I am down to chooseing a jacket, something I am not too familiar with as mine have always come by other ways than purchase. I have three in mind that seemed appropriate for an extended trip in SA, and looked like they had the potential at least to last me through several more years of school after that.

1. Marmot Oracle - $150
2. Northface Lightspeed - $200
3. Arc'Teryx Alpha SL - $250

So, familiarity with these coats, companies? Random suggestions?

As to shoes, I am torn between the Keen Targhee II's and the Merrell Chameleon Wraps (with Gore-tex). I have experienced Keen's and think very highly of them, but am concerned about arch support in particular and was referred by a friend to Merrells. I don't know these shoes...opinions?

And while we're at it
water filter?

(This is for SA, to be clear.)
I am looking at the MSR MiniWorks, any problems with that?

That should just about do it.....for now

Hey! You are missing a brand there!

OK, here is the scoop: the two more expensive ones are better choices. Gore Paclite is much better in breathability than the non-branded waterproof-breathable from that furry little rodent company. Go visit the US Outdoor Store there in Portland and ask to see stuff from that missing brand. Also, the REI house brand is quite good, most (but not all) of the time.

As far as the shoes go, try to avoid the Merrell's. They look cool but are overpriced. Ideally, you want something with a polyurethane midsole. Check out the offerings from Montrail.

I've used North Face, REI, and Mountain Hardwear (there ya go, Joe!) products and believe that they are awesome when it comes to jackets and shells.

As for shoes, I've used Montrail and Lowa hiking boots. I thought my Montrails were nice...until I got my Lowas..they've taken me up a mountain and back down with 0 blisters. I'd buy another pair of Lowa's when mine wear out.

SA isn't *that* bad. There is bottled water available in every city, every little pueblo. And some hostels provide drinking water as well. It's worth bringing one if you're doing a lot of backcountry stuff, though.

It's also worth it to bring some iodine tablets just in case.

a Hearty Thanks me maties

Mighty informative were the posts above, argh! Tis a shame about the marmot though, a shame.

The Marmot Precip, the Mountain Hardwear Epic and the REI (mumble) are basically the same jacket: a waterproof-breathable jacket in the $99 price point. The North Face has their version as well.

For a bit more money, you can get the Marmot Oracle or the Mountain Hardwear Cohesion, which have a better version of the waterproof/breathable stuff, as well as more features.

For another $100, you can get a jacket with Gore Paclite.

I used to work at a store that sold the Oracle. It cost $51 dollars more than the precip because it has stretch panels and a fancier collar.

When you are looking at jackets in the 100-150 range they are mostly laminates. This means that the waterproofing is spread on the jacket as opposed to being from a material like Gore-tex. The laminates have there place - non-abrasive activities like hiking, but if you are going to be much rougher on your jacket than that you may want to bump up into the next price range.

As for shoes, go to your local outdoor stores and try on a lot of them. We all have different feet and different brands work for us better than others. Me, I'm a vasque kind of guy. Don't get to caught up in thinking a shoes with Gore-tex will serve you better. Sure, in the rain walking through mudpuddles your feet will stay dry, but it doesn't take much of a mud puddle to come over the sid of your shoe. I just don't get the idea of a waterproof shoe. They keep your feet dry while your mowing a wet lawn, but that's about it. Plus, gore-tex makes a shoe much more hot and one of the qualities I like in shoes is "airiness."

Water filters - I've taken one on a trip and didn't ever use it. They are great for making drinking water out of water filled with sediment, but almost everthing else can be handled with iodine tablets. I'd think this one over before taking on the expense and hassle of a pump and filter.

Happy gear shopping. It's one of the best parts of any trip.

quote:

When you are looking at jackets in the 100-150 range they are mostly laminates. This means that the waterproofing is spread on the jacket as opposed to being from a material like Gore-tex.

When you are looking at jackets in the 100-150 range they mostly use coatings. Goretex is a laminate, not a coating. I agree: Rain jackets using Goretex are the most durable.

Well, I appreciate all the advice....and luckily I spent waaay more money than I had planned on some other gear....well, I have some time to look around some more...

I LOVE Arc'Teryx. All the gear I have from them is top notch, and it's so well made it lasts forever.

If you're making a serious investment in serious gear, go for Arc'Teryx. It's sweatshop free, and (to the best of my knowledge) their gear is all made in North America .... something you probably can't say about North Face or Mountain Hardwear gear.

Arc'Teryx costs more, but in my own experience, it's worth every penny.

Their gear is made in the same countries as the others are made.

Joe,

I'm thinking about getting the MH Commotion Jacket for around-the-city wear. Will the insulation be enough to keep me warm at 30 degrees? How water-resistant is it?

http://www.mountainhardwear.com/Product.aspx?top=1&prod...cat=27&viewAll=False

It is difficult (if not impossible) to gauge how warm someone will be in a jacket, but generally, yes, it will be suitable for 30 degree 'around town wear'.

As far as water resistance goes, while it does have a water-repellancy treatment, it is not intended to be waterproof.

Thanks. How does the Commotion compare to the Backstage soft shell?

I just bought a North Face Vortex Tri-climate jacket at EMS for $250. I love it. Great fit and style. Gortex, so it's water and windproof, yet breathable. The inner liner comes out and the outer shell rolls up nicely to about 4"x4"x10" and fits perfect in my daypack. It's definately worth taking a look into because it can cover so many roles (both for travelling and at home).