Terra Nova Equipment is one of the world?s leading designers and manufacturers of expedition, lightweight backpacking and family tents. The company has around 30 years experience in producing tents and bivi bags, some of which are still made in their UK factory today.

The company?s philosophy is simple ? to be best in class, a philosophy acknowledged by the many UK and European awards it has received including best tent brand, best tent and a silver award for outstanding design achievement.

The company began life producing mountain and expedition tents as part of Wild Country Equipment, the Quasar is probably one of best known and longest standing models on the market, we receive regular stories of storms on campsites and Terra Nova Quasars being the only tents left standing. Wild Country Equipment de-merged in the early 1990s and the tent division became a separate company - Terra Nova Equipment.

Terra Nova tents have been tested in some of the most inhospitable places on earth and have been used by some of the World?s leading mountaineers and explorers. Its expedition models are a familiar sight on the World?s highest mountains and at the Poles.

More recently and in response to the increasing demand for ultra light gear, Terra Nova has developed some of the lightest tents available, including the Laser Competition, which weighs in at less than a bag of sugar. The tent holds the Guinness World Record for the lightest two skin tent commercially available and has become the tent of choice for competitors in mountain marathons.

Terra Nova Equipment has two other brands: Wild Country ? tents and sleeping bags, equipment for people who want quality gear at a reasonable price. The range includes 2, 3 and 4 person models ideal for backpackers and back of the car campers and more latterly some stunning family models which offer real home from home accommodation. The Wild Country range has also clocked up its own fair share of awards including ?best on test? by a leading consumer magazine.

Extremities is a range of head, hand and foot protection; gloves, hats, socks and gaiters, designed for outdoor enthusiasts. Using quality materials and components including GORE-TEX?, WINDSTOPPER? and Polartec?.

Like Terra Nova tents, Extremities products have been tested at the extremes by mountaineers, polar explorers and ultra marathon runners. Closer to home they are favourites of walkers, hikers, climbers, cyclists, skiers and runners.

Extremities is also the official sock supplier to competitors in the Marathon of Britain ? the World?s toughest footrace, covering 176 miles
in 6 days across the UK countryside.

How Terra Nova are helping the Cauldwell Xtreme Everest Expedition

In 2006 the Cauldwell Xtreme Everest team visited Terra Nova at the company?s Derbyshire base, to discuss their requirements for the expedition. As a result Terra Nova is providing over 70 expedition tents, including some bespoke, ranging from eight person Cosmos to three person Hyperspace and two/three person Super Quasar models, all of which are being made at their Derbyshire factory. One of the eight person Cosmos tents will be placed on the South Col (7900m) as an exercise lab, where doctors will conduct research using an exercise bike.

One of the key pieces of equipment developed and produced specifically for the expedition is an ultralight shelter that is easy to erect at high altitude. This will become the world?s highest medical laboratory where blood samples will be taken by the team on the summit of Everest. The shelter will also field test new superlite fabrics currently in development at Terra Nova.

The company is also providing John Cauldwell and three of his colleagues with Extremities gloves and hats.

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