@@Swamp_Lad Its easier on stretchy fabric like a fleece midlayer, but it can be done on hardshells as well. If they already have a stitch line in the armpit its as simple as undoing them and adding a zipper. If you really like a jacket and are not sure about it, take it to a seamstress and get a profesional to do ir
I have a number of down jackets I have picked up at cost over the last 55 years. The over the butt ski jacket in bought in 1968. It soon was converted into a vest. The vertical tubes are over stuffed with down. I like it for short bike trips around town, going to the store and work. It works great as a mid-layer under a wind stop outer shell. One of the jackets I got in 1971 and it is on its third zipper. It will never be light green again, The grim will no longer wash out. I have a heavier down parka. I bought in 1976 for a cross country ski trop and it is still going strong after many wilderness trips and cold days in the city. It is comfortable around camp at -30F -34.4C. I never wear down on the move, only when I stop to keep my body temperature from dropping. I live in an area where it can be -20F -29C with high winds and two days later +40 F 4.44C no wind and bright sun. I need reliable mid layers that I can add and subtract. I always carry a light weight down hooded sweater with me year-round and weights under 16 oz 454gr. It is a good idea to have some fabric tape on any trip to do a fast repair of a tear. I never need a down coat or jacket when winter biking or cross-country skiing. Only when I stopped.
I agree, I don't use down on the move. I can only hope that my jackets would last as long as yours, but I doubt it. Especially pants, no matter the price tag, seem to be quite fragile these days.
I'm the same, although it's not as bitter cold, here, as it was above 8,000 ft in the Colorado Rockies. With or without a shell, ever since I was shoveling sidewalks as a kid, a bulky sweater was always the mid layer of choice, even when I hated the scratchiness of the wool (wear non-scratchy base layer). Never too hot or too cold. Use it as outer layer when exercising in no wind. Throw a (mostly) unzipped shell over it if the wind is a factor. We never had fancy armpit zips when I was young. Never even thought about it. I'd just zip or un-zip according to how hot I was. I've never been all sweated-up. Just stayed ahead of it, I guess. I was always surprised when I'd be out with someone who had to change out a soaked fleece. I was glad they had a spare, and thought ahead, but it's just not something I would ever permit. I guess if I were on military maneuvers or being chased by wolves, I might not be able to shed layers, but many people don't seem to realize they're getting soggy or about to become soggy. I've always been part lizard after I stopped moving. I always have a really warm puffer of some kind to throw on top or slip under a shell. I've also collected various articles of high-quality down clothing over the years, because I know I'm lizard when I stop or before I get going. On the bright side, if I'm warm, at rest, in my clothing, that means my sleep system is all bonus. Yes, I've taken naps in snowdrifts, before.
I didn't know that there a different kinds of gore tex :0 Now if I find one for a good price I know what to look for. The UF Pro winter combat shirt looks interesting as well. I will have a look at it!
Gore-Tex Shakedry is also extremely breathable, but I believe as they are also lighter weight, Gore-Tex Active is likely to be more durable and multipurpose.
@@DerUnbbekante I wouldn’t call USGI surplus high end. It’s bare bones but very practical. The USGI polartec waffles are pretty much the same as Patagonia R1 for like 75% of the price new.
This series provides great insights. Thank you so much for organizing and presenting this information! We’re extremely impressed with your integration of the UFPRO Winter Combat Shirt and Varusteleka Luhka into a winter system. Bravo! Very impressive channel. Keep going! Best Regards, Team Theta
I somewhat agree with your thoughts about gore-tex. Gore-tex surely is overpriced, but for the most harsh conditions(I'm talking like Himalayas type shit), it is the best option. But for the average hiker, there are other good enough waterproof membranes, such as drymaxx by Halti, etc.
Yeah extreme conditions are out of the scope of this series as I don't want to cover something I don't have personal experiences with. But I agree completely.
Yeah goretex is made with ePTFE which creates micro particles that cannot be broken down. Goretex sheds hence why need to use sprays or wash to renew it. Basically it ends up in the oceans and it's bad for microorganisms (which make oxygen). Wasn't aware till recently either.
So far no issues with the durability. I believe that 2% carbon fiber is a ripstop addon, but it's just not visible in the typical ripstop grid pattern. So that might lend some durability to otherwise quite thing fabric.
hey very cool video helped me a lot with my selection of outdoor clothes i just can't decide on long durable pants, would you Recommend P-40 ALL-TERRAIN GEN.2 as trekking mountaineering pants?
I did! You can see it in action in this video: czcams.com/video/dj0gI_AswR8/video.html So far I have no complaints, but perhaps I expected it to pack down even smaller.
Armpit zippers are a game-changer, I added them to the garments that did not already had them and managing heat is much easier now
That's true. I have them in my summer hiking jacket which is not a hardshell, and I find them useful for that too.
Also to waterproof jackets? I mean can they be added after the fact without too much hassle? I would love them on my Austrian m65
@@Swamp_Lad
Its easier on stretchy fabric like a fleece midlayer, but it can be done on hardshells as well. If they already have a stitch line in the armpit its as simple as undoing them and adding a zipper.
If you really like a jacket and are not sure about it, take it to a seamstress and get a profesional to do ir
@@VictorGarciaR thanks that sounds like solid logic
First! Great series - very informative - many thanks!
You're welcome, thanks for checking it out!
The best clothing layer review by far, excellent content, 5*
Thanks Steve! More episodes to come this winter.
Thanks for this video series Joel. It was helpful 👍👍👍
Good to hear! Still a couple more episodes to come.
Just discovered your channel live the Pragmatic reviews. No nonsense, love it
Thanks! ....your name tho 😅👍
I have a number of down jackets I have picked up at cost over the last 55 years. The over the butt ski jacket in bought in 1968. It soon was converted into a vest. The vertical tubes are over stuffed with down. I like it for short bike trips around town, going to the store and work. It works great as a mid-layer under a wind stop outer shell. One of the jackets I got in 1971 and it is on its third zipper. It will never be light green again, The grim will no longer wash out. I have a heavier down parka. I bought in 1976 for a cross country ski trop and it is still going strong after many wilderness trips and cold days in the city. It is comfortable around camp at -30F -34.4C. I never wear down on the move, only when I stop to keep my body temperature from dropping. I live in an area where it can be -20F -29C with high winds and two days later +40 F 4.44C no wind and bright sun. I need reliable mid layers that I can add and subtract. I always carry a light weight down hooded sweater with me year-round and weights under 16 oz 454gr. It is a good idea to have some fabric tape on any trip to do a fast repair of a tear. I never need a down coat or jacket when winter biking or cross-country skiing. Only when I stopped.
I agree, I don't use down on the move. I can only hope that my jackets would last as long as yours, but I doubt it. Especially pants, no matter the price tag, seem to be quite fragile these days.
I'm the same, although it's not as bitter cold, here, as it was above 8,000 ft in the Colorado Rockies. With or without a shell, ever since I was shoveling sidewalks as a kid, a bulky sweater was always the mid layer of choice, even when I hated the scratchiness of the wool (wear non-scratchy base layer). Never too hot or too cold. Use it as outer layer when exercising in no wind. Throw a (mostly) unzipped shell over it if the wind is a factor.
We never had fancy armpit zips when I was young. Never even thought about it. I'd just zip or un-zip according to how hot I was. I've never been all sweated-up. Just stayed ahead of it, I guess. I was always surprised when I'd be out with someone who had to change out a soaked fleece. I was glad they had a spare, and thought ahead, but it's just not something I would ever permit. I guess if I were on military maneuvers or being chased by wolves, I might not be able to shed layers, but many people don't seem to realize they're getting soggy or about to become soggy.
I've always been part lizard after I stopped moving. I always have a really warm puffer of some kind to throw on top or slip under a shell. I've also collected various articles of high-quality down clothing over the years, because I know I'm lizard when I stop or before I get going. On the bright side, if I'm warm, at rest, in my clothing, that means my sleep system is all bonus. Yes, I've taken naps in snowdrifts, before.
I didn't know that there a different kinds of gore tex :0 Now if I find one for a good price I know what to look for.
The UF Pro winter combat shirt looks interesting as well. I will have a look at it!
Gore-Tex Shakedry is also extremely breathable, but I believe as they are also lighter weight, Gore-Tex Active is likely to be more durable and multipurpose.
You can get USGI surplus level 6 Goretex for good prices. I picked up a Goretex level 6 for $120 new.
@@MarcP5267 Thanks for the reply, but I am from Europe. High End US surplus for a good price does not exist here.
@@DerUnbbekante I wouldn’t call USGI surplus high end. It’s bare bones but very practical. The USGI polartec waffles are pretty much the same as Patagonia R1 for like 75% of the price new.
This series provides great insights. Thank you so much for organizing and presenting this information!
We’re extremely impressed with your integration of the UFPRO Winter Combat Shirt and Varusteleka Luhka into a winter system. Bravo!
Very impressive channel. Keep going!
Best Regards,
Team Theta
Glad it was helpful!
I somewhat agree with your thoughts about gore-tex. Gore-tex surely is overpriced, but for the most harsh conditions(I'm talking like Himalayas type shit), it is the best option. But for the average hiker, there are other good enough waterproof membranes, such as drymaxx by Halti, etc.
Yeah extreme conditions are out of the scope of this series as I don't want to cover something I don't have personal experiences with. But I agree completely.
For environmental reasons I try buy sympatex rather than gortex also has the advantage that doesn't require upkeep.
I had a Sympatex jacket earlier. What are those environmental reasons, I wasn't aware?
Yeah goretex is made with ePTFE which creates micro particles that cannot be broken down. Goretex sheds hence why need to use sprays or wash to renew it. Basically it ends up in the oceans and it's bad for microorganisms (which make oxygen).
Wasn't aware till recently either.
@@murphy7801 Thanks!
@@murphy7801 It's basically teflon, which is carbon chains with Fluoride taking the place of hydrogen, I think. Nasty stuff.
Another great part of the series. That " hooded poncho" is pretty sweet. How do you find the durability of the wind shirt?
Nate
So far no issues with the durability. I believe that 2% carbon fiber is a ripstop addon, but it's just not visible in the typical ripstop grid pattern. So that might lend some durability to otherwise quite thing fabric.
Great video! What sort of fit does the UF Pro winter combat shirt have? Is it slim fit or more true to size?
I believe they called it an athletic fit, but last time I checked UF Pro only offered one fit on all clothing.
hey very cool video helped me a lot with my selection of outdoor clothes i just can't decide on long durable pants, would you
Recommend P-40 ALL-TERRAIN GEN.2 as trekking mountaineering pants?
I have no personal experiences with those, but I have a couple UF Pro jackets and I can say they're good quality products.
did you already tested the 5.11 Acadia Down Jacket?:) really wanna buy this over the carinthia gloft ultra jacket 1.gen
I did! You can see it in action in this video: czcams.com/video/dj0gI_AswR8/video.html So far I have no complaints, but perhaps I expected it to pack down even smaller.
@@TaivalOutdoors thanks man