Winter Jacket

Sean

27/11/2003 at 22:38

I'm in a quandary!

I'm about to buy a winter jacket but not sure which to get. I like the cut and hoods on the ME jackets but there are 2 great offers on at the minute.

First of all I wanted the Firefly paclite jacket. It was at the top of my price range at £180. Then I saw that Outdoorsmegastore.com is selling the Lhotse XCR for £170.

Job done, getting one of those, treat myself for Christmas. Next thing, outdoorshop.com are selling the Firefly for £129.... bargin!!

But which should I buy????????

Orange Alex Ford

27/11/2003 at 23:03

IMO, not knowing what you get upto out there, the Lhotse is a better choice for a winter Jacket.

XCR is tougher and able to cope with being banged, rubbed, and generally abused than Paclite. The Lhotse also has a better hood.

pac man 2

27/11/2003 at 23:04

Emm packlite & XCR are for two totally different uses, what's it for?

Sean

27/11/2003 at 23:09

Main use for hiking, but I want to use it for climbing too! Got a couple of scottish winter trips planned. I tend to get very hot very quickly on the hill so venting zips would be ideal but not sure if these jackets have them.

Orange Alex Ford

27/11/2003 at 23:13

I don't think they do, you could check out the ME website for more details.

have a look here

Hiking and climbing...In my opinion, you'd be better off spending that extra and getting the Lhotse. (It's a top jacket btw.)

They are probably selling off old stock as ME have just redesigned it I think...Please correct me if I am wrong.

Sean

27/11/2003 at 23:17

I've got a light weight windstopper shell that does me for running and such. I've tried a Lhotse on and wasn't too keen on the length, I take it you've got one.

Orange Alex Ford

27/11/2003 at 23:24

I have worn one for a while and I think that it is a top jacket.

Like all ME gear it has a great hood, some of the best on the market.

What's wrong with the length for you? Too long or too short? For hiking in the winter I sort of prefer a longer jacket as it keeps my big fat ass warm...

pac man 2

28/11/2003 at 00:01

For climbing I wouldn’t go for packlite then unless you mean taking the tourist routes up mountains....

If your after a top of the range Packlite WITH vents then may I suggest the new Berghaus Paclite Pro Jacket (about the lightest mountain jacket out there!) or the more walking type standard Berghaus Paclite jacket (by no means standard though) Both using the latest version of packlite (version III) with added Berghaus technology.

INFO FROM BERGHAUS:
“Berghaus exclusive Helium face fabric developed to Berghaus specification in conjunction with WL Gore and Perseverance Mills. This remarkable featherweight fabric uses tightly woven high tenacity nylon yarns to give an exceptional strength to weight ratio. The Helium face is laminated to the new Paclite III membrane to give a unique fabric which is over 50-100% more breathable than comparable lightweight fabrics currently available.”
It’s about the lightest breathable waterproof jackets currently available!

And if you don’t want packlite and like you said breathability is important to you, eVENT jackets are more breathable than XCR (Lowe Alpine do some using eVENT fabric - you would have to look into robustness yourself on these)

And the Berghaus Sullivan II XCR Jacket at 650g is a cracker too!

http://www.the-outdoorshop.com/html/shop_frameset.htm always have great offers on are doing the Berghaus Paclite really cheap.

Hope this help you and not confuse you even more :)

pac man 2

28/11/2003 at 00:03

By the way the lengh of jackets

The Berghaus packlite pro is longer cut than the normal version.

If you give us more info it will help us help you...if you see my point :P

28/11/2003 at 07:31

Sean, keep your eyes open for deals on last years Changabang (top name eh?).

Its XCR, got pit zips - great hood etc.

I've got one and I've been very happy with it, but ME have updated it recently, at least i've only recently seen the new ones in the shops, (course, it could just mean I dont pay much attention!!). And since theres lots of new ones out there - then you might be able to find one of last years models for less cash.

Keep an eye on:

http://www.magic-mountain.co.uk/

too, they dont have any XCR jackets in at the mo, but its always worth a look or a phone call.

Any questions about the Changabang then just ask.

HTH

Si

Sean

28/11/2003 at 12:02

Simon, the new updated Changabang got a review in this months trail. Apparently not much improvement on the old model. I think I'll have to go with a tough jacket like an XCR. I started rock climbing over the summer and dont want to limit my time to indoors over the winter. Wit regards to the length of jackets I prefer them shorter. What's the Changabang like compared to the Lhotse for cut?

Jonathan Rees

28/11/2003 at 12:37

I've a Lhotse and I find it very, very difficult to fault.

IMO, you need look no further!

Ian Brookes

28/11/2003 at 12:46

The Lhotse doesn't have any vents of sorts I think. No pits zips or mesh pockets, so if you run hot that could be a problem.

Go to Gaynors in Ambleside, downstairs as they always have some end of line bargins, ME, LowAlpine Berghaus,etc. Also there is a great place on the main road in Keswick for end of line stuff, I forget what is called.

Sean

28/11/2003 at 12:51

Jonathan, you use yours for climbing?
I tried one on a few weeks ago, I'm sort of between a small and medium. I tried the small on with just a thin fleece and it felt quite roomy but not sure what it would be like with a thicker layer.
(my trouble is quite short arms bugger for climbing, have to put in twice as much effort as my 6' mates........and finding whistles that fit!)

28/11/2003 at 13:29

Sean, cant comment on length compared to the Lohtse as I've never tried one.

I've used it with a harness without problems a few times, high pockets mean that they arent obstructed.

HTH,

Si

Jonathan Rees

01/12/2003 at 11:07

Sean, my jacket is a small, which as I said in my review (see user reviews), is a little longer in the body which causes the jacket to ride up a small amount in the chest area.

On using the jacket for various activities, the length of body (ie. covers my arse) is a preferable option for me and carries out the primary objective of keeping me dry. And IMO, doing it faultlessly.

Sean

01/12/2003 at 16:22

Just read the reviews and I think I'm safe to say that you like your jacket then Jonathan. Pretty much made up my mind now and will be putting an order in for the Lhotse. I'm going to get last years model as the price is so drastically reduced on outdoormegastore.com, £170, bargin eh?

Orange Alex Ford

01/12/2003 at 18:45

yes.

Jonathan Rees

01/12/2003 at 19:32

Ave it!

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