A few years back I had started taking a good hard look at my gear. What could be improved, especially what could be more compact and lighter without sacrificing capabilities.

I try and keep an open mind about things and when the subject of E-vent rain gear came up on this site it caught my attention. I had purchased what I thought was an excellent set of goretex from Cabelas but they were insulated and quite heavy and especially bulky. Time to upgrade. So I went with a Kitmah mountaineering Parka and pants which are basically just a shell.

Well I loved them right up to the point where the pants caught on a screw head which was protruding from my canoe on a portage and put a 3 inch tear across the front thigh. Ugggh! It was a bit painful to see especially since the expenditure involved was particularly steep. Upon further review I got the distinct impression that what happened was unlikely to have taken place with Gore-tex.

Long story short I went to REI (Hurrah REI!!) and explained what happened. The pants were promptly replaced with Arctyx gore tex rain pants which according to the associate was an even better pair than what I had (marginally more expensive but they told me not to worry about the slight difference). So how cool is that?

Even the styling is better with the graphite colored rain top coordinating nicely with the silver grey bottoms which have graphite colored triangles at the pants pull zips. The fish will now just roll over and float to the top (I want to be caught by THAT guy :D  ).

MT,

Glad you found satisfaction with the Arc'teryx (and REI) at least until the next screw or nail head!  That Kimtah is hardly mountaineering gear and advertised as light weight...darn near a soft shell.  I have a pair of those rain pants and they've been going great for 4 years (rivets, not screws!).  I do prefer their Shuksan (disc'd...with no replacement/upgrade yet) which is more durable and have that jacket/pants set - a true hard shell, if a tad heavier.

It's not the eVent vs. GORTEX that makes the difference in durability, but the outer fabric it's bonded to.  Either technology is just a membrane bonded to the material.  Given the same fabric, the GORTEX would fair no better. 

Arc'teryx does make some great products, but quite spendy.  I picked up a Beta AR hardshell jacket ($550 list) for $80 at one of the REI Attic Sales (now Garage Sale...) that had a slight L shaped tear on the left upper sleeve (screw head maybe?), but otherwise as new.  An email to Arc'teryx and they sent me some iron on patches to repair that and viola' - good as new - can't even see where it was damaged.  It's bomber and my go to Quetico jacket. 

Keep looking good in the wilderness  8-) and watch out for screws!   :thumbup

pd

My Arc'teryx raincoat is currently back at the factory.  The seams on both sides of the drawstrings on either side of the bottom hem of the coat let loose. 

I'm hoping the company comes through with either a repair or replacement.   My experience has been when you spend that kind of money you usually get good customer service (think St. Croix, GLoomis)

puckster

[quote author=sfrelke link=1409756298/1#1 date=

That Kimtah is hardly mountaineering gear and advertised as light weight...darn near a soft shell. 

It's not the eVent vs. GORTEX that makes the difference in durability, but the outer fabric it's bonded to.  Either technology is just a membrane bonded to the material.  Given the same fabric, the GORTEX would fair no better. 
pd[/quote]

Maybe its not a kimtah.....Westcombe makes it and its an eVent product. If its not a mountaineering parka by golly its gonna be.  ;)

As per the Gortex/eVent......I always thought the outer shell was the material. Well thank you for educating me.