Inside the collaboration helping Disabled Adventurer Nick Wilson kit up for Yr Wyddfa in his power chair.
“I always felt it was unfair that people with disabilities have to buy a brand new jacket, then pay again to adapt it,” says Viri. “This project lets us change that — and help push boundaries, not just zips.”
We’re proud of our repair stations. They’ve patched thousands of jackets, revived tents, breathed life back into panniers. But sometimes, repair means more than fixing — it means adapting. Making something that didn’t quite fit, finally fit. Tweaking, modifying, redesigning — so it works not just again, but better.
That’s what brought us to one of our favourite collaborations — working with Kat from Seated Sewing and disabled adventurer Nick Wilson to help adapt outdoor kit for his RockClimber power mobility chair.
Nick doesn’t just get outside. He pushes what outside access looks like. He’s aiming to reach the highest accessible point of Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) using a wheelchair he’s co-designed with engineers — and he needed gear that could keep up.
Enter Viri, one of the stars at our Keswick repair station. She’s adapted all sorts of kit over the years — including brand new garments for people with specific access or fit needs. So when Kat got in touch about collaborating on a bespoke jacket and overtrousers for Nick’s mission, Viri and the team were all in.
Kat’s designs from Seated Sewing were already sharp. But by combining Kat’s lived experience and sewing knowledge with Viri’s technical outdoor expertise, the result was something totally new: adaptive kit built for serious adventure.
Nick tested an early prototype and loved it. The final version is full of quiet innovations:
- Magnetic closures instead of zips — waterproof, durable, and accessible
- Hybrid fabrics — maximum waterproofing where needed, with breathability elsewhere
- Oversized, accessible pockets and an integrated Fortitude hood
The team didn't just adapt. They reimagined.
And it’s not just a one-off. Our repair stations are ready to do more of this — whether it’s adapting sleeves, tweaking fits, or co-creating with people whose bodies or needs fall outside the ‘standard size range’. That shouldn’t be a specialist service. It should just be… service.
Design for dignity
Too often, adaptive design is either forgotten or treated as an afterthought. But if we want the outdoors to be truly for everyone, then the gear has to meet people where they are.
It’s not just about getting to the summit. It’s about getting to the car park. Getting through the rain. Getting in the jacket without a fight.
We’re learning. We’re listening. And we know there’s more to do.
But this project reminded us why we do what we do. Not to sell more kit — but to make better kit. And to fix, tweak, and rethink it for whoever walks (or wheels) through the door.
This is what community-based circular design looks like.
This is repair, reimagined.
Repair stations in all our stores have become a vital component of what we offer and have undertaken many adaptations over the years. Thank you to our repair team over at Alpkit Kewsick, Kat from Seated Sewing and Nick Wilson (@disabled adventurer) for making this project a reality,