Duct Tape is the classic mountaineer's fix for little holes. You can also pick up Nylon gear tape, or Gore-Tex patch kits. They will all do the job nicely.

Nope, there's a mesh lined vent on the foot box. Simply zip it open to let in the fresh air.

Hey Cam,

Arc'teryx produces a full size run in every jacket they make. It appears that Backcountry is sold out of anything smaller than a Large though. You may just have to try a different jacket or a different seller.

Nope. According to the Patagonia website they are made in Colombia.

The Nitrious jackets/vests are great if you're moving. So if you go for a nice cross country ski with the Swedish Olympic team, you'll be fine. However, if you're standing around waiting for a bus, or your car to warm up, the Nitrious won't be warm enough. Go for the Sub Zero SL and you'll thank yourself later. Also, say hi to the Swedish bikini models for me.

Absolutely. I would highly recommend this jacket for any sort of weather protection.

The Scarpa Mont Blanc has a much wider fit overall Matt. If you've got a wider foot, go for the Mont Blanc.

It sure is. By definition all Gore-Tex products are wind- and water-proof.

Caddidy, that depends on your activity of choice. For general mountaineering and glacier travel, check out the Black Diamond Sabretooth Clip. If you're into more technical terrain, such as waterfall ice climbing, the Black Diamond Cyborg Clip are an excellent option. Hope that helps.

Gary, are you saying The North Face would have to move their logo to accomodate your company? 'cause I somehow doubt that will happen. Also, check your CAPS lock, as it appears to be stuck.

Hey Tom,

Initially chucking this thing in the dryer will maintain the water repellent coating. Eventually (say 4 or 5 washes) you'll want to treat it with some cleaning and proofing agents. I would suggest Nikwax Tech Wash to clean the fabric, and TX-Direct to renew the water repellent coating. Hope that helps.

Andrew, these are full shank boots. That means the sole of the boot has little to no flex in it, and thus are very stiff. They are meant to provide a platform for your foot to stand on when covering exceptionally uneven (i.e. rocky) or technical (i.e. waterfall ice) terrain. If you're looking for a backpacking boot, I would recommend something with a softer sole, as mountaineering boots tend to kill your feet if you spend days on end walking in them.

No they do not. For extreme cold or crampon protection you're going to want to put some gaiters over top of these.

Hey Bob,

You've posed some good questions. These are important factors when shopping for a softshell jacket.

Firstly, no this jacket is no windproof. It is made with Marmot's "M3" softshell material which is the lightest and most breathable, but least wind-resistant of their softshells. It is best used for aerobic activities in cool conditions, according to the Marmot webpage.

Comparing the Approach to the Apex: The Apex is windproof, Approach is not. Apex is fleece lined, Approach is not. Approach will be more breathable and lighter. Apex will be thicker, and likely more durable. Both are water resistant.

Jackets that would be more comparable to the Apex Bionic include the Marmot Leadville, Outdoor Research Logic, and Mountain Hardwear Andriod. Honestly, these are all going to perform relatively the same, and brand selection is a matter of personal choice/bias.

Hope that helps.

The 9 Deluxe is pretty much too big to fit into any bivy. However you should be able to cram the DownMat 7 or 9 into any Outdoor Research Bivy Sack. OR used to distribute ExPed products, so the two brands work fairly well together.

Also the "7" and "9" refer to the mattress thickness in centimetres.

Sure it's comparable, but it's not nearly as warm. The Apex Thermal has a high loft fleece backer that the McKinley lacks. This makes all the difference when comparing softshells for warmth. Also check out the North Face Sentenial Thermal. It's the Gore Winstopper version of the Apex.

Not to my knowledge. Outdoor Research makes Windstopper pants though. Check out the Tremor Pant by them.

Hey Kevin. The Sentinel Thermal differs in two ways. First, it has a "high loft" fleece backer for added warmth. Most softshells have a microfleece lining that isn't very thick. The fleece in the Sentinel Thermal is somewhat akin to mashing a 100 weight fleece inside a softshell jacket.

Second, it uses Gore Windstopper as a laminate. This is where the cost difference (mostly) comes from. The North Face has to pay Gore to use its fabric (the Windstopper liner), and Gore fabric doesn't come cheap. This is partly due to Gore's reputation with the Gore-Tex fabric. So, The North Face passes on the cost to you, the comsumer. Think of it as a brand name windproof liner.

The McKinley uses The North Face's Apex ClimateBloc, which is also windproof, but it doesn't cost them money since they own the technology. Thus, the jacket is cheaper.

Lastly, I just thought of this, the Sentinel Thermal is a "Summit Series" jacket which will cost more simply because it's more "hardcore".

You are correct Robsta. There is indeed a side zip on these bad boys. I sure wish they still had my size in stock.

This jacket is not insulated, and as such will not keep you very warm. I would suggest packing along a solid fleece jacket to provide warmth, and then layering something like the Watertight over top to keep rain/wind off you. That way the fleece insulates, and the Watertight protects.

Nic, having seen these pants I can confirm the Cypress colour is green.

Hi Alison,

Check out the North Face Sentinel Thermal jacket. It's exactly the same as the Apex Bionic Thermal, except it has a Gore Windstopper liner. BC has a complete size run in Red, and it's on sale right now for $160 (regularly $230).

http://www.backcountry.com/outdoorgear/The-North-Face-Sentinel-Thermal-Softshell-Jacket-Mens/TNF3629M.html

Side note: BC will carry the Apex Bionic Thermal again in the fall. It's a fall/winter item from the North Face and won't be available again until September-ish. Hope that helps.

Hey,

This jacket is made with Marmot's "M3 Softshell" fabric. It's not windproof, and they don't assign any numbers to indicate the degree of wind-resistance...ness. It'll be good for doing anything aerobic where you're generating your own body heat. For standing around on a blustery day you'll likely want something warmer and/or wind-proof...ier.

The material on the shoulders and hem on the exterior of the jacket is not fleece. It's made of abrasion resistant nylon. Inside the jacket is all fleece though.

Actually Dakka they are insulated. According to the link you posted they use a "Gore-Tex Insulated Comfort Footwear" liner. Here is the link to Gore's site that explains the insulation levels and options:
http://www.gore-tex.com/remote/Satellite/men/footwear/insulated-comfort

Yes the Nepal EVO is insulated as well. You will find it of comparable warmth to the Summits.

Hey Ryan, as a rule Scarpa boots are generally wider than La Sportiva. Check out the Scarpa Summit, Triolet, or Mont Blanc and see if they will suite your needs.

Pamir is a windproof fleece jacket and the Sentinel is a windproof softshell. The Sentinel will stand up to water better, since softshells shed water quite well.

Definitely a small.

The biggest difference is the material the jacket is made from. The Narvik is made using Gore-Tex Softshell, which means the jacket has a little stretch, or "give", to it. The Lofoten is constructed with Gore-Tex Pro Shell which does not stretch. Both are wind/waterproof and will serve you well though.

Whatever shell you want will work just fine. The North Face Venture jacket is simple, light, and cheap. If you want something a little sturdier, I would suggest a jacket made with Gore-Tex or eVent.

Hey J. See my answer to your question over on the page for the Triolet.

This boot totally fits the bill. And with Backcountry wicked awesome return policy, it's likely your boot luck will change.

Ah wonderful. I love comparing products.

Okay J, let's start with the Triolet. It's a nice boot for summer mountaineering. The sole is rather flexible for a full shank boot, but still provides ample support for scrambling over rocky terrain and climbing up to 5.8/9. The boot is not insulated, so you'll want something warmer if ice climbing is more your thing. The Triolet is fairly light and has what I would call a soild "medium" fit. It's not really narrow, nor is it wide.

Now the Summit. I have these boots and thus far they have been great. If you can get the fit dialed, they'll perform just about anywhere. Compared to the Triolet, the Summit fits much wider. I had some troubles with heel lift since the Summit has a higher volumn last than the Triolet. These suckers are super warm, but not sweat-inducingly so. They are stiffer than the Triolets, so front-pointing on vertical ice is fairly comfortable. Indeed, they are heavier, but a much better "all round" mountaineering boot.

These boots are both waterproof (Gore-Tex lining) and crampon compatible. The Summit will take Grivel GSB style crampons and has two welts (toe and heel). The Triolet only has the heel welt.

I would reccommend the Triolet for summer mountaineering and glacier travel. It's light and sturdy enough for most terrain you'll encounter without needing ice tools. For vertical ice or cold excursions I would suggest the Summits for sure. However it all comes down to how well they fit your feet. If possible, try both of these boots on before purchasing them. Hope that helps

Note that the Sentinel Thermal is Summit Series, but the plain old Sentinel is not as of Fall '09.

Hey Dan,

This jacket differs from the Bionic in a few ways. Firstly it uses a Gore Windstopper laminate which makes the jacket 100% windproof. It is also more breathable than the Bionic. Secondly this jacket has a high loft (i.e. tall) fleece lining which makes it much warmer than your standard Apex Bionic. You also lose the Napoleon pocket (place over the upper left chest) from the Bionic.

The two jackets are similar in that the face fabric is the same. They are also both water resistant and will stand up well to a moderate rain. Fit wise the jackets will fit the same.

It means the fabric itself is not waterproof and/or the seams are not taped. To be fully waterproof a jacket needs to have waterproof fabric, taped seams (since stitch holes are not waterproof), and a Durable Water Repellent (DWR) coating on the fabric.

This jacket has the DWR so it will shed a light rain, but the jacket will soak through eventually in a medium/heavy rain. For general and casual use a jacket that is "highly water resistant" is good enough. I've got quite a few and they have yet to let me down.

Yep it sure is. The jacket uses Marmot's proprietary MemBrain laminate which is both wind- and water-proof

NONONO,

It just has the two outside pockets.

No it's not warm. It has no insulation to retain your body heat.

Liam, you need to offset the cost of buying shoes with renting shoes. If you're getting out once a week and it costs you, say, $7 to rent shoes, then in 12 weeks you've paide $84 to rent shoes. You can easily buy a pair for $84. If you're going more often, then you'll save money from renting even sooner.

I'd say as soon as you find yourself making a habit of going to the climbing gym, buy some shoes. You won't regret it.

Hi Tom,

I do not believe the skirt is removable.

Hi Kim,

This is a solid midweight fleece jacket and I think it would serve you well for 40-50 degree weather. I have two similar jackets and regularly wear them down to -10 with appropirate layers. A sweater of some sort may be required underneath depending on if you're naturally warm or cool. Note that this jacket is not windproof, so you'll need a shell of some sort to stay warm on blustery days. Hope that helps.

Hi Jori. I think you'll be much warmer in the McMurdo jacket. While the Honcho is nice, it's meant to be part of a layering system. The McMurdo can pretty much be worn with a t-shirt underneath and you'll be warm. Give it a shot, and if it doesn't work for you it can always be returned.

Hi Lexie,

Sounds like this would be a good fit for you. If you're doing a lot of outdoor activities (i.e. hiking, climbing, skiing, snowshoeing, camping) then I'd say go for something beefier. However it sounds like you'll be doing some recreational skiing and dodging rain clouds, so this should work just find for you.

Coupled with your fleece jacket this will provide a very versitile and functional layering system for the conditions you'll likely encounter.

Hi Ely,

Jon Webb can correct me if I'm wrong, but as far as I know the Alchemy has been around nearly as long as Mountain Hardwear and remains virtually unchanged in the last couple years. It's listed as their "flagship" jacket, so I really don't see MHW making a significant change to it for 2010. It's on sale because 1) It's Christmas and 2) Backcountry wants to clear out their winter gear for when the spring stuff starts arriving in February.

Go ahead and buy it. You won't be disappointed as long as you heed the warnings regarding sizing.

Hey Jse, these are not warm boots. They are not insulated, so they're best suited for summer mountaineering. If you're looking for a warm Scarpa try the Freney, or the Summit. I have the Summit and find them plenty warm for picking my way up ice in winter.

Hey John, from one Canadian to the next, I don't consider this a winter jacket. Generally speaking I find the use of softshells as insulation layers inadequate when the temp hits -15 as it so often does in our country. My advice would be to look for a a 3-in-1 jacket (if that's what you like) with a thick fleece or down liner. That'll keep you much warmer when you're out about town.

That's a tough call SM. You're kind of between sizes. Norrona fits small, as a rule, but you might find the Large to be too long. I'd say give it a shot. If it doesn't fit right, just return it. Backcountry has a superb return policy.

Hi Leah,

I'll answer your questions in the order you posed them.

1. The entire boot is waterproof. It uses Columbia's Omni-Tech waterproofing to ensure the whole boot is waterproof.

2. The recharging area is just a little plug on the back of the boot. The actual battery and heating circuitry are sealed inside the midsole where water cannot get to them.

3. Since these are designed as winter boots the description mentions snow but neglects the other phases of water. However these are indeed waterproof, so they will keep your son's feet dry even if he's standing in a puddle.

4. No, since the heating pads and wiring are all sealed, no water can get in. Keep in mind the entire sole of the boot is rubber and rubber is a poor conductor of electricity.

Also of note, Backcountry is totally sold out of these boots. They may get more, but you'd have to ask one of their customer service reps to confirm that. Hope that helps.

This is just a shell. You'll have to layer it with something else to insulate yourself.

Hey Brian, no treatment is necessary as the glove has a complete Gore-Tex insert. Eventually the water repellent finish on the leather will wear off, but water will not soak through the Gore-Tex underneath.

If you want to maintain the water repellent coating on the leather try the sponge on Glove Proof from Nikwax.

Hi Susan. Any time you see a "(number)K" rating for waterproofing it refers to the water column test. This fabric is rated to stop a 5000 mm water column over a 24 hour period of time. Any more than that and the fabric starts to leak.

I highly suspect you've seen ratings of "10K" not "1K" as the latter seems ridiculously low. That just means the fabric will withstand a 10000 mm water column for 24 hours. Most fabric are in the 10-25 K rating. We're starting to see some 30K jackets out there and even the odd 40K, but they are not widespread yet.

Gore-Tex does not use this type of testing to "rate" their fabrics so the waterproof rating of a Gore-Tex piece is "guaranteed". That means if it leaks, they will warranty it no questions asked.

That depends where you are skiing Shaun. If you stick to nice dry Canadian Rockies skiing like me, you'll be fine. If you're closer to the coast where the snow tends to be wetter, you'll probably want something waterproof. Also if you're just ripping around on the hill this will likely be fine, but backcountry adventures almost necessitate waterproof clothing.

Hi Amanda. This jacket will repel Vancouver rain and stop Winnipeg wind, but it's not insulated. You'll need something underneath to protect you from Edmonton cold.

This question is more difficult to answer than you may think Jessica. Jackets don't come with temperature ratings, so we have to measure warmth somehow else.

This jacket isn't "warm" in the sense that it has insulation. It's only a shell. However the shell is windproof, so it keeps you slightly warmer in that regard. The relative warmth of a jacket also depends on you, the wearer. Generally I'm a cold person, so these shell-type jackets typically do not offer enough heat retention to keep me warm.

If we use a scale of 1 to 10, where 1 is a cotton t-shirt and 10 is a down parka, I would rate this 2.5 plus/minus 0.5. It will also depend on what you're using it for. This jacket will keep you much warmer if you're generating heat, say by going ice climbing, than if you're standing around, say waiting for the bus.

Hey Dar. The Aconcagua is not zip-in compatible, so it won't "connect" to another jacket. Just pick up your favorite shell and throw it over top. I would recommend any of the Gore-Tex shells from Outdoor Research.

If the women's version is the same as the men's, then the chest and shoulders are windproof (i.e. CFM <= 2), but the rest of the jacket appears to be wind-resistant (i.e. CFM ~15)

Hi there Pete. According to Columbia's website the heating pad has three settings. On high you can expect 3 hours of heat, low will provide 8 hours and medium will fall somewhere in the middle. They don't actually provide a number for the medium setting, but I would imagine it's close to 5.5 hours. Hope that helps

Hey James, the knees are lined with Paclite, but the rest of the pants are made of Gore-Tex Pro Shell. See the listing on Montbell's website here:
http://www.montbell.us/products/disp.php?cat_id=60&p_id=2328492

Hey Kat. Altering technical outerwear is tricky business. You need to find a truly brave tailor that is willing to tackle a down jacket. If there is a place near you that does custom down work they might be willing to touch it, but your average "Jim's Alterations" in the mall won't go anywhere near it. My advice would be to return the jacket to Backcountry and exchange it for something that fits you better. Mountain Hardwear makes a Downtown Coat that is very similar to this one that you might like, and tends to fit a bit shorter. Hope that helps.

Well Backcountry obviously doesn't have it. Try some of the other retailors listed here: http://www.mountainhardwear.com/WhereToBuy.aspx?jdeStyleId=OM3155&top=1827&cat=1870&prod=3516&isGeneric=false

Heh..."sans". Awesome.

I would try any camping store in your area, or any shop with a gear repair department. I know here we have a decent shop that does second hand gear and repairs, so you may want to see if there's something like that near you. Failing that give your local REI a call and see if they can just send you one. I think the closest one to you will be in Mass. though.

I have the Mentor as well in a medium and it does fit a little larger. I'm 2" taller than you, so it fits me well for winter activities. You're bang on when you say it's meant to allow layering. OR cuts their shells a little bigger for that very reason. If it doesn't fit, just exchange it for a small. Backcountry.com has a fantastic return/exchange policy.

Nancy that's going to happen with any down jacket, especially new ones. During construction of the jacket some of the down gets trapped, usually in seams, and eventually works its way to the surface. There really isn't anything you can do to "seal" the jacket short of covering the entire inside with duct tape. If you're just leaking a few feathers, then I wouldn't worry about it. However if you suddenly empty a baffle then it's time to head back to the store and warranty the jacket.

Hey there Ely. Welcome to the world of softshells, my favorite type of jackets. You won't be disappointed. Here are my thoughts on those three jackets.

The TNF Apex Bionic is a solid softshell. It's a no-thrills package that is windproof, water resistant and decently warm. It'll breathe fairly well, but it's boring. Every 19 year old kid in the mountains has one.

The Marmot Ultima is kind of interesting. I like the carbon from coconut fabric for natural odor protection. However I think you'll find it a little on the chilly side, especially when you're just standing around. If you're a naturally warm person though, this might be a good investment.

The Alchemy is lined with Gore Windstopper which makes it totally windproof, but also highly water resistant. The Apex Bionic is also windproof and water resistant, but the pockets are too darn low to get in when I'm wearing a harness or backpack hip belt. If you plan on wearing a pack at all I would suggest going for the Alchemy since the pockets are placed high enough to get at when your pack hip belt is doing its job. The MHW Alchemy is my favorite of the three, and that's mostly due to the pocket placement.

Also, the Alchemy will have a very athletic fit to it. The medium for you will be perfect. TNF fits a little boxier, so depending on how much room you want sizing down to the small might be a good idea. I'm the same size as you, just 10 lbs heavier, and the small Bionic fit nicely. There wasn't much room underneath, but sometimes that's okay. I'm not sure what the sizing is like on the Ultima, but I do know Marmot tends to fit rather "athletically". Therefore you should probably try a medium in that one too.

Hope that helps.

I would contact Scarpa directly Garrett. They can either find a vendor for you, or potentially sell you laces directly. Give them a call at 303.998.2895.

Nope, these boots are waterproof right out of the box.

Jon, that depends entirely on what you're using the jacket for. If I'm just walking from the house to the car, and from the car to the office, then replacing my nylon rain jacket with a Gore-Tex shell really isn't worth it. However, if I'm ski touring, ice climbing, and in heavy rain a lot then the nylon jacket is bound to get shredded where a sturdier shell (soft or hard, some softshells are pretty weatherproof these days) would stand strong.

If you can't rationalize upgrading chances are you don't need to. As long as your jackets keep you warm, dry, and safe when they need to, there's no point in blowing money on something that's newer and shinier. That is, of course, in my opinion.

Hey Joe. The Kramer itself is not overly warm I would recommend layering with it. If you like Mountain Hardwear the Monkey Man Fleece is pretty kick-ass to layer with. I have last year's model and it's super warm. Also the Nitrous Jacket is a very nice down-insulated layering piece. If you want to look outside Mountain Hardwear, there's another down piece by Outdoor Research called the Transcendent Sweater which I own and really like. I would also suggest you look at the Repoint Jacket by North Face. It's a synthetically insulated jacket which will also layer nicely. Hope that helps.

The Summits are definitely warmer. I'm actually wearing them right now and my feet are toasty.

The Summits are a much more "hardcore" mountaineering boot than the Charmoz too. If you're looking to tackle vertical ice, I would highly recommend the Summits over the Charmoz.

Yes they do. I'm wearing them right now and can see the little tab you'd pull out to fit the GSB spike in.

Hey Joe. The Kramer has a few benefits over a Gore-Tex shell. The Kramer has a bit of insulation on the upper arms and shoulders in the form of flat-back Monkey Phur. It helps to hold the warmer air on your shoulders a little bit better than a typical shell would. There is also a body-mapped micro fleece backer on the jacket which provides extra breathability under the arms but provides a little bit of heat retention across the back.

Insulation aside the only other benefits the Kramer has stem from it's ski/snowboard centric design. If you're not going to use it for skiing or boarding, then there are better jackets out there. Simply put, the removable snow skirt, goggle pocket, lift pass holder, and oodles of pockets are suited best for spending a day on the hill.

I have the Kramer and a Gore-Tex shell. For skiing, the Kramer is sweet. It's my fair weather ski shell, since I find it fits a little slimmer than most ski shells. The breathability can't be beat. In my opinion MHW makes some of the most breathable proprietary alternatives to Gore-Tex. That being said, this jacket is not for activities such as ice climbing. That's where the Gore-Tex shell proves its worth. Alpine pockets, unbeatable waterproofing, super hardy face fabrics, and a fit that you can seriously layer under make my hardshell my best friend with heading outside at -25 C.

So to answer your question in short. The Kramer is better for skiing, in my opinion, than typical hardshells. However, keep it on the hill. It has a few shortcomings when adapting to other activities.

Hey BZ. This glove is not waterproof. MHW is using either Conduit or OutDry in all their waterproof gloves this winter. So unless you see either of those technologies on the glove, it isn't waterproof.

Yo Rjg. I have the black Sentinel and it has accompanied me on a few rock trips. The black isn't too bad with chalk. I would probably throw it in the wash with some Tech Wash after a weekend of climbing though since the chalk is going to gum up the breathability of the fabric. Abrasion-wise this thing is tough as nails. Mine has stood up to a year of abuse and is almost in tip-top condition. I would suggest keeping the jacket away from fires. *grumble* Lint-wise I've had no problems at all. Then again I don't have any pets either.

I would try it on Robert. It's pretty easy to guess jacket sizes, but pants are a little trickier.

Yo FNM. Icebreaker stuff used to be made in New Zealand. They got so big though that the operation out grew the manufacturing capacity in NZ, so they moved it all to China. All Icebreaker is now made in China, according to my rep.

You can actually check out the manufacturing process on the Icebreaker website. They've got a little video showing the factory it's made in, which is pretty cool. Hope that helps.

Hey there Rwuff. It's not a high pile lining like the Herculues. It's very similar to the lining in a TNF Apex Bionic; just there to keep out a bit of the cold, but not really enough to act as an insulating layer (depending on your climate).

They aren't technically "waterproof", rather "highly water resistant". Chances are they won't soak right though, but your mid-layer is likely to get damp. If you want to remain totally dry go for a full on Gore-Tex pant.

Yes! This year uses a very different fleece fabric. Last year the Monkey Man used MHW's proprietary Monkey Phur fleece. It's very soft, but mats like crazy. This year they've switched to a Polartec fabric that is much coarser (i.e. less soft) but will stand up to matting much better than last year's model. It's still warm, just not as "pettable" as the '08 model.

It's a pure shell. There is no insulation in the Ferrosi. This thing won't insulate you, but it will help to cut the wind. If you're looking for a warmer softshell check out the OR Mithril Stormshell.

Okay, here's the rule of thumb I used when selling MHW sleeping bags. If you are:
5' 6" and shorter - use a short.
5' 7" to 6' - use a regular.
taller than 6' - Use a long.

This method has yet to fail me, and I stick to it when I buy myself sleeping bags.

Hey Josh. This rain shell is indeed cut large enough to fit a midlayer underneath. The face fabric also has a nice stretch to it as well, so your movement won't be restricted when layering up.

Well, aside frome being half the price of the Stingray, the Motto is also not a Gore-Tex shell. Instead it uses Outdoor Research's own waterproof membrane called Ventia. After that we just get in to little details such as pocket placement, the ability to remove the powder skirt/hood (in the Motto), and colour.

I have quite a few OR pieces and have been very happy with them to date. I would fully recommend OR over Arc'teryx in this case simply for the money it will save you.

Hey Bev. Throw that thing in the washer with some Nikwax Down Wash and you'll be smoke scent free. Afterwards, chuck it in the dryer with some tennis balls to break up the down clumps and you'll be good as new.

Hey Justin. OR cuts their shells a little on the bigger side. I'm a medium pretty much across the board, and I have the Mentor in a medium. It's roomy enough to fit some layers underneath for sure. I would suggest buying whatever size you generally are in your jackets. Keep in mind that Backcountry also offers a 30 day satisfaction guarantee, so if it doesn't fit you have a month to exchange it for the next size up.

Hey Andrea. The pockets are not accessible whilst wearing a harness/pack, unfortunately. That being said this hoodie has enough redeeming qualities that I will heartily recommend it. It's likely my favorite garment from OR.

Mmmm...I don't think so Allen. There's no insulation on this jacket, so you'd be pretty chilly. If you're looking for a warm softshell, check out the North Face Apex Bionic Thermal.

Go for the Apex Bionic Ryan. It's easier on the wallet and fleece lined. The Cipher has no fleece, thus very little heat retaining ability. Also, the Apex Aerobic material on the Cipher will vent heat like crazy. The Bionic is made of the much thicker Apex Climate Bloc material.

Hi Amy, I just checked the tag on my Vatnajokull Fleece Jacket and it was, in fact, made in Latvia. My understanding is that 66 North Iceland garments are not made in Europe, but they are designed in Iceland. I'm quite happy with mine and would stand behind any product they make.

Oh these are my favorite questions to answer. Here goes:

Let's start with a comparison of the Alchemy and the Nemesis. Overall, the Alchemy is a heavier, thus warmer, jacket vs the Nemesis. Furthermore the biggest, most important difference is how these jackets stack up against the wind. The Alchemy jacket is windproof due to the inclusion of a Gore Windstopper laminate. The Nemesis is not windproof, only wind resistant. Lastly, the Alchemy has alpine style pocket on it which will allow you access to them when wearing a pack, harness, whatever.

Which one is better depends on what you'll be using them for. For me, the Alchemy is a better jacket since I tend to avoid aerobic activities in favour of alpine slogs through nasty weather (i.e. bone chilling wind). You also mention you like a stiffer face fabric; the Nemesis is a much softer, and stretchier fabric than the Alchemy jacket. They are both covered by MHW's lifetime warranty, so you don't really need to worry about defective products.

Now then, let's compare the Alchemy (since I feel it to be the better jacket) and the Apex Bionic. These jackets are very similar. Both are windproof, both are sofshells, both are fleece lined. However the Alchemy is more expensive since it uses licensed technology (that being the Gore Windstopper). Again, in my opinion, the Apex Bionic is the better jacket for all round and city use but that's soley based on the price. If you're going to throw on your hiking books and scramble up somthing this weekend, then I would suggest the Alchemy. It'll stand up better to abuse and it has the higher set pockets. Those pockets really seal the deal for me since I spend a lot of my time outdoors in a harness.

One further note, if you haven't looked at the Outdoor Research Mithril Softshell, do that too. It's water/wind proof, has a hood, and is a fair stiff/beefy face fabric. I like it a lot, except the pocket placement.

Hey Eman. I've tried out both the Crag Mountain II and the Ascender. In my opinion the Crag Mountain is far and beyond a better jacket. It cuts wind, sheds water, and fits much better than the Ascender jacket. I would whole heartedly recommend the Crag Mountain over the Ascender. If you're looking for something even beefier, check out the Columbia Ice Ax II Softshell.

Yeah, that's the only difference Matt. TNF hasn't touched this jacket much in the last couple years. It's done so well for them that all they need to do now is change the colour of the zipper pulls every season.

I found the Talus pants surprisingly unstretchy. I would suggest the North Face pants, I have a pair, and they are incredibly comfortable.

Those are some pretty brutal conditions you're looking at DWJ. I'd look at something a little more hearty than the Trio jacket. Personally, I prefer to layer my jackets for my mountain excursions. Usually I'll put a light fleece under my OR Transcendent Sweater (down insulated) and then my OR Mentor Jacket (Gore-Tex) on top. I would suggest going that route as the insultion on most 3 in 1 jackets is "medium warmth" at best.

I would favour the Leadville Jsung. It's cut as a running jacket, and the Apex Bionic is not. Whilst I like the TNF jacket as a generalist, the Leadville is really designed as a running jacket. Since that's what it sounds like you'll be using it for, I would suggest buying the tool designed for the job. The Leadville won't be as warm as the Bionic, so you might need a decent base layer (see: Icebreaker) to put underneath it.

Hey Nicolas. North Face has a pretty standard "box" fit to their core clothing line. You'll find their Summit and Flight Series have more athletic fits. Since this jacket does not belong to the Summit or Flight Series, I would say it has a pretty standard, perhaps "relaxed" even, fit to it. Also, I have no idea what an "authentic" fit is, so I suppose it could be that too.

Yeah, that's what I was afraid of. Can TNF please just put a hood on the Valhalla jacket? I would buy that thing in a heartbeat if had a helmet compatable hood.

Hi Nicolas,

The material certainly is a softshell. It's a lightweight softshell meant to protect you from light rain and moderate winds. Since there is no liner in the jacket the material will be very stretchy. I quite like Mountain Hardwear's softshell fabric and think you'll be quite happy with this jacket.

Nay, there is no powder skirt.

Hey kbuzz. I've tried this bad boy on and the hood is a little small for use with a helmet. You'd be better off cramming the hood under your helmet.

There is no powder skirt, and I found the jacket to be cut a little on the short side. It's a fantastic jacket, but it sounds to me like you're looking for a ski shell. This isn't really designed for skiing. Check out the MHW Kramer too. It's rad.

Nope, not even close. The Cornice uses a Gore-Tex shell whilst the Alti Mitt uses a Ventia (sill waterproof) shell. There are also cosmetic difference in the way the wrist cinches down and the like.

Adm this is the jacket you've been looking for. The entire face fabric is 70D ripstop nylon that can be dragged across rocks, trees, and probably hot pokers without a problem. It's guaranteed waterproof by Gore-Tex and backed up by a lifetime warranty from OR. The Paclite and Pro shells are both wonderfully breathable. I have nothing bad to say about this jacket. If I didn't already have a shell, I promise you I'd have one in my closet.

Nope, no zip in compatibility here I'm afraid. This is just a straight up shell jacket that's meant to sit on top of your fleece.

Hi Jsung. The Conduit laminate is windproof as well as waterproof. This jacket will keep you dry and super warm. Actually, now that I'm looking at it this is a damn cool jacket. Hmmm...Christmas is coming...

Jules, you can wear whatever shell you want on top of this. If you're doing something active and you don't require total storm protection, then grab a nice softshell to layer over top. If you want to stick with Marmot, I'm a big fan of the Kingpin jacket. If you're looking for a higher degree of weatherproofing, then pick up a nice hardshell. Anything with Gore-Tex in it will keep you dry and cut the wind. It all depends on what you plan to do whilst wearing this fleece.

The two jackets are also made of different materials. The Pneumatic is made of Apex Aerobic which is a very light weight and breathable softshell. It's air permeable so it will be wind resistant. The Apex Bionic is made of Apex ClimateBlock. It's a much heavier softshell material that is rated to 0 CFM for air permeability. This means it is essentially windproof.

The Nimble and the Pneumatic are essentially the same thing. They are both made of Apex Aerobic softshell with a DWR coating. I'm a fan of pockets, so I'd go for the Pneumatic myself.

Also, I'm the same height as you, but about 8 pounds heavier and I fit a small fairly well. TNF tends to have a rather boxy cut in their standard line of clothing, so I'd suggest you take a small as well.

Hey Anon. Check out the Transcendent Sweater by Outdoor Research, the Nitrous Jacket by Mountain Hardwear or the Patagonia Down Sweater. You'll likely find the Outdoor Research or Patagonia jacket fits the longest and MHW tends to cut puffy jackets short to fit above a climbing harness.

Hi mhare. This boot works well as a stiff hiking boot suitable for multi-day excursions with a heavy pack. Yes, it has a full nylon shank, but it won't take clip-on crampons that you need for highly technical terrain. If you're looking for something to take you vertically (i.e. ice climbing) check out a true mountaineering boot by Scarpa or La Sportiva.

By "skying" I'm going to assume you mean "skiing". The answer is yes, this will work well for skiing in Vermont. It does have some measure of insulation, but I would use it more as a moderate/fair weather ski shell. If you layered up underneather with some down insulation it might even hold out in the -10 F temperature ranges.

Hi Juls. The back of the jacket is not waterproof. It's meant to act more like a vent for heat and perspiration. If you're looking for a completely waterproof jacket try the North Face Venture jacket.

Hey STE. This jacket uses a porous membrane, like Windstopper. However, unlike Windstopper, the membrane itself is waterproof. It's called Ventia and it is Outdoor Research's proprietary waterproof technology. There is also a DWR coating on the shell.

It's pretty unlikely that you'll be able to zip in your Monkey Man, Pat. Generally speaking different manufacturers use slightly different zippers just to avoid that situation. Last I checked Mountain Hardwear wasn't into making zip-in compatible coats, but that may change with their new Fall lineup. Keep an eye out.

Nathan, I'm inclined to disagree with you on the point of the TNF jacket. Neither the Gamma LT, nor the Shift are windproof jackets. Perhaps I'm just a sucker for all things windproof (I'm wearing a Windstopper jacket as I type this), but I would buy the Apex Bionic before the Gamma LT or the Shift.

The Apex Bionic is made of Apex ClimateBlock which is rated at 0 CFM, thus it is windproof. Furthermore the Shift is horrendously expensive for a standard softshell. While I appreciate the fact that Backcountry is employing my countrymen by manufacturing the jacket in Canada, it's simply over-priced in my opinion. Likewise the Gamma LT is pricey, and still air-permeable.

While the North Face brand lacks the "hardcore" and "shiny" aspects that Arc'teryx and Backcountry carry, they still make a few solid pieces. The Apex Bionic is no exception, as it remains the standard to which other softshells are compared.

Hey Jay. There is no difference. It's all made of the same 200 weight traditional fleece. The "Charcoal Heather Grey" and "Charcoal Heather Grey/Charcoal Heather Grey" jacket even use the same photo. Regardless of which black configuration you buy, you'll get a black fleece jacket.

Hi Maha. You Manitobians are crazy. Here in Alberta it only gets to -40. You should join us for a balmy weekend in January some time.

The truth is that few jackets will keep you comfortable at -50, but lots of jackets will keep you alive. This one will definitely do the latter. With proper layering under the jacket and on your legs, you might even be able to shovel the driveway with this baby on. It is one of the warmest jackets TNF makes. My brother has the men's version and loves it. It kept him relatively warm when winter camping at -34.

The belt and hood are not removable, by the way.

Hey Nate. The Tau is cut slightly differently from the Accomplice. This has a more athletic (see: tighter) cut to act as a mid-layer. The Accomplice has a boxier cut to accommodate insulating layers underneath.

Both will serve well as a wind resistant mid-layer. I would also recommend the Vatnajokull fleece by 66 North Iceland. I just picked one up and love the thing. It's virtually wind proof, super warm, and cheaper than the Arc'teryx stuff (because it's on sale right now). Check it out: http://www.backcountryoutlet.com/outlet/SNI0123/66-North-Iceland-Vatnajokull-Jacket-Mens.html

For sure Mark. Nikwax and Grangers both make wash-in water repellancy for technical clothing. I would recommend Nikwax Softshell Proof. I just used it on my MHW Dragon jacket and it worked like a charm.

Hi Jeremy. You'll find this thing pretty warm near the 70F mark, but from 50F to 65F you should be fine. It'll also depend on what you wear underneath. If you decide the fleece liner feels really nice against your bare flesh, you may opt to go shirtless under the Sentinel which would allow you to wear it in warmer climes. It also depends on what you're doing. If the Super Bowl is on and you're chilly in your house, then this will keep you warm if it's 70F outside. But if the mercury hits 70 and you want to go run a marathon, this will likely be too warm. This jacket is awesome. Buy, use it, love it. Regardless of the temperature.

See Nick Bose's answer to the questions titled "How warm is it???" below.

It's usually part of the Fall/Winter line-up from Mountain Hardwear, but I just checked the Fall '09 stuff and don't see it on the list. It appears as though it will be discontinued I'm afraid.

The biggest difference is the country of origin. This jacket comes from China and the Shift originates in Canada. Still, I would agree with Cyrus. This jacket is sweet and differences are not worth $100.

Hi Mike. I tried this jacket on a little while ago and it fits very slim. Through the body there was just enough room to get a base and mid layer. I did find the sleeves a little long, so depending on how "tall and lanky" you are they may fit you quite well. Just be aware that Norrona jackets tend to fit snugger through the shoulders and body.

Hey Nan. First off, try using the live chat to get a real-time answer from the Backcountry staff. They are very knowledgable and can probably help you out.

Secondly, this might interest you: http://www.backcountry.com/store/MHW1168/Mountain-Hardwear-Wicked-Lite-T-Shirt-Long-Sleeve-Mens.html

Hey Jpark. Use the "Chat Now" button in the upper right corner of the window to talk to a Backcountry employee. They will be able to answer questions regarding stock much faster than by posting it here.

Hey Brandon,

The black and grey ones should be dark enough for single layer casual wear. I've got the grey one and I wouldn't call it translucent. The white-ish one (Bone I think) may prove to be problematic for you though. Go for a darker colour if you're concerned.

Hi Matt,

I was talking to my Mountain Hardwear Rep a couple weeks ago about this jacket. According to him the Terra Jacket is actually MORE breathable than a Pro-Shell. Long term, the Pro Shell will be more waterproof though. Apparently the Terra fabric is the first proprietary waterproof/breathable that is more breathable than Gore-Tex. Hope that helps.

Most any Summit Series piece from North Face is on the slimmer side. As far as softshells go this one isn't skin tight, but it won't accomodate a lot of bulk underneath unless you size up. I would say it's more of an athletic fit.

Hey Josh. I poked around and couldn't find the weight of the shirt, even on Columbia's website. I would, however, suggest avoiding synthetic shirts unless you're going to have the opportunity to wash them. They will get smelly really fast. Might I suggest something made of Merino wool instead? Icebreaker in particular makes fantastic shirts that won't smell nearly as bad and are super light. Check 'em out.

It's neither. The difference is age. BodyFit used to be called Skin. So the Skin clothing is just a little older. They fit, feel, and function the same though.

Indeed. The number refers to the weight of the fabric in grams/meter². So a square meter of Bodyfit200 weighs 200 grams. Likewise the Bodyfit260 would weigh 260 grams. Basically the higher the number the heavier (i.e. warmer) the wool will be.

Why hello me. I would first like to thank those that tried to answer my question. However, since none of them actually own the tent in question, I will now answer my own question.

Yes, this is actually a two man tent. It is set up in my kitchen right now and it's easily the biggest two man tent I've ever seen. It can accomodate two Exped DownMat 7s with room to spare. There are plenty of pockets for gadgets and reading material. Once I have slept in it a few times outside my kitchen I'll throw up a review for it.

Hope that helps. Thank me.

Hey Jonathan. I would suggest either setting your jacket on fire and getting a new one, or washing it with Nikwax Tech Wash. Granted, I haven't actually tried Tech Wash to get gasoline fumes out of my jackets, so I cannot gaurantee success. It's worth a shot though.

Without having done a direct comparison (i.e. trying both on) I would say the Thunder. In my experience Primaloft (in the Red Point) is great stuff but cannot stand up to 800-fill down (in the Thunder). I have tried on the Red Point, and it was fairly warm. However I've tried on the OR version of the Thunder and it was fantastic even with a lower lofting down (650+). Go for the Thunder, you won't regret it.

Hey Adam,

I can't see any Velcro in the photos I'm afraid. However, every single jacket I've seen with Velcro on the hood has two strips of Velcro. One is usually on the outside of the hood located near the seam that joins the hood to the jacket. The other is likely inside the hood also near the jacket/hood seam. This allows one to roll the hood up and stow it in order to avoid having "floppy hood syndrom" whilst on the trail. Hope that helps.

Hey Brad,

I'm not sure which stripe or storm flaps you're referring to. Storm flaps traditionally cover the front zipper, and this jacket lacks those particular flaps. The only red I see on the grey jacket is from the zipper pulls and the inside lining of the cuffs. Does that help at all?

The Denali is actually a 300 weight fleece, but this is lighter than that. It'll be closer to the Khumbu Jacket by North Face.

Any heavy fleece jacket or down sweater will work just fine. Might I recommend The North Face Denali Jacket, The North Face Thunder Jacket, Mountain Hardwear Monkey Man Jacket, Outdoor Research Transcendent Sweater, and the Mountain Hardwear Nitrous Jacket.

According to the Marmot website, this does indeed use the MemBrain Strata fabric.

This is the Fall/Winter '08 model. That's why it's on sale.

The BodyFit line used to be called the Skin line. So the Skin200 is the same as the BodyFit200, only older.

The Skin and BodyFit products from Icebreaker are all slim fitting. So this will be a slim fit shirt.

Hi Bryan. In theory you can embroider any jacket; it's just a matter of how it will impact the performance. This jacket is not waterproof, so poking holes in it will not affect its performance in the wet. However, you will be adding cold spots by embroidering it. The same principle applies to any sewen through down jacket. Every time you put a hole in the jacket and pinch the insulation, you create a spot with less insulation, hence less heat retention, thus more cold. That being said, if you're just going to use this for bumming around town, then you probably won't care if the insulation is slightly pinched on your trek between the car and work. If you like the jacket, then go for it.

Apparently it weighs 67.4 oz. I found that on an eBay listing though, so it may not be entirely accurate. For my fellow Canucks that's roughly 1.91 Kg.

Two main differences. The SV has a hood that stows in the collar, and it is cut shorter. The AR is a longer length shell, and is meant to cover all the way below the waist. That's about it.

There are 4 pockets on the outside and an "interior pocket system" on the inside. This basically means there are a bunch of little pockets for things like a cell phone, keys, wallet, passport, etc. on the inside of the vest. Hope that helps.

Accoding to the sizing chart, conveniently linked from this very page, the sleeves are 75cm (29.5 in) long on the XS. Shells tend to be cut a little roomier in order to allow you to layer insulation underneath. Although I've never tested this particular jacket, I would assume it will be roomier than your standard fleece or softshell.

How about The North Face Denali Jacket? It's the standard in heavy-weight fleece jackets. The Khumbu Jacket will also work.

The Alliance is zip in compatible. That's about it. Honestly for the price difference I'd suggest going with the Venture.

Nope, it's just a one way.

Nope. OR designs most of their stuff to layer rather than zip, so if you need to remove a layer you're only working with one zipper instead of fussing with a second one.

Any colour options will appear on the product page. So in this case, they only have black. Also, you'll get a much faster answer if you use the live chat instead of posting a question.

Nope, they aren't out of production. The Credo pant is a Fall/Winter item and OR has updated their website to reflect their Spring/Summer line-up. If you poke around on the website you can find the Fall 2008 product line which includes the Credo pants. Backcountry will likely have more in stock come September when the Fall/Winter 2009 product range comes in. Hope that helps.

other way around...most of the body is gore tex paclite and the shoulders are gore tex pro, because those are high abrasion areas...paclite is the thinnest and lightest of gore tex fabric and gortec pro is the thickest (3 layers) and most durable--That rubbery material is a Polyurethan liner that sits between your skin and the Gore-Tex material. The actual PacLite membrane (the part that breathes) is between the grey liner and the outside of the jacket. If you're concerned about the breathability, go work up a sweat in the jacket and see how much moisture it retains.

From the product description: "A fully-functional, waterproof hood hides inside the smart stand-up collar as downpour insurance". According to Marmot's website there is a drawstring through the hood that you can adjust from the back of said hood.

66 North Iceland runs small. Their jackets fit slim so you can layer them underneath something else.

Hey Yap,The only advantage the Motto has as a ski jacket is the zip-out snow skirt. As for climbing, I've used my Mentor ice climbing and it worked wonderfully. If you're looking for a shell to take rock climbing in the summer, either the Motto or the Mentor would work well enough. The Mentor is considerably lighter than the Motto though. As for windproofing, I have yet to see a jacket that is waterproof (as the Motto claims to be) that is not also windproof. I would feel confident saying this thing will cut the wind as well as the next guy.

Sure, nothing is going to stop you. You're essentially doubling up on your waterproof layers, but that's okay. The Motto will keep you warmer than the Mentor will, and the Mentor will do a better job at cutting the wind.

The fleece backer is very thin. I wouldn't call this a warm jacket. It needs an insulating layer underneath for temperatures around 0 C. The North Face makes a warmer version of this jacket called the "Sentinel Windstopper Thermal Soft Shell" that has a much thicker fleece lining. Check that out if you're looking for some warmth.