Last week (yes, time flies when one’s twin boys are sick and one’s wife is out of town–ouch!) I started thinking about what to take to New Hampshire for my “ice-instructor course.” I leave a week from today, fly into Boston for a night, then up to North Conway the next morn, where another Colorado buddy, Mike Arnold, has lined up a condo for us–gratis. Once a dirtbag…
High temps have been in the teens for New Hampshire, so I’m taking the warm stuff, for sure. They’ve also had a few rain events (ugh), so the hard-shell jacket/pants are coming, too–my Rab Stretch NeoShell jacket and pants.
I’ll bring another hard-shell top, too, the Westcomb “Focus LT Hoody” (9.1 oz.; $279) made of the new generation 2.5-layer eVent. Called “Direct Venting Light,” this newer eVent breathes 20-30 percent better than its predecessor (keep it clean; works better that way), the 2.5-layer construction saves weight, and improves packability. It’s minimalist in design (single breast pocket, half-drawcord at the waist, 10mm micro-seam taping, but per usual Westcomb builds in Canada and to exacting standards. Twenty threads per inch guarantee bomber seams and Westcomb’s the first company I’ve seen in the outdoor market to use flexible silicone trim (borrowed from cycling shorts) along in the rear, interior waist to keep the jacket from riding up. I haven’t been out in it yet (near zero precip this winter in Colorado!), but it looks very, very well made.
Weather permitting, though, I’ll be wearing a soft-shell most of the time. I’m taking two new ones to test, both suited to cold-weather/high-altitude time-wasting. I’ll write more on both later, but the first I scored from the gang at Outdoor Research–the “Lodestar” (697g/27 oz; $450), a cool looking jacket that uses the latest Polartec fabrics, “Power Shield Pro” and “Thermal Pro High-Loft.”
Here’s a pic of the Lodestar, poached off the OR site–thanks, guys!
Check out the fleece on the inside of the Lodestar–crazy wicking, great insulation, and so far, surprisingly breathable. I wore the Lodestar on an ascent of “All Mixed Up” in Rocky Mountain National Park this November. I hiked the whole way in wearing the Lodestar, intentionally trying to overheat. It did pretty well and while I wouldn’t normally leave the car wearing the thing, it’s nice to know the materials manage heat on the up, as well as conserve it at belays and on particularly cold days. I wouldn’t wear the stuff ski-touring, but it’s not intended for it.
The body of the jacket uses the Thermal Pro High Loft. The outer of the fabric is a bit less robust than the higher-abrasion areas like shoulders, elbows, and lower arms. There, the OR folks use the Power Shield Pro. I haven’t had to grovel in chimneys or scratch on much rock yet, but I’ll keep after it.
This is the Lodestar, laying over Rab’s heavier soft-shell, the “Baltoro Guide” (695g/27 oz.; $300). The Lodestar’s pockets ride a bit lower on the torso, which I didn’t like when wearing a harness. You can see the different position of the Baltoro’s pockets. The Lodestar seems to breathe a touch better–maybe the slightly lighter face fabric?
Both jackets are relatively heavy and bulky, but I think they’re intended to be worn as all-day pieces; not something you’re taking off and on repeatedly. Also, the interior fleeces (the Rab uses the Power Shield, rather than the “Pro” version, throughout; it blocks a bit less wind and feels heavier–though I didn’t find per-yard weights, so don’t quote me on that!) save you some weight by perhaps not wearing a heavier base layer or even additional mid-layer.
Cuts are slightly different–the Lodestar is a bit wider through the chest and shorter in the torso. The Rab is approximately an inch longer in the torso and nearly as much in the sleeves. It’s hard to fairly measure the two against one another, as the shoulder construction is slightly different, but you can see in the pics the two jackets will fit different bodies slightly differently.
The Baltoro Guide fits a little longer, which suited my body better, but in terms of performance, I’d say it breathes one notch less than the Lodestar–I’m guessing this is mostly the Thermal Pro High Loft, which has a lighter hand than the Power Shield and Power Shield Pro textiles. Maybe the Polartec gang can weigh in?
Anyway–both of these shells are going to be great in the colder temps of New Hampshire. I’ve loved them ice climbing at 12,000 feet in Colorado, so big thanks to both Rab and OR for the hook-ups on these. I’ll write more on them after the course.
Another “score” from the OR folks is their “Luminary” glove ($99). I’m not usually drawn to gloves with gauntlets, but the Luminary might’ve changed my mind. At first glance I thought the things looked a little busy for me, but turns out there’s (a really logical) method to the madness. There are removable (thanks for the option) “keeper” leashes; or, idiot leashes so guys like me don’t remove their gloves while kite-surfing off of Everest’s summit and watch them blow into Tibet. Grandiose? Indeed, but the leashes are cool; you can remove the glove to monkey with something, apply lip balm, whatever, and let the glove hang. Cool. There are also pull-tabs to help get the gloves on, a cinch cord to tighten the gauntlet opening, as well as a quick-release to let the drawcord open when removing the glove. Sounds busy, right? It’s all ingeniously built in, so nothing gets dangly, annoying, or tangled.
Pretty slick–you can see from the pic the whole system is clean. The gray “keeper” leash wraps around the wearer’s wrist and is then tucked up inside, so you don’t even see it while you’re wearing it. The Luminarys are low-profile enough you can wear them while leading ice and placing screws isn’t a lesson in sharp-end terror. Good for inherently Fearful guys like me. The liners are removable, too, so you can swap out if you’re out for a long day. The exterior is midweight soft-shell material, with a clip-in for drying or hanging off one’s harness. The palms and fingertips are completely covered in soft, high-quality leather, too. I’ve soured on hardware-store gloves, as the leather is often too stiff to make them useful when handling small items, placing screws, etc., so I’m willing to spend the extra dough on a glove in which I get some sensitivity.
Bottom line, too, is they’re warm. I’ve used them on two avalanche courses this season a the drawcord gauntlet is plenty tight from snow and I’ve yet to have my hands go cold when digging or standing around in the pit. I’m wearing these by choice these days, which is saying something because like I said, the gauntlet thing seems like extra bulk and material–but I might be changing my mind. Stay tuned.
OK, that’s it for now. Gotta jam to the homestead and be ready for the punks to wake up. They’re just about over their little coughs…phew. Their energy is returning, which means time for the pool, Strider bike, wrestling, the works. One week to New Hampshire, time for one more long day in the mountains, and some book PR–oh yeah, did I tell you my book came out last week? Right on!
