Modern winter jackets WOW things have changed

[Honu]

OK since their are some threads on Jackets and fabrics and gore-tex etc...

I have not worked or been around mountains for the last 15 years ?
so my mountain years were from the early 80s through 1990
when I was I was sponsored by North Face and Burton got all my stuff for free (instructor on the mountain teaching snowboarding for PSIA)
so always had top notch stuff from NF mostly the burton stuff was fine for playing but not serious stuff
I used OR for my mitts and wished I kept them now as I priced them and WOW they are expensive

well my one kid is big enough now we are headed to the mountains
I read a ton of threads here and on another forum and then went to a few places to try on Jackets
and found a nice mountanwear parka
I am old school used to the Parka idea and gore-tex etc...

so told the guys educate me on why I want a modern setup over what I know has worked in the past for me !


decided to get two shells a waterprof and a resistant soft shell

I ended up with a Arc'Teryx shell and have to say WOW the thing is so light so comfy breathes so well and is so far amazing at how much better modern jackets and materials are for cold weather and wind etc...
with the correct layers playing in the mountains last week with my little one I was never to hot or to cold and did not get that clammy sweaty feel I used to get with even gore-tex stuff of the past

when I was talking to the REI guys they said I am like a lot of people that are stuck in the past and want a certain thing I am used to like a heavy type parka but I decided with REI return policy I was safe to buy whatever and really got a great education from two people their on modern stuff


take a serious look at the modern stuff if you are in the hunt for new winter gear

I will never own a older style parka setup again

 

[washington taco]

The modern gear is outstanding!! I hiked on Friday to get some fresh turns after the resort got tracked out. I hiked 1000' vert and about 3/4 of a mile. I shed my shell about half way up was down to base layer and shell pants. I did not get uncomfortable and when I reached the top put my shell on and skiied fresh tracks from the top!!! Its all about the layers! For a base layer try merino wool, not itchey breaths well and doesnt have the funk of man made stuff. Welcome back to the mountains!!!

 

[Corey]

I know what you mean.
I have NF Goretex jacket for skiing long ago, and I was always to hot in it, it seemed.

Got back into mountain biking this past summer and I wanted something light for biking that was a shell that would repel both rain and wind.
Darn thing is feather light, and I do mean light.
I went with this Deflect Trail Jacket by Specialized, and the thing can be compressed to fit into a sandwich baggy almost.

DEFLECT™ Jackets and Vests
Our Deflect jackets and vests use a microdenier polyester with durable water-resistant coating to protect against wind and rain.
Extremely lightweight and packable, these pieces have just enough stretch to move with your body without a lot of wind flutter.

I wear it biking, going to the grocery store, it gets a lot of use.
It is roomy enough too that one can slip a polar fleece jacket or shirt underneath, but really it is pretty warm by itself.
I do not see how it could be with as thin as it is, but clothing has come a long way.
It was a little pricey, but I am getting my monies worth out of it.

 

[BlueBomber]

a lot of people that are stuck in the past and want a certain thing

I wear a US Army issue coat whenever Im outdoor. It was issued to one my parents in the 80's, and is still going strong. Ill try something new if it ever gives out.

 

[go4aryd]

One thing has changed - old school seemed to fit a variety of activities where nearly all the newer stuff is designed primarily for medium-high to very high activity levels. Sitting in the cold snow for hours on end, I still haven't found a real substitute for my 3 layer, full zip gor-tex pants, nor my TNF gore-tex parka (w/polarguard), and I won't be giving up my Feathered Friends down vest even when I can't get out anymore.

New stuff is great if you stay pretty active.

 

[Tucson T4R]

I agree that layered is the only way to go if your are doing anything physical.

If your just sitting on your butt sipping bourbon like me then a nice thick down parka like this one from Mountain Hardwear works great. :elkgrin:

 

[njsjeep]

Here is an interesting article comparing modern high tech clothing used on everest with reproductions of the clothing worn by Mallory. It is kind of fun to see the differences.


http://www.outdoorsmagic.com/outdoo...have-climbed-everestand46and46and46/3517.html

 

[SunTzuNephew]

I had that same sort of epiphany back in 1990 or so....getting ready for some serious mountain climbing, and started out with what I knew (from 20+ years experience then) what worked: Wool, down, 60/40 parkas...

Then I decided to try the new stuff. Polypro lining (long underware, socks, glove inserts), fleece, gore-tex.

WOW!:Wow1:

I was .... WARM, and DRY! Who knew!

The old stuff worked in the olden times. Frankly, I respect the guys that managed the really tough work in that stuff. I'd rather not smell like a wet sheep and lug 20lbs of sweat and melted snow...

 

[Harald Hansen]

I agree with most of what you guys are saying, but I just want to stress that wool is still good stuff! Warm, light, still warm when wet, doesn't smell as bad as poly after a few days, non-flammable. Modern wool garments are also non-itchy.

 

[Wyowanderer]

Filson Double Cape Mackinaw. Warm, durable, no zippers to break, and it doesn't burn as fast as plasticware.

 

[Honu]

I agree with most of what you guys are saying, but I just want to stress that wool is still good stuff! Warm, light, still warm when wet, doesn't smell as bad as poly after a few days, non-flammable. Modern wool garments are also non-itchy.

agree about wool but I think the jacket or shell is where things have drastically changed and super quality wool as a layer below a modern shell is a great combo just want to clarify I at least was only talking about the outer layer and not the inner layer

 

[bdbecker]

As some have mentioned, nothing can replace smart layering. My neighbor wonders how I can run my snowblower wearing blue jeans, a flannel shirt, snowboots, gloves, and a hat and still stay warm when it's only 5 degrees outside - he doesn't know I'm wearing Under Armour cold weather gear (totally worth the money) underneath several other layers.

 

[eli]

Modern Winter Jackets

Yup I concur, using the right tool for the job is key. I'm almost 50 and when I joined the military Gor-Tex and Fleece hadn't been issued staples at the time.
Now I'm a Patagonia poster child I use Capaline year round as a base layer and keep the micro fleece and gor-tex around for layering, But my favorite piece of "old school" technical gear is my Granddad's big ole blue North face Down parka . . . That's what I lounge around in on a cold winters night smoking a stogy and sipping my cocktail by the fire pit . . . If one of my kids hasn't snagged it first . . . .