Rab Vapour Rise Lite
12.0 oz. (341g)
This is another one of those pieces that I just always seem to reach for. It is a softshell in it's purest form, though the hooded version (Vapour Rise Lite Tour) would top my list if I did it over. It is very similar in function to the venerable Marmot DriClimb, but with a better shell fabric in my opinion. The liner is Polartec Powerdry; a finely woven, soft material well suited to moving moisture mechanically. The outer fabric (Pertex Equilibrium) makes this jacket in my opinion. It is very wind resistant, dries incredibly fast, and moves moisture mechanically due to capillary action. The inner face of the fabric is of larger diameter and looser weave than the outer face; moisture is naturally drawn outward along a mechanical gradient. If you keep your DWR up to snuff it will be a moisture gradient too.
There are two huge outer pockets and a hem drawcord. There is a drawcord around the neck that I could do without on a hoodless jacket. The velcro on the cuffs is a little more cumbersome than necessary, though not a problem.
This jacket is a perfect midlayer in frigid conditions or active outer layer in cool/cold weather. Even when damp I never feel uncomfortably wet in this jacket. Since I know I can rely on it to dry quickly, it is with me on most spring hunts and summer hiking trips. The sleeves are cut too short for climbing, so it's not an option for that purpose for me.
The shelled micropile is a softshell in it's purest form. Andy Kirkpatrick has a great article about the softshell revolution and how most manufacturers are way off the mark when it comes to their proper function. You can find it here: "The Real Softshell Story" The Vapour Rise and Vapour Rise Lite line exemplify the right mix of breathability, comfort, and weather protection.
The Good:
-Very breathable and dries quickly
-Weather resistant
-Large pockets
-Comfortable enough to sleep in
The Bad:
-The cuffs aren't my favorite and the neck drawcord is extraneous in my opinion
The Bottom Line: The Rab Vapour Rise line is excellent. Rab build quality is good (not great) but the fabrics and design are worth it. Not that expensive either. 9.5/10
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Stretch Woven Softshell Synopsis
This is a brief synopsis of some of the stretch woven softshell (as opposed to shelled micropile and windshirts) materials that I've used. It's obnoxious to wade through all the manufacturer hype on softshell materials. They'd have you believe that every fabric is the best thing you've ever tried for every situation. I'll put together more on other softshell varieties as time allows.
Stretch-Woven's
(approximately from lightest to heaviest)
Schoeller Dynamic: About the stretchiest you can get (but will pill/fuzz up for that reason), very breathable, fairly durable, blocks little wind (less than Polartec Wind Pro, more than regular 100 wt. fleece), dries very fast. Example: REI Mistral
Toray Primeflex: Light, tougher than Dynamic, fairly stretchy. This is the material that Cloudveil used in their Inertia Peak line. It will be used in Kuiu's mountain pant as well.
Schoeller Dryskin: Stretchy, somewhat prone to fuzzing, very breathable, durable, a little more wind/weather resistant than Dynamic, dries very fast. It has a nice interior nap that really helps with moisture transport.
Schoeller Dryskin Extreme: Same as regular Dryskin but with Cordura woven in for durability. My favorite all around stretch woven softshell. Example: Mammut Champ Pant or New Age jacket
Outdoor Research Proprietary--Exos: Very simialr to Dryskin Extreme. Cordura weave. I was told that I had a pair from a mis-woven batch. They fuzzed up relatively quickly. Good performance though, and I would buy again.
Patagonia Guide fabric: No wind blocking membrane, but pretty wind resistant. Very resistant to pilling/fuzzing thanks to a tight outer weave, moderate stretch, moderate drying times. Good breathability and moisture management. Can tear under the wrong conditions (crampons anyone?), which is less than ideal. Good all-arounder.
Polartec Powershield: Stretch-woven outer, light fuzzy inner, and a perforated PU layer sandwiched in the middle. Very tough, a little heavier, less breathable than non-membrane softshells, but good for cool/cold weather; blocks wind well. Any softshell with a windblocking membrane is going to be less breathable and stretchy than otherwise.
Schoeller WB-400: Similar to Polartec Powershield. Stretch woven outer, light fuzzy inner, all bonded together with a windproof membrane in between. Heavier, durable, and nearly windproof. More breathable than most hardshells, but less than other stretch-wovens. Not breathable enough to be a good active layer in my opinion, other than very cold conditions where the temp. gradient from inside to outside of the fabric helps to push moisture.
Schoeller WB Formula: Similar to WB-400, but the membrane is on the outside, and it's waterproof/"breathable". Not really a true softshell. Too heavy and not breathable enough for extremely active use. Makes a good ski jacket in my opinion
Stretch-Woven's
(approximately from lightest to heaviest)
Schoeller Dynamic: About the stretchiest you can get (but will pill/fuzz up for that reason), very breathable, fairly durable, blocks little wind (less than Polartec Wind Pro, more than regular 100 wt. fleece), dries very fast. Example: REI Mistral
Toray Primeflex: Light, tougher than Dynamic, fairly stretchy. This is the material that Cloudveil used in their Inertia Peak line. It will be used in Kuiu's mountain pant as well.
Schoeller Dryskin: Stretchy, somewhat prone to fuzzing, very breathable, durable, a little more wind/weather resistant than Dynamic, dries very fast. It has a nice interior nap that really helps with moisture transport.
Schoeller Dryskin Extreme: Same as regular Dryskin but with Cordura woven in for durability. My favorite all around stretch woven softshell. Example: Mammut Champ Pant or New Age jacket
Outdoor Research Proprietary--Exos: Very simialr to Dryskin Extreme. Cordura weave. I was told that I had a pair from a mis-woven batch. They fuzzed up relatively quickly. Good performance though, and I would buy again.
Patagonia Guide fabric: No wind blocking membrane, but pretty wind resistant. Very resistant to pilling/fuzzing thanks to a tight outer weave, moderate stretch, moderate drying times. Good breathability and moisture management. Can tear under the wrong conditions (crampons anyone?), which is less than ideal. Good all-arounder.
Polartec Powershield: Stretch-woven outer, light fuzzy inner, and a perforated PU layer sandwiched in the middle. Very tough, a little heavier, less breathable than non-membrane softshells, but good for cool/cold weather; blocks wind well. Any softshell with a windblocking membrane is going to be less breathable and stretchy than otherwise.
Schoeller WB-400: Similar to Polartec Powershield. Stretch woven outer, light fuzzy inner, all bonded together with a windproof membrane in between. Heavier, durable, and nearly windproof. More breathable than most hardshells, but less than other stretch-wovens. Not breathable enough to be a good active layer in my opinion, other than very cold conditions where the temp. gradient from inside to outside of the fabric helps to push moisture.
Schoeller WB Formula: Similar to WB-400, but the membrane is on the outside, and it's waterproof/"breathable". Not really a true softshell. Too heavy and not breathable enough for extremely active use. Makes a good ski jacket in my opinion
Monday, March 14, 2011
NW Alpine Black Spider Light and Fast/Light Pant
NW Alpine is a small company operated in Portland, OR; their stuff is very climbing focused and just plain functional mountain gear. Everything is made in small batches, by hand, in Portland. They keep costs low and have solid customer service. This ice season I've been climbing in both the Fast/Light pant and Black Spider Light Hoody.
Fast/Light pant: Slim cut, athletic design--very nice for the movements associated with climbing ice. The fit is reminiscent of the Mammut Champ, but with a lower rise. Some people won't like the low rise, but it works for me. Not going to work if you're built square with extra butt. The fabric is great, particularly for cool-cold weather. It is a proprietary stretch woven; reminds me of Schoeller Dyanmic but with a harder face weave that should hold up well. More wind resistant too. I climbed comfortably with nothing but wool boxers underneath on a sub-zero ice day this winter. An inner nap (a la Dryskin Extreme) would be nice for warmer days, but this is an alpine pant and they breathe very well, so not really essential. Stitching and workmanship are excellent (imagine ID, but NW Alp. is better at sewing in a straight line). Good DWR and grommets for shock cord and skipping the gaiters.
So far: 9.5/10
Kept me good to go on a few snowy days out:
Black Spider Light Hoody: Earlier this year NW Alpine came out with a top called the Black Spider, similar to the R1 Hoody but with better workmanship and for about half the price. They sold out fast, but they put together a lighter weight version that is better suited to me personally. I find the R1 weight to be a little warm for my taste unless it's far below 0. This is an awesome mid-layer: versatile, breathable, and comfortable. The fit is slim on this piece as well, so if you think you might want to size up, you probably do. Cannot be beat for the price
So Far: 10/10
Photo: NW Alpine
NW Alpine makes everything in small batches so availability is pretty limited. They are always working on new runs and new gear, so I try to pay attention to their blog for what's going on. For the record I have no personal ties with them--if it wasn't good stuff I'd have no reason to tell you it was. Give them a call or e-mail with questions or feedback.
Fast/Light pant: Slim cut, athletic design--very nice for the movements associated with climbing ice. The fit is reminiscent of the Mammut Champ, but with a lower rise. Some people won't like the low rise, but it works for me. Not going to work if you're built square with extra butt. The fabric is great, particularly for cool-cold weather. It is a proprietary stretch woven; reminds me of Schoeller Dyanmic but with a harder face weave that should hold up well. More wind resistant too. I climbed comfortably with nothing but wool boxers underneath on a sub-zero ice day this winter. An inner nap (a la Dryskin Extreme) would be nice for warmer days, but this is an alpine pant and they breathe very well, so not really essential. Stitching and workmanship are excellent (imagine ID, but NW Alp. is better at sewing in a straight line). Good DWR and grommets for shock cord and skipping the gaiters.
So far: 9.5/10
Kept me good to go on a few snowy days out:
Black Spider Light Hoody: Earlier this year NW Alpine came out with a top called the Black Spider, similar to the R1 Hoody but with better workmanship and for about half the price. They sold out fast, but they put together a lighter weight version that is better suited to me personally. I find the R1 weight to be a little warm for my taste unless it's far below 0. This is an awesome mid-layer: versatile, breathable, and comfortable. The fit is slim on this piece as well, so if you think you might want to size up, you probably do. Cannot be beat for the price
So Far: 10/10
NW Alpine makes everything in small batches so availability is pretty limited. They are always working on new runs and new gear, so I try to pay attention to their blog for what's going on. For the record I have no personal ties with them--if it wasn't good stuff I'd have no reason to tell you it was. Give them a call or e-mail with questions or feedback.
Rab Latok Gloves
Rab Latok Glove
5.3 oz. (149g)
The Rab Latok is a great climbing glove and a very good hunting glove. It's as dexterous as any other well-insulated glove, and in a world where it has to be far below zero before I can put up with a mitt, it fits my needs nicely. It has a fairly short gauntlet, but will seal over cuffs. The palms are a sort of suede with a sticky rubber (stickier than the Rab Phantom Grip) that is nice for binos, stocks, ice tools, etc. in cold weather. Since it is fairly soft, the rubber will wear before anything else, but they are still very serviceable without it. The back is a light, proprietary stretch woven softshell material.
One thing that sets these gloves apart is the eVent membrane. In typical insulated gloves, moisture accumulates so fast (even in cold conditions) that its easy to wet out the insulation--and they take forever to dry. eVent moves your sweat faster than any other waterproof/breathable under any moisture regime; this is not true of Gore-tex in any conformation or nearly any other membrane on the market.
In a perfect world I would never shoot in these gloves. They are certainly the bulkiest handwear I'd consider doing so in, but it can be done.
It's worth noting that the newer version of these have a completely black palm, no pink at all.
The Good:
-Dexterous for the amount of insulation
-Good wicking liner
-Sticky palms
-Gauntlet not overdone
-eVent
The Bad:
-Rab build quality is good but not great
The bottom line: For cold weather use in snowy or slushy conditions I reach for these every time. While not perfect, I've yet to find a glove this warm, dexterous, and breathable in one package. 9/10
5.3 oz. (149g)
The Rab Latok is a great climbing glove and a very good hunting glove. It's as dexterous as any other well-insulated glove, and in a world where it has to be far below zero before I can put up with a mitt, it fits my needs nicely. It has a fairly short gauntlet, but will seal over cuffs. The palms are a sort of suede with a sticky rubber (stickier than the Rab Phantom Grip) that is nice for binos, stocks, ice tools, etc. in cold weather. Since it is fairly soft, the rubber will wear before anything else, but they are still very serviceable without it. The back is a light, proprietary stretch woven softshell material.
One thing that sets these gloves apart is the eVent membrane. In typical insulated gloves, moisture accumulates so fast (even in cold conditions) that its easy to wet out the insulation--and they take forever to dry. eVent moves your sweat faster than any other waterproof/breathable under any moisture regime; this is not true of Gore-tex in any conformation or nearly any other membrane on the market.
In a perfect world I would never shoot in these gloves. They are certainly the bulkiest handwear I'd consider doing so in, but it can be done.
It's worth noting that the newer version of these have a completely black palm, no pink at all.
The Good:
-Dexterous for the amount of insulation
-Good wicking liner
-Sticky palms
-Gauntlet not overdone
-eVent
The Bad:
-Rab build quality is good but not great
The bottom line: For cold weather use in snowy or slushy conditions I reach for these every time. While not perfect, I've yet to find a glove this warm, dexterous, and breathable in one package. 9/10
Friday, March 11, 2011
Rab Phantom Grip Gloves
The Rab Phantom Grip gloves are the only pair of gloves that I use extensively in all four season. They are light (2.0 oz./pair), comfortable, and fit my hand just right. Aside from the cut, which may or may not work for you, the fabric makes these tick. In my opinion, Polartec Windpro is one of the most underrated fabrics for active mid layers, hats, and gloves. It blocks wind fairly well, but breathes and dries out WAY better than anything with a windproof membrane. The palms are covered with a rubber grid for grip--unfortunately in cold weather the rubber stiffens up a fair amount and doesn't provide the consistent performance of leather palms. Not a huge deal for hunting, but for climbing it can be a problem.
The trade-off is that you get amazing dexterity and very good performance in cool weather. The fabric weave has a hard enough face to shed light, cold snow. The is one of the only gloves that I am very comfortable shooting in. Above about 10* these are my go to glove for leading ice. I carry two pairs and keep one next to my torso to dry out/stay warm.
Unfortunately, Rab's build quality has really gone downhill with many of their products. They are still on par with Mountain Hardwear, Marmot, etc., but are no longer near the top of the game in terms of workmanship. That said, they make decent stuff at relatively reasonable prices and have a broad, well-thought out line.
The Good:
-Light
-Breathe well and dry fast
-Very dextrous
-Shed light weather
The Bad:
-Lose some "stickiness" in the cold. Some decrease is to be expected, but I think they should have used softer rubber
-Build quality is OK. I blew a seam on one pair after a couple of months.
Bottom Line: Great glove for hunting and active use. Could be more durable. The dexterity is awesome and worth the costs to me. 7.5/10
The trade-off is that you get amazing dexterity and very good performance in cool weather. The fabric weave has a hard enough face to shed light, cold snow. The is one of the only gloves that I am very comfortable shooting in. Above about 10* these are my go to glove for leading ice. I carry two pairs and keep one next to my torso to dry out/stay warm.
Unfortunately, Rab's build quality has really gone downhill with many of their products. They are still on par with Mountain Hardwear, Marmot, etc., but are no longer near the top of the game in terms of workmanship. That said, they make decent stuff at relatively reasonable prices and have a broad, well-thought out line.
The Good:
-Light
-Breathe well and dry fast
-Very dextrous
-Shed light weather
The Bad:
-Lose some "stickiness" in the cold. Some decrease is to be expected, but I think they should have used softer rubber
-Build quality is OK. I blew a seam on one pair after a couple of months.
Bottom Line: Great glove for hunting and active use. Could be more durable. The dexterity is awesome and worth the costs to me. 7.5/10
Hilleberg Nallo 2 GT and Big Agnes String Ridge 2
Here is a link to a review I did a couple of years ago on Rick's site. It compares the Hilleberg Nallo 2 GT and Big Agnes String Ridge 2. Lots of pictures and it was about as thorough as I care to be.
Hilleberg Nallo 2 GT and Big Agnes String Ridge
I'm a big fan of Hilleberg shelters and you'll see more of them on here in the future.
Hilleberg Nallo 2 GT and Big Agnes String Ridge
I'm a big fan of Hilleberg shelters and you'll see more of them on here in the future.
Integral Designs Hot Socks
The ID Hot Socks are basically like a Primalid for your feet. My pair weighs 4.7 ounces and are good medicine for somebody who gets cold feet easily. The bulk of the fabric is Pertex P565, which has a soft feel but is fairly tough (ripstop weave, etc.). The top band and back are the same stretchy fleece that's on the Primalid. The bottoms are 500d Cordura and can handle tent or hut time and the occasional walk to relieve yourself in the night. The fill is 4 oz. Primaloft Sport; a little thicker than the Primalid.
Some down booties have a slightly stiffened sole, these do not. This makes them a much better choice for use inside of a sleeping bag. After a few days out, one of the first places that your bag loses loft is in the foot (particularly in tight quarters). Hot socks help balance the loss and add a lot of comfort for the weight. I do, however, generally consider them a luxury item.
If bringing them, I pack these inside of my sleeping bag and put them on at night after drying my feet and removing wet socks. If I have spare socks along, a dry pair coupled with the hot socks is tough to beat. They also make decent puppets if you have small children along.
The Good:
-Very comfortable
-Good workmanship and materials
-Decent warmth:weight ratio
The Bad:
-None to date
Bottom Line: Simple, functional, and warm. Fairly light. Not for every trip or person, but if you can spare a few ounces they make tent life a little more enjoyable. If you plan to stand around in them much, cut some "insoles" out of 1/4" Evazote and drop them in for a little more insulation. 10/10
Some down booties have a slightly stiffened sole, these do not. This makes them a much better choice for use inside of a sleeping bag. After a few days out, one of the first places that your bag loses loft is in the foot (particularly in tight quarters). Hot socks help balance the loss and add a lot of comfort for the weight. I do, however, generally consider them a luxury item.
If bringing them, I pack these inside of my sleeping bag and put them on at night after drying my feet and removing wet socks. If I have spare socks along, a dry pair coupled with the hot socks is tough to beat. They also make decent puppets if you have small children along.
The Good:
-Very comfortable
-Good workmanship and materials
-Decent warmth:weight ratio
The Bad:
-None to date
Bottom Line: Simple, functional, and warm. Fairly light. Not for every trip or person, but if you can spare a few ounces they make tent life a little more enjoyable. If you plan to stand around in them much, cut some "insoles" out of 1/4" Evazote and drop them in for a little more insulation. 10/10
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