Is the breathability of a Goretex Foul Weather jacket worth the extra cost? I have been looked at jackets from $30 to $800 and I am amazed and confused. What's your answer? 1. If I bought a bright yellow Gtex Jacket, I would claim any excuse to wear it. But would I really wear it to WalMart to buy dog food or while doing chores? 2 OOH, that expensive jacket. I would only wear it sailing. 3. $250 bucks for a jacket?! I would rather buy a some accessories for the boat at that price? 4. This old clammy cheap jacket, I hate it. It's cold when its cold, and hotter than hot during a summer squall. Next time I'm buying a breathable jacket like _______ Goretex. 5. Other... and last but not least Do you wish the Emporium carried quality Foul weather gear with the Hunter logo? And if so would you want it to be breathable like Goretex. (PS Phil did not pay me for this comment)
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Rick Webb
I Cannot Speak for the Commercial Stuff...
but the GI stuff that I have been issued is GREAT. If they were yellow I might wear them on the boat but they are camouflaged and it is not quite the fashion statement my wife wants me to make. $200 for a jacket seems too much for me given a choice I would just not be out in the cold, rain, etc. That is why I live down here I can just stay inside for the two and a half weeks of winter.
but the GI stuff that I have been issued is GREAT. If they were yellow I might wear them on the boat but they are camouflaged and it is not quite the fashion statement my wife wants me to make. $200 for a jacket seems too much for me given a choice I would just not be out in the cold, rain, etc. That is why I live down here I can just stay inside for the two and a half weeks of winter.
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gary jensen
foul weather gear
Gortex is a great product. Last year during a race on San Francisco Bay I got chilled to the bone. I can't remember ever getting that cold. I purchased new Gortex foul weather gear shortly after. To me that kind of discomfort was just not worth me being that uncomfortable. I guess it just depends on what you think your comfort is worth. In this case, six hours worth, made my mind up....
Gortex is a great product. Last year during a race on San Francisco Bay I got chilled to the bone. I can't remember ever getting that cold. I purchased new Gortex foul weather gear shortly after. To me that kind of discomfort was just not worth me being that uncomfortable. I guess it just depends on what you think your comfort is worth. In this case, six hours worth, made my mind up....
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Bob Zolczer
I chose non gortex
I chose the non gortex, but I did buy top of the line (ocean rated as opposed to coastal) foul weather gear. I've used them for a year now including use in a few summer Northeasters in New England. I've been very happy with them.
I chose the non gortex, but I did buy top of the line (ocean rated as opposed to coastal) foul weather gear. I've used them for a year now including use in a few summer Northeasters in New England. I've been very happy with them.
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J Langdon
GoreTex well worth the $
Gore Tex is worth every penny spent considering the comfort, safety and sanity it offers. It is incomperable and must be experienced. Mine was a gift, but I would invest in it in a heartbeat. Cheap foul weather gear gives little solace to a soaked, shivering helmsman...
Gore Tex is worth every penny spent considering the comfort, safety and sanity it offers. It is incomperable and must be experienced. Mine was a gift, but I would invest in it in a heartbeat. Cheap foul weather gear gives little solace to a soaked, shivering helmsman...
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Brian Pickton of BeneteauOwners.net
Andy, Where Are You?
Jan.5,2000 Dear Andy, You need to put the question into the context of your sailing. If you are in northern latitudes and spend a lot of time sailing in spring and fall than Gortex is going to make you a happy sailor. Personnally I used to love sailing on a brisk fall day ( but not enough to make me move back north). On the other hand if your a thin blooded wuzz that only takes the boat out on the 4th of July Sunday, nothing, including Gortex, is going to make you happy. In our case sailing in Canada we felt Goretex was inadequate (!) and so had taylor made multilayer foul weather gear built for us by XTREME ELEMENTS. These are the guys that build the clothing for people involved in extreme sports in Canada. For example the Canadian Mount Everest Expedition, various polar expeditions, off road bikers, etc. We were contemplating a trip to Cape Horn which was and remains one of my dream voyages and so wanted the best gear available. It cost thousands of dollars but has the adfvantage of being taylor fit to suit your needs. Being a multi layered system you can add or reduce layers to suit temperatures. In our case you can even fit the life jacket under the outer layer, keeping it dry and adding another layer of warmth. It is wonderful gear and I was very satisfied with it in foul weather. Then the first time we were pooped I was literally up to my arm pits in water and when the cockpit drained found that the only thing that was wet were my hands and feet ( I was wearing leather gloves and stupidly sneakers). As far as I was concerned the foul weather gear paid for itself right there, but then I'm one of those fair weather wuzzes I was talking about that like to stay dry when it gets cold and nasty. Now that we are in a southern latitude (14 ° N.) I would go with something much lighter than my northern gear. I really like Patagonia's products and their corporate ethos of not changing styles annually and thus wasting resources to satisfy fashion bunnies. If your sailing in cold foul weather do yourself a favour and buy the gear. Hypothermia is not to be messed with. Fair and Dry Winds, Brian Pickton of BeneteauOwners.net Aboard the Legend, in sunny and warm St.Lucia
Jan.5,2000 Dear Andy, You need to put the question into the context of your sailing. If you are in northern latitudes and spend a lot of time sailing in spring and fall than Gortex is going to make you a happy sailor. Personnally I used to love sailing on a brisk fall day ( but not enough to make me move back north). On the other hand if your a thin blooded wuzz that only takes the boat out on the 4th of July Sunday, nothing, including Gortex, is going to make you happy. In our case sailing in Canada we felt Goretex was inadequate (!) and so had taylor made multilayer foul weather gear built for us by XTREME ELEMENTS. These are the guys that build the clothing for people involved in extreme sports in Canada. For example the Canadian Mount Everest Expedition, various polar expeditions, off road bikers, etc. We were contemplating a trip to Cape Horn which was and remains one of my dream voyages and so wanted the best gear available. It cost thousands of dollars but has the adfvantage of being taylor fit to suit your needs. Being a multi layered system you can add or reduce layers to suit temperatures. In our case you can even fit the life jacket under the outer layer, keeping it dry and adding another layer of warmth. It is wonderful gear and I was very satisfied with it in foul weather. Then the first time we were pooped I was literally up to my arm pits in water and when the cockpit drained found that the only thing that was wet were my hands and feet ( I was wearing leather gloves and stupidly sneakers). As far as I was concerned the foul weather gear paid for itself right there, but then I'm one of those fair weather wuzzes I was talking about that like to stay dry when it gets cold and nasty. Now that we are in a southern latitude (14 ° N.) I would go with something much lighter than my northern gear. I really like Patagonia's products and their corporate ethos of not changing styles annually and thus wasting resources to satisfy fashion bunnies. If your sailing in cold foul weather do yourself a favour and buy the gear. Hypothermia is not to be messed with. Fair and Dry Winds, Brian Pickton of BeneteauOwners.net Aboard the Legend, in sunny and warm St.Lucia
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Gene Foraker
The problem with Goretex
I have no personal experience with Goretex foulies, but recall reading an article/review a few years ago (Practical Sailor?) which discussed it. They found that it was not good for really severe conditions. Goretex will shed water from rain, but will let through water under pressure. You get such water under pressure on a boat when you sit for hours in a puddle of it in the cockpit or when you get hit with a large wave of "green" water. Maybe there are some new fabrics out there which work better under these conditions.
I have no personal experience with Goretex foulies, but recall reading an article/review a few years ago (Practical Sailor?) which discussed it. They found that it was not good for really severe conditions. Goretex will shed water from rain, but will let through water under pressure. You get such water under pressure on a boat when you sit for hours in a puddle of it in the cockpit or when you get hit with a large wave of "green" water. Maybe there are some new fabrics out there which work better under these conditions.
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Bill
Compromise
Why not compromise by buying camping gortex clothing whiich you can use all of the time. A variety of colors which will work for sailing and you can still wear outside of sailing. I received a Gortex jacket purchased at Eddie Bauer for a very reasonable price, since it is winter and is out of season, which I wear all of the time. It will work on the boat for my limited cruising. This is a replacement for a similar coat that lasted 8 years and I wore most of the year. If you are true bluewater, balls to the wall sailor then I would get the best foul weather gear I could afford and then borrow money to get better.
Why not compromise by buying camping gortex clothing whiich you can use all of the time. A variety of colors which will work for sailing and you can still wear outside of sailing. I received a Gortex jacket purchased at Eddie Bauer for a very reasonable price, since it is winter and is out of season, which I wear all of the time. It will work on the boat for my limited cruising. This is a replacement for a similar coat that lasted 8 years and I wore most of the year. If you are true bluewater, balls to the wall sailor then I would get the best foul weather gear I could afford and then borrow money to get better.
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Jon Bastien
Agree with Rick
The stuff that Uncle Sam provides, while not the most fashionable in the world, does a GREAT job. I rode out Tropical Storm Josephine on board a Catalina 25 in Ft Walton Beach, and my issue Gore-Tex gear kept me plenty warm, dry, and comfortable whenever I had to go out in the soup. My wife's cheap foulies didn't breathe very well, and weren't well insulated... She wasn't too happy. I actually had to purchase my gear through the military clothing stores- It isn't standard issue for people in my career field, since I rarely get to work outside. At the time, the jacket was around $115 and the pants were priced at about $95. I've had the gear for 8 years now, it's been through German winters, Italian rainy seasons, and Florida hurricanes... and it still works as well as it did the day I bought it. I think it's worth every penny I spent. If I could have this design of gear in a pattern other than camouflage, I'd buy it in a heartbeat. I also have a Gore-Tex ski suit, that I used while skiing in Italy. It was thin, comfortable, breathable, dry, and warm- The suit and a pair of long-johns was all that was needed to be comfortable all day (as long as you could keep the snow out of your boots!) --Jon Bastien H25 'Adagio'
The stuff that Uncle Sam provides, while not the most fashionable in the world, does a GREAT job. I rode out Tropical Storm Josephine on board a Catalina 25 in Ft Walton Beach, and my issue Gore-Tex gear kept me plenty warm, dry, and comfortable whenever I had to go out in the soup. My wife's cheap foulies didn't breathe very well, and weren't well insulated... She wasn't too happy. I actually had to purchase my gear through the military clothing stores- It isn't standard issue for people in my career field, since I rarely get to work outside. At the time, the jacket was around $115 and the pants were priced at about $95. I've had the gear for 8 years now, it's been through German winters, Italian rainy seasons, and Florida hurricanes... and it still works as well as it did the day I bought it. I think it's worth every penny I spent. If I could have this design of gear in a pattern other than camouflage, I'd buy it in a heartbeat. I also have a Gore-Tex ski suit, that I used while skiing in Italy. It was thin, comfortable, breathable, dry, and warm- The suit and a pair of long-johns was all that was needed to be comfortable all day (as long as you could keep the snow out of your boots!) --Jon Bastien H25 'Adagio'
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Dick Vance
Nothing But The 'Tex!
I bought my first Gore-Tex Jacket in 1978. The best jacket I ever owned. I wore this in the most horrible of conditions, winter and summer, backpacking, fishing, fresh and saltwater boating, you name it. It finally started delaminating and leaking after about 15 years of this abuse. Its replacement is in its 7th year and has been offshore, inshore, uptown and downtown. It looks like new and doesn't leak a drop. (you do want to use seam sealer inside) I figure it costs me less than $15 per year to wear the best!! The ones I like are basically shells with nylon lining. These are comfortable in warm weather and in the winter, I just layer up underneath to get the insulation needed for the conditions. I've bought and worn other stuff over the years; got a closet full; but my pick is always the Gore Tex. Dick Vance H-25.5 "Honey Bear"
I bought my first Gore-Tex Jacket in 1978. The best jacket I ever owned. I wore this in the most horrible of conditions, winter and summer, backpacking, fishing, fresh and saltwater boating, you name it. It finally started delaminating and leaking after about 15 years of this abuse. Its replacement is in its 7th year and has been offshore, inshore, uptown and downtown. It looks like new and doesn't leak a drop. (you do want to use seam sealer inside) I figure it costs me less than $15 per year to wear the best!! The ones I like are basically shells with nylon lining. These are comfortable in warm weather and in the winter, I just layer up underneath to get the insulation needed for the conditions. I've bought and worn other stuff over the years; got a closet full; but my pick is always the Gore Tex. Dick Vance H-25.5 "Honey Bear"
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