I've been research for the past three hours and I've come up with a lot of good Jacket choices. Some are super-light. Others are super-puffy. All of them are completely windproof. Basically, they all retail over $250 so they've all got to be pretty darn good. I could really use any advice from you that I can get. I know Mom is big on colors, Belle is keen on prices, Heather usually does a good job balancing the pro and cons, and Stef probably has an opinion on brand names as she has seen a lot of nice outdoor apparel. Y'all get the picture. My biggest concern is that I'll get a medium (which always feels good at the time) but it will turn out to be practically too small. I have the same concern if I get a large, just reversed.
Here are the links in order of the ones I like the best.
1. The Arc'Teryx Venta SV Jacket. This is a REAL winner. I tried it on at Out'n'Back today. Unfortunately, I can't find it on sale anywhere. I did find some similar ones though, which we'll see later. This jacket sports Windstoper technology (basically impenetrable to wind) and has 650g of insulation for warmth (the warmest of the Arc'Teryxs I'll be showing you.)
BTW, the great thing about Arc'Teryx is that it is the Apple of the outdoor sports world: Trendy, super innovative and also overpriced. They invent and implement all the cool stuff for their jackets and then charge the consumer whatever they want. For example, they've engineered the hems in the arms and shoulders so that the jacket moves completely naturally with your body.
"The Venta SV Hoody is ideal for cold, dry alpine environments, delivering the highest level of protection in our Softshell category. Constructed with three distinctly different Windstoper® Soft Shell textiles to enhance comfort and performance characteristics, this Hardshell alternative blocks wind while providing increased breathability for active use on frigid days."
2. The Arc'Teryx Beta SL Jacket. According to the discription, this one might be better than the Venta.
a. Ebay, Black, Lg., $170 ($250)
b. Ebay, Pecan, M., $200 ($300 Rare)
3. The North Face Free Thinker. This is the hardest-core waterproof shell on the market selling for over $550! Granted the one on ebay is an earlier model and the only used jacket I'm looking at, it is the most incredible deal. My only concern is that it is a shell and I have nothing to wear beneath it.
a. Ebay, Red, M. Used., $184
4. The North Face Deception. (I can't find it online. I tried it on at Out'n'Back. It's the only fluffy insulated one I like. It's got a hood and it makes me look thicker than I am--I like that. Oh well.
5. The Mountain Hardwear Alchemy. (Can't find this one either. This was the third and final one I tried on a Out'n'Back.) The owner talked it up like it was THE BEST all-around jacket he had, next to the 7-year-old Arc'Teryx that he was wearing and had wore all around the world. It was nice! ARRGGHH! <---Frustration that I can't find it.
6. The Arc'Teryx Epsilon SV Hoody. "The Epsilon SV is made with a medium-weight Bonded Polyester, providing a moderate level of warmth and displaying exceptional breathability. The structured hood and longer length increase coverage for cold days on skis or trails. Gender specific anatomical patterning."
a. Ebay, Orange, Med., $150
7. The ARC'TERYX SIDEWINDER SV JACKET.
(Definitely built for snow skier/boarders.) "This distinctively designed, GORE-TEX® Pro Shell jacket is the ultimate big mountain shell. The incredible water-beading fabric rebuffs moisture and blocks wind, and the articulated pattering allows total freedom of movement on serious descents."
a. Ebay, Golden (Cool color), Med., Only $109! (Retail $500)
8. The Mountain Hardwear Dragon. I don't like this one as much because it has the least insulation. It can be worn directly on the skin though--cool. It also, like all the rest, has Windstoper TM.
a. Ebay, Black, Lg., $140 (#250)
Check out these two coats that I found from one, english-speaking challenged seller from Rhode Island. Puffy on the inside, awesome on the out. Soft-Shell-too-good-to-be-true. (But can he be trusted?)
These next two North Face Jackets are both fleece and would be purchased in addition to an outer shell. They are not rainproof (90%) like the others, but they are still cool and I want to buy them.
* Blue.
*Charcoal Gray.
ANY INPUT WILL BE HELPFUL. THE FIRST AUCTION ENDS BEFORE NOON TODAY. THANKS.
P.S. I reluctantly voted today for Jon Mc-I'm-Gonna-Innitiate-WWIII.
Here are the links in order of the ones I like the best.
1. The Arc'Teryx Venta SV Jacket. This is a REAL winner. I tried it on at Out'n'Back today. Unfortunately, I can't find it on sale anywhere. I did find some similar ones though, which we'll see later. This jacket sports Windstoper technology (basically impenetrable to wind) and has 650g of insulation for warmth (the warmest of the Arc'Teryxs I'll be showing you.)
BTW, the great thing about Arc'Teryx is that it is the Apple of the outdoor sports world: Trendy, super innovative and also overpriced. They invent and implement all the cool stuff for their jackets and then charge the consumer whatever they want. For example, they've engineered the hems in the arms and shoulders so that the jacket moves completely naturally with your body.
"The Venta SV Hoody is ideal for cold, dry alpine environments, delivering the highest level of protection in our Softshell category. Constructed with three distinctly different Windstoper® Soft Shell textiles to enhance comfort and performance characteristics, this Hardshell alternative blocks wind while providing increased breathability for active use on frigid days."
2. The Arc'Teryx Beta SL Jacket. According to the discription, this one might be better than the Venta.
a. Ebay, Black, Lg., $170 ($250)
b. Ebay, Pecan, M., $200 ($300 Rare)
3. The North Face Free Thinker. This is the hardest-core waterproof shell on the market selling for over $550! Granted the one on ebay is an earlier model and the only used jacket I'm looking at, it is the most incredible deal. My only concern is that it is a shell and I have nothing to wear beneath it.
a. Ebay, Red, M. Used., $184
4. The North Face Deception. (I can't find it online. I tried it on at Out'n'Back. It's the only fluffy insulated one I like. It's got a hood and it makes me look thicker than I am--I like that. Oh well.
5. The Mountain Hardwear Alchemy. (Can't find this one either. This was the third and final one I tried on a Out'n'Back.) The owner talked it up like it was THE BEST all-around jacket he had, next to the 7-year-old Arc'Teryx that he was wearing and had wore all around the world. It was nice! ARRGGHH! <---Frustration that I can't find it.
6. The Arc'Teryx Epsilon SV Hoody. "The Epsilon SV is made with a medium-weight Bonded Polyester, providing a moderate level of warmth and displaying exceptional breathability. The structured hood and longer length increase coverage for cold days on skis or trails. Gender specific anatomical patterning."
a. Ebay, Orange, Med., $150
7. The ARC'TERYX SIDEWINDER SV JACKET.
(Definitely built for snow skier/boarders.) "This distinctively designed, GORE-TEX® Pro Shell jacket is the ultimate big mountain shell. The incredible water-beading fabric rebuffs moisture and blocks wind, and the articulated pattering allows total freedom of movement on serious descents."
a. Ebay, Golden (Cool color), Med., Only $109! (Retail $500)
8. The Mountain Hardwear Dragon. I don't like this one as much because it has the least insulation. It can be worn directly on the skin though--cool. It also, like all the rest, has Windstoper TM.
a. Ebay, Black, Lg., $140 (#250)
Check out these two coats that I found from one, english-speaking challenged seller from Rhode Island. Puffy on the inside, awesome on the out. Soft-Shell-too-good-to-be-true. (But can he be trusted?)
These next two North Face Jackets are both fleece and would be purchased in addition to an outer shell. They are not rainproof (90%) like the others, but they are still cool and I want to buy them.
* Blue.
*Charcoal Gray.
ANY INPUT WILL BE HELPFUL. THE FIRST AUCTION ENDS BEFORE NOON TODAY. THANKS.
P.S. I reluctantly voted today for Jon Mc-I'm-Gonna-Innitiate-WWIII.
Wow Bry, I can tell you've done a LOT of research. But possibly more impressive than that is how you NAILED each of your family members' buying tactics. They are all so true. I'm sad mine is the way it is, but hey, it's true. I am all about the North Face. I will buy it, and recommend it until the day I die. Don't get a red jacket. Maybe you should give me a ring and I'll tell you what I think about each of the options. If not for a NF jacket, I am also a fan of Mountain Hardwear. They are known to be a quality brand that isnt the MOST expensive. I like it a lot. http://www.steepandcheap.com/?CMP_ID=DM_SM520200&MV_PC=R275 here is the link to an outdoor clothes' cheap website that strikes good deals once in a while. LOVE YOU!
ReplyDeleteI'd go with 2a. Call me for more thoughts.
ReplyDeleteI am more and more into the "quality" of a purchase although, seeing as you won't be climbing Mt. Everest or any other such extreme sport, I don't know if ALL the doo-dads are worth the extra hundred or so dollars. Here's what I like:
ReplyDelete6a
7
8 is not bad
the northface ones from english challenged look like a good deal. Don't spend over 200.
Here's the UGLIES:
2b
7a
I am more and more into the "quality" of a purchase although, seeing as you won't be climbing Mt. Everest or any other such extreme sport, I don't know if ALL the doo-dads are worth the extra hundred or so dollars. Here's what I like:
ReplyDelete6a
7
8 is not bad
the northface ones from english challenged look like a good deal. Don't spend over 200.
Here's the UGLIES:
2b
7a