 Poster: A snowHead
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Looking for a new outer shell, but my stuff does take a beating, bang for buck I used to swear by scott but their quality has gone down a lot in my opinion. Was wondering if anyone can reccommend some really good tough jackets? I know some of the Mammut professional stuff is pretty good but it would be nice not to shell out 600 Euros.
Nice but less important would be comes in a bright colour and has big pockets for skins.
Any ideas
M
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Arc' Sidewinder SV - super bomber & lightweight 3-layer Goretex Pro shell. Should get one at a good price with it being off season but not in bright colours.
For bright coloured performance shell check-out the Norrona Lofoten.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Mountain Equipment make some awesome tough jackets that aren't crazy expensive. I've had their Kamchatka jacket for the last two season. Although last season I spent most of the time in an insulated Norrona job.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Are the Skandinavian brands really worth the premium though? Happy to pay a bit more but surely some other countries must be able to match/approach them on quality?
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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^ nope. Norrona / Haglofs (etc) gear is nice, but no better made than others.
IMHO Marmot make some of the best 'bang for buck' kit.
150-200 for top quality gore-tex jacket that will keep you warm, dry and last for years.
Last edited by Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do. on Tue 23-07-13 13:19; edited 2 times in total
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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Mountain Equipment is a UK brand.
Norrona stuff in my experience is excellent quality, well thought out and comes in eye melting colours. Their stuff also seems to fit my body shape better. IMO its better than most brands that are selling larger quantities and on par with the other niche manufacturers.
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Patagonia was always the most hardwearing stuff I used - pricey but more or less indestructable. Reading the care instructions the first time, I was blown away by the instruction to iron my nitro jacket and trousers after washing to restore the full waterproofing. apparently the yarn is waterproofed NOT the cloth post weaving. I've had 3 nitro jackets stolen (while in the UK - 2 from my car and one from a peg in a pub), so they must be considered worthwhile by some people. The colours were a bit girly though 
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I've got a Norrona Lofoten Pro Shell Jacket. Very well designed and made. And it's bright red. Tastefully matches my bright yellow Lofoten trousers (they have huge front pockets). Are they bombproof? Who knows, but they've taken quite a beating, and are still OK. They fit really well - not too tight , not too baggy, although I would say that Norrona are made more for the Scandi body shape, so if you are not fairly slim they might not fit too well.
Their website now has all the new colours for next season. http://www.norrona.com/Products/5002-11/1227/lofoten-gore-tex-pro-jacket-m
As for the price, I got mine from Tamarack, who used to do a 10 or 15% discount at the start of the season.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Norrona is great stuff but its made for the slim and tall. If you are not long limbed forget it. No specific recommendations.
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I like my Mountain Equipment Changabang, it's a fairly bright two tone orange, not sure they still do that colour though. Not over endowed with pockets though.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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By its very nature Gore-tex will never last forever or be totally 'bomb proof' - maybe 5 years of hard use before they start to deteriorate. The main advantage of the material is that is light weight and breathable.
i.e A £400 mountaineering / ski jacket wont last twice as long, or perform differently from a decent £100-200 one.
With some brands their lower specification gore-tex jackets are often the harder wearing models. (the super top end expensive jackets are just lighter but often less durable material).
Last edited by snowHeads are a friendly bunch. on Tue 23-07-13 15:00; edited 5 times in total
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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Mark1863, Same for Hagloff sadly 
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Claude B, too many pockets on a jacket you spend most of your time wearing with a pack on is one of my main bugbears for outdoor clothing design. Even the little ID/ski-pass pockets are completely redundant on jackets IMO and just add more places for water to get in. Two big chest pockets you can get into whilst wearing a pack is my ideal.
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You know it makes sense.
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meh, It has 4 front ones (2 large and 2 smaller) so it would suit, although it has a lift pass one too. Absence of any internal pockets is my main moan although I think the latest ones may have some.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Mountain Equipment is my brand of choice. I was a Patagucci fanboi but there pateneted "box fit" is getting worse. If I was a rotund american, it'd be ideal but a a slimish englishman with a belly, it's baggy and tight in all the wrong places.
The ME Kamchatka jacket is their ski jacket I believe (that meh owns), all my clothing is more climbing orientated.
http://www.mountain-equipment.co.uk/the_gear/clothing/waterproof/kamchatka_jacket---648/
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Poster: A snowHead
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I've been very impressed with my Norrona Lofoten jacket this season, been bomber so far. I wouldn't say that it's necessarily made better than some of the cheaper but high end brands (Mountain Equipment, The North Face Summit Series), but it's definitely designed better - the cuffs are a thing of beauty for one: stick your arm in a your hand slides straight into the garter/thumb thing, which slides straight under the cuff of you gloves, which slide straight under the over-sized cuff of the jacket, while the oversized velcro bit is then easy to adjust with gloves on. Massive pit zips are also a win. Small details maybe, but the poorly designed cuffs on my old TNF jacket really annoyed me. TBF though, that old TNF (Summit Series goretex pro climbing jacket) was at least as bomber as the Norrona, it's the design details that make the difference.
Keep an eye on Mountain Equipment, Marmot and Sportspursuit for (relative) bargains though.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Clarky That highlights the "horses for courses" issue with internet recommendations quite well!
IMO, the Lofoton is cut abit odd on me and too long, it has those god awful hand gaiters and an annoying asymetrical cuff, pit zips - why?, a hood that doesn't go over a decent climbing helmet (well, it does but only just so will give you neck ache) etc etc. A lot of the things you like make me look elsewhere!
Answer - try some on, buy the one you like!
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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galpinos, interesting! The hand gaiters work well for me (the only brand I've tried that does, actually!), LOVE the cuffs, and the hood fits over my helmet fine! Actually wish it was smaller, I don't like skiing with a hood up (I have a ski lid not a climbing one though), and it falls over my eyes when wearing it in the rain (city/hiking/etc). I've found the pit zips invaluable touring/spring skiing though, so easy to dump heat without having to take the jacket off/on.
Can't argue with the trying it on bit though, some brands (Patagonia) just don't fit me at all!
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Marmot and Powderhorn bargains on Sportspursuit now actually...
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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For Mountain Equipment, Sprayway and Ronhill check out seller daz198 on ebay. He seems to be an outlet shop. Also look for the OSC sales every so often at the factory in Hyde.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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I've some Marmot pro shell trousers which are great, some nice looking jackets on there at a really good price.
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I can vouch for the sidewinder, it's easily the best jacket I've owned to date.
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Anyone road tested the Haglöfs Spitz II jacket, good deal found online...
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Right sorry to drag this up again but am stumped! Please just tell me which one to get and I'll leave you all in peace:
Norrona Lofoten GTX Pro shell - €399
Norrona Narvic GTX 3L - €350
Haglofs Spitz 2 - €330
Arctyrex Alpha LT - €356
Arcteryx Alpha SV - €50 million
It is for Freeride skiing, BC touring, mountain hiking (though not bigass climbing), walking to work and drinking too much gluhwein at the christmas market.... I wear my jackets a lot, everyday in the winter in fact, so it needs to be tough enough ....
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You could do with trying them on.
I got Ellis Brigham to get me a Norrona Narvic in large; a bit too long in the body and arms, but very tight across the chest. So it fits tall skinny types.
I went for a Burton [AK] instead. I've had them before and find the fit spot on.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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I've tried some of them and some i was able to try a close relative... I'm 6 foot, 12 stone (77kg) and a pretty standard medium
Only one I havent been able to try is the spitz 2, so if anyone knows what it's like that'd be great
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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Lofoten GTX
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Get the Lofoten Pro Shell in the brightest colour available. You won't regret it.
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You know it makes sense.
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And where can you find one for €399?
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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I'd tell you but theres only one left
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Poster: A snowHead
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| dulcamara wrote: |
| I'd tell you but theres only one left |
Well, I don't really "need" another one, but it's good to have a spare.
Just out of interest, what size were you thinking of getting?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Medium, the arms on the large are too long..
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Your jacket's safe from me then. I normally have to buy XL, as I'm 6 ft 4, and have got long arms.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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haha its a german site called followme
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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dulcamara, out of those I'd go with the Lofoten as well.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Lofoten
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Arcterxx every time...
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Anyone know how well the Lofoten packs away? I fully appreciate it may well be the best powder jacket in the world, but for hiking etc..? or should i look at the Active shell version?
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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bombproofness and packability don't usually go together
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Actually that's my bad, started this thread wanting an Über-solid jacket for skiing but then figured, if i throw a bit more money at the problem i might be able to get a solid enough jacket that will be light enough to serve in the summer'ish seasons as well.
The Lofoten wasn't really my first choice as it's primarily a freeride jacket but there are enough people raving about it that I'm more tempted, as long as I'm not gonna regret it everytime I want to take it off and stick it in/on a bag.
A little surprised that nobody rates the Haglofs stuff, have they fallen by the wayside a bit?
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FAQ
