Just a question. Why don't manufacurers put mesh on pit zips? I'm biased as I do a lot of snowboarding, including backcountry, so I'd prefer mesh there to stop snow getting in etc (as I always want pit zips on jackets/shells). I reckon they'd still let the air in/out ok with mesh. Is it just purely down to cost and the minor weight addition, or does no-one else give a monkeys about mesh there? I reckon small tweaks like this would help a lot of the manufacturers gain a more cross-sports market. Any thoughts?

mesh would make the hair difficult to plait...

sorry - mesh seems like a good idea?

must be designed for people who don't fall over.

personally, i find it rather cooling...

Simplicity I'd guess, plus it let weirdos like me stick our entire arm out through the pit-zip.

Come to think of it, why don't more trousers / pants have ventilation zips?

I'd like more trousers to have that too (although I did buy a goretex pair with full length zippers)... guess the angle I come from is snowboard brands generally have these kind of tweaks, but are generally not nearly as good as real outdoors brands......although I'm thinking of winter walking, ice climbing etc too when I speak of snow.
Oh, and I don't fall over much ;->

If it had mesh, then the mesh would have to be wide to cover a big opening. Think of all that fabric getting in the way of the zipper when you try to close it. Can't do it one handed any more.

Of course maybe they could add some elastic to pull back the fabric as it is zipping closed.

Seems like a good idea to me.

Jon, if your pants had ventilation zips, you would try to put your arms through them too.

I think it's other people's arms he'd worry about...;-)

Ewwww

Mesh is always in the way so far as waterproofs are concerned if you ask me, the mesh would most likely snag in a pit zip anyway.

My cycle jacket, unbreathable vented thing it is, has mesh in the pits and yes, I can confirm it snags in the zips like a b*st*rd all the time. Quite often have to take the jacket off to unsnag it all.

Snagging was my immediate thought.

Many jackets have mesh-lined pockets, though, and these don't snag. The difference being, I guess, that the mesh doesn't cover the pocket...

I wonder whether your snowboarding jacket has a waterproof shell. And if so, why? I know you tea-tray types tend to fall over a lot, and sit down a lot, but I don't see the need for waterproofing when the water is frozen... I stopped wearing a waterproof shell for skiing years ago, and have been so much more comfortable since.

"you tea tray types"? LOL!

Captain, the problem with the mesh in the pits is, quite simply, gravity. A mesh pocket falls inwards away from the fasteners, while the mesh across the pit tends to slump downwards into the teeth of the zip.

That is why I suggested elastic to pull the mesh away from the teeth of the zipper.

"Tea Trays"...surprised you didn't pull out the "Gays on Trays" or is that not PC anymore? Better than "Pricks on Sticks" (see below)

Anyway, yup my boarding jacket was waterproof. I now use a Mountain Equipment jacket for boarding though. I've never had a problem with trouser mesh snagging, and not too much with pit zips mesh either. If you ever go up in Scotland you kinda need a waterproof jacket, but even without that, I don't only go out in fair weather. (in saying that though I haven't really tried wearing a softshell).

(b.t.w. only kidding.. I've skiied for 12+ years and have been boarding for longer than that now and never used my skis since...although I'd like to give it a bash again soon.....you know, now that boarding has pushed on your sport so much! ;->) Actually there's no denying that, but not getting into that conversation...!

Gays on trays.

How I love to see that one.