North face or Columbia gear...anyone use?
- Thread starter racert17
- Start date
just a thought, but switching from a brand which supports sledding to groups that back wilderness, greenies, etc. no good.
they ahve some decent products. but i have never found anything to hold up to sledding like sledding only gear.
they ahve some decent products. but i have never found anything to hold up to sledding like sledding only gear.
Nope, both company's are supported by environmentalists and working to shut down riding areas.
They don't get a single dime from me. I prefer to give my money to company's like Klim and Motorfist who support the sport I love.
My two pennies.
They don't get a single dime from me. I prefer to give my money to company's like Klim and Motorfist who support the sport I love.
My two pennies.
Wore a Columbia Titanium jacket last year. Ripped the **** out of it going over the bars and it didn't breathe that well or fit with a helmet that well. Stick to proper sled gear.
On the other hand, I bought a NorthFace jacket and bibs almost twenty years ago made in the USA with a ballistic nylon outer layer and it is still mint. I have destroyed a few zippers but the stuff has held up well. Cost almost $1500 back then but has never let me down, even at -65 degrees F without wind chill factored in. I have retired more than a dozen helmets and countless gloves in that time frame, so I'm no trailer queen.
I'm all for keeping our riding areas open and buying American but most of the brands you have mentioned are actually produced overseas. Sure it may cost you a little more but shouldn't we keep our dollars local and help fix our own economy first! When I buy new gear they will need to prove it is American made to me first!
I'm all for keeping our riding areas open and buying American but most of the brands you have mentioned are actually produced overseas. Sure it may cost you a little more but shouldn't we keep our dollars local and help fix our own economy first! When I buy new gear they will need to prove it is American made to me first!
I used to wear Columbia, from my experience it was big and bulky, didn't breathe well, and halfway through the season the water proofing had already worn out. I got a BRP Helium 30 jacket this year, light weight, breathable, still holding water out, and its warm even though its so light.
Not a promo for BRP, but a review of the Columbia jacket I used to wear.
Not a promo for BRP, but a review of the Columbia jacket I used to wear.
I'd like to know how much support Klim actually gives. I'd bet its a very small percentage (it may not be- and if someone can show me then I'll eat my words) But I bet more money would go to snowmobiling if you bought a $200 coat and then joined a snowmobile club/organization than does if you buy a $400 klim coat and then let them donate for you.
You could throw your favorite sports team jersey over top.. seen guys do that.
Or most sled mfg have nice light thin jerseys there snow cross race teams wear.
B
bthomps33
New member
I had Klim pants and jacket. Sold the jacket because I have monkey arms and the jacket's arms were too short. Got an Arc'terx shell which I also use for hiking, camping, snowboarding, general rain jacket, ect. Very well made and more breathable than the Klim. Probably not as durable as Klim and is a couple more Benjamins, but I've had no problems with it so far. Will be getting another one when it wears out. Another person in the group wears a mountain hardwear jacket with a similar experience.
Ps. still use the Klim pants.
Ps. still use the Klim pants.
S
sledneck_03
Well-known member
Ive worn northface, you get wet. Needs to be goretex or event. the new fxr stuff im curious about seeing not everyone on the hills wearing it yet. I have a fxr team sx suit for the flats and it was a sponge in the hills, soaked every day so hopefully their mountain stuffs better. its priced in the non waterproof stuff range so i would rather spend the extra $200 on a suit and get motorfist or klim
Arc'teryx makes really nice stuff that is surprisingly durable. But it's even more spendy than Klim and they are definitely greenies based in Vancouver BC. I wear a mountain hardwear insulated softshell as a winter jacket and it is the best I've had by far worn it sledding a few times too with good results. A lot more affordable than the Arc'teryx too. I just bought a Motorfist jacket on clearance to replace the Columbia and will probably pickup bibs next season to replace the mountain hardwears as they are losing the water proofing with the quickness.
types guy on his non American made computer...lol
Where are Apple products made? I googled it and damn it! China, just like all electronics / computers these days. Dissapointed
Looks like I may end up riding naked! Good thing I live in Alaska, that way you all don't have to see my nuts hanging in the gas tank. Sorry for the visual!
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J
Jaynelson
Well-known member
In response to OP.....I had some North Face pants I used for 2 years of sledding and was not impressed. They were a mid-range and mid-priced pant, and they lost their water resistance quickly and tore easily.
I don't like much "sled specific" gear to be honest. I like to hit the ski (snowboard) hill a couple times a year and it just looks either too NASCAR or too bland to be dual purpose, and I don't find it as spectacular performance-wise as people think it is. Anything Gore-tex is better; as it should be for usually double the price.
For what it's worth, I have a Burton AK jacket that was the best quality jacket I've had. It's 10 years + old and has been demoted to snowblower duty, but I got my money out of that thing a million times. Currently also using Burton snowboard pants which work well for not much $$. Also had a Westbeach jacket that was a POS after a year. Arc'teryx is very nice, but again....lots of money.
I don't really get bent about ski/snowboard/sled stuff or where it's made. I just buy what looks good and works good for not too much $$ because stuff gets stinky and kinda destroyed during sled use.
I don't like much "sled specific" gear to be honest. I like to hit the ski (snowboard) hill a couple times a year and it just looks either too NASCAR or too bland to be dual purpose, and I don't find it as spectacular performance-wise as people think it is. Anything Gore-tex is better; as it should be for usually double the price.
For what it's worth, I have a Burton AK jacket that was the best quality jacket I've had. It's 10 years + old and has been demoted to snowblower duty, but I got my money out of that thing a million times. Currently also using Burton snowboard pants which work well for not much $$. Also had a Westbeach jacket that was a POS after a year. Arc'teryx is very nice, but again....lots of money.
I don't really get bent about ski/snowboard/sled stuff or where it's made. I just buy what looks good and works good for not too much $$ because stuff gets stinky and kinda destroyed during sled use.
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