Anyone have any first hand experience with the new (You need to Login or Register to view media files and links) outerwear?

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Hey I just noticed you don't like the H/H.......anything I should know?

Yea, avoid frog toggs. Just ask the bass guides here on the big "O" about them 

I've been using the Outdoor Research Sojourn rain jacket for a couple of seasons now.  One feature I always look for are pit-zips because I do tend to overheat when operating with a load (e.g. portaging), so I'm looking for ventilation.  Well, these pit-zips run from the biceps down to the hem and zip in both directions.  And the product will keep you dry in an all day rain.

Although I paid more it looks like (You need to Login or Register to view media files and links) currently has them on clearance for about $75 (with free shipping).

I've used mostly Marmot, TNF, and now I'm wearing a Mountain Hardwear jacket.  It's very light, waterproof, quite breathable (with pitzips, as DD suggests) and tougher than I had expected it to be.  Most of my stuff these days I acquire by stalking (You need to Login or Register to view media files and links) and taking a look at the REI Scratch and Dent corner whenever I'm in the store.  It's been years since I've purchased outdoor wear for more than 50% off retail.

I've got both Cabelas Goretex and Marmot precip. The Cabelas stuff is heavier, tougher, but not as packable.

Marmot precip works well and is more packable. Nicer price point too.

Thank you brothers.  I have some shopping to do.

Why can't we recondition our older gortex stuff? Is it like a bick lighter? I'm not trying to get philosofical ,can't it be"renewed"?

knafelc wrote on May 2^nd, 2012 at 1:36am:

Sure! Renewed to a reasonable extent anyway.

A hot dryer or iron may work depending on age and treatment. ReviveX and TX.Direct will return DWR properties.
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I had a very old North Face GT jacket I wore every day for years. I thought died but it was just the DWR coating that failed preventing vapor transmission. I washed it in whatever, dried as directed and I was really surprised. Now my kid wears it on rainy days.

Basically, the outer shell needs to bead water. Once it becomes saturated it can no longer breathe and since you're not use to getting wet in GT you think it's leaking. If you bought a non breathable, you'd get even more wet but you'd expect it 'cause you didn't pay the big bucks.

My current jacket is about 14 years old. I can get about three good days out of it before ... the arms and shoulders go first and it's very noticeable. I assume paddling and carrying packs is what wears it down in those areas.

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Good point. If your breathable rain gear of choice doesn't bead water , then it needs to be re-conditioned.
Campmor sells an extensive line of products to re-condition Gore-Tex/DWR products.
Before buying new gear, I'd try to revive the old set if you were happy with it.

I have an e-Vent rain parka from REI.  Not cheap (around $220 I think), but I love it.  Have worn it for a couple of years now and it actually breathes and is waterproof.  I have worn goretex and was not happy with its breathability.  I can wear the e-Vent jacket while walking or skiing, and don't get soaked with sweat.  To restore its waterproofing, they claim  that all you have to do is wash and dry it (which they recommend you do frequently).  In two years of wearing it, It has never leaked, so I am very happy with it.

PJ,

If you're interested, the REI sale catalog just arrived.  The Kimtah eVent jacket is on sale from $239 for $179.  Sale is 5/18-28.  They have not posted anything on line yet.  They also have various Marmot and Mountain Hardware jackets and pants on sale too. Or 20% whatever, if you're a member.  Hope you find the right one.

pd

I wonder how the wash and dry thing "reconditions" breathable rain gear. I can understand that the breathability would be enhanced by opening up the "pores". ... how are those too small to allow water in microscopic openings helped by clearing them out ?  Does the dirt somehow act as a conduit and wick moisture in?  Anyway, I guess I'll put my gortex-used-german army suit through the hot wash/cold rinse routine and then through the dryer,and wear it on a long walk in the rain. I'll probably treat the seams with Thompson's Water Sealant (silicone) (just like my tent and tarp) and then treat the whole suit with one of the reconditioning products sold in Campmore.  The first time I wore this thing on a wet and cold trip in May my upper body got soaked right where the shoulder seams (pack straps) were,and through my upper chest when I could not stop paddling hard into the wind, rain, and viscious waves long enough to pull the zipper all the way up. I figured out  how to pull my zipper up before heading into the wind,sealed my seams,and since then haven't had any problems (-and, of course I know better than to" mess around with Jim."...).  I do always take along a nylon poncho as insurance, but as of yet haven't had to go through a multi day monsoon that saturated everthing . I wonder if just treating that shoulder area the same way you would your tent ,would'nt keep an otherwise good piece of equipment in the game? Might make that area a little stiff and maybe a little less "G-Q",but who's lookin?

-huh...  the Durable Water Repelent must lube up the outside of the fabric enough so that the water droplets roll off without breaking the cohesive bonds that keep that droplet too large to pass through the "pores"...kinda like water off a duck's ...   back.   What's the duck do? It keeps it's feathers clean and oiled;but it can grow new feathers to replace broken down ones wheras we must replace the fabric with new when the structure is destroyed. Got it. ("...don't pull the mask off that ol Lone Ranger,...") Thanks. Suppose I can only make the the old stuff work so long untill I turn it into some kind of stiff,heavy ,varnished "oil cloth".  'nuf said.

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I've bought RedHead brand clothes before and they were a good value for the money.
But, I've torn up enough gear on trips to believe that ripstop construction in any fabric is an important thing.
Sooner or later your going to snag it up and then your left with a small tear that just keeps growing.
Still might be a good buy for a boat type rain top and if that works out you could take it on a paddling trip.

yeah that makes sense pd. looking at something like marmot precip now. thanks!

portage dog wrote on May 14^th, 2012 at 9:47pm:


Been taking a good hard look at my gear........I had always been mostly pleased with what I had picked up almost a decade ago but never REALLY scrutinized it. My favored raingear set was a Cabelas Gore-tex parka and pants complete with suspenders. They had their own dedicated "weather bag" complete with Seattle Sombrero and fingerless glacier gloves. This combo had always kept me warm and dry but I never took a critical eye to it until this thread. It occurred to me that my system was not only sort of heavy (raingear was fairly large > complete with liners) it was also bulky adding to the overall unwieldiness of my kit.

If my woman ever finds out what I dropped on raingear I will be sleeping with my mutts........"it's all Portage Dogs fault" I will stammer and mumble......(some spittle forming in the corner of my mouth for good measure)

I had never even heard of E vent before this thread (I lead a sheltered life). I decided on a Westcombe hooded shell and Kimtah rainpants. Very nice.......Super impressed with the craftsmanship on the jacket. No frills, or bells or whistles, comes in at 11 oz.........no pit zips, extra pockets etc. Extremely light, extremely packable. My next dedicated weather bag will be 1/2 the size of my current one.

Big and major improvement. Yes rather pricey.......but I have zero vices and have no intentions of retiring so I will just put a few more hours in  . Goals? You bet! (My goal is to not crash and burn because I was trying to be 20 again carrying 80+lbs.)

ended up getting the marmot precip jacket. email coupon from sierra trading post brought the price down from 99.00 to 48.00 and .99 shipping to boot.  it's not hard to be critical after looking at 200.00+ jackets but compared to the dry ducks i've been slogging around in, it's easier to be grateful for the precip.

portage dog wrote on Apr 8^th, 2013 at 12:28am:


Perhaps the "expense" can be attributed to "business activities"  

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