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You know, sometimes you see a product and you think, 'they've really thought that through'. The Santa Rosa balaclava from Kiwi brand Mons Royale features a clever hinged construction that makes it super-easy to pull up and down. Not only that, but they've popped in a ponytail hole to keep long hair neatly tidied away. It's helmet-compatible, and the drop-front neckline ensures there are no chinks in your armour. The Santa Rosa is made in warm yet lightweight Merino Flex, which blends the benefits of merino wool with an impressive amount of four-way stretch.
Flashy technical outerwear is all well and good, but the foundation for all-day comfort in the great outdoors is a solid baselayer. Unfortunately, most are tight-fitting and uninspired, made from flimsy fabrics that look like Swiss cheese after a week or two on the trail.
Enter New Zealand-based brand, Mons Royale, born out of the Kiwi snow sports scene in the mountains above Lake Wanaka. Making merino base layers, jerseys and sweaters is what they do – and it really shows.
Just about everything in the Mons range is built around ethically and sustainably produced merino wool – a fibre with so many miracle properties that only Mother Nature could have come up with it. But it’s Mons Royale’s more relaxed approach to design that really makes them stand out. Constructed for comfort and flexibility, their base layers fit like your favourite T-shirt, rather than feeling as if they’ve been sprayed on.
We love Mons Royale because it’s technical stuff that looks good enough to wear every day. The cuts are casual, the pastel colours are cool but muted, and the branding isn’t too full-on. Take your Mons kit out for a day on the mountain, then stick the bike or climbing gear back in the van, switch the shorts for a clean pair of jeans and you’re all set to go for a post-adventure beer.
