Good parka for general use?

Quoted message said:

Any advice on a decent parka to buy for general around
winter wear....and maybe an occasional camping or
traveling trip?

I don't want one with any insulation built in.... just
a shell only

Would also like to use this shell for bike riding as
well..... commuting

Advice?

I've never gotten cold enough to need something that warm. But, I am
partial to my Helly Hansen Rapide jacket. Very light, warm, and
extremely durable (I slid 1/2 mile down an ice and rock covered mountian
on my back without even a scratch on it), but I think it would get too
warm for biking. I just use thin layers for that.

http://www.hellyhansen.com/index_flash.html

--
o-o-o-o Ride-A-Lot o-o-o-o
www.schnauzers.ws

Quoted message said:

Any advice on a decent parka to buy for general around
winter wear....and maybe an occasional camping or
traveling trip?

I don't want one with any insulation built in.... just
a shell only

Would also like to use this shell for bike riding as
well..... commuting

Advice?

wwww.sierratradingpost.com has lots of good technical shell parkas for not
to much $$

Penny

Quoted message said:

Any advice on a decent parka to buy for general around
winter wear....and maybe an occasional camping or
traveling trip?

I don't want one with any insulation built in.... just
a shell only

Would also like to use this shell for bike riding as
well..... commuting

Advice?

There are so many out there that the list is likely to be enormous.
However, I've got a Columbia jacket that seems to be pretty good. It's
bright blue, uses their 'Omnitech' waterproof breathable fabric. It
zips and domes up the front. Has elasticated cuffs. Has a hood that is
velcroed behind/under the high collar when not being used. Is lined
with a nylon type mesh inside. Elastic cord adjustment around the
longish waist. Rolls up into a relatively small bundle suitable for
sticking under the webbing on a camelbak. It's tidy enough to wear when
NOT on the bike.
Pretty versatile jacket really. It gets used for exactly what you want
to use it for. Not cheap but certainly not rediculously expensive either.
--
Westie

<[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Any advice on a decent parka to buy for general around
winter wear....and maybe an occasional camping or
traveling trip?

I don't want one with any insulation built in.... just
a shell only

Would also like to use this shell for bike riding as
well..... commuting

Advice?

Marmot shells are bulletproof and guaranteed for life. I have nothing but
good things to say, not only about the quality of product but also service.
If you want details, let me know . . .

cc

RE/

Quoted message said:

Marmot shells are bulletproof and guaranteed for life. I have nothing but
good things to say, not only about the quality of product but also service.
If you want details, let me know . . .

I've been using REI last few years... but my Marmot was the best shell parka
I've every owned.
--
PeteCresswell

Quoted message said:

I've been using REI last few years... but my Marmot was the best shell parka
I've every owned.

So what happened to Marmot?

Why not get another one?

Has Marmot gone out of business?

Ride-A-Lot said:

Quoted message said:

Any advice on a decent parka to buy for general around
winter wear....and maybe an occasional camping or
traveling trip?
I don't want one with any insulation built in.... just
a shell only
Would also like to use this shell for bike riding as
well..... commuting
Advice?

I've never gotten cold enough to need something that warm. But, I am
partial to my Helly Hansen Rapide jacket. Very light, warm, and
extremely durable (I slid 1/2 mile down an ice and rock covered mountian
on my back without even a scratch on it), but I think it would get too
warm for biking. I just use thin layers for that.

http://www.hellyhansen.com/index_flash.html

Hey, aint that MattB in that picture?
--
Slacker

<[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I've been using REI last few years... but my Marmot was the best shell
parka
I've every owned.

So what happened to Marmot?

Why not get another one?

Has Marmot gone out of business?

No. http://www.marmot.com/

REI carries them too.

Good question though. The only thing I can thing of is that Marmots are an
investment. Not everyone wants to wear the same jacket forever.

cc

cc said:

<[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I've been using REI last few years... but my Marmot was the best
shell parka
I've every owned.

So what happened to Marmot?

Why not get another one?

Has Marmot gone out of business?

No. http://www.marmot.com/

REI carries them too.

Good question though. The only thing I can thing of is that Marmots
are an investment. Not everyone wants to wear the same jacket forever.

cc

Marmot is good stuff, REI is very reliable, Columbia is reliable, Mountain
Hardware and Arcteryx are very nice. You want to stay away from what I call
"mall wear" - cheap shell clothing, "taped waterproof breathable" that is
sold in big box stores. Anything that comes with a "lifetime" warranty is a
good purchase. There's a new waterproof fabric called EPIC that is really
awesome.

Penny ~

my annual sig post:

--
Specialty Outdoors
Modification & Repair of Outdoor Gear & Clothing
Factory Authorized by The North Face
www.specialtyoutdoors.com/about/whatis.asp

Slacker said:

Ride-A-Lot said:

Quoted message said:

Any advice on a decent parka to buy for general around
winter wear....and maybe an occasional camping or
traveling trip?
I don't want one with any insulation built in.... just
a shell only
Would also like to use this shell for bike riding as
well..... commuting
Advice?

I've never gotten cold enough to need something that warm. But, I am
partial to my Helly Hansen Rapide jacket. Very light, warm, and
extremely durable (I slid 1/2 mile down an ice and rock covered
mountian on my back without even a scratch on it), but I think it
would get too warm for biking. I just use thin layers for that.

http://www.hellyhansen.com/index_flash.html

Hey, aint that MattB in that picture?

Too new-school. I ski facing forward whenever possible.

Matt

[email hidden] wrote in news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

Advice?

I got a nice cheap columbia shell for keeping me dry. It even came in a
tall size (big plus!) I think I ended up buying it from cabelas dot com

[email hidden] wrote in news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

Has Marmot gone out of business?

Definitely not. I just got a tent from them (via REI) a year or so ago.

MattB said:

Slacker said:

Ride-A-Lot said:

[email hidden] wrote:

> Any advice on a decent parka to buy for general around
> winter wear....and maybe an occasional camping or
> traveling trip?
> I don't want one with any insulation built in.... just
> a shell only
> Would also like to use this shell for bike riding as
> well..... commuting
> Advice?

I've never gotten cold enough to need something that warm. But, I
am partial to my Helly Hansen Rapide jacket. Very light, warm, and
extremely durable (I slid 1/2 mile down an ice and rock covered
mountian on my back without even a scratch on it), but I think it
would get too warm for biking. I just use thin layers for that.

http://www.hellyhansen.com/index_flash.html

Hey, aint that MattB in that picture?

Too new-school. I ski facing forward whenever possible.

Matt

Yeh, I know what you mean. I try to ski standing up whenever possible :-P.

--
o-o-o-o Ride-A-Lot o-o-o-o
www.schnauzers.ws

"cc" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

<[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Any advice on a decent parka to buy for general around
winter wear....and maybe an occasional camping or
traveling trip?

I don't want one with any insulation built in.... just
a shell only

Would also like to use this shell for bike riding as
well..... commuting

Advice?

Marmot shells are bulletproof and guaranteed for life. I have nothing but
good things to say, not only about the quality of product but also
service. If you want details, let me know . . .

cc

My favorite when conditions get extreem is my g/t Marmot. Just works right
all the time.

paladin

RE/

Quoted message said:

So what happened to Marmot?

Why not get another one?

Sudden, complete GorTex failure. Put it on one day in the rain and might as
well have been wearing cheescloth. I suspect improper washing.

Got the REI to replace it BC REI was there.... Got the Marmot in a specialty
shop that had closed.

The REI isn't as elegant as the Marmot, but it's good enough. I'm on my second
REI... eventually they just beat up and generally nasty after enough years of
regular wear... but since I've been mountain biking, the parka has been sitting
in my vehicle 99% of the time.... so this one will probably outlast me.
--
PeteCresswell

(Pete Cresswell) said:

RE/

Quoted message said:

So what happened to Marmot?

Why not get another one?

Sudden, complete GorTex failure. Put it on one day in the rain and
might as well have been wearing cheescloth. I suspect improper
washing.

Got the REI to replace it BC REI was there.... Got the Marmot in a
specialty shop that had closed.

The REI isn't as elegant as the Marmot, but it's good enough. I'm
on my second REI... eventually they just beat up and generally nasty
after enough years of regular wear... but since I've been mountain
biking, the parka has been sitting in my vehicle 99% of the time....
so this one will probably outlast me.

One should ALWAYS call and ask about warranty replacement when the goretex
fails. Marmot is actually one of the more "old school" ( generous) companies
when it comes to warranty replacement. (as is REI) We've had several
personal peices delaminate, and I've send bibs back for clients, all items
have been inspected and replaced. Also, W.L. Gore has an additional warranty
on the fabric over the manufacturer's warranty. Many times if you don't get
satisfaction from a warranty department, or, the company has gone TU, Gore's
warranty department will issue you a credit equivalent to the value of
whatever it is that you sent in.
I have 800#'s for everyone.

Penny

RE/

Quoted message said:

One should ALWAYS call and ask about warranty replacement when the goretex
fails. Marmot is actually one of the more "old school" ( generous) companies
when it comes to warranty replacement. (as is REI) We've had several
personal peices delaminate, and I've send bibs back for clients,

After all that thing had been though, I didn't have the nerve.

Live and learn, I guess...
--
PeteCresswell