Alternatives to The North Face?

[mcmilljb]

THANKS TO WHOMEVER BUMPED THIS!

http://www.scottevest.com/

Gives me a chance to show off my new favorite clothing company.
I have the windbreaker and fleece pullover. Love them. Multiple pockets on the right and left side should be standard in mens jackets.

They're even IPad Compatible!

 

[shortylickens]

They're even IPad Compatible!

FUCK APPLE!

 

[zoiks]

http://www.shop.thesouthbutt.net/

 

[dr150]

For your needs, I recommend a good value gore-tex jacket as it's still more breathable than most other shells aside of Event.

Below are jackets from Cabelas which makes great stuff at affordable prices. Check it out:


Best price on Gore-tex Paclite:
http://www.cabelas.com/product/Cabe...&Ntt=paclite&WTz_l=Header;Search-All Products

Traditional Gore-tex (has a zip-in fleece as available option):
http://www.cabelas.com/product/Clot..._stype=GNU&WTz_l=SBC;BRprd724148;cat104091480

Optional Zip-In Liner:
http://www.cabelas.com/catalog/product.jsp?productId=749913

 

[The_Dude8]

THANKS TO WHOMEVER BUMPED THIS!

http://www.scottevest.com/

Gives me a chance to show off my new favorite clothing company.
I have the windbreaker and fleece pullover. Love them. Multiple pockets on the right and left side should be standard in mens jackets.

with more pockets, you tend to put more craps in there, and it will weight you down when you're moving, specially the jacket that has the build in ipad pocket.

 

[shortylickens]

with more pockets, you tend to put more craps in there, and it will weight you down when you're moving, specially the jacket that has the build in ipad pocket.

No.
YOU tend to do that, but thats just cuz you SUCK!

I kid, I kid!
No really though, your argument is full of logic fail.

 

[bhanson]

I don't know anything about coats but I have a Columbia coat I bought at an outlet years ago that I'm happy with.

Everything at the outlet was super cheap.

 

[The_Dude8]

OP, have you consider cloudveil jackets?

o2gear.com has cloudveil jackets on sale at 50% off msrp.

http://www.o2gearshop.com/catalog/index.php?manufacturers_id=158&gclid=CNyttpTLuKYCFRRKgwodvm9KIw

The hoback or the kroven are both great jackets that are waterproof and windproof as well.

 

[Scarpozzi]

I bought a GoreTex shell from REI in 2001 that's still holding up. I just throw it in the dryer with rejuvex every other season...it's dirty and does leak a little when out in heavy downpour, but for an almost 10 year medium-weight shell is good.

Honestly, you need to go shop around and see what's out there. Marmot makes good stuff...REI makes good stuff....North Face & Mtn Hardware is good...but these days you never know what country things are made in or what quality the stitching/seals are going to be until you wear it for a few months.

 

[drinkmorejava]

I have a Patagonia "Guide" soft shell. It's lighter, warmer, and repels water better than my fleece northface "windwall". Also fits better as Patagonia's have longer torsos.

Of course, I take it that you're talking about a waterproof hard shell, in which case, I have no idea.

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

The local EMS had a Mountain Hardware Exposure II Parka, for $225.

I inspected it closely and other than a thinner material, it is pretty much exactly like the EMS shell that I lost. But the thinner material is pretty much par for the course these days it seems. I asked a saleperson if it would hold up well to the wind and I got a firm yes. The guy seemed knowledgable and we talked about a few other things.

So far I am very happy. It is much better than the PoS my wife bought me for $75. It's nice to have a hood held on by more than velcro . It has a snow skirt (or whatever the heck it is called) like my old jacket. The hood can be pulled around my head so not much more than my eys/nose are exposed. Fleece pockets are an upgrade from my old jacket. I still think my old jacket was slightly better but I can't complain for the price I paid.

To those not knowledgable, it also has better stitching. So? Well that better stitching means better resistance to wind. Any $200+ jacket probably meets this criteria though.

I appreciate everyones help. If no one mentioned Moountain Hardware I would have not even looked at them. And I am still shocked at what crap EMS branded stuff is these days.

LINK:
http://www.mountainhardwear.com/Exposure-II%E2%84%A2-Parka/OM0555,default,pd.html

They had it in dark blue (they call it saphire)/black.

 

[Zargon]

nice! mountain hardware does make some good stuff

Just go get a Columbia or other brand fleece that will fit your shell. A Columbia fleece might have the little loop on the sleeve to keep it from sliding, but it's not a deal breaker if the other brand doesn't.

yeah something that is zip-in and the attachments on the arms would be great.

I found one last year, but they wanted 200 for it, and uh....I paid about 150 on clearance for the jacket w/liner about 7 years ago...so I wasnt about to do that D:

some googling has found they are reasonable again

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

Forgot to mention that i still have the fleece that is normally a zip in fleece from 10 eyars ago. A little dirty, but I will use it with my Mountain Hardare shell/Parka.

 

[GoSharks]

To those not knowledgable, it also has better stitching. So? Well that better stitching means better resistance to wind. Any $200+ jacket probably meets this criteria though.

Anything that is labeled as waterproof will be windproof. The quality of stitching has nothing to do with it, as waterproof stitches will be sealed on the backside with seam tape.

 

[dr150]

Keep in mind that any laminate that is not Gore-Tex or eVent will breathe like shit.

As a casual jacket where you barely move (i.e. car to supermarket), it shouldn't be that big of a deal. But if you hike, ski or do anything with movement, the laminate will make you feel like a sauna.

.....Any "proprietary" laminates from Mtn. Hardware, N. Face, Patagonia, etc are weak in the breathability dept. versus Gore-tex/Event. Waterproofness also is also weaker with wet-thru in extended heavy rain and also apt to internal condensation due to lack of breathability in humid conditions. Keep in mind that these proprietary laminates are these brand's "budget" line. They will usually always offer the Gore-tex or eVent stuff as their premium line and it's definitely worth the premium price imho due to it's substantially better performance.

With sales you should be able to get a better jacket (i.e. eVent/Gore-Tex) within your budget....

 

[herm0016]

Keep in mind that any laminate that is not Gore-Tex or eVent will breathe like shit.

As a casual jacket where you barely move (i.e. car to supermarket), it shouldn't be that big of a deal. But if you hike, ski or do anything with movement, the laminate will make you feel like a sauna.

.....Any "proprietary" laminates from Mtn. Hardware, N. Face, Patagonia, etc are weak in the breathability dept. versus Gore-tex/Event. Waterproofness also is also weaker with wet-thru in extended heavy rain and also apt to internal condensation due to lack of breathability in humid conditions. Keep in mind that these proprietary laminates are these brand's "budget" line. They will usually always offer the Gore-tex or eVent stuff as their premium line and it's definitely worth the premium price imho due to it's substantially better performance.

With sales you should be able to get a better jacket (i.e. eVent/Gore-Tex) within your budget....

we are going to need some evidence.

i do not believe that gor-tex or e-vent is so much better than everything else

 

[GoSharks]

we are going to need some evidence.

i do not believe that gor-tex or e-vent is so much better than everything else

They are.

http://iopscience.iop.org/0957-0233/14/8/328/pdf/0957-0233_14_8_328.pdf
http://web.archive.org/web/20040719025505/http:/asc2004.com/23rdASC/summaries/g/GP-21.pdf
http://www.verber.com/mark/outdoors/gear/breathability.pdf

 

[rgwalt]

Patagonia...

Seconded

 

[wiredspider]

why would they steal your jacket/shell?

 

[maddogchen]

They are.

http://iopscience.iop.org/0957-0233/14/8/328/pdf/0957-0233_14_8_328.pdf
http://web.archive.org/web/20040719025505/http:/asc2004.com/23rdASC/summaries/g/GP-21.pdf
http://www.verber.com/mark/outdoors/gear/breathability.pdf

my jacket has Omni-Tech by Columbia...which I guess in the charts means its consistently...bad?

 

[Howard]

The Ass Face

 

[SSSnail]

Check out tumi tech, pretty nice.

 

[dr150]

my jacket has Omni-Tech by Columbia...which I guess in the charts means its consistently...bad?

The Columbia stuff is dogshit as far as I'm concerned. My wife's top-line Columbia "waterproof" jacket completely soaked through after less than 2 hours in the rain--if I could get my money back, I would! Nice jacket, but complete crap when it came to rain protection. Thankfully, my wife wore merino layers so she stayed warm in the tepid temperature rain.

My wife now has a Gore-Tex Paclite jacket from Cabelas that has been bulletproof in 4+ hour downpours at football games!

 

[shortylickens]

The Columbia stuff is dogshit as far as I'm concerned. My wife's top-line Columbia "waterproof" jacket completely soaked through after less than 2 hours in the rain--if I could get my money back, I would! Nice jacket, but complete crap when it came to rain protection. Thankfully, my wife wore merino layers so she stayed warm in the tepid temperature rain.

My wife now has a Gore-Tex Paclite jacket from Cabelas that has been bulletproof in 4+ hour downpours at football games!

Which is funny cuz a 10 dollar rain coat from walmart would work better than any of that stuff.

 

[NetWareHead]

Which is funny cuz a 10 dollar rain coat from walmart would work better than any of that stuff.

The $10 dollar rain coat is made of pure plastic which cannot breathe. Sure it is waterproof but you get all clammy and sweaty underneath it. That is the value of Gore-tex and eVent. Breathable while being waterproof