 Poster: A snowHead
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My old coat is shredded and planning on doing more skiing this year. I used to ski in jeans, but I think I will shell out for some proper pants.
I am dumbfounded at the cost of coats. you can pay 25 -600 for this item, and I don't really understand why. I am prioritizing breathability over waterproofing as a sweat a lot, but I don't know if that is right. I assume so; it is unlikely to rain mid feb where I am going (chamonix) I would think.
Any, even big brands seem cheap. lots of sub 100 or near.
http://www.outdoorkit.co.uk/product.php?product_id=578&category_id=235
http://www.outdoorkit.co.uk/product.php?product_id=6871&category_id=235
http://www.outdoorkit.co.uk/product.php?product_id=574&category_id=235
all north face. last one claims to be breathable and waterproof. I assume there is a trade off?
If you go to trespass website you will find a huge selection of sub 100 jackets. I believe trespass is good, no?
as for pants, I think I want waterproof as I might sit in a puddle. It looks like the outdoorkit website has a bunch for around 50 quid.
anyway, I was a bit surprised because I thought I would have to shell out a good 300 quid for pants and coat. Are the above just crap?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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They look OK, or take yourself off to the nearest TK Maxx, if you don't mind last years kit you will, with a bit of luck, find some real bargains in top end kit.
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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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But some are so last year
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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| Quote: |
you can pay 25 -600 for this item, and I don't really understand why
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In large part because it says North Face (or Arc'Teryx or Norrona) on it. Have a look at Dare2Be or Trespass if you don't want to fork out a fortune- you will remain warm and dry in either.
If you're used to skiing in jeans, pretty much any ski trousers out there will be an improvement, even if you only spend tuppence on the local market. 
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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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I have a Trespass jacket, full price was £150 but I got it a bit cheaper, was a proper girl and bought it because I liked the pattern & colour, but honestly did look at waterproofing, etc as well. Can honestly say it is one of the better jackets I've had. Fits well, does exactly what it says on the tin..
Husband loves his Burton, think his jacket was along the £170 line - so I wouldn't say that was too expensive, especially when the S&R catalogue has some jackets upwards of £900!! I'm with you on "why that expensive" question!!
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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If you live anywhere near the North-west of England the North Face outlet in Cheshire Oaks has some great deals. You should be able to kit yourself out with ski specific gear for well under £300.
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you can't go far wrong with M&S pants - they do a waterproof range I think, designed for the older market
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red 27,  Boots carries a 'discrete' range of requisites for the . . . elder gentleman . . . alowing him to purchase whatever ski clothing he wishes.
Though I do find that so called 'boarding' trews do have a more generous rise in the 'nethers' . . . more comfy.
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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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Lizzard, that's sort of true there is definitely a price point on the 'better' brands which is partly built on reputation. But you are getting better quality for example Norrona make most of their stuff by hand in Norway which has to be amongst the most expensive labour markets on the planet. Also the materials used are often 'better' and more expensive. Then you're also paying for the good functional and aesthetic design choices.
Almost everything works but there is a difference in how well. You can ski in cheap waterproof over trousers and jogging bottoms with very similar performance for most people. 
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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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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Masque,
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Now to answer question seriously.
I bought my no-name salopettes from Amazon for all of £8. They are warm, waterproof and comfortable and have now lasted me 7 years without so much as a thread coming loose. Big names aren't everything, and you can get lucky sometimes.
I spent a bit more on my Marmot jacket as I use it for hiking as well as skiing, but prior to that I had an OK Brugi ski jacket from TK Maxx for about £50. Got very warm inside though.
Would recommend going and seeing what is about. I was in TK Maxx yesterday and there was some decent looking snowsports stuff, not a lot of it though compared to previous years. Trespass is perfectly fine. Not trendy and low on bells and whistles but does the job.
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You know it makes sense.
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amps, don't ever be surprised if it rains in the mountains, even in Chamonix 
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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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Poster: A snowHead
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| Scomber wrote: |
Now to answer question seriously.
I bought my no-name salopettes from Amazon for all of £8. They are warm, waterproof and comfortable and have now lasted me 7 years without so much as a thread coming loose. |
7 weeks or 7 years? Durability costs.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| Quote: |
The remote possibility of rain does not require you be head to toe in waterproofs all the time, just in case.
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Unless it's Whistler
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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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I had to put a patch over the bumhole of my snowboard pants this morning where they'd worn thin. I butchered a bit of fabric from the flap that goes over the pocket, and glued it on with super glue. My gloves (top end Level with wrist guards) are also glued back together where the edges of my skis/board have knackered the fingertips and crook of the thumb. Also my jacket (RRP 500 quid plus, actual price 70 quid from TK M) is covered with oil and grime from doing car maintenance whilst wearing it.
Maybe I should stop being so 'make do and mend' and actually buy some new gear myself.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Mr Piehole, no way fella. That gear sounds "core"!!
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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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clarky999, probably 7 weeks, true enough if I was doing seasons (I wish) they would've fallen to bits. Still at a little over a quid a week if you look at it that way I'm pleased with em
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Scomber, haha, can imagine!
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| Lizzard wrote: |
| Quote: |
you can pay 25 -600 for this item, and I don't really understand why
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In large part because it says North Face (or Arc'Teryx or Norrona) on it. Have a look at Dare2Be or Trespass if you don't want to fork out a fortune- you will remain warm and dry in either.
If you're used to skiing in jeans, pretty much any ski trousers out there will be an improvement, even if you only spend tuppence on the local market. |
but the coats I posted were North face. from about 100-150 in price.
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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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| amps wrote: |
| I don't think I have will have any tolerance for rain, so I might just put a cheap thin waterproof thing in my backpack just in case just to get me indoors while I wait the rain to go away. |
If you're going to Chamonix and expect to be able to duck indoors if the weather gets a bit iffy, you're probably going to the wrong bits
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| Serriadh wrote: |
| amps wrote: |
| I don't think I have will have any tolerance for rain, so I might just put a cheap thin waterproof thing in my backpack just in case just to get me indoors while I wait the rain to go away. |
If you're going to Chamonix and expect to be able to duck indoors if the weather gets a bit iffy, you're probably going to the wrong bits |
Does that mean it rains quite a bit a chamonix? I have never skied in Europe, only canada, and recently only in the cold parts (i.e. not vancouver). I have skied in all kinds of weather (snow, heavy snow, sunshine, fog so thick you can't see the ends of your poles), but never rain.
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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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The valley floor is at about 1000-1200m or so, which to my mind is quite low for France, obviously all of the skiing is above this level and some is up around the 3000m mark. The forecast freezing level for the next few days runs from 1500m, tomorrow down to 900m Weds for midday values. What falls tomorrow midday will be rain at resort level, but snow higher. Keep dry when you're heading for the lift, and stay high is what I'd do.
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| amps wrote: |
| Does that mean it rains quite a bit a chamonix? I have never skied in Europe, only canada, and recently only in the cold parts (i.e. not vancouver). I have skied in all kinds of weather (snow, heavy snow, sunshine, fog so thick you can't see the ends of your poles), but never rain. |
No, I was thinking more of the fact that I associate Chamonix with a big area for off-piste and a huge area for touring, most of which will be spent a fair distance away from shelter. If you're just going for the pistey bits, the area will be substantially less interesting! Take a look at http://snowheads.com/ski-forum/viewtopic.php?t=95358 for a little example.
As regards rain... that's a tricky question. There's an awful lot of vertical in Chamonix (2500m drop between Midi lift and the town? may be more!) and that means a big temperature difference; there won't be a whole lot of rain up top at any time of year! It is unlikely to be warm and wet in febuary, so emergency waterproofs are likely to be fine.
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You know it makes sense.
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I am a rusty intermediate skier. I have only 3 days of skiing, so I assumed chamonix would have plenty of on piste skiing for me. Am I wrong?
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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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amps, there will be plenty to keep you busy
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Poster: A snowHead
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I've just got back from Switzerland and I'm really glad that I've finally shelled out on a Gore-Tex jacket that is properly waterproof. Junior got soaked a couple of days, once so badly that he had to come out of ski school early. I was absolutely fine (I must have spent more time in the bar than he did ).
I got a Adidas jacket cheap as it was last years model - just under £100 delivered. I spotted a Haglof jacket in the same green outside a shop in the resort. The only obvious difference (apart from the price) was a couple of mesh pockets inside the jacket. They also had this years Adidias jacket at just under 500CHF.
I'm now looking for some bargain Gore-Tex pants to go with it.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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been to Chamonix twice, a 3 and a 4 day trip.
plenty of on piste skiing and we did a different area each day to keep it varied
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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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I think I am starting to understand this a bit more. I read on an earlier snowheads post that waterproof vs non waterproof are like two opposing religions, but I think I have some understanding now.
Back home years ago, I never got caught in the rain. Rain sucks, so why would you ski in it? Was I lucky? Am I awesome? No. I cancelled trips if the forecast was for rain, and this was feasible because I lived driving distance to the ski area. As with many others on this forum, I now live in Britain and I have to fly/take train/travel huge distances to get to the mountains, and I must also plan my trips in advance. Hence, one may get caught in rain, and cancelling last minute is not an option. I certainly don't want to spend my whole or most of my trip indoors. Couple that with the temptation to have a multi-purpose walking jacket (it rains in England, in case you haven't heard), I can see now why people go for waterproof/breathable instead of full breathable.
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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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Waterproof and Brathabble is correct.
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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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amps, waterproof and breathable is deffo the way to go. i had a very memorable day at Serre Chevaliler when it was raining at the bottom (1300m) and dumping at the top (2600m). I was repetitively soaked then frozen for the day. I was wearing something with the waterproofing and bearing in mind it was the early 90's fashion qualities of a Quality street wrapper. It was a great day only marred by the quality of kit i had on combined with conditions.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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Avast doesn't even like that URL which is far from a good sign.
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registered to fang xiaolong, what do you think?
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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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| Quote: |
registered to fang xiaolong, what do you think?
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fangs for that, v helpful.
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What does that mean?
However, doing some digging and the email sent to me was from Beijing. Hmmmm. For a UK outlet store?
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FAQ
we're looking at waterproofing from the OUTSIDE . . . pardon me 
