Who is Ron Hill?
Dr. Ron Hill M.B.E. is one of the world-class distance runners of his generation. Ron excelled at marathon distance running and was the first Briton to win the Boston Marathon. This, at the time, was a world record time (when it stood) of 2:08:29. Later in the same year (1970) Ron went on to win Commonwealth Gold in the Games staged in Edinburgh. Ron had a unique combination of first hand running knowledge with a career as a textile chemist. Ron was the first person to use synthetic fabrics in sportswear and invented a lot of the fabrics that today’s latest products are modern generations of. This passion and enthusiasm to improve sportswear lead Ron to set up Ron Hill Sports on 9th September 1970. Today, Ron has completed over 155,000 miles since he started his training log in 1956 and has run every day since December 20th 1964, quite an amazing feat of human endurance and passion for running.
Where can I buy Ronhill products?
www.ronhill.co.nz is the licensed distributor for New Zealand.
What is "wicking"?
Wicking is the process of drawing moisture away from the body, through the fabric to the outer surface. At the outer surface the moisture evaporates into the air helping to keep you dry. This enhances comfort whilst running.
What is "wind resistant"?
A product that states it is wind resistant has a fabric that protects you from the cooling effect of the wind.
What is "windproof"?
Windproof is an inherent membrane within the fabric that is a complete barrier to wind, giving you total protection. This membrane also allows for enhance stretch and freedom of movement whilst also providing excellent breathability.
What is "water repellent”?
Water repellent or durable water repellent (DWR) is a treatment added to fabrics at the source/factory to make them water-resistant. Ronhill’s Aqualite fabrics are waterproof breathable fabrics that prevents the outer layer of fabric from becoming saturated with water. This saturation, called 'wetting out,' can reduce the garment's breathability. As the DWR helps maintain the breathable nature of the outerwear, periodic DWR re-treatment is recommended during the garment's life.
What is "waterproof"?
Products that should only be described as waterproof are those that have a fully non-permeable fabric to water, taped seams, which bond the seams where fabrics meet to stop water flowing through. Waterproof products also should have a hood to protect your head from the rain and keep you dry. The British Standard is 1500mm of water on top of a fabric before it leaks. The international standard is 5,000mm. Ronhill’s waterproof garments have certification for 10,000mm.
Why use synthetic fibres instead of cotton?
Synthetic fibres are man made and are better than cotton at transferring moisture away from the skin onto the outer surface of the fabric for evaporation. Cotton will hold moisture and can lead to you feeling cold and wet, which over prolonged periods is not good for your body during exercise.
What is elastane or Lycra?
Lycra and elastane are synthetic fibres known for their exceptional elasticity. Lycra is a branded fibre, whilst elastane is non-branded. Ronhill uses both Lycra and elastane in its Powerlite family of fabrics. Powerlite fabrics offer great freedom of movement due to their inherent stretch capability and importantly recover to their original form after being stretched.
What is Bamboo in fabrics?
One of the fabrics we use contains bamboo charcoal. The charcoal is made up of pieces of bamboo, which are taken from plants five years or older and burned inside an oven at temperatures over 800°c. Bamboo charcoal has excellent absorption & anti-bacterial properties and, by its nature, reduces pollutant residue and so is more friendly to the environment .