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This feature article was snagged from Having the right shell jacket and
pants can make the difference between a good trip and misery.
The range of options and prices now available in waterproof,
breathable jackets and pants means there’s one that’s right
for almost everyone who expects to sweat and wants to stay
comfortable and warm. If you wear gear that doesn’t breathe,
you not only risk discomfort but increase the risk of
hypothermia because your clothing is damp. Until the last year or so, the main
consideration in buying waterproof, breathable gear was
whether to pay more for GoreTex, the acknowledged leader in
waterproof, breathable fabric. However, now many manufacturers
offer excellent waterproof and breathable fabrics, although
none can yet boast the long-proven durability, popularity and
reliability of GoreTex. Many choose GoreTex because they
know from their experience or others’ that GoreTex will last
many, many years and will remain waterproof, breathable and
wind resistant throughout its life. (Although you may need to
add a new DWR coating–more on that below.) Gore is meticulous
about who uses its fabrics. If you buy GoreTex, you can be
confident that the manufacturer is meeting Gore’s standards in
addition to its own. GoreTex is a good choice for women who
want the utmost in safety and reliability, especially for
mountaineering, backpacking or in other situations where
protection from the elements is crucial. GoreTex outerwear can be
categorized as "two layer (2-ply)" or "three layer (3-ply)."
In the two layer version, the GoreTex is laminated to a
treated outer shell fabric (usually nylon or polyester), and
the jacket is then lined with a mesh or sometimes light fleece
lining. In three layer garments the outer shell, GoreTex layer
and a fine net lining are all laminated together. We think the
two layer versions typically have a softer "hand" and the
three layer versions a slightly beefier feel. Some women don’t
like the free-hanging mesh liner in two-layer jackets, which
can pull a little bit when you put them on over some types of
layers. Some think that three-layer is crunchy. Both types
perform well, although the three-layer version is typically
chosen by serious mountaineers and more technical users, while
the two-layer version is often a favorite for buyers who
expect a lot of city use in addition to backpacking, skiing or
hiking. As we said above, however, GoreTex
is no longer the end-all fabric for good jackets. All the
major manufacturers now offer proprietary fabric alternatives
to GoreTex, many of them very good, and some of them great
values. These two often come in 2-ply and 3-ply versions. Some
of these fabrics have the ability to stretch, which is a
feature we really like. While GoreTex is a laminate, some
waterproof, breathable fabrics are treatments applied to the
fabric itself. These tend to be less expensive, and can be
good values for users who do not expect a lot of hard
wear. Fabric considerations for shell
pants are largely the same as for jackets. For technical
users, full side zips are important so that pants can be
easily put on while wearing boots, crampons or skis, and
opening full side zips part way provides great ventilation.
Notice whether the pants offer a protective side flap over the
zipper. While these can be nice, they also can have velcro
strips that tear at bare hands. We are especially fond of
pants that stretch. For mountaineers and other
"extreme-weather" users, we recommend shell pants with
front-to-back "pee zippers" that allow you to relieve yourself
without dropping your pants. All of these garments are durable,
and all of the manufacturers discussed here offer excellent
warranties in the unlikely event of a problem. All of these
garments can all be washed in the machine and dried in the
drier (not too hot!). Just read and follow the care labels,
and your jackets and pants should last through many
adventures. Bear in mind that many waterproof and breathable
items, including GoreTex, have outer shell fabrics that are
coated with a water repellant coating, known as Durable Water
Repellant, or "DWR". With hard use or on pressure points, the
DWR can wear off, and when that happens the outer fabric may
appear waterlogged, even though the garment itself does not
leak. Simply recoat the fabric with a spray on or wash in DWR
coating such as Nikwax offers, and it should come right back
to beading up water. More questions? question@mountainwoman.com Go to Jackets Go to Pants
.
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