KLIM increasing product line by 32% for Fall 2010.

[powderpilot]

Increasing the gear by 32% is great... IF you're a guy!!! Klim really needs to fix their women's line.... They offer ONE jacket and ONE pair of pants for women.... Both are insulated gear (we want shells and clothes to layer underneath).... The pants are bib overalls with no rear zip, so you have to take your jacket off, then the bibs off to use the bathroom... that's not a lot of fun in -20'.
Most women seem to be buying the men's gear in small sizes, but the rise is huge on the pants, so the waist comes up to your armpits! I am fairly small, so the adult gloves are too big for me, as well as the boots. I bought a size 5 pair of adrenaline boots (which I love!), but had to put insoles in them and stuff wadds of toilet paper into the toes... It just doesn't seem right that no-one makes decent gear for women!!!!!
IMO Klim makes the best gear specifically for snowmobiling.... I just wish they would tune up their women's line!
I hope someone from Klim reads this!!!

 

[christopher]

IMO Klim makes the best gear specifically for snowmobiling.... I just wish they would tune up their women's line!
I hope someone from Klim reads this!!!

Your comments will not go unnoticed.

 

[Timbre]

Greetings,

Klim increasing their product line by 32%...good times for Klim.

Personally, I would be more impressed if Klim lowered their prices by 32%.

Craig.

Big thumbs up on that one Craig!

 

[thefullmonte]

I think part of the hang up for some Monte (myself included) is that the basic element in Klim and what makes their gear good, is that Gore is not new tech nor is courada, etc. Yes it is good, but we see many people having great success and enjoyment with some of the other waterproof options out there like e-Vent.

Of course Gore has been time tested and these others have only been out 5 years or so....

I completely understand. Like I had stated previously is that what ever you get, it just needs to work for you. Everyone has different experiences and needs.

There is a never ending list of optional membranes these days. Not to be derogitory, but for lack of a better term I will refer to them as knock offs. Despite the advances of many of these other knock off materials I have yet to see them hold up as good as Gore Tex. I suspect I've attended too many seminars. These other membranes more often than not fail and tear internally. They also tend to delaminate from the fabric. Gore is just way too far ahead of the game with laminating techniques and materials. And they continue to research and make advancements. Again, some of these materials may work just fine for some, but at this point it would take quite a bit to impress me personally. My experience tells me they are not yet in the same league. I've just seen to many pieces from some of these other brands fail with minimal use. That's just me. Just want to state again that many of these other ones seem to perform just fine for some people and in the end that is what is important.

To compare a product like E-vent, it's Gore equivalent would be windstopper. Gore doesn't even consider it water proof breathable membrane although it does perform like standard Gore Tex, but at a much slower rate.

Much like Gore, Cordura has been around for for quite some time. They have easily become the benchmark for durable abrasion resistant materials. They too continue to make advancements.

Again, there are companies that try to use all the best products in their designs and there are those that use the knock off equivalents. I don't know what is all involved with Cordura, but I do know a little about Gore Tex. When you decide you want to use Gore Tex you are more or less going into a business partnership with them. So your designs must also meet their standards. Meaning everything you want to produce has to pass inspection as the highest of quality products. You can start to see where the other brands fit in. A company looking to cut corners can do so more easily with a product that does not put performance requirements on what you are producing.

Yeah, I'm biased. I'm a huge fan of Klim and Gore-Tex. I'm not right or wrong. After many many years of doing this and being around quite a few different brands I'm happy to spend my $$$ with Klim and Gore-Tex.

I know what I just said isn't going to change any minds. It wasn't intended to. I was just hoping to provide some insight to hopefully better inform.

 

[xrated]

Forget getting dealers and companies to get on here and share....lets just have Monte pick products and review....the guy is full of info and willing to share!

Monte, when you say you have seen other products fail after minimal use, is this something where costumers bring the item back into the store or is it just customers talking about it after the fact while shopping again?

What's your expeirence with HIPPORA liners? That's the one I was thinking of the other night, just couldn't think of it. I know True Adventure Gear uses it and this forum has many positive reviews on their gloves. Also I have seen the HIPPORA liner used in Fox gloves. How would that liner rate between something like E-vent and Gore?

 

[thefullmonte]

Forget getting dealers and companies to get on here and share....lets just have Monte pick products and review....the guy is full of info and willing to share!

Monte, when you say you have seen other products fail after minimal use, is this something where costumers bring the item back into the store or is it just customers talking about it after the fact while shopping again?

What's your expeirence with HIPPORA liners? That's the one I was thinking of the other night, just couldn't think of it. I know True Adventure Gear uses it and this forum has many positive reviews on their gloves. Also I have seen the HIPPORA liner used in Fox gloves. How would that liner rate between something like E-vent and Gore?

Hippora is definitally one of the better ones. They have been around quite awhile and the performance seems right on par with where you placed it. That stuff gets used in street jackets and boots as well. Seems to hold up as water proof which is why most people buy it. Good positive feedback from street riders. I can't really comment on how breathable the membrane is.

Question in bold. I've seen both. A jacket comes to mind where it was torn at a seam. I was able to inspect the internals of it and see where the membrane had either de-laminated or never was laminated and developed tears. When it isn't laminated the membrane can flex more, crease and eventually tear. From a performance standpoint it won't displace moisture very efficiently. I've seen independent studies of the same nature comparing the Gore to another membrane after a season of use. It really is amazing the difference.

The stories are quite often the same. The customer buys a high dollar item from brand X because they like the color or recognize the brand. They say it worked fine for the first couple rides and then started to get wet. Each ride was progressively worse until they were soaked. They come back a year later or sooner, somewhat frustrated. They spend the money a second time on Klim which was only a few dollars more in most cases than what they spent the first time. I've never had a customer dissapointed in the Klim product. In fact they usually come back to buy more.

In all these years we have only ever had 2 warranty claims on Klim. 1 zipper on an underlayer pant. 1 inversion glove split at the seam and that guy was wearing a cast with it. Brand X would have quite a few warranties if they came with a warranty. Unfortunately, they tend to leave the customer out in the cold. Get it? Lol JK

I think in many aspects the snowmobile industry is still very small and maybe just trying to catch up. The technology seems to be out there, but not everyone is implementing it into their products. I've heard some very good reviews from some ski products that seem to hold up very well for snowmobile use. I can't believe how many companies are out there producing clothing for that sport compared to ours. The competion obviously drives innovation and the need to make a better product.

And thank you for the positive words. We need to get back out and do some more dirtbiking.

 

[xrated]

good info again.

I can tell ya in my fox gloves with hippora (which they seem to no longer make I believe they were dirt or mud paws) The membrane seems to breath fairly well. I worked one particulary muddy hare scramble and spent all day in the rain picking bikes up and getting them up a hill. Did not take long for the gloves to become soaked, yet my hands were only a bit sweaty at the end of an 6 hour stint. Steam was rolling out and off the gloves like mad. However last time I wore them and submerged them in water (dock detail) it felt like one hand was wet, so maybe after 5 years they are failing...I guess I better go stick the in water and test it out.

And for sure on getting out riding again.

 

[CROW]

I've been asking for a goretex BOA boot for years. Please.