 Poster: A snowHead
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Any snowsport clothing, kit, equipment, accessories, etc that have been excellent value and served you well? Maybe unfashionable, or a brand that the trendy or ostentatious wouldn’t want to be seen using?
Any such good value stuff out there for sale now, that you would recommend for savvy snowHeads to consider?
Any value comparisons between your good value purchases/recommendations and very similar quality overpriced trendy branded gear?
Of course, discerning snowHeads are savvy enough to know that best value doesn’t necessarily mean cheapest. 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Difficult to go wrong with Decathlon. Bro-in-law rents out their kit (Simond mountaineering stuff) to folks going up the Mont Blanc, etc. I've used "alpine" jackets often as ski jackets.
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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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Simmond belay gloves make excellent light weight summer MTB gloves 
We use them with a high tac grip fitted to bike, very light weight, low volume material that doesn't bulk the grip dimensions, resulting in really good grip functionality without needing extreme hand pressure to produce that effect. our experience is a very low fatigue effect on particularly demanding terrain.
Not strictly skiing, but related to post.
Interestingly they don't appear to get good reviews for their intended use, but great for our application, decent cost too.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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In the last 20 years I've worn two pairs of Salopettes both excellent at the opposite end of the price spectrum but both great value.
Firstly Arc'teryx bought in a sale on line from USA, worked really well for about 12-13 years and were still going strong when I needed to buy a Mojo and there wasn't enough room in the knee.
I replaced them with a pair of Winter climbing Salopettes from Decathlon reduced in the sale to around £30 which have been excellent since then.
Best two pairs I've owned.
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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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Merino base layers from Aldi.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Quiksilver goretex shell ski jacket for 70 quid from TK Maxx. Lasted me about 10 years before it developed a couple of nicks in it so I demoted it to terrible weather dog walking duties.
I replaced it with this Peak Performance jacket. I think I got this for half price yet it still cost nearly 300gbp. It looked battered and grimey quite quickly and the grime won't wash out (have tried many times). The quality of the Quiksilver jacket was so much better.
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@hammerite, have you tried getting the jacket wet, then scrubbing with neat liquid biological washing detergent, leaving overnight, and washing normally? Has worked for me a few times on grimy skiwear. Clearly the savviest solution is always to rejuvenate what you've already got, and buy nothing new!
Pertex/pile clothing is my top tip for the savvy skier. My montane gear is 30 years old and still going strong. Easy to clean and repair, multi-functional, genuinely breathable, and really comfortable. Heavy compared to a down vest and ultralight shell, no lift pass pocket, but works well in a much broader range of climatic conditions than typical ski gear.
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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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@snowdave, I've tried a few different things but probably not that combination. I'll give it a go.
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@hammerite, good luck! The final stage, depending on how much risk you're prepared to take, is to add some Vanish oxyaction powder 30mins before washing, give that a good scrub as well, then chuck it into the machine at 40C after 30mins. One of my kids had luminous orange ski trousers with 10 weeks worth of black poma-stain on the seat - dirt/oil/degrading rubber. The full combo returned them to new condition.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Does a full price item that can be deployed toward uses it wasn’t designed for count? If so, my “technical“ pants qualify. They’re great for around town as designed. Lots of zipper pockets, so they’re great for traveling. They’re also excellent for spring skiing as they are lightweight but also with enough room for LJ‘s underneath if desired, and again there’s those pockets. Three birds with one stone, seems thrifty to me.
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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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@PeakyB, I got all of my gear lightly used from Vinted last year, all of it in almost new condition. About £900 of outerwear, baselayers, gloves and goggles for less than £200. I bought over the course of a few months, pre and early season and I bought a couple of jackets and sold them back on vinted when I found one I liked better. I've kept it all for another year on the slopes. If I can get 3 seasons out of it all and keep it in good condition, I'll be happy.
I really, really like certain brands outerwear for fit, performance and style - I find that second hand purchases suit me better than the lower cost but still good quality Decathlon etc equivalent.
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Macpac alpine series. They must let the gear freaks design and spec it and then discount it heavily to shift stock. Top spec gear for bargain basement prices - usually about 20% of the equivalent from other brands. Personal favourites are the polartec alpha based mid layers for weight/$/performance.
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You know it makes sense.
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Some great tips on here. Already enough evidence to prove that snowHeads are savvyHeads and NOT cheapHeads.
Do people really change their ski gear every 3 seasons? Perhaps if they ski all or most of the season…lucky geezers?
I still have a 30 year old Phoenix Goretex jacket on standby, in case of an extremely cold temperature forecast.
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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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@PeakyB, indeed.
I would point out though that sometimes, paying full dollar for the likes of Arc’terix (or Stellar) can be worth it on guarantees.
Mrs U is on 3rd Arc’ Beta having paid original €650 11 years ago, having it replaced after 6 years for small cost and replaced again this year for even smaller cost.
Ok, VERY special circumstances (which I will not go into other than excellent service) , but excellent value, non? 
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Poster: A snowHead
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@under a new name, mais our, that certainly is excellent value, if she’s effectively had 3 new high quality jackets for the price of one, over 11 years. Likely to work out at less than €50 per year eventually?
Arc’terix sound like they’re exceptionally good at honouring their guarantee.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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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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@PeakyB, haha! We’ve found Arc’ to be really good, although the particulars were unusual.
Stellar were also brilliant this summer and I have a new jacket for this winter at modest cost my end.
I did have a Mountain Hardwear shell that cost £400 in 2000 but lasted 11 years (560 ski days) including scottish sailing which I reckon was pretty good value (actually did a few more years as snowblowing jacket!) …
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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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Just realised I’ve got a Berghaus goretex shell that's just turned 30 yrs old. I’ve had to re-stick the seam tape a couple of times (Screwfix low modulus clear silicone sealant) but apart from that it’s been good. It’s still just as waterproof as ever, still water repellent, and still just as unbreathable as all other goretex .
It was a warranty replacement - its predecessor leaked within months of purchase, probably faulty fabric. I recall sending it back to Berghaus and then going away on a climbing trip. When I returned, there was a letter acknowledging receipt, another one saying it had been tested and there was nothing wrong with it, and a parcel containing a new jacket and an explanation that the old one was leaking!
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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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Paramo? Oldest one is from 1996....still going strong
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