Need help With Choosing Jacket

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Messages 1 - 30 of total 30 in this topic
bvb

Social climber
flagstaff arizona
Topic Author's Original Post - Jan 17, 2013 - 02:57pm PT
#1 son turns 20 on 1/22 and his old patagonia ski jacket is finished, done, kaput. I've never skied and never will. The choices out there are bewildering. He needs something for sking, winter backcontry camping, sub-zero Flagstaff excrsions to the Pay N' Take, and generally living the sw0le life. I've looked at Marmot, Patagonia, Arctyrex, North Face, etc. and am jst fcking lost. Suggestions? Looking in the ~$500.00 range.
bvb

Social climber
flagstaff arizona
Topic Author's Reply - Jan 17, 2013 - 03:05pm PT
Serious inquiries only. I supplicate myself before you on the altar of n00bdom.
G_Gnome

Trad climber
Pebble Wrestling.... Badly lately.
Jan 17, 2013 - 03:17pm PT
You can never go wrong with Dead Bird clothing but it is damn expensive.
RyanD

climber
Squamish
Jan 17, 2013 - 03:22pm PT
Arcteryx
North Face
Helly Hansen
Patagonia


Buy one of these brands, they all have awesome warranties & quality products, get the most waterproof, wind proof shell you can. Taped seams & zippers are a must. Some shells have lightweight down isolator jackets that you can purchase with them for added insulation effectively giving you 2 jackets in 1 allowing you many layering options. I've had this system for the past few years & love it.


Edit- I wasn't clear above but the isolator has an interface that lets it zip in to the shell effectively turning it into an insulated jacket.
Michelle

Trad climber
Toshi's Station, picking up power converters.
Jan 17, 2013 - 03:44pm PT
I lovelove Cloudveil.
The Dunk

Social climber
Lost
Jan 17, 2013 - 04:00pm PT
Hmmm... There is no silver bullet here that does everything in any condition. I'd recommend a bomber hard-shell as you can layer under it as needed and it will cover you when it gets wet and miserable.

I've been a ski instructor / trainer for many years and seen a lot of jackets and shells - uniform and otherwise. My favorite in a loooong time (and current) is from Ground Clothing. Of all the shells I've been through it has the most logical design as it all works (pockets, etc.) if you happen to be wearing a pack and/or harness. Top shelf construction too. I'd avoid stuff designed specifically for skiing or boarding as they tend to be badly insulated and not versatile for other things. I have an early version of this and love it:
http://www.groundwear.com/showprod.php?idnum=11016111933

Cheers!
atchafalaya

Boulder climber
Jan 17, 2013 - 04:04pm PT
http://www.stio.com/mens-environ-jacket
stevep

Boulder climber
Salt Lake, UT
Jan 17, 2013 - 04:12pm PT
Hard to go wrong with Arcteryx.
weezy

climber
Jan 17, 2013 - 04:12pm PT
pit zips are stupid and useless
bvb

Social climber
flagstaff arizona
Topic Author's Reply - Jan 17, 2013 - 04:32pm PT
My freind Holly who was Kyle's ski coach when he was on the Flagstaff Alpine Ski Team has suggested a Patagonia Primo Jacket. Feel free to opine. Bro deal is available so the absurd price tag is NBD. Not stuck on it 'cause I'm not qualified to judge, jst throwing it out there.
cliffhanger

Trad climber
California
Jan 17, 2013 - 05:17pm PT
For well below zero: Woolrich Arctic Parka on sale for $240 (reg. $400):

http://www.campsaver.com/arctic-parka-men-s

Good deal for $120 - Burton Arctic Jacket:

http://www.evo.com/outlet/insulated-jackets/burton-arctic-jacket-3.aspx



kunlun_shan

Mountain climber
SF, CA
Jan 17, 2013 - 05:23pm PT
If price is NBD, I'd go for the Patagonia Primo, or the Patagonia Super Alpine Jacket. Both are top notch, imo.
bvb

Social climber
flagstaff arizona
Topic Author's Reply - Jan 17, 2013 - 06:18pm PT
Thx all, gittin teh Primo. Sizing runs huge, apparently.
WyoRockMan

Trad climber
Flank of the Bighorns
Jan 17, 2013 - 06:18pm PT
bvb,

I've been using this shell for a while now:

http://www.mountainhardwear.com/Men's-Girdwood%E2%84%A2-Jacket/OM4829,default,pd.html

The DryQ fabric breathes well and definitely cuts the wind. The price is right as well (Sierra Trading had them for $250ish).

JT
sween345

climber
back east
Jan 17, 2013 - 06:42pm PT
bvb,

Check your PMs
bvb

Social climber
flagstaff arizona
Topic Author's Reply - Jan 17, 2013 - 08:11pm PT
Got it sween.
10b4me

Boulder climber
Somewhere on 395
Jan 18, 2013 - 11:04am PT

You can never go wrong with Dead Bird clothing but it is damn expensive.

+1
Steve Grossman

Trad climber
Seattle, WA
Jan 18, 2013 - 11:25am PT
Eddie are you kidding?

Full Metal player!

phylp

Trad climber
Millbrae, CA
Jan 18, 2013 - 01:20pm PT
You are a good Dad!
couchmaster

climber
pdx
Jan 18, 2013 - 03:19pm PT
First Ascent, the Eddie Bauer mountaineering company, makes world class stuff and is having a kick assed sale right now. Their microtherm down shirt is super light but warm for rock climbing or backcountry skiing as a layer, and is on sale for only $99. 800 fill Euro down. Great price. For downhill skiing you can go heavier and get a better shell.

http://www.eddiebauer.com/catalog/product.jsp?ensembleId=43502&&categoryId=28068&categoryName=JACKETS-AND-PARKAS&pCategoryId=16&pCategoryName=OUTERWEAR--BLAZERS&gpCategoryId=2&gpCategoryName=MEN&ggpCategoryId=1&ggpCategoryName=EB&catPath=~~categoryId=28068~~categoryName=JACKETS-AND-PARKAS~~pCategoryId=16~~pCategoryName=OUTERWEAR--BLAZERS~~gpCategoryId=2~~gpCategoryName=MEN~~ggpCategoryId=1~~ggpCategoryName=EB&viewAll=n&pg=1&cmPathInfo=null

http://www.eddiebauer.com/EB/Sale/index.cat

This thing. They have a hooded version for a tad more change. Good stuff.


ElCapPirate

Big Wall climber
Reno, Nevada
Jan 18, 2013 - 03:37pm PT
If you want to know about Patagonia products. Go to http://www.patagonia.com
and click on the chat feature.

Cheers!
the Fet

climber
Tu-Tok-A-Nu-La
Jan 18, 2013 - 03:52pm PT
When I was your son's age decades back I asked my parents for a North Face jacket it was what all the cool kids in the ski movies were wearing.

On Christmas I opened a box with.. a North Face jacket. But under it was a Helly Hansen jacket. They said the guy at the shop said it was better. I tried them both for about 1/2 day each and agreed. The Helly Hansen was better, more comfortable, more features, lighter, softer. I returned the North Face one.

So that's an option, check the return policies, buy him a couple/few and let him pick his favorite.

After that Helly, my next was another Helly, now I'm on a Marmot. Often getting a good deal is a major factor. I don't think I've paid over $150 for a jacket.
bvb

Social climber
flagstaff arizona
Topic Author's Reply - Jan 18, 2013 - 04:10pm PT
Yeah, when those Brits fired Jannu without tents back in the mid-70's they were using Helly Hanson and Mountain Eqiupment gear. Good call, I'll check that out.
klk

Trad climber
cali
Jan 18, 2013 - 05:02pm PT
#1 son turns 20 on 1/22

omfg

man it goes fast
Lynne Leichtfuss

Sport climber
moving thru
Jan 18, 2013 - 05:50pm PT
Didn't see RAB mentioned. Great company from the UK and makes excellent products. I know cause we sell them at Nomad Ventures. Cheers, Dude, and I agree you are a great Daddy! lynne
bvb

Social climber
flagstaff arizona
Topic Author's Reply - Jan 18, 2013 - 06:05pm PT
man it goes fast

It gets worse, Kerwin. Hanna became a teenager this month and is rocking mascara and an iPad, taking guitar lessons, wants a Fender Strat, and after skiing since she could walk is transitioning into snowboards. wtf? Can we go back to '85 so I can spill champagne on your floor then we'll barnstorm Neuvo on NYD with crushing hangovers?
ElCapPirate

Big Wall climber
Reno, Nevada
Jan 18, 2013 - 07:38pm PT
Also, use the promo code: DEEPSNOW to get up to 30% off at the Patagonia website. This is for friends and family ONLY, so if you're not a friend...

joking about that last part.

Ha ha!
McKenzie Long

climber
Mammoth Lakes, California
Mar 21, 2013 - 05:05pm PT
This may be a little late, but OutdoorGearLab just finished a ski jacket review. It is a women's review, but the men's is coming soon!

http://www.outdoorgearlab.com/Ski-Jacket-Womens-Reviews

Your son might be interested in the men's equivalent of the winner, the Patagonia Primo Down, which would be excellent for both skiing and winter camping:
http://www.outdoorgearlab.com/Ski-Jacket-Womens-Reviews/Patagonia-Primo-Down-Jacket-Womens

Hope you both are having fun out there!
McKenzie Long

climber
Mammoth Lakes, California
Apr 4, 2013 - 01:40pm PT
The Best Men's Ski Jacket: Found!

http://www.outdoorgearlab.com/Ski-Jacket-Reviews
G_Gnome

Trad climber
Pebble Wrestling.... Badly lately.
Apr 4, 2013 - 02:56pm PT
Imagine that!!! If you spend $650 on a jacket it is actually better than the ones that cost less than half that. But not by much. Stoopid reviews.
Messages 1 - 30 of total 30 in this topic
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