[at-l] Favorite Cold Gear

[Amy Forinash]

They're considerably less at Campmor.

On Oct 14, 2009, at 4:36 PM, JPL wrote:

> (the Precips are running $109 at REI now...)
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: JPL
> To: Gary Buffington ; AT-L
> Sent: Wednesday, October 14, 2009 4:29 PM
> Subject: Re: [at-l] Favorite Cold Gear
>
> ok, good, I was really thinking about Cold Gear for backpacking.   
> You like the Precip even though the parka only lasts a couple of  
> years.  Does anything else last longer?  I guess if you get two  
> years worth of good wear its worth it at $60.
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Gary Buffington
> To: AT-L
> Sent: Wednesday, October 14, 2009 4:22 PM
> Subject: [at-l] Favorite Cold Gear
>
> JPL asked what is my favorite Cold Gear.
>
> Mara and Blue Trail, from whom I've learned much, shared similar  
> thoughts.
>
> My favorite Cold Gear in the East is Precip, both pants and parka.   
> Like others have mentioned it is cheap enough (about $60) in the  
> last year's model and for me (like someone else mentioned) it  
> doesn't start leaking for a couple of years of pretty hard wear and  
> it breaths a little.  I once called them to complain of leaking  
> after two years (embarrassed to admit I did that!) and they gave me  
> a hundred dollar discount on their Gore-Tex parka saying the Precip  
> was never made for a thru-hiker wearing a pack and that Gore-Tex was  
> tougher.  I fell for the scheme and sent them a couple of hundred  
> and got the similar Gore-Tex model.  The Gore-Tex parka is too hot,  
> too heavy, too stiff and too bulky.  Other than that it is great and  
> gets some use around town in winter.  The Gore-Tex is top notch  
> though out West like on Mt. Rainier where it is colder and less  
> humid and thus breaths better, and it is tougher than Precip.
>
> For the AT I just buy a new Precip jacket every couple of years.  My  
> old Precip pants have made it over eight years because I hardly ever  
> wear them.  Below 50-55 degrees and raining I wear the parka, a rain  
> hat, and Gore-Tex mittens and sweat a LOT but am warm.  Below 45  
> degrees (rain or not) I wear the parka, hat, and mittens and sweat a  
> LITTLE and am warm.  At that temperature I debate on the pants.   
> Below 40 degrees with or without rain I wear the parka, fleece hat,  
> parka hood, a fleece top, fleece finger gloves, and the mittens, and  
> the rain pants and am warm and sweat a LITTLE.  I used to hate sweat  
> and thus nearly freeze out there half undressed; now I like warm  
> sweat (mine!) and put on the Cold Gear.
>
> Below 32 in the east I try not to be out, but have done 20 miles at  
> that temperature using the full outfit adding fleece long johns.   
> But the worst is 35-45 in the rain.
>
> Don't ever leave this stuff behind or you'll be dead one day sooner  
> than you think.  If you slack pack, take the Cold Gear.  It is also  
> your emergency tent and you probably can survive the night.  Don't  
> let a sprained ankle cause your death with immobility without Cold  
> Gear.
>
> Interestingly (to me at least) I carry the O2 Gear on my Trans-Am  
> bike ride section rides for the following reasons that don't apply  
> on the AT:  It is lighter, it packs smaller, I never use it, it is a  
> bright yellow easy to see color, I don't ride (much) in the rain,  
> and I have my crewman Cimarron the 87 Year old Hiker following me in  
> his Volkswagen Eurovan with all kinds of hot food and drink!  He  
> sticks closer than Sweet Pea did on the AT in 2000 and is a far  
> better cook!
>
> Bear Bag 2000
> Gary Buffington
>
>
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