineering developed. For the first time, you could stay out overnight, high on an alpine slope, without a sleeping bag. The basic design has hardly changed but the quality and waterproofing of the down and jacket has moved on hugely. It comes at a high price though - approx £220 – but is still a great investment and will probably work out more economic than cheaper alternatives over the long term.
Where there has been real change in design is that outdoor clothing used to be unisex or, rather male orientated. Now there’s special clothing for the female fit – if you’re asking for activity clothing to keep you warm, it won’t do the job you ask of it if the fit isn’t correct.
Tell us a little about yourself?
I was born and raised in Totnes and currently live on my boat on the River Dart (since 2008). On leaving the Marines I set up a company – West Country Access. We are a group of abseilers who are sent in to help with the decommissioning of nuclear power installations. Wherever access is difficult and where time exposed to radiation must be limited, then we’re an extremely efficient and economic alternative to erecting scaffolding for carrying out civil and mechanical repairs and maintenance. We pretty much dealt with all such work south of Birmingham but this is now winding down. I was keen to limit my traveling and spend more time in Dartmouth.
Marine Xped was formed to build upon my interests and exploit my expertise in mountaineering and sailing. I am new to the retail industry but have learned a lot since I started. My skills and experience means I can speak knowledgeably to customers to help them find exactly what’s right for them.
Marine Xped
9a Foss Street, Dartmouth, TQ6 9DR
info@marinexped.co.uk
Tel: 07971 072202
www.marinexped.co.uk
This Advertising feature was first published in By The Dart Magazine December 2017
