Rock Climbing : Comments
Comments by scuclimber (5)
Article: Bees Render Climber Unconscious
Nasty little buggers, those.
Nasty little buggers, those.
Article: Three Climbers at Zion National Park and a Monkey Wrench
I thoroughly enjoyed the article. And yeah, we all need a little havoc once in a while.
I thoroughly enjoyed the article. And yeah, we all need a little havoc once in a while.
Article: Moutain Hardwear's UltraLamina 15 Sleeping Bag Editorial Review
VTG, one of the main advantages of down is that it has a much wider comfort range of temperatures for different people. Geese live in cold as well as relatively warm climes. I guess R&D on insulation hasn't been able to replicate what a few million years of natural selection was able to create. That would help alleviate your venting issues.
Also, if you're going to compare how small the Phantom stuffs compared to the UltraLamina, you really should have a Phantom to compare it too. I know REI has carried it in the past, maybe go down and measure it in the store?
Other than that, the review was very helpful. I'm looking for a three-season synthetic for my GF and was originally thinking TNF Cat's Meow (specifically because I was familiar with that bag and I hadn't heard anything about this one yet), but this review has made me reconsider. She'd mostly be using it for car camping and short BC trips, so that works. Thanks.
VTG, one of the main advantages of down is that it has a much wider comfort range of temperatures for different people. Geese live in cold as well as relatively warm climes. I guess R&D on insulation hasn't been able to replicate what a few million years of natural selection was able to create. That would help alleviate your venting issues.
Also, if you're going to compare how small the Phantom stuffs compared to the UltraLamina, you really should have a Phantom to compare it too. I know REI has carried it in the past, maybe go down and measure it in the store?
Other than that, the review was very helpful. I'm looking for a three-season synthetic for my GF and was originally thinking TNF Cat's Meow (specifically because I was familiar with that bag and I hadn't heard anything about this one yet), but this review has made me reconsider. She'd mostly be using it for car camping and short BC trips, so that works. Thanks.
Article: Eider Shield Jacket Editorial Review
Decent review VTG, although I don't know if I like it as much as your usual reviews. (That's a testament to your reviewing ability.)
The one major thing I take issue with, and others may as well, is this sentence: "The Eider Shield is a solid jacket that will definitely give the boys in the States a run for their money."
Patagonia and Cloudveil both also use Powershield, and I've found their fit and finish, especially Patagonia's to be equal to Eider. Powershield isn't a proprietary fabric and it's certainly not anything new these days. I got my first Powershield pullover in the winter of 01-02. Patagonia has moved away from Powershield in a lot of their line, having already tried and used it. It's a warm, durable, but only somewhat breathable fabric, which is (presumably) why companies are trying other stuff (both Schoeller, and proprietary stuff). If I'm out ski touring and I'm wearing a Powershield top, for the amount it breathes on the uphill I almost might as well be wearing a hardshell. There are tons of other options out there that breathe significantly better.
Also, although not made in the States, our Canuckistani neighbors Arcteryx might have issue with that statement I quoted above as well. Arcteryx's jackets have similar fit and finish to Eider (I won't say better, but...). Arcteryx has certainly been THE industry leader (I'll throw Patagonia in here too) in terms of driving trends and production of new materials.
Again, it wasn't a *bad* review, but it seemed a bit narrow to me. Many folks over here haven't heard of Eider, so it's certainly useful in that regard. So, while the Shield is a great jacket, but it's not really any different than Arc's Gamma series (which I believe has been on the market significantly longer, correct me if I'm wrong), or the equivalent Patagonia offering.
Decent review VTG, although I don't know if I like it as much as your usual reviews. (That's a testament to your reviewing ability.)
The one major thing I take issue with, and others may as well, is this sentence: "The Eider Shield is a solid jacket that will definitely give the boys in the States a run for their money."
Patagonia and Cloudveil both also use Powershield, and I've found their fit and finish, especially Patagonia's to be equal to Eider. Powershield isn't a proprietary fabric and it's certainly not anything new these days. I got my first Powershield pullover in the winter of 01-02. Patagonia has moved away from Powershield in a lot of their line, having already tried and used it. It's a warm, durable, but only somewhat breathable fabric, which is (presumably) why companies are trying other stuff (both Schoeller, and proprietary stuff). If I'm out ski touring and I'm wearing a Powershield top, for the amount it breathes on the uphill I almost might as well be wearing a hardshell. There are tons of other options out there that breathe significantly better.
Also, although not made in the States, our Canuckistani neighbors Arcteryx might have issue with that statement I quoted above as well. Arcteryx's jackets have similar fit and finish to Eider (I won't say better, but...). Arcteryx has certainly been THE industry leader (I'll throw Patagonia in here too) in terms of driving trends and production of new materials.
Again, it wasn't a *bad* review, but it seemed a bit narrow to me. Many folks over here haven't heard of Eider, so it's certainly useful in that regard. So, while the Shield is a great jacket, but it's not really any different than Arc's Gamma series (which I believe has been on the market significantly longer, correct me if I'm wrong), or the equivalent Patagonia offering.
Article: Eider Shield Jacket Editorial Review
Ahh, gotcha. Fair enough then. I misread it. Yes, I'd put them at roughly equal levels. Cheers.
Ahh, gotcha. Fair enough then. I misread it. Yes, I'd put them at roughly equal levels. Cheers.
