Just a small remark: While Performcane Shell is claimed to be just a new name for the classic gore-tex (aka gore-tex generation 2), I have reason to believe that it also refers to GTX XCR with the old knit backer. GTX classic -> performance shell GTX XCR with knit backer -> performance shell GTX XCR with woven backer -> pro shell
The price of this new TNF stuff!! Thats daylight robbery! PLease no-body be stupid enough to buy this or the other Jacket mentioned in the review for 400!!!! Yes 400 big ones for a Gore Jacket. Even if it is this amazing 'pro shell' stuff!
Geeeesh, I cant even imagine what I would expect from a jacket costing 400 quid. Watercooling or something that adds no weight.... Thats too much money.
Old Gore-Tex XCR with the knit backer no longer exists and has nothing to do with the new performance shell. This is simply GTX classic re-branded. So this jacket only has one new fabric really
It hardly appears to be a 1st for TNF though as there are plenty of other brands who mix different weights of gore fabrics to produce lighter harder wearing jkts EG. a mix of Paclite & 3L Pro Shell...
are you sure about this because that's not what I was told? It doesn't seem logic to me to limit you options. XCR with a knit lining remains a better performer than classic gore-tex with a knit liner. Why would Gore limit their offer?
Gore has introduced the new naming system so that it would be easier to introduce new technologies without having to come up with a new name/categorie each time. Others do that too. eVENT will be a bit different from 2008 compared with what you currently get but they will just continue to call it eVENT en not something like eVENT Extra.
I find it quite intruiging how brands who have only used GTX XCR for the last few years, and not the classic gore-tex, now introduce GTX performance shell in there line-up. That would be a step back?
Does it really matter whether it's rebranded XCR or Classic Gore-Tex? Surely the limitting factor on the breathability with both of these materials is not the expanded membrane, but the completely useless polyurethane layer underneath? With Pro-Shell they may have improved all of the backing - lighter, more breathable, etc. - but it seems to me that they still haven't adressed the way the polyurethane causes water vapour to condense before it can leave the jacket, guaranteeing sweat build up, something eVent just-about prevents. Correct me if I'm wrong.
I'm currently talking to TNF about this. I don't really see the point of producing a £290 jacket that's mainly Performance Shell regardless of whether it uses last year's XCR terchnology or not because Pro Shell is, according to Gore, a better fabric - lighter, more durable and more breathable. It's also more expensive, so I could see the point if the hybrid construction meant a really good jacket at a lower price than a pure Pro Shell, say, £200 or so. However, you can buy a top-end Mountain Equipment Pro Shell jacket - the Tupilak - for £250 and it's a nice, well specced mountain jacket too.
I suppose compared to TNF's top-end jacket it is more affordable, but the price just seems out of step with other brands on the market. I may be missing something here and I'm not criticising the jacket, which may perform extrememly well, I just don't understand the point of the hybrid construction.
Or in a nutshell, if Pro Shell is better than Performance Shell, why use the latter in a mountain jacket costing almost £300?
Its ridiculous, but to any old Joe Bloggs from the street that TNF has a growing appeal to should see this jacket and read all the fancy bumff on it, I'm sure they would be convinced its something amazing. But for us in the know, its plain daft and REALLY expensive. I would be pretty certain no-one on this site will buy one of these unless at a massive discount!
