Hi guys, it's getting to be spring, and I need to buy a new waterproof shell.
A lot of the webz reviews point to Arc'terryx shells as one of the best.
I dunno, are they worth $400 - $500?
Anyone have experience with Arc'terryx?
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Hi guys, it's getting to be spring, and I need to buy a new waterproof shell.
A lot of the webz reviews point to Arc'terryx shells as one of the best.
I dunno, are they worth $400 - $500?
Anyone have experience with Arc'terryx?
Great gear. The best money can buy. Most of my mountain climbing gear is Arc'terryx.
Having said that--how much performance do you honestly need from a softshell? My everyday softshell for casual wear is a Mountain Hardwear--not quite as high quality or high performance, but 1/4 the price and it keeps me warm and dry walking to and from the train station. I think an Arc'terryx might be overkill for walking the streets of Chicago.
Thanks for reply, sneed.
I do go hiking through the Dunes often, but I think that hardly qualifies as "mountaineering" LOL.
I'll look into Mountain Hardwear, probably go into REI on Halstead and have a look around.
Maybe you can get a good deal now that spring is here.
It's finally nice in Chicago!
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Literally the best gear on the planet.. If your into a more tactical/military sort of Shell check out Arc'tryx LEAF
Great review and wise adviseQuote:
Originally Posted by sneed12
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There are very good reps on taobao
Fwiw, most soft shells aren't waterproof.
And Arcteryx is quietly slipping from the top but has a quite loyal fan base still...
Their warranty service is embarrassingly slow these days and their emergence in pop Hollywood is surely not a good sign.
Still some of their gear is great and if your are the right build it will fit fantastic. I like the alpha fl shell from their current line.
Current Goretex fabric is long in the tooth and there are smarter and far cheaper options in most cases.
list off the better options ... this is becoming a good thread to go too. that mountain gear stuff isnt cheap either Im sure some broke mofos would like to hear some better options from our tech clothing savy dudes
The best bang for the buck is the REI gear that's in house brand.
They are selling gear and the material is called eVent.
They are saying it's better than Gore-Tex.
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Last time I was in REI I almost started a riot lol had my kennel t shirt on which on the back says " f×÷k Peta " needless to say the staff must have been pro PETAQuote:
Originally Posted by best replica in USA
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I'm a gear junkie...and a watch whore, i admit it.
i also do lightweight mountaineering, was a pro bike racer for a few years, and like to do stupid(wife's thoughts not mine), extreme stuff
so take that's for what it's worth but i'm just trying to say i use the gear for what it's designed for and wear the #$@#$ out of it.
this is highly condensed and in some cases oversimplified but if interested PM me and i can point you in directions of interest...
first off a little about goretex. Gore is a monster of a machine and has monopolized the market and makes it extremely difficult for new tech to emerge. their marketing machine has convinced everyone breathing fabrics are a good thing and they are, if they actually breathe. but if you look at the % of flow compared to, say, a trash bag over you, there's not much difference. in fact, a trash bag will work better especially if you can vent it somehow to keep from overheating. that leads to vapor barrier gear (read about it if interested, it's a game changer for me) which does not breathe but prevents evaporative heat loss and also keeps your insulating layers dry no matter what which could be life saving in some situations.
try wearing some subway sandwich bags underneath your socks on a really cold day and see how much warmer your feet will be...or latex gloves underneath your regular gloves. seriously, it works.
Event is slightly better but nothing radical and if it's way cheaper go for it. mountain hardwear has it's DRY Q elite which is basically event fabric. there are lots of similar like h2no from patagonia or membrane this and that from marmot, north face, etc and all are roughly the same thing. the fabrics and quality vary greatly though and is what separates the men from the boys...not the waterproof tech in most cases. polartec neoshell is another and i've not used it yet but many people think it's a great alternative being much more breathable but still fairly waterproof.
If all you truly want is to stay dry and don't really care about what you look like a poncho is your best friend. frogg toggs make ponchos and also have tops and bottoms for really cheap that work perfectly fine and they are extremely light and packable.
if you just want light rain protection and not downpours, check out windshirts instead. they are way cheaper and super light and pack down to nothing. an example would be the patagonia houdini or arc'teryx squamish jackets
arc'teryx and patagonia (patagucci) are perfect if you have deep pockets or can find their stuff for 50% off. It looks decent on the streets compared to most other high end gear. you have to be careful with their stuff because they have A TON of product line and a lot of it is extremely overpriced for what it is and not as functional as you may think.
the FL shell I mentioned before costs $400 is very lightweight ~10oz, packs down to about the size of an orange, and is water and windproof with a huge hood you can wear a helmet under. it fits very trim and is perfect for athletic build skinny people. i'm 6' and medium fits me like a glove.
other brands that are just as good, if not better, are outdoor research, westcomb - they are what arc'teryx used to be, and Rab.
I prefer OR or patagonia if on sale. both have better customer service than arc'teryx does these days. patagonia likes to preach about how eco friendly they are. OR just makes stuff that works.
Wow, nice...this thread blossomed a bit.
Thanks much for all the replies guys, and bicismith your info is very helpful.
I've heard of Westcomb, gonna look into it.
great info..im in the market for some waterproof jacket. i also love hiking.. have few pair of boots. was going to Nike warehouse last week as i found arc'teryn and patagonia kind of pricey for hiking...but will be buying patagonia as rain coat for work..
backcountry.com has a 20% off coupon you can probably use on patagonia right now. patagonia has a clearance page on their own website that may save you some $. just checked and they have a few rain jacket options.
I've a patagonia coat I use for winter and rain for the city and it's great. It has a zip in synthetic insulated jacket that looks decent enough to wear on it's own when you dont need the shell. both together work in all but the coldest weather. and the shell by itself is a decent rain coat. this is it...
http://www.patagonia.com/us/product/...?p=28520-1-338
Alright guys, did some more research - I guess eVent material jackets are the best right now?
I'm on the warm blooded side, get over-heated pretty quick.
Is a Rab or Westcomb jacket truly worth $400?
I would be wearing it on cool spring days - we like to ride our bikes on trails and such in the Dunes, also take a lot of brisk walks up and down hills.
Thans again for the detailed replies.
Get the event for water protection. If no water then the wind shirt/jacket is a better choice.
You especially as they allow more heat to escape. I can only ride in a waterproof shell if its below freezing to the low 40s otherwise I overheat. But a lot is how hard you are going.
If you go with the event shell make sure it has vents.
I'm in Chicago as well, and love my arc'teryx kappa. Head just north of the Wisconsin border to the outlet mall there...there's an arc'teryx outlet that has stuff 50% off list - got my kappa for $200...
this thread has seriously upgraded to subscribe level for me ,, didnt know anything about goretex besides I always bought my **** with it on it or in it ,, checking out most companies listed here as we speak
Any flyfishing dudes ? Need watters and thinking ll bean should do the trick. Orvis is over priced chinese made stuff
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Thanks much for all the replies guys.
Arc'teryx outlet in Kenosha? Roadtrip!
Arc'teryx had the absolutly best clothes for climbers. Clever solutions, great fabric +++
Therefore, they have a huge fanbase among ppl that are well known for climbing and hiking, securing them alot of free press and kind words.
But honestly, if u are going hiking and not actuall climbing steep walls, there is a LOT of cheaper solutions out there that will do exactly the same job. And, at the same time you will get bether customer support and service for your money. Other companys also have a bether close fit, since Arc'teryx is made by climbers and therefore have a lot of baggy clothes to make it easy to stretch arms/legs.
Also, since I have a chanse to promote something norwegian - the best gear you can get in winter/cold/wet conditions is sold from a norwegian company called bergans:
http://retailer.bergans.com/Clothing...D=982&pageID=1
they have some retailers around USA:
http://locator.bergans.com/#/utenlandske_forhandlere/
This is totally incorrect. Arc'teryx makes some of the most form fitting clothes on the market. It's what they are known for.Quote:
Originally Posted by qed
Climbers dont wear baggy clothes.
perhaps check out cabelas besides ll bean. They sell a lot of that type of gear.Quote:
Originally Posted by TatsNGuns
Yeah - the newer outlet mall at pleasant prairie. Be prepared to go by the north face outlet completely jammed with people trying to look a part, and finding the arc'teryx outlet completely empty...perfect as far as I'm concerned...Quote:
Originally Posted by rek001
Not baggy in the sence of big hiphop pants, but baggy as in easy to move arms/legs in strange positions. Thats extra weight and extra material to drag along if u are not actually climbing. This is a typical fit on a arc-jacket:Quote:
Originally Posted by Bicismith
http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r.../233130940.jpg
http://sonnietrotter.com/wp-content/...guy_091211.jpg
Notice the big arms, and the big waist. If you go down a size, its to short. Its supposed to be what I call baggy. If u are not a climber, I would choose something with a bether fit that looks bether, and is lighter because of less material. Like this (not me):
http://www.hiking-blog.de/wp-content...amicjkt_03.jpg
http://www.hiking-blog.de/wp-content...amicjkt_02.jpg
Arc'terryx are great, i have one. You should also look inteo swedich brand haglöfs
Its crap. no longer and for some time to a serious contender .Its a fashion house for bar stool climbers . You want the very best waterproof ? then you buy Paramo .
Far to many so called" outdoor companies" are just focused on brand image and cool adverts . The company has been sold more times than a illegal chinese prostitute . Buy it if you think it gives you "cred" but a typical jacket costs less than $40 to make
I know this for a fact as i was married to one of the biggest textile "buyers" in the world and she knows her **** .
For all other stuff. REI is good and i love Mountain Hardwear . Goretex is dead in the water these days .
Also i doubt any jacket other than a Paramo will last more than 2 full seasons
fill your boots if you want to look like a hooker on a mountain, but the real men dont touch the stuff
I would like to respectfully disagree.Quote:
Originally Posted by upsidedown
Arc'teryx jackets have been in hard-use for more than the last five years throughout the world. I have an arcteryx alpha jacket and its about 4 years old, worn it through thunderstorms, snow storms, amongst other things and not just in and out of the house/car. So far so good, I cannot say I am the only one who feels this way either.
Other companies have good jackets as well.
I would like to respectfully disagree.Quote:
Originally Posted by upsidedown
Arc'teryx jackets have been in hard-use for more than the last five years throughout the world. I have an arcteryx alpha jacket and its about 4 years old, worn it through thunderstorms, snow storms, amongst other things and not just in and out of the house/car. So far so good, I cannot say I am the only one who feels this way either.
Other companies have good jackets as well.
At first they made ok jackets etc.Nothing better than any other brand ..Then as it moved along a new selection of owners, the company very quickly went from a specialist company to a designer brand product . I have friends still working in the business and they say they are getting higher levels of returns Arc'teryx Jackets due to zip and seam sealing issues . People have a desire to buy it as its marketed well and sold as a high end "Expensive" jacket
by buying it they feel part of a "club"
At first they made ok jackets etc.Nothing better than any other brand ..Then as it moved along a new selection of owners, the company very quickly went from a specialist company to a designer brand product . I have friends still working in the business and they say they are getting higher levels of returns Arc'teryx Jackets due to zip and seam sealing issues . People have a desire to buy it as its marketed well and sold as a high end "Expensive" jacket
by buying it they feel part of a "club"
I googled Paramo, interesting.
What is this "Nikwax" textile they use?
I googled Paramo, interesting.
What is this "Nikwax" textile they use?
I wore an Arc'teryx Theta AR for 7 or 8 years primarily for pedestrian downtown office commute in all all seasons. It held up really well in that time- by the 7th year it was showing some wear. Then some woman drove a truck into me on a crosswalk and destroyed it. So... I'd recommend them to anyone. :)
Its very interesting. Just about most mountain rescue teams and Search and rescue teams ( UK) use them. very very "quiet" material . no issues with seam seals etc as they dont use them ! Incredible fast drying times . Used mine in Iceland for 6 months and it was perfect . I feel far more secure using it than a top of the range Northface , berghaus etc etc . They also are so superior than the others for breathing
Would be interested in trying the paramo but probably not worth it. The waterproof jackets are more than triple the weight of what I use, for one thing. Also, saying they are more breathable than the other stuff out there doesnt really endorse it very well, in my eyes, since those goretex products and the likes are something like 3% better than wearing a plastic trashbag. So in other words, you can save a few hundred bucks and wear a plastic rain coat and be just as wet or dry inside.
well ...guess the navy/airforce search and rescue teams dont know jack **** ... They dont buy kit to look good. They buy it to keep them alive . Goretex is almost 60 years old now . it was cutting edge, but not anymore .Ventile stuff is also excellent .
Fortunately I'm not in the service, and I suspect the majority here are not as well. I'd look to guys setting speed records up Everest before I look at some monkey being told what to wear.
For branding I think Arcteryx is great, but honestly I trash bag will keep you just as dry.
I snowboard a lot and need something breathable. I have three shells: Arcteryx Sidewinder, Burton Gore Tex Cyclic 2L, and a Columbia Omni.
The Omni was $30 at the outlet, and is probably the one I wear the most because I can treat it like crap and it still stands up.
If you're concerned about warmth and staying dry, then get yourself a good fleece midlayer.
If all you want is a softshell and not a hardshell I recommend OR and REI. For the price point its on par with everything else that sells as double the price. If you want to shop online then check our Lowe Alpine off of Sierratradingpost. A lot of great deals.