byronm
Recent Member
Posts: 15
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Post by byronm on Dec 20, 2013 22:42:34 GMT -7
I am looking for a jacket that is functional i.e., inner pockets at chest for phone/p2talk/mp3 etc. and warm down to maybe high single digits. Water resistant with detachable or no hood.
Usually not dealing with the weather some of you Nor Easters do with bone chilling/wet/icy etc. weather. For the most part, the coldest part of my skiing will be done in teen'ish temps. Much colder than that, i.e., single or - digits usually provokes another level of preparedness by at least by this skier.
Ideally something that sans a mid layer underneath would suffice for 30'ish temps yet with a layer of UA cold gear or similar would work down to low teens.
Budget while flexible is $200 or less.
Thoughts appreciated...
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Post by HighAngles on Dec 21, 2013 7:58:13 GMT -7
Try anything by Outdoor Research and if you find it on STP you'll probably hit your price point. I have found the OR stuff to be a great bang for the buck and with all of the skiing features you'll want.
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Post by livingproof on Dec 21, 2013 12:09:32 GMT -7
Byron,
Are you looking for an insulated jacket only, or, a shell where the insulation is your base layers? Insulated ski jackets can be a one-trick pony and get little wear outside of skiing. As you don't ski in very cold weather, shells and soft shells provide a lot more versatility. I've got an OR softshell and, like High Angles, am proponent of that brand. Gore Tex type watherproofing and a hood in a shell give you a lot of wear outside of ski season, but, then we get a lot more rain in the off season.
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byronm
Recent Member
Posts: 15
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Post by byronm on Dec 21, 2013 13:06:28 GMT -7
Thx HA, I will check out the OR stuff. "STP"= Sierra Trading Post? LP...I am thinking maybe soft shell or perhaps just shell. For the most part I have been wearing a cold gear mock T neck, Descente mid layer and an old Izod fleece pullover. I have stayed pretty warm in high twenties/low thirties with that set up. On colder days I have gone to my regular ski jacket which I have unfortunately outgrown...or wait...I think it shrunk... At any rate, if I get too much jacket, I am afraid I won't wear it that much even to ski.
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Post by smackboy1 on Dec 28, 2013 7:42:58 GMT -7
Check these sites out for possible deals: www.zbsports.comwww.steepandcheap.comMe personally, I like to layer. I adjust my base layer and mid layer for warmth i.e. thermal insulation. The outer layer I adjust for wind, water resistance and breathability, not so much for thermal insulation. My soft shells are softer fabrics (less crinkly), a little insulation (fuzzy inside) and breath better for warmer days or where I will sweat more, but they let in more wind and can wet out in a downpour or heavy wet snow (which makes me colder). My soft shells also don't have powder skirts (not an issue for me because I wear bib bottoms. My hard shell protects me from wind and rain keeps the elements out. But there is zero thermal insulation and it can get steamy if I overheat (which is when I open the pit vents). On a really cold, windy, wet day I have the option of wearing my hard shell over my soft shell or a down jacket/sweater (or just staying indoors and keeping up with my ski buds on Peak Skier Zone). If I had to choose only 1 piece, I would get a hard shell. Soft shells are a compromise solution that isn't going to keep you warm and dry on the worst days. Of the soft shell fabrics, Gore-Tex Windstopper is probably the most windproof and waterproof of the lot (but not as good as true hard shell fabric). To make matters really confusing, Gore-Tex has a membrane hard shell material they market as "Soft Shell" along side Pro Shell. It's really just a softer, less crinkly hard shell, not true soft shell fabric.
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byronm
Recent Member
Posts: 15
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Post by byronm on Dec 28, 2013 22:47:57 GMT -7
Thx smackboy....I am looking at an Outdoor Research shell on TGR. Seems like a pretty decent deal if combined with a good midlayer.
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