November 13, 2026
Gear Innovations and Mountain Legends: Mike Parsons on Five Decades of Outdoor Adventure
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In this captivating episode of Living the Dream with Curveball, we are thrilled to welcome Mike Parsons, an esteemed entrepreneur, author, and innovator with over five decades of experience in the outdoor industry. Mike shares his incredible journey of developing equipment for extreme environments, including his contributions to George Mallory's historic 1924 Everest attempt. He emphasizes that innovation is born from both success and failure, and that real-world challenges often spark groundbreaking solutions.
Mike takes us through the evolution of outdoor gear, highlighting how he transitioned from a small bike shop to creating essential equipment for mountaineers. He discusses the significance of understanding user needs and how the emergence of working-class climbers in the 90s reshaped the industry. Listeners will be fascinated by Mike's firsthand accounts of major expeditions, including his work with renowned mountaineers and the lessons learned about preparation, equipment, and human resilience.
Throughout the episode, Mike also delves into his research on George Mallory's clothing, revealing surprising insights into the materials used nearly a century ago. He shares valuable tips on staying safe and comfortable in extreme weather, emphasizing the importance of proper nutrition and understanding fabric technology.
Join us for an enlightening conversation that explores the intersection of innovation, adventure, and the ever-evolving outdoor industry.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
- The journey of innovation in outdoor gear development
- Insights from Mike's experiences with legendary climbers and expeditions
- Surprising facts about historical mountaineering clothing
- Tips for staying warm and dry in extreme conditions
- The future of sustainability and technology in the outdoor industry
To keep up with Mike Parsons and his work, visit outdoorgearcoach.co.uk for insightful articles and resources on outdoor gear and its history.
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About Mike Parsons
Outdoor Gear Coach and Mountain Adventure Memoirist
50+ years Outdoor gear design and innovation18 summits First ascents of virgin peaks2003-4 Prize Design History Society winner for Invisible on EverestAround 250 Expeditions supplied worldwide
Mike Parsons is known for helping people understand the real story behind outdoor gear, mountain innovation and the human problems that push equipment forward. His perspective comes from more than five decades in the outdoor industry, including his work as a manufacturer behind Karrimor and later Original Mountain Marathon, where clothing, packs and equipment had to perform in conditions where failure mattered.
Mike’s view of innovation is practical rather than abstract. He sees breakthrough ideas beginning with the people at the leading edge: climbers, expedition teams, factory workers and problem-solvers trying to overcome something that stops them from going further, staying warmer, moving faster or making a process work. That lens shaped his manufacturing career and later informed a decade of part-time teaching on innovation at Lancaster University Management School, where he worked alongside an academic colleague and won recognition for innovative teaching.
His authority on outdoor clothing is grounded in first principles, not marketing language. Having manufactured technical garments and written Keeping Dry and Staying Warm, Mike explains why gear alone does not keep people safe or comfortable. People still need to understand heat loss, layering, moisture, cold and, increasingly, how to stay cool in hot conditions.
Mike has supplied equipment to around 250 expeditions worldwide, including Chris Bonington’s 1970 Annapurna and 1975 Southwest Face of Everest expeditions.
