jon2880421,
Thanks for your question. If I am not mistaken, the update to this model of Diez Jacket outside of the fill power moving from 800 to 900 is the upgrade of the face fabric to a Pertex branded fabric. Pertex is often regarded as having the best down proof fabrics on the market. I hope this is helpful for you.

Joe,
Thanks for your question. The Mammut Nordwand pant falls into the more Alpine/Fitted/Athletic category. I would recommend sizing up in order to get a bit more room throughout that portion of the pant for your knee braces. I hope this is helpful for you.

Michael,
Thanks for your question. I too have practiced Bikram Yoga and understand the stress the "hot room" can put on your clothing. You could give the Expert or Stabilyx tight a try for this application. If you are looking specifically for a short, opposed to a full length tight, look at the CW-X Pro Short or the Stabilyx Ventilator Short. I would probably suggest the Stabilyx Ventilator short for your purposes. I hope this is helpful for you.

Eric,
Thanks for your question. If you are looking for the top end of the CW-X family, check out the Revolution tight. There is a full length tight, and a brand new 3/4 length Revolution knicker that will be arriving for the Spring 2012 season. The Revolution series features seamless construction for the CW-X support web, opposed to how the web is constructed in the Pro and Stabilyx series. I hope this is helpful for you.

P,
Thanks for your question. For the Spring 12 season we will be carrying black, grecian blue, and mango in the Patagonia R1 hood for men. The Spring 2012 colors are delivering now. I hope this is helpful for you.

Thomas,
Thanks for your question. The main difference between the Greenwich and Half Dome pullover hood from The North Face is the Half Dome logo is embroidered on the Greenwich, opposed to a screen print on the Half Dome hoody. I hope this is helpful for you.

Peter,
Thanks for your question. Regarding the contrast between the men's Chilliwack and Yorkville parka's from Canada Goose, you are correct. The only significant difference between the two styles is the detachable hood found on the Yorkville versus fixed hood on the Chilliwack. All other features and fit and comparable between the two. I hope this is helpful for you.

Brent,
Thanks for your question. Regarding the Millet fit, I disagree with the previous post in Millet running true to size. Millet garments feature a pretty true Alpine cut similar to Arcteryx, but a bit on the smaller side in my opinion. I am 5'10" 135 lbs and am a pretty true medium in nearly all brands. I own the Millet Trilogy Limited jacket and have a size Large which fits great. if you are in doubt I would size up.

Once you get the fit dialed, you will be very pleased with the performance of this shell. Gore Active shell is a nice technology addition to the Gore stable of Pro Shell and Paclite. The Millet Trilogy is an outstanding hardshell and extremely stylie to boot. I hope this is helpful for you.

Rico,
Thanks for your question. Per the other post, please check to see if you have a powder skirt in the Alpha SV you received.

The reason you will not find Alpha SV Tall on the Arcteryx site is this is an Arcteryx product exclusive to backcountry.com for the Fall 11/Winter 2012 season in the states.

backcountry.com will work with you regardless to make sure you received the right piece of gear. I hope this is helpful for you.

Dave,
Thanks for your question. The Sabre pant from Arcteryx is available in a tall inseam, however backcountry.com does not stock that inseam length in this particular pant model from Arcteryx. I hope this is helpful for you.

Jesse1322,
Thanks for your question. As Dean said, this is not possible. The Plasma Thermal is a fixed insulation jacket. The majority of zip in compatible jackets are shells. Zipping a fleece into the Plasma Thermal would probably be a bit much regarding the overall warmth of the garment. I hope this is helpful for you.

Dave,
Thanks for your question. To follow up on Pat's response, The North Face Terkko jacket is a two layer Gore Tex shell jacket. The North Face is not providing a weight for this garment via their product catalog. If you are looking for an insulated version of this jacket, you may be interested in the men's Kapwall Jacket. I hope this is helpful for you.

Jeff M,
Thank you for your question. For skiing I would favor the Atom/Sabre combination opposed to the Fission SV. Reason being is that the Fission SV is not a ski jacket. It is really an alpine, belay style parka. I think you will have a lot more temperature flexiblity with the Atom/Sabre combo. You will also have a more feature specific package in terms of pockets, skirting, and et cetera in the Sabre. Unless you get really cold, or ski in a consistently frigide climate, 200 grams of Primaloft is overkill for an aerobic activity. I hope this is helpful for you.

Skiier142,
Thanks for your question, the Mantra Jacket and Spire Pant are not from the same product family from Marmot. That being said the Golden Ocean color in the Mantra Jacket may be a different hue of Yellow against the Spire Pant. There is a matching Mantra Pant should you want the full kit. I hope this is helpful for you.

Devon,
Thanks for your question, while your approach may work, I would let you know that this is not a layering jacket. The Peak Performance BL Down Jacket is a stand alone, expedition worthy jacket. Backcountry.com has several other down jacket options that would layer much better under a shell than this would. Take the Patagonia Ultra Light Down Series for instance. I hope this is helpful for you.

whyturn,
Thank you for your question. Backcountry will only be stocking the black and corona yellow color in the Chillout II Bib for the Fall/Winter 2011 season. I hope this is helpful for you.

ale4493296,
Thanks for your question. I am sorry but Backcountry is no longer carrying the Berghaus product range. The Berghaus product we have in stock is the only product that is available. I hope this is helpful for you.

Barry,
Thanks for your question. The Bitihorn Aero 60 jacket from Norrona will repel light rain & mist pretty well. It is more of a wind shell, opposed to a true rain jacket. I think you might be interested in something more protective to work in consistent to heavy rain. I hope this is helpful for you.

Will,
Thanks for your question. The difference between the Venture Parka and the Venture Jacket is the length of the jacket. Check the Center Back measurements, Venture Jacket to Venture Parka, for reference. I hope this is helpful for you.

William,
Thanks for your question. The Sub Zero SL Hooded jacket from Mountain Hardwear will pack down some, but it is not really your most packable option in my opinion. If you are looking for a down or synthetic insulated item for your purposes, I would check out the Nitrous Down Jacket, the Zonal jacket, or Zonal 1/4 zip pullover. All of these are lightweight, with great warmth to weight ratio's, and much more packable than the Sub Zero SL. I hope this is helpful for you.

Gao Da,
Thanks for your question. To follow up, this bottom is not fleece, and is really not meant to be warn as a mid layer. The Windstopper Hybrid Tight from The North Face would work great as the primary bottom layer in any cold weather aerobic activity, ie running, snowshoeing, or Nordic skiiing. I hope this is helpful for you.

jdgs,
Thanks for your question. The Apex Pneumatic is more of a spring weight softshell. I would go Apex Bionic if you are looking for a warmer, 3 season (Fall, Winter, Spring) softshell option. I hope this is helpful for you.

Cormac,
Thanks for your question. We will be receiving more Fall 2011 Canada Goose inventory in the next couple of weeks, which will include more sizes in the Navy color Expedition Parka. Keep checking the site. I hope this is helpful for you.

Matthew,
Thanks for your question. Unfortunately we will not be getting fresh stock in the /29 Flex 1 Short from Norrona until the Spring/Summer season of 2012. I hope this is helpful for you.

Hornito,
Thanks for your question. The main difference between the Sub Zero from Mountain Hardwear and the DAS Parka from Patagonia is the build story. I like the Primaloft story in the DAS, as Primaloft is more thermally efficient than down should you get wet. At a 170 gram insulation story, the DAS is one of, if not the warmest jacket Patagonia produces. The fit may be a bit different DAS to Sub Zero, as the DAS is more of a belay type parka that is made to throw over the top of your outer layer. Both are great jackets and are outerwear cornerstones for these brands. I hope this is helpful for you.

Mildred C,
Thanks for your question. The size range for men's NAU apparel only goes up to XXL. I hope this is helpful for you.

jon3792292,
Thanks for your question, we will be seeing new stock in the Arcteryx Fission SL beginning mid-September for the Fall/Winter 2011 season. The build story for Fission SL has not changed for the Fall 11 season. We will be featuring the Black and Lichen colors, as well as a new color called Squid Ink which is a really cool purple hue. I hope this is helpful for you.

Elias,
Thanks for your question. We will have new stock arriving in the Roldal Jacket from Norrona around mid-September of 2011. Colors for the Fall/Winter 2011 season are Caviar, Chocolate Brown, and Forest Green. I hope this is helpful for you and keep checking back.

frankronda36147,
Thanks for your question. The Bali Blue from Patagonia is a strong royal blue. Lagoon is the new blue for the Fall 2011 season, and is lighter than Bali Blue. I hope this is helpful for you.

Badger Brad,
Thanks for your question. The difference between the Alpha LT versus the new Alpha FL and Beta FL shells that Acteryx will be delivering for the upcoming Fall 2011 season is the build story. The FL's (Fast & Light) will be using the new Gore Tex Active Shell membrane, opposed to Pro Shell in the Alpha LT. The Active Shell is positioned to be Gore's most breathable membrane, ideal for aerobic output. Weight wise you are looking at 10.8 oz in the Alpha FL versus 12.9 oz in the Alpha LT. Fit and feature sets are very comparable in both jackets. I hope this is helpful for you.

ale4582663,
Thanks for your question. The Deep Ghyll jacket is a shell, you will need to layer accordingly in order to be insulated with this jacket. I hope that is helpful for you.

paul1375158,
Thanks for your question. Backcountry will not be getting fresh stock in the Norrona Bitihorn Dri1 jacket until the Spring 2012 season, which will be sometime in March. I hope this is helpful for you.

kbowen271123376,
Thanks for your question. Many of the KUHL garments feature a petina dye, that gives you that worn look once you have washed it. This is a common feature in their pants. Since the Burr jacket is cotton I would expect a worn finish once you have washed the jacket, and over time. If you are not enthusiastic about that, Backcountry has an outstanding return policy. I hope this is helpful for you.

Michael,
Thanks for your question. The orange color in the detail photo is most likely the Diablo color that was from a past Spring season. The in stock Ferrosi Hoods are the current Spring 2011 colors. I hope this is helpful for you.

Sean,
Thanks for your question. Backcountry will be receiving additional stock of the Orange Crush Falketind Pro jacket from Norrona this coming Fall. I would check Backcountry around mid-September 2011. I hope this is helpful for you.

Jack Frost,
Thanks for your question. The Peak Performance BL Down Jacket is definitely not a ski jacket. Like the previous poster said, you could wear this skiing on the most cold of days. This jacket comes from the Black Light collection, thus the BL designation, which is Peak Performance's collection for alpinism and mountaineering. The BL Down Jacket is an expedition worthy down jacket with supporting feature sets (internal water bottle pockets, etc), opposed to powder skirs and other more ski specific features. I hope this is helpful for you.

Marty,
Thanks for your question. We are sold out of the Norrona Fjora short and will most likely not be receiving any additional stock until next Spring. I hope this is helpful for you and enjoy your season.

CB,
Thanks for your question. The Houdini Transition jacket material is very similar to power stretch fleece. From a weight perspective it will probably feel like a garment that is between 100 and 200 weight. The nice aspect is that the material is very thermally efficient, while being lightweight. I hope this is helpful for you.

bow2852095,
Thanks for your question. The Icebreaker Hopper shirt is a 200 weight merino wool product. The Icebreaker Superfine Tech Lite T is lighter weight Merino, coming in between 150 and 140 weight. That being said, the Tech Lite will be cooler in hotter weather. The Hopper features a heavier fabric, therefore it will probably be a bit more durable than the Tech Lite T. Look to items that are below 200 weight Merino for those summer months. I hope this is helpful for you.

edw4010806,
Thanks for your question, backcountry.com is stocking the 11" inseam model of the Moutain Khakis Granite Creek short for men. I hope this is helpful for you.

Peter,
Thanks for your question. The Marmot Reactor is built from Polartec Classic 100 weight fleece. There is 100 weight, 200 weight, and 300 weight fleece in the Polartec fleece family. That being said, the Reactor is lightweight, and would work great for three season use. I hope this is helpful for you.

Roger,
Thanks for your question. backcountry.com has a size run of deep dusk colorway Theta SV jackets on order with Arcteryx. We should getting this product in stock in the next couple of weeks. We will also have more inventory arriving in August 2011 for the upcoming Fall/Winter season. I hope this is helpful for you.

Brian,
Thank you for your question. I have a couple of NAU outerwear pieces, and a couple of casual items like the M1 crew shirt. I have been very impressed with the quality and durability of products. I have had these pieces for a couple of years now, put them through the rigors of everyday life, and they have held up great. NAU tells a great story, and I feel the product lives up to the message. I hope you feel the same should you try a garment from them . I hope this is helpful for you.

jef3154912,
Thanks for your question. The Gamma MX is closely related to the Gamma AR as both softshells are built from Polartec Powershield material. The Gamma MX is not insulated like the Gamma AR is. The Gamma LT is a lightweight, 3 season softshell built from a double weave fabric. If you like the material of your Gamma AR, I would go with Gamma MX. The Gamma MX is the standard by which quality softshells are judged in my opionion. If you are looking for a lightweight, aerobic, 3 season option go with the LT. I hope this is helpful for you. One item to also note, the Spring 11 season is the last season Arcteryx will be using Polartec Powershield in the Gamma MX. They are going to a new material beginning Fall 2011. I hope this is helpful for you.

Greg,
Thanks for your question. I agree with Phil, the Alpha SV is a bombproof, protective hardshell, which is probably a bit more than you need for your end use. Gore Tex Pro Shell will absolutely keep you dry in driving rain, but there are some other options out there that might be a bit more comfortable. I might suggest a jacket that is fashioned out of Gore Tex Paclite which is lighter. Those jackets would be the Alpha SL, Alpha SL pullover, Beta SL, or even something like the Theta SL, which is a combo of both Gore Tex Paclite and Gore Tex Pro Shell. Any and all will give you outstanding weather protection, and three season use. I hope this is helpful for you.

psh3422168,
Thanks for your question. The old Alliance jacket from The North Face was a 2 layer HyVent shell. The North Face Varius Guide jacket is a close relative as it is also a 2 layer Hyvent shell. You do get a stretch story with the Varius Guide where you did not in the Alliance. You may also check out The North Face Boxster jacket. The Boxster is a coated HyVent fabric compared to 2 layer HyVent. Both the Varius Guide and the Boxter jacket have zip in compatibility with other North Face jackets. I hope this is helpful for you.

bon4124763,
Thanks for your question. We will be receiving new stock in the Norrona Narvik Warm3 Hooded Fleece for the Fall season of 2011, starting around September. I hope this is helpful for you.

thefiverog902224,
Thanks for your question. While the Fjora short could be a good multipurpose short, it's main purpose is mountain biking. Check out the Bitihorn Lightweight short. This is also a great multipurpose short option from Norrona. I hope this is helpful for you.

iro4497263,
Thanks for your question. The inseam length of the Stretch Zion pant that we are stocking is 32". Should we stock lengths, the length will be called out next to the size. If there is not a length listed, the pant is a 32" inseam. I hope this is helpful for you.

James,
Thanks for your question, backcountry, like many other retailers who carry the Spyder line of product, only stock Spyder product for the Fall/Winter season, as they are only a Fall/Winter brand. This is why you are having a tough time finding this product in the market. Backcountry has many other T Neck options available from other brands should you be interested in shopping those. We will be receiving new Spyder product for the Fall/Winter 2011 season beginning in August. I hope this is helpful for you.

Jack Frost,
Thanks for your question. You could absolutely run the Arcteryx Solo jacket under a shell. The jacket itself only weighs a little over 14 oz regarding the bulk factor. This jacket will provide very nice core warmth, and is also quite breathable. I hope this is helpful for you.

Frederik,
Thanks for your question. We will not be stocking the Caviar color in the updated style of the men's Falketind Gore Pro Shell Jacket until this coming Fall. If you would like to check out the updated model, it is backcountry style number NRA0231. I hope this is helpful for you.

alfredo,
Thanks for your question. The Revolution would be a great next to skin choice for a ski tight. I ski in the Stabilyx model, and have not gone back to anything else based on it's performance. One item to note is that the Revolution is not insulated. Keep that in mind as to how much you may need to layer on the bottom. I hope this is helpful for you.

colinnaft,
Thanks for your question. The colors in the Venture jacket that feature a "T" in front of the color description feature a new, more eco-friendly membrane. I hope this is helpful for you.

Frank,
Thanks for your question. Norrona garments generally feature a more alpine/athletic fit. Their jackets also tend to feature a longer torso and longer arms. I hope this is helpful for you.

dro3233111,
Thanks for your question. The Rab Microlight Alpine eVent Down Jacket would be redundant if used as a layering piece. To illustrate, you would have a shell on top of another shell that has a down insulator built into it. If you are looking for a technical waterproof/breathable jacket that features fixed insulation, this is a great option. Rab does make some killer shells that you would want to layer under to toggle the warmth of the jacket. Check out the Latok series, if that is type of jacket you are looking for. I hope this is helpful for you.

Bpitch,
Thanks for your question. Sorry, but we will not be getting any additional stock in Eider from the Fall 2010 season. Stay tuned as we have some great product coming in from Eider for the Fall 2011 season around late September/early October. Enjoy the rest of your season.

alslanno812250304,
Thanks for your question. Regarding the Fugitive hood from Arcteryx, I own one of these, and it is a very versatile piece. The hood volume is pretty tight, I would not say that it would fit over a climbing helmet, but will fit under it quite nicely. When fully zipped up the hood has a snorkel like fit around the head and neck. I don't think it comes up overly high in the collar to give you a lot of face protection. I hope this is helpful for you.

Tim,
Thanks for your question. The hood on the Vapor Jacket from Sierra Designs is fixed, ie non removable. I hope this is helpful for you.

MattGoyer,
Thanks for your question. Backcountry will be featuring the Chemical Pant from Flylow in ink and dark green for the Fall 2011 season. The ink color is a dark navy blue. We will also have a new bib, called the Baker Bib, in black and orange. I hope this is helpful for you.

Brian,
Thanks for your question. Check out the Arcteryx Venta AR. The Venta AR is Windstopper and features a bottom hem length that might work for you. I hope this helps.

pro2461910,
Thanks for your question. The Rab shells run pretty true to size. I would order your usual size, size up depending on how much you would like to layer underneath the shell. We will be getting fresh stock in the Rab Demand Pull On in March 2011. Incoming colors are black and maya blue. I hope this is helpful for you.

alexpro,
Thanks for your question, the Apex McKinley and Apex Bionic jackets are very similar. Both are built from Apex Climateblock fabric. The Apex McKinley features recycled Climateblock fabric, and a heavier fleece backer than the Apex Bionic. The heavier fleece backer will make it warmer. You also get a bonded Napoleon pocket on the McKinley. I hope this is helpful for you.

Pierre,
Thanks for your question. The design of the ARG (true reverse camber) make it one of the best powder tools available. That being said it is just that, a powder/soft snow ski. Skiing the ARG on firm piste and through bumps is more hanging on, than it is skiing. This ski does not carve on firm snow surfaces, it pivots and slides. The overall girth of the ski is also a bit much to maneuver through bumps in my opinion. Can skiing the ARG in these conditions be done, for sure. I have been riding the ARG for three seasons. They are life changing in powder and soft snow, and life threatening skiing them on hard pack and through bumps in my opinion. I hope this is helpful for you.

Rocky Mountain Goat,
Thanks for your question. We will not be getting stock in the updated North Face Diez jacket unti the Fall 2011 season. That stock will begin to arrive this coming August. There is also a Diez pullover available for Fall 2011 that is equally interesting. I hope this is helpful for you.

rob2978182,
Thanks for your question. The Patsch softshell is a pretty casual piece that is suitable for spring riding, outside of general pedestrian use. I don't think the hood volume on the Patsch is enough to cover a snow helmet. I hope this is helpful for you.

Paul,
Thanks for your question. The reason the Revolution tight from CWX is more than the other products they offer is the way the Revolution tight is built. The CWX support web in the Revolution is seemlessy built into the tight, while the web in the other tights is a sewn on panel construction. The Revolution is their top product for performance. If it is a bit too expensive for you, check out the Stabilyx family. There are both insulated and non insulated options there. The Stabilyx is also an outstanding product for muscle support and recovery. I hope this is helpful for you.

JT,
Thanks for your question. The biggest difference between the Tilithium and Atlas triclimates from The North Face is the inner jacket of the system. In the Tilithium you get a Heatseeker (similar to Primaloft) inner jacket versus 200 weight fleece inner jacket in the Atlas. For warmth I would choose the Tilithium with the Heatseeker inner jacket. It is overall a better jacket and the synthetic insulation will also be more thermally efficient than fleece should you get wet. If you are looking for something to combat the wind in Chicago you might also consider the Windwall triclimate. I hope this is helpful for you.

JOHNORARNOLD,
Thanks for your question. The Peak Performance Supreme Feather jacket comes from the Supreme collection of their ski outerwear collection. The Supreme styles have a more tailored fit. This being said, the fit of the Supreme feather will be more true to size, not baggy or loose. I hope this is helpful for you.

tytyty889878,
Hello and thanks for your question. Yes, the Orage Benji pant has two, mesh backed inner thigh vents. I hope this is helpful.

Kennon,
Thanks for your question. The shop under oakley.com will select specific colors like other retail stores. They do not always feature all of the colors available for the season. The Entire jacket featured on backcountry.com is the same jacket featured on oakley.com, but we have some additional colors. Pray for snow and I hope this is helpful.

Craig,
Thanks for your question. The North Face Redpoint and Compressor Jacket from Mountain Hardwear are very comparable jackets. Both of them are using Primaloft Eco as the insulation package. The Redpoint has 100 grams of Primaloft if I am not mistaken and the Compressor has around the same range. The biggest difference between the two is the weight of the exterior fabric. The North Face Redpoint has a much heavier exterior fabric makingt it more durable. The Compressor has also has a bit more of an athletic fit versus the Redpoint. Both will keep you nice and warm. The Redpoint is zip in compatible with other North Face jackets. I hope this is helpful.

Fred,

Thanks for your question. When a garment is called out as having an alpine fit it is going to be a much more fitted to the body, athletic cut. Alpine fit is the opposite of loose. While the Catalyst jacket can be worn on it's own, it features the athletic fit so you can layer it under a shell.
The Catalyst and Tahoe are both great jackets, both are going to be warm. You are looking at 800 fill power in the Catalyst versus 700 fill in the Tahoe. The Tahoe jacket is basically a hooded version of the Nuptse jacket if you are familair with that style from The North Face. Both will be great choices for fending off the cold in NYC. I might consider a jacket with Windstopper as that jacket will be much more wind resistant than either the Catalyst or the Tahoe. I hope this is helpful for you.

ddj5300,

Hey thanks for your question. We will only be stocking the Pewter and Red colors in the Heli Alpine jacket from Peak for the 2010 Fall/Winter season. Click through the backcountry site as you can find Acid Green from some of our other brands. I hope this is helpful. Pray for snow.

Rocky Mountain Goat,

Thanks for your question. The Eider Power Pro jacket is killer piece in my opinion. It runs on the fitted/alpine side of the spectrum. I am 5'10" 135 lbs, and I wear the medium. My experience with the Powershield Pro fabric has been outstanding in a variety of skiing/mountain conditions, outside of a Canadian deluge, where I needed a Gore Tex poncho, not a softshell. The Royal Blue color is bold. I would not say that it is neon blue, but what you would expect a strong Royal Blue to look like.

Eider Power Pro versus The North Face Kishtwar & Norrona Narvik Powershield Pro jackets :

vs The North Face Kishtwar - Very similar feature set. The Eider Power Pro has two hand pockets and one smaller upper arm pocket. The TNF Kishtwar has two large front pockets (enough room for skins), and one Napoleon pocket. Hood design and volume on both the Power Pro and the Kisthwar are similar. Hood volume is not enough for a snow helmet. The Kishtwar is lighter than the Eider Power Pro as there is no insulation. The Eider Power Pro has an awesome high loft fleece interior.

vs Norrona Narvik - The Narvik gives you a different pocketing scheme with more pocket volume. Jacket fit and hood volume in the Narvik are going to be a bit more generous. The Narvik also features a powder skirt with neither the Kishtwar or Power Pro jackets feature. Like the Kishtwar the Narvik is not insulated.

Details like the high loft fleece interior, and wrist cuff design that creates a solid gasket against the elements (check the pictures), make this jacket for me, and set it apart from the other two jackets.

I hope this is helpful for you. Enjoy.

wsumarine2406771,

Thanks for your question. Eider is a French brand from the same family as the Millet and Lafuma brands. The Eider product is the snowsports cousin of the more alpine and mountaineering product you will find from Millet. The finish and build of Eider outerwear is as good as anything you will find out in the market. I hope this is helpful for you. Enjoy.

Rocky Mountain Goat,

Thanks for your question. The Eider Power Pro softshell, that has the high loft interior, should be available on the site in the next week or so. I hope this is again helpful for you.

Rocky Mountain Goat et all,

Thanks for your questions regarding the Norrona Narvik Powershield Pro Jacket. If you have read anything about this new material from Polartec, you will know that you get weather protection of a hardshell, Windstopperesque CFM properties to block wind, and the best of both worlds, air permeability. Norrona is only one of three manufacturers globally to be using this material. The Narvik does not feature a high loft fleece backer. If you are looking for PowerShield Pro with a high loft fleece interior we have a piece coming in from Eider that is killer for this season. The Norrona piece is equally great, just not insulated. I have been testing this material for about 5 months and am sold on the functionality, and I am not a softshell person. I hope this is helpful.

jch3666146,

Thanks for your question. Between the Heli Alpine jacket and the Heli Softshell jacket you are basically choosing between ingredients. The Heli Alpine jacket is fashioned from Gore Tex Pro Shell, where the Heli Softshell jacket is built from Gore Tex Soft Shell. You are going to get more freedom of movement, and a stretch function with the softshell over the Gore Pro Shell. Outside of that both are very comparable in feature sets, function, and weather protection. I hope this is helpful for you. Pray for snow.

Wasabi, greetings and thanks for your question. The Atom LT jacket is a technical insulating layer that should be fitted in the body in order to best layer under a shell. This jacket will work equally as well as a stand alone piece to combat the cold. It does not feature a drop tail, and is not supposed to cover your a@!. If you are looking for an Arcteryx insulator with a drop tail, check the Fission Series, Kappa SV, or the Dually Belay Jacket. I hope this is helpful for you. Enjoy.

Milwaukeehaze, thanks for your question. Both the Primo Down and Insulated Powder Bowl jacket come from Patagonia's snow line. This being said the feature very similar fit blocks. Regarding the Primo, the insulation package on this jacket is outstanding. You really should only need to wear a next to skin garment and this jacket to be perfectly comfortable in even the coldest temps. Keep that in mind when looking at this jacket versus the Insulated Powder Bowl jacket. Based on your dimensions I would probably go with a size large. I hope this is helpful for you. Pray for snow.

Alex, greetings and thanks for your question. I think you are correct. The Momentum being 3 layer eVent, you should have ample weather protection. The Momentum is pretty lightweight, if you plan on layering appropriately based on what Fall/Winter conditions you could encounter you should be fine. The shell will only be providing weather protection, and you will be relying on your layering system for insulation. I would probably go XL in size based on your height and giving you room to layer. I hope this is helpful and enjoy your season.

Jason, thanks for your question. There is a grand canyon of difference between the Squizzle Suit and Haines Tuxedo from The North Face. First and foremost is the build of the suit. The Haines Tuxedo is fashioned from Gore Tex Pro Shell, while the Squizzle Suit is built from 2 layer Hyvent Fabric, which is a proprietary material developed by The North Face. HyVent is great in terms of weather protection/breathability, but it is not Gore Tex Pro Shell, thus the dramatic difference in price. Additionally the fit of the suit is quite different. The Squizzle has the big boy/free ride fit, while the Tuxedo is a much more fitted, alpine fit as it is mountian guide inspired. I hope this is helpful for you. Pray for snow.

JJ, thanks for your question. The Mammut ridge is a 2.5L hardshell jacket. Drytech is Mammut's proprietary hardshell fabric. I hope this helps you out.

Hey Matt, I have a pair of both the Frogskin and the Jupiter. I find the Jupiter to fit tighter around the head as the O Matter frame is all around more substantial. I also find that they fit a bit smaller on the face than the Frogskin as the diameter of the lense is smaller. I much prefer the fit of the Jupiter to that of the Frogskin. While I love both frame styles, I find the Frogskins to be loose and easily fall of my face.

Houdini is a Swedish brand. Like most brands that come from Scandinavia, particularly Sweden and Norway, products tend to have longer arms and a longer torso. The comparison to Patagonia's fit block for capilene is probably very similar, but incorporating the differences mentioned above. Sizing should not be too far off from what you would wear in Patagonia.

Ed, Arcteryx Hercules vs Salomon Snow Trip II, you are really looking at 2 uniquely different jackets here. Arcteryx uses the best materials available to produce their garments, and their quality standards speak for themselves. The Hercules is fashioned from Polartec Powershield Pro softshell with a high loft fleece interior, very cozy and comfortable. The Snowtrip is built with Salomon's own proprietary softshell, and being a 3 in 1 jacket, comes with a removable synthetic insulation inner jacket. The Arcteryx fit is going to be more tailored and athletic against the Salomon fit for sure. Breathability wise you will need to weigh the Snowtrip w/ and w/o the liner versus the Hercules with a fixed interior. This being said you should look at what you will be doing in this jacket. If you are looking for a versatile, do it all, insulated softshell, look at the Hercules. The Snowtrip is a ski jacket. Happy shopping.

Mark, with your build I would probably recommend an XL. The Norrona fit is very close to Arcteryx with the alpine/athletic cut, however the arm lenghths tend to be a bit longer. I would for sure size up if you are looking to layer under this jacket just to make sure.

Aaron, regarding your question, I have been skiing in the Arc Fury SV for a good number of days this season. One item to note is you get 2 layer Gore performance shell in the Marmot Mainline, opposed to Gore Windstopper softshell in the Arc Fury SV. I am usually a hard shell person when it comes to ski jackets. However for a ski softshell the Fury SV is as good as it gets.; It is very light and stretchy. The welded in powder skirt is a nice feature and the pocketing story is very straight forward. I wear a medium from arcteryx (5'10" 135 lbs). I have a med Fury SV and it is a more generous cut since it is from their snow line. The only negative is the large Recco reflector on the sleeve. I hope this helps out.

Jordan, thanks for your question. Try looking now for your Norrona product. We have a good selection of size medium in stock from them for the season.

Fran,

You can find the Millet convertible pants. Navigate to the Millet brand page on the website. This particular style lives under Men's hiking and climbing pants.

Hello,

This item is very similar to the TNF Vaporwick Ruckus T. It has a few more features than the standard ruckus T, but is the same cut. This is not a slim fit shirt, so you should be fine. TNF runs pretty true to size.

Gary, check it out. We have Hoback jackets on sale.

Hey there the Apex Bionic triclimate is the same Apex Climateblock fabric for the outer jacket that is in the stand alone Apex Bionic softshell jacket. The liner is a synthetic insulated piece.

Anonymous 12341234, this is Columbia's top shelf technical T shirt. Technical in the sense that it is synthetic (100% omni dry polyester) opposed to your regular 100% cotton tee shirt. This being said, it is built to wick moisture very well. I hope you find this information beneficial.

johan.sand1331301, I find prAna sizing for men's ranges true to size to a bit smaller. Since the clothing is very climbing oriented the fit lends itself to that cut.

this tech-shirt is a very traditional cut and is not particularly long. very typical training length. if you are a longer torso, size up.

rmoco1288840,Greetings, this Quick Silver Edition polo is crafted from 100% organic cotton pique. I hope that this helps.