Gear Review
Mountain Hardwear Typhoon Jacket - Women's
Mountain Hardware Typhoon Jacket not for use with backpacks
By psisquared100135302
Ranked #67 - Men's Rain Jackets
March 24, 2008
I contacted Gore-Tex Customer Service to inquire about how to maintain my new Mountain Hardware Typhoon jacket. I was first asked how I intended to use the jacket. I answered that I expected to carry large climbing approach loads up to 75 pounds. I was told that PacLite, the Gore-Tex laminate used in the Typhoon jacket was never intended to be used for backpacking. I was also told that this person I contacted at Gore-Tex customer service was present during the time when PacLite was first created from demands for a waterproof-breathable jacket which could fit into a one liter water bottle. PacLite was never designed, according to the man at Gore-Tex, to be worn while carrying a backpack because the thin material would quickly fail under the pressure of a backpack's shoulder straps and hip belt. He recommended I at least consider using a Gore-Tex Performance shell but for climbing and mountaineering, that I should try to buy a Gore-Tex Pro shell.
View Details: Mountain Hardwear Typhoon Jacket - Women's
Helpful Votes: 5 Yes | 8 No
Tech Specs:
- Material:
- [Shell] nylon mini ripstop with Gore-Tex Paclite Shell laminate; [Lining] nylon
- Waterproof Rating:
- Guaranteed
- Breathable Rating:
- Guaranteed
- Core Venting:
- Underarm zips
- Pockets:
- 2 Hand
- Seam Taped:
- Yes, fully
- Hood:
- Yes, rollaway
- Weight:
- 13oz (371g)
- Recommended Use:
- Hiking, backpacking
- Manufacturer Warranty:
- Lifetime
- Country of Origin:
- China
Change me.
1 Comments Last Reply: October 27, 2009 By: Jon Webb
1. Paclite=$200 ProShell=$400... 2. The face fabric determines the durability ultimately of the garment not the laminate. That is why we use 70 denier fabrics coupled with Paclite in some of our most durable and burly jackets (Xenon Jacket.) Paclite breathes extremely well and costs less and this is one reason why we like using it in many of our jackets. The Typhoon Jacket is made with this fabric: GORE-TEX® PACLITE® Mini-Ripstop. This is 100% nylon ripstop. 40 denier, high filament count bright yarn. GORE-TEX® PACLITE® Laminate. DWR finish. 2.65 oz/yd2. and is extremely durable for its weight. Furthermore, Paclite could be called a 2.5 layer fabric: face fabric/laminate/thin coating on the back of the laminate. This extremely thin coating is what helps to protect the laminate from things like pack straps and prevents the oils from your body from clogging the porous gore membrane. Paclite was traditionally made with lighter face fabrics so you could do things like stick them in one liter bottles. We like the laminate and it is easy to work with and so we like experimenting with it and putting heavier more durable face fabrics together with it to make things like ski and climbing shells. ProShells, in contrast, have a woven backer on the back of the laminate and typically, in most cases, utilize a slightly burlier face fabric (face fabric/gore membrane/woven backer) So, the woven backer is what protects the laminate in a ProShell from damage from pack straps. ProShell fabric is sweet too and we make jackets out of ProShell as well (Argon Jacket, Beryllium Jacket, Vertical Jacket) it just costs more. 3. In all of our durability tests coupled with many athlete hours spent torturing the Typhoon Jacket climbing, skiing, and traveling... we have found Paclite to be plenty durable for use with packs. Seriously.
Helpful Votes: 3 Yes | 0 No