I Gore-Tex worth it?

[neck beard]

Any of the laminates like Gore will die if you don't wash them.

And any of the repairs will fall apart if I wash them. Lucky I just vent with zips.

I'm not trying to play the sponsored-by-duct-tape-is-cool line either. Once gear gets older, it needs repair (by the fireplace each evening, ready for the next day). Ironed on DT and seal seam works well. But neither likes being washed.

Conclusion: Laminates are not designed with money-poor/face-shot-rich high-use skiers in mind!

And Hugh wears a Gortex double breasted pinstripe suit.

[Micol]

MiCol, I have a pair of softshell pants from Arcteryx that I managed to put several small holes in the outer layer BC skiing near Yosemite last spring. What is the best way to repair them? Would your patches work?

I dont have patches, I have seam tape. I have adhered it to sample fabric (and my own jackets) both on top nylon poly layers (just to see what would happen) and underneath to tricot and micro polar fleece.

I am a former (and current) duct taper. I am not sure if you would like the look of the seam tape on the outside. It seems to work well from the inside so far. You are welcome to a piece. pm an address. You need to make sure you have an industrial no stick cover for your iron. Or, if you are brave you can try to apply with a teflon coated iron. ( I used the industrial cover) .

best to try on some sample fabric first and get the temperature setting correct so that you do not melt the garment. use low heat and slowly increase applying to test fabric till you get proper seal. I can stick some test fabric in envelope too. I just need to know what the back of your arcteryx is made of

[Hugh Conway]

And any of the repairs will fall apart if I wash them.

So spend $10 for a roll of fabric repair tape that'll take a washing or 10. It's the kind of good investment that dirtbags make so the jacket lasts longer, not the ductape kind of symbolism.

FYI: if you are a "real" dirtbag when the Goretex fails from not washing, warranty it, and receive a "free" new jacket or pants

[mmmm...pow!]

Soooo, lots of good info and anecdotes here. So much so that it hasn't helped my decision one bit. It seems like two different pairs of pants would be ideal, but that ain't happening. I tend to buy one pair every few seasons and ride it out until they start disintegrating (jackets seem to last a lot longer). Fuck it, going with the Gore-Tex, it's what I've been using the past several years, works ok, just won't know what I'm missing out on. Thanks for the info, feel free to proceed with the arguments, though.

[Hugh Conway]

If you are hiking/skinning in the Sierra 2 pair of pants are a no brainer. A thinner pant in one of the lighter Schoellers/similar like the Patagucci Guides are awesome in none-storm/spring/summer and then a more waterproof pant/bib for storms

edit: a double zipped PU pant like bodywhomper mentions is great for touring or if you can stand it inbounds

[bodywhomper]

i've used the gore branded patches that have survived many washings and dryer cycles. i've also had similar success using aquaseal. ime, it wasn't too tough to get goretex to delaminate.

OP, a friend of mine, who lives in slt and skis (tours or resort) most days has used two fairly cheap pants for years. cheapest STP-bought schoeller pants and cheap PU coated rain pants. the rain pants are for days when it's baically raining. the schoeller pants are for everything else. he basically lives in these pants and it's worked really well for him. in total, he paid maybe $100 for his 2 pairs and they've held up for several years.

[neck beard]

Hugh, whomper - I'd buy fabric repair tape or a supply of gortex patches in my part of the world if I could get it a little more easily. People don't fix things themselves here very much, and they sure as hell never expect anything new on warranty in return for worn-out. Wish it were so.

A thinner pant in one of the lighter Schoellers/similar like the Patagucci Guides are awesome

They don't look very good in photos. And thats important.

[Hugh Conway]

Hugh, whomper - I'd buy fabric repair tape or a supply of gortex patches in my part of the world if I could get it a little more easily.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NYLON-REPAIR...-/261060761904
not sure about this stuff:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/textile-repa...-/200819010462


the pants look good if you've got that all important tight ass. that's if you don't have money or "smarts"

[neck beard]

...Hugh wears a vapor barrier button down shirt.

ps - just for irrelevant shits and g's, check out the worldwide shipping exclusions on that roll of tape!

[Hugh Conway]

...Hugh wears a vapor barrier button down shirt.

That's Big Steve

[GeezerSteve]

That's Big Steve

Heh. I used to wear one of these, a Stephenson fuzzy stuff VB shirt. Lots of routes with it, including two Rainier summits. There are better ways to go these days.

[I've seen black diamonds!]

Not totally sure, but I think I heard that Big Steve uses vapor barrier toilet paper.

[GeezerSteve]

Toilet paper when there's snow all around me? Bah!

[JRainey]

Toilet paper when there's snow all around me? Bah!

Mountain Wisdom

[JayBruce]

I know I'm in the minority here... but I can't understand why people spend so much coin on ski pants. I'm a total gear whore who has too many technical jackets. But I just can't justify spending alot of money on ski pants. 3 days on em and your edges will have shredded the cuffs, you'll have scrapped them going through trees or climbing over rocks. Something will happen to them. I've got a nice softshell, event, and gore hard shells, but I will always grab the cheapest pants from the clearance rack. I can't personally justify doing anything else.