Poor Man's Heli

I’ve been refining and updating my gear lately (which is a bit odd given the lack of income), and recently acquired both the ever popular Patagonia Down Sweater and the Mountain Hardwear Nitrous down sweater. Let’s get these two into the ring and see who is left standing!

Quick overview:

Current champ: Patagonia Down Sweater:
Probably the most popular thing in Patagonia’s product line, odds are you or one of your friends owns this jacket. The Patagonia uses a DWR coated, windproof and 100% recycled polyester ripstop shell with 800 fill power down. The Patagucci also sports two zippered external fleece lined pockets and a zippered internal mesh stretchy pocket that doubles as a stuff sack that you can never lose. Elastic cuffs and a drawcord waist complete the Patagonia’s features.

Challenger: Mountain Hardwear Nitrous
The Mountain Hardwear Nitrous down sweater doesn’t have the storied history and popularity of the Patagonia, but is a fine jacket nonetheless. The Nitrous uses Mountain Hardwear’s ‘Ecosensor Ripstop’ for it’s shell, and 800 fill down. Ecosensor is a DWR coated ripstop polyester consisting of 13% (not 12%…not 14%, but 13) recycled polyester. Like the ‘gucci the Nitrous sports two external handwarmer pockets, however they are non-zippered. The Nitrous also has an external zippered chest pocket and chamois lined collar to eliminate zipper rub on your windburned face. Elastic cuffs, waist drawcord and easy to lose (not permanently attached) stuff sack round out the Mountain Hardwear’s features.

Weigh in:
Patagonia claims a 12.4 oz average weight and gives no fill weight. However, they do mention their fabric is 1.4 oz./yard, so we’ll assume it’s an average fill weight of 11 oz. Mountain Hardwear claims an average weight of 12 oz. for the Nitrous, and the EcoSensor weighs in at 1 oz./yard, so we’ll assume 11 oz. of fill as well. I don’t have a scale, but I can say they both feel damn light. Anecdotally I’d say the Patagonia outer fabric FEELS more substantial and up to abuse, but as I haven’t had an issue with either that’s just me talking about my ass. Both shells leak about the same amount of feathers, so no advantage to either.

Round 1: Place of manufacture
Both garments are made in China. Let’s take a minute to celebrate the irony that is the American consumer’s desire for low priced products, thus driving manufacturing offshore, while simultaneously complaining about jobs lost to foreign countries.
10-10 round (yeah, when’s the last time you saw a 10:10 round?)

Round 2: Features
The Patagonia uses a 100% recycled shell AND is windproof. Because I’m fond of Earth I say advantage Patagonia by way of 100% being greater than 13%.
Both use 800 fill power down. Even.
Both have elastic cuffs, drawcord hem and lined pockets. Even.
The Patagonia has zippered external pockets, the Mountain Hardwear does not. Since one of the pocket zips on my Patagonia Down Sweater vest blew out within a week of owning I’m giving this one to Mountain Hardwear
The Nitrous has a chamois lined chin, Patagonia does not. Advantage MH.
Stuff sack – can’t lose the ‘gucci, the MH’s you can. Advantage ‘gucci, though I’m gonna say it doesn’t count for much because the MH basically nets me a stuff sack I can use for other purposes.
This was a close round, but I’m going to give it to MH by way of not being a fan of the ‘gucci zips and the fleece lined collar. 10-9 round.

Final round: Fit
Fit is where the Nitrous KILLS it over the Patagonia for me. I’m about 6′4, 200 lbs, and the Patagonia just fits boxy, like plastic bag, whereas the Mountain Hardwear has a nice athletic cut. However, if you were built more like a fireplug and less like a swimmer the Patagonia may be more up your alley. 10-8 round and pure domination by Mountain Hardwear for my body type, YMMV.

Final score:
While the Patagonia Down Sweater put up a good fight with it’s 100% recycled and windproof shell, the Mountain Hardwear ultimately took a close fight with it’s total domination in fit. 30-27, final. Honestly though, you can’t go wrong with either jacket. Both have lifetime warranties and are well made, it really comes down to fit (and possibly color options).

As everyone has seen both of these items I’ll just throw a couple quick unscientific pics up highlighting the sizing (sorry can’t try ‘em on and shoot a photo for fit comparisons as I broke my tripod) differences. Note that both are size large.

Extra body width on Patagonia v. Mountain Hardwear

A little extra length in the sleeves on the Nitrous

A little extra body length is nice when you're built like an orangutan

UPDATE:

Both are on sale for 15% off thru the below links and typing in ‘AVANT15′ at checkout. That code works on any non-sale item actually (for sale items put in code AVANT10)

Patagonia down sweater on sale

Mountain Hardwear Nitrous on sale

Been doing some serious gear whoring the past week or so as biz locally was going good for a bit.  Was.  Ahh well, at least I’ve got some new gear to show for it.

First up, the Stoic Bombshell jacket.  Stoic is the new name for the house brand gear from backcountry.com, and from what I can tell thus far this stuff is a serious bargain. As I just received my jacket a few days ago I can’t give it a full review, but as of right now my impressions are that even at full price this stuff is worth it (and this coming from a guy that can’t recall the last time he bought ANYTHING full price).

The marketing department had this to say:

The undaunted Stoic Bombshell Jacket signs on for summit pushes, hut-to-hut tours, and anything between. Slightly stretchy, 3-layer Bombshell material offers shelter from ridgeline gales and whipping spin drift, while thumb-holed hand gaiters and a fully-adjustable hood ensure a complete seal from the elements. Fully-welded seams increase the Bombshell’s breathability over standard taped-seam shells and mesh-backed underarm vents banish excess body heat during long boot packs. The Stoic Bombshell’s internal pocket with headphone port begs for some musical accompaniment. Stoic’s 3-D ergonomic fit offers un-inhibited mobility without drowning you in excess fabric—if you tend to like a roomier fit, size up.</p></blockquote> <p>A few quick pics to get the party started. Once I’ve had a chance to use it to do more than walk from Deschutes to Rogue to Bridgeport and back I’ll give my full review.

This jacket is the bomb…shell

Waterproof zipper close up, with wide angle lens shadow thrown in for ambiance

Wings spread

Gaping pit zips

Mesh lined pocket and headphone port

Left internal pocket detail

Removable powder skirt with attachment zipper and snaps

You can call me dirty and then zip off your skirt

Seriously well thought out jacket. Wrist cuffs with small stretch panels.

Let me know if you have any questions on the jacket, want to see some additional angles/close ups, or if there’s anything in particular you want me to pay attention to while I test it out.

UPDATE:
Saw this code for 30% off on the Stoic stuff. 4KZ-1-G3JU6

As for the review, I’ll summarize it as:
2009 Subaru Outback – decent car, LOTS of little issues. Not even remotely up to the legacy (no pun intended) of my 1988 wagon.
Wentworth Subaru – two thumbs down, one middle finger up

Long story short, when moving to Portland from CA I had my kayak on my Subaru OEM rack with the Yakima aftermarket kayak cradles. Somehow, some way, the Subaru crossbars BUCKLED, causing the front/rear straps to come undone and the kayak to flop all around. Fast forward to today, brought my 2009 Outback into Wentworth Subaru to have the crossbars looked at for warranty work (as well as the leaking front passenger footwell due to horribly designed AC evap tube routing, still need to get it in for the shifting issues and other shit when I have more time to leave it….). Just got the call a few minutes ago that the crossbars won’t be covered by them because ‘when they sell the kayak cradles to their customers they tell them they should also buy the round bars’. This is regardless of the fact that the weight was well under the load limit Subaru mentions in their owners manual, Subaru making no mention of any sort of crossbar change out needing to carry kayaks, and in fact shows kayaks being held on the OEM aero bars.

I’m a reasonable person, and it seems to me that when your whole company’s reputation is predicated on outdoorsy Portland beardos, and one of those comes in with a one in a million issue (I mean seriously you couldn’t recreate this if you tried) that doesn’t cost you anything to fix outside of the opportunity cost of the labor, than why wouldn’t you fix it and create a long-term customer? In this day of decreased consumer spending, as well as Yelp, Twitter, etc. making it easier for one person to quickly get the word out to many, you’d think companies would go out of their way for their customers (especially brand loyal ones) as opposed to reaching for excuses (because really, when he was explaining it to me on the phone and I’d point out a flaw in his thinking he’d reverse direction and go down a new path). I mean here was a case where a potential new customer walks into (zero marketing cost to them) Wentworth Subaru’s service department (the profit center of a dealership), and instead of capturing a new customer they’ve got a one star review on Yelp, RTs galore and made Everett Street Auto a new customer. Business 101 fail.

Hmm....aero bars carrying a kayak??!?!?

Aero bars....and note the straps aren't even being used per manufacturer's recommendation...

Rack buckled, one in a million (unwarranteed) failure

More buckling

It’s been awhile since I’ve done any gear reviews. Between a move back to the Pacific Northwest, working on getting a startup off the ground and enjoying the local beer scene I haven’t been outdoors as much as I’d like outside of daytrips v. last summer when I spent every weekend somewhere in the Sierra. So, first up in a list of long overdue reviews is this review of the Mountain Hardwear Phantom 32 bag.

Stock photo from Mountainhardwear.com

Overview
Their most popular down bag, the Phantom 32 is one of the many bags Mountain Hardwear makes at this temperature rating. Every bag in the Phantom line is targeted more towards the fast and light crowd due to their use of weight saving 800 fill down and .85 oz./yard nylon shell and design considerations such as a snug mummy cut and 2/3 length zipper, and this one is no different. The Phantom 32 comes in at 1 lb. 8 oz. (11 oz. of which are down) for the long version (at 80″ the long gets you 6″ more inside length, 2″ more diameter in the shoulders and the footbox), weighing in less than a similarly rated Montbell Down Hugger #3, and only a few ounces more than the UL crowd uber-hyped (and IMO uber-ridiculous, though admittedly I’ve never tried one so for all I know they could be the bee’s knees) Jacks R Better quilt.

A few other details (and when it comes to bags the devil really is in the details) of the Phantom 32 that may get missed when glancing the racks at your local retailer are:

• Tight 5″ baffle spacing creates optimal loft
• Lightweight two-way zipper for easy entry and exit
• Six-chamber hood design maintains even loft around head for consistent warmth
• Down-filled face gasket comfortably blocks drafts at the hood opening
• Ergonomic draft collar blocks the escape of heated air from inside the bag. The two-piece collar drapes naturally over neck and shoulders creating a soft comfortable seal. Two draw cords can snug down as needed to secure the collar.
• Insulated draft tube with anti-snag panel prevents cold spots along zipper
• Comfort Footbox follows natural foot position for maximum warmth and comfort
• Single-handed drawcords simplify adjustments
• Nylon mesh storage sack and stuff sack included

Build
Overall, the Phantom 32 feels well built and similar to other mainstream manufacturers high-end bags. I wouldn’t say it has the same quality feel of a more boutique brand such as Western Mountaineering or Feathered Friends, but overall it’s a well built and on par with its peers.

Performance thus far
I was a bit hesitant when deciding on this as my two/three season bag as I tend to sleep warm and went back and forth on the 32 v. 45 bag, and also wasn’t sure if I’d be too constrained by the fit on hot summer nights. I liked the thought of the weight savings and pack space savings v. my (realllly) old synthetic bag and ended up deciding to go with the 32 as worst case scenario I could use it as a quilt over me if I got too hot. In the end I’m glad I did. The stuffed size of the bag is ridiculous (check the pic below!), and it’s significantly warmer than my old ‘30 degree’ synth bag – which actually came in handy on an unexpectedly cold night in the alpine a few weeks back.

Mountain Hardwear Phantom 32 with Sigg bottle for size comparison

Mountain Hardwear Phantom 32 with Sigg bottle

Another hesitation I had when deciding on this bag was the fact that I knew I’d be eventually relocating to the Pacific Northwet, and down and rain don’t typically play well together. I actually slept under only a small tarp (rainfly from a Hennessy Hammock I couldn’t setup due to lack of strong trees…) in a downpour and while the outside of the bag was damp due to condensation from my breath and the wind driving the rain under the tarp the DWR kept the bag from soaking through – though it’s not something you’d want to do regularly, and especially not if you were expecting multiple days of rain with no chance to dry your gear if it did soak through.

Overall the bag has performed as expected, though I’ve yet to experience any nights near it’s temperature rating. The only issue I’ve got with the bag thus far is the zipper. For some reason the damn thing doesn’t want to let me out of the bag half the time, and the anti-snag panel doesn’t live up to it’s name. I’d gladly take another ounce of pack weight if it meant I’d get some stiffer material along the zipper to keep it from snagging the shell fabric as I’m worried that one day the snag is going to result in a tear. The shell fabric is wispy enough that you can hold it up to a bright light and essentially see through it.

Got this zipper snag when taking the bag out and unzipping it. Seems like a frequent occurence with this bag.

That being said, if you’re looking for a well made, lightweight bag that stuffs down to the size of a Nalgene bottle that regularly goes on sale for under $225 I’d definitely recommend taking a look at the Mountain Hardwear Phantom 32.

If you can’t find it locally you can pick up the Mountain Hardwear Phantom 32 online at the usual suspects –
Oregon Mountain Community, Altrec.com, Backcountry.com, REI, Moosejaw and WeGotYourPack.com.

UPDATE:
The Phantoms (and pretty much everything) can be had for 15% off through the below link and typing in AVANT15 at checkout. Mountain Hardwear Phantom sale
at Moosejaw.

In an odd stroke of timing I was talking about wanting to try the Mountain Hardwear Koa 55 early last week. It really seems like a good mix of light (though not ultralight by any stretch) and feature filled. Fast forward to Friday and I discovered MH was doing their semi-annual warehouse sale, which also allows mere mortals such as myself to shop their employee store. As I’m a dedicated blogger I decided I should sacrifice some of my hard earned money to buy some new gear to review (read as: it was blowing 35+ at the coast so surfing/kayaking didn’t sound like much fun) for everyone.

So, as I’m in the process of packing/moving and won’t be able to take the pack out for at least two weeks I wanted to post some pics up for anyone else considering the pack. Seems like there was a bit of hype surrounding this pack in all the buyer’s guides this year, but I haven’t been able to find much in the way of real-world images or reviews.

Mountain Hardwear Koa 55

Main pocket on Koa 55, with rolltop (think: drybag) closure

Small external pocket with key loop

Side access (on both sides) to main pocket

Stowaway mesh helmet carrier

Bottom access to pack. Yes, there are a lot of zippers on the pack.

Mesh backpanel. Most stoked for this as my old Gregory is WARM

A friendly little LNT reminder

That’s all for now. As always, if there’s a question about the product, or an angle you want photographed, lemme know. I apologize for the pics being a bit blown out, don’t have the time to edit the levels/curves on ‘em.

UPDATE:
The Koa is 20% off at Moosejaw.com, with free shipping, until November 1st.

The Mountain Hardwear Koa 55 is available online at Altrec.com, REI.com and WeGotYourPack.com, but as always I recommend you try and shop at your local outdoor equipment retailer. If you don’t support them first you’ll have nobody to blame but yourself if there comes a time where you can’t go look/feel equipment locally before buying.

Reviews and first looks coming ’soon’:
Mountain Hardwear Koa 55 pack (duh)
Mountain Hardwear Phantom 32 bag – complete, click to read
Perception Search 15 (sit-on-top kayak)

It’s been awhile since I’ve fired up a review, and I’ve been sleeping on this one for awhile. Took the pics a few weeks back and just haven’t set aside the time to fire up some thoughts on the jacket.

Marketing speak
The Westcomb Mirage jacket is part of the Hardshell AX line of outerwear from (ex-Arcteryxers) the Canunckistani company Westcomb. Their marketing speak is brief and to the point on their site, stating merely

Stylish eVent® shell is a superb all-mountain piece engineered for any on-or-off mountain activities requiring protection from the harshest conditions.

Fit
I purchased the jacket in an XL, which according to their size chart should fit someone with a 17″ neck, 47″ chest, 41″ waist and an ‘overall length’ of 35″. Not sure what the overall length measurement is, but possibly the sleeve length?

My biggest issue with the jacket is the fit. Given the intended use of the jacket (note that the Hardshell AX line is promoted by an image of a guy rappelling) I’d assume it to have a relatively slender, efficient cut, with some added sleeve length for when you’re reaching above your head. Instead you get a very boxy, short bodied jacket with sleeves longer than you’d expect for the body, yet still not long enough. I feel like the body length and sleeve length are non-complimentary, and both could stand to be longer (c’mon Canada, I know you’re a bunch of overgrown milk drinkers like myself!). The body could also be a bit narrower in my opinion – I feel like rather than catering to the athletic it’s built to cater to the McDonalds eaters out there.

Westcomb Mirage body shot

Build
One place that I feel Westcomb really nails it is build quality. There are very few garments I’ve come in contact with that give off the same feeling of quality as the Westcombs that I’ve dealt with.

For the Mirage jacket Westcomb kept it simple, including only what you need to get up and down the mountain and leaving out the extras you don’t. A few mini toggles on the hood/collar, velcro on the wrists, internal and external pockets, and waterproof zips all around. No pit zips on this eVent jacket, and in my experience their unnecessary (and I am one of the heaviest sweaters around). I know everyone says that about eVent, and I had my initial doubts given my sweaty nature, but I’ve yet to get anything more then slightly damp in this jacket – and this is coming from someone that used to drip sweat and be soaked to the bone. I’m a believer.

Performance thus far
Outside of the fit issues I love this jacket. As mentioned above it’s far outperformed anything I’ve ever owned for getting sweat out and away, and it crumples down to the size of nothing. Keeps the rain and snow out like nobody’s business to where it’s my go-to rain jacket as well. My only complaint this thus far (and the reason I’ll probably be one of ‘those guys’ and abuse a certain online retailers return policy…) is the fit. The body needs to be a touch longer and a touch narrower, and the sleeves need a bit of length added as well. Yes, I’m a mongoloid, but I feel like usually the techie garments are built for mongoloids.

As always, if you have any questions/comments about the garment drop it in the comments or email me at justin@poormansheli.com and I’ll get back to you.

Westcomb Mirage internal pocket

Hood toggle

Zipper tucked into it's cover

If not available to you locally you can pick up Westcomb products at a few online vendors, though neither have a terribly deep selection. Backcountry.com and Oregon Mountain Community both carry Westcomb and are good retailers, though like always I suggest trying to give your local shop the biz first.

Dying tonight in our heatwave (RIP snow) and melting on the couch figured I’d snap a few pics of the Osprey Kode 38 that recently came into my possession. I’ve only got two days on the pack so want to hold off giving any real review yet as I’m still getting used to the Kode v. my tried and true Dakine and there’s an obvious adjustment period needed. A couple first impressions/early thoughts:

• The pack feels light. Not UL backpacker light, but feels lighter than my smaller Dakine. I don’t have a scale to verify whether I am/am not crazy.
• Avy tool pocket needs some sort of shovel/blade pocket to keep items from shifting. There’s a small stretchy part inside the tool pocket but it wouldn’t hold any blade I’m aware of.
• It’s not the quickest pack to access your non-avy gear as you’ve got to unbuckle two buckles before you can unzip the pack
• The above being said the pack carries well (in part due to those buckles/load lifter straps), especially with a board on it, and feels compact on your back

If there are any angles/measurements/etc. you’d like to see let me know in the comments section and I’ll get’er done. Also, if you have any questions you’d like me to address in testing I’ll do my best. On to the pics.

Front view. Pack is empty thus it looks a bit flat. Will get better pics when I drop a review.

Osprey Kode 38 front view

Back view

Osprey Kode and IKEA chair caught on film in hot steamy embrace

Back panel open. Threw a Downmat 7 in there to give some perspective to interior size.

Open up and say aaaaahhhh

Unlike the Kode 30 the avy tool pocket on the Kode 38 isn’t zippered.

Drawcord avy tool pocket closure

Interior shot of avy tool pocket

Osprey Kode chewing with it's mouth open (just like my co-workers...)

Nice zipper pulls

Pull my zipper

Buckles and load lifters

Osprey Kode buckles

If you can’t find it at your local outdoors shop the Osprey Kode is available at a few online retailers.

Moosejaw, 15% off if you use code ‘AVANT15′
Kode 22
Kode 30

Backcountry.com
Kode 30
Kode 38

Altrec.com
Kode 22
Kode 30
Kode 38

REI
REI.com
Kode 22
Kode 30
Kode 38

Moosejaw
Kode 22
Kode 30

OK, paradigm shift may be a bit overstating it, but depending on your current BC coffee configuration maybe not.  Like most that grew up in the Northwest I’ve got love for a few things – the outdoors, good beer and good coffee.  Hell, I’ll settle for marginal coffee as long as I’m getting some.  For me it’s not even the caffeine (though anymore I get headaches if I haven’t had a cup or two by 10AM),, it’s more the smell and the warmth in the morning, and there’s certainly nothing better than climbing out of your bag in the AM and whipping up a cuppa joe.

I’ve tried a few ways to make coffee in the backcountry and in surf trips to Mexico (coffee choices in mainland Mex consist of Nescafe and Nescafe, which is odd given there are coffee beans to buy everywhere) , all with their plusses and minuses.  A few that I’ve used are:

The Jetboil coffee press

This is basically a french press screen that fits into your Jetboil PCS turning it into a backcountry french press (or is that freedom press?).  Quick and easy, lightweight, and stores inside your Jetboil so doesn’t add extra clutter to your pack.  The biggest downside with the Jetboil press is that as your Jetboil than doubles as your coffee mug you’re SOL on cooking any breakfast to go with your coffee.

Jetboil coffee press

The Preva portable espresso maker

No, I’m not kidding on this one, and will probably lose all street cred once you see this best.  I’ve brought this $2 REI used gear sale find with me many times.   Yes, it’s bulky and has absolutely no other use once you’re in camp, but it honestly makes a damn fine shot of espresso.  Two shots of espresso and some warm water = the best backcountry americano you’ll ever have.  Downsides are that it’s bulky and has no additional use, so you’re basically lugging this beast in for 10 minutes of use in the morning.  However, when you’re an addict and you need your fix….

Preva espress press

Aeropress

I’ve yet to actually try this yet, but did actually pick one up on the cheap just to try out recently.  Made by the same guys that brought you the 80s wonder frisbee the Aerobie, oddly enough.  Basically just another method of forcing water through ground beans under pressure, and Backcountry magazine gave it rave reviews awhile back.  Downsides are again bulk and lack of additional use for the contraption (hell, it’s made by the Aerobie cats, you’d think they could make it double as some sort of superflying object), but also you need to bring the paper filters with you for use.  They aren’t that large, but again it’s one more piece of garbage to pack in and pack out.

Aeropress

So anyways, onto the latest and greatest, the Starbucks Via instant coffee.  Ordinarily I wouldn’t give instant coffee a chance given my experiences in the past, but as this was recommended to me by Ben over at Tabascogeek.com (btw Ben, please get your site finished, I’m tired of looking at that template), and as Starbucks was giving away free samples I figured I had nothing to lose.  Comes in little single serving packets (not sure if they are recyclable, but I’m guessing not…), to make just add 8 oz. hot water.  I guesstimated my water, and after a first sip had to add a bit more as the coffee was a bit thick.  Overall not a bad cup of coffee, a bit sludgy on the bottom, but nothing worse than the last cup out of a french press.

Starbucks Via

Flavor wise it doesn’t compare to the Preva, but as the Preva is pumping out a shot of espresso v. a cup of drip they aren’t really comparable.  There’s always that tradeoff you make between flavor, weight and space, but for fast and light trips it will definitely be my new cup of choice

I’ve been sleeping on giving my reviews since posting a few teasers, mostly due to lack of time and mental capacity to write a long-winded and thought out review, and I apologize. This post nails the long-winded part, but it’s a bit lacking in the thought out side of things. Also, I’ll update this post later this evening with some photos I took last week that didn’t make it to my computer to show the cuffs, belt and thigh pocket.

Marketing speak
The Westcomb Rampage HX pant is part of the ‘HX Series’ of clothing from Canadian outerwear manufacturer Westcomb. I’m not real sure what the HX stands for, I’m assuming the H is for hybrid as they are a mix of eVent for the bulk of the pants, with Schoeller Dynamic from about the knees up on the front of the pants for enhanced flexibility and breathability. The Schoeller is treated with their “Nanosphere” finish, which the company claims is a naturally self-cleaning fabric. I’ve yet to test that claim.

Fit
I purchased a pair of the pants in a large tall, which should fit someone with a 37″ waist and 33-1/2″ inseam according to their sizing chart. I would say that’s spot on, and maybe a touch short on their inseam measurement (a good thing!) as I have to tighten the pants down in the waist but the length isn’t too short, which was my initial worry as I usually wear a 34-36″ inseam depending on the garment. The fit is a happy medium between an athletic (read: tight fitting mountaineering cut) and a slightly baggier fit. The only bother on the cut is that I’d like the legs to be a little wider to more easily fit over my boot/bindings, but that’s only because I’ve been wearing them a lot inbounds this year since my Four Square’s met an untimely fate against my crampons. For OB work the leg size is perfect.

One thing to take note of is that I’ve heard anecdotally is that their quality control across the same line of product is inconsistent and they are prone to size fluctuations for the same make/model/size of a particular garment. I haven’t fondled enough of their product to confirm/deny these rumors, but it’s worth keeping return policies in mind if you’re ordering any Westcomb product from an online vendor.

Build
The Westcomb’s seem well built for the most part. They are a stripped down, no nonsense pant – don’t buy them if you’re looking for something with internal gaiters and a million bells and whistles. A thin strip of velcro and toggles around the leg are your options for tightening around your boot, full zip legs, a magnetic clasp with built-in belt around the waist, and a single pocket on the right thigh is all you get.

Belt buckle with magnetic closure

Fancy looking leg tightening innards

Thigh pocket with waterproof zipper

It’s initially shocking how light eVent is, especially when you’re used to a heavier weight/old school North Face cordura-esque fabric on technical garments (yeah, it’s been awhile since I’ve bought tech outerwear). Westcomb claims reinforced high impact areas, which I assumed meant a heavier weight fabric, but it must mean reinforced stitching as the reinforcements aren’t outwardly visible. This was one my only real concern with the pants on first open as there is no reinforcement on the inside of the legs to fight off crampon and edge scuffs. As I assumed these would be used primarily by backcountry skiers/snowboarders, as well as climbers, I found the omission a bit odd.

Performance thus far
Thus far I’m mixed on the pants. I will say outright that I love eVent thus far though! It’s seriously more breathable than anything I’ve ever used. I’m typically a heavy sweater (as in open your pant legs or jacket and watch buckets of water fall out) and have yet to get more than ever so slightly damp while doing heavy climbing (and in that case I was wearing a heavyweight underlayer, wrong tool for the job that day), and I’m usually able to get ahead of the damp curve by unzipping the vents when I see a steep climb coming. The only downside I’ve experienced with these pants to this point is the insides are already starting to shred and I’ve yet to use them with crampons. Merely the occasional edge nick (it should be noted I never tune my boards…) while touring has caused a lot of surface tears, and even one tear fully through the eVent membrane that you may/may not be able to see in the mediocre photos below.

This could be preVented at the factory

Will these last a hard season?

I emailed Westcomb to see if they can put a reinforcement on the cuff for me as I didn’t want to bring it somewhere locally and void the lifetime warranty on the pants, and to their credit they responded (albeit it took 2+ weeks) saying that not only will they do what they can but that they’d even pay for the shipping back to them! Pretty good customer service, I’ve yet to send them though as I have some spring descents planned – will obviously update once I do send them in and see what they do.

Summary
Overall the pants are almost exactly what I was looking for when I ordered them, except for the lack of cuff reinforcement. As Westcomb is a newer company, and doing all their manufacturing in Canada (that’s right, their product is NOT manufactured offshore, amazing in this day and age), I’m willing to give them a bit more leeway than I otherwise would. I should add that I picked these up for $110 (screaming deal!) on closeout, had I paid full price my tone would be slightly different. I’m hopeful they’ll make it through the spring without too much more damage, after which time I’ll take up Westcomb on their offer to modify the pants.

Also, if there’s anything you’d like me to include/exclude in future reviews let me know either via email or just leave a comment.

If not available to you locally you can pick up Westcomb products at a few online vendors, though neither have a terribly deep selection. Backcountry.com and Oregon Mountain Community both carry Westcomb and are good retailers, though like always I suggest trying to give your local shop the biz first.

upcoming review part 2 = Westcomb Rampage pants

Extra eVenting on the cuff

These need patches to preVent this