Why is mountain gear so black?
- Thread starter Einar74
- Start date
P
Powderboy
Well-known member
Try these guys. Their stuff is bad A and you can get the color you need.
http://www.arcteryx.com/Product.asp...+Brand&CMPID=PSARC_GG_US_BRAND_arcteryx+coats
http://www.arcteryx.com/Product.asp...+Brand&CMPID=PSARC_GG_US_BRAND_arcteryx+coats
As said before, Black gear goes with just about everything where as colored gear may or may not match when you get a new sled... I've had my blue gear for 6 years and that's actually the sole reason I picked my 05 900 4 years ago when I was looking for a newer sled... it was the newest sled available that was blue and therefore matched my gear, lol. I now have some black gear also (same exact stuff, just in black) and it would look good on any sled and not be 'out of place' as every machine has black on it somewhere.
As to high-vis, I think all gear to some degree incorporates 3M-Scotchlite reflective panels for nighttime visibility which reflects light extremely bright.
As to fashion, I think most would agree that black has a general 'stealth' look to it that just looks cool.
To each their own.
As to high-vis, I think all gear to some degree incorporates 3M-Scotchlite reflective panels for nighttime visibility which reflects light extremely bright.
As to fashion, I think most would agree that black has a general 'stealth' look to it that just looks cool.
To each their own.
Klim offers the valdez jacket in blaze orange and black, I call that high visibility.
E
Einar74
Well-known member
As said before, Black gear goes with just about everything where as colored gear may or may not match when you get a new sled... I've had my blue gear for 6 years and that's actually the sole reason I picked my 05 900 4 years ago when I was looking for a newer sled... it was the newest sled available that was blue and therefore matched my gear, lol. I now have some black gear also (same exact stuff, just in black) and it would look good on any sled and not be 'out of place' as every machine has black on it somewhere.
As to high-vis, I think all gear to some degree incorporates 3M-Scotchlite reflective panels for nighttime visibility which reflects light extremely bright.
As to fashion, I think most would agree that black has a general 'stealth' look to it that just looks cool.
To each their own.
Regarding that I have been cheering for some color in mountain gear is mainly for the high-visibility from a safety aspect. Not mainly because of nighttime visibility,but more because of visibility if the weather changes quickly. Maybe in the Rockies you guys are so lucky with the weather that it stays sunny all day. But on an island like Iceland we sometime get all kinds off weather in one day.
You leave in sun and think the day will be great, but when you are deep in the backcountry it gets cloudy and we have no tree or nothing to add contrast and the wind has removed all old tracks so it is very hard to navigate in the snow blind and very often have to rely on GPS to get back.
This is the main reason I want to have some high-vis in my gear. Not because of fashion or style.
But if it looks nice it is a bonus. It doesn´t have to be ugly just because it isn´t all black.
But I wear black pants and boots and cloves. For clothes that can dirty fast black is best, I agree.
I am surprised with all of this talk about color that being seen in an avy has not come up. Sure we all wear beacons and rely on our friends to watch us as we roll down a mountain in an avy.....but wouldnt it be easier to see us if we were wearing some bright colors ??? How many times has someone been stuck with a hand or foot sticking out of the snow....your eye would surely pick up an orange glove or stripe on your pants b4 any other color.
What about being stuck in a creek bed or tree well or bad weather? I curse joggers and bicyclists at nite that wear black....cant see them until you are right on top of them.
My wife bought me orange FXR gear many years ago. I thought it was because i had an orange Rev, but when the subject came up she told me that when she did her research, orange was the color that stood out most in any environment....good for her. Now my sled is black/blue and i really dont care that they dont match.....what i do care about is the fact that if something happens to me on the hill.....I can be seen from a distance.
Its time to buy new gear, and i will be looking for something that stands out again...probably in orange.
What about being stuck in a creek bed or tree well or bad weather? I curse joggers and bicyclists at nite that wear black....cant see them until you are right on top of them.
My wife bought me orange FXR gear many years ago. I thought it was because i had an orange Rev, but when the subject came up she told me that when she did her research, orange was the color that stood out most in any environment....good for her. Now my sled is black/blue and i really dont care that they dont match.....what i do care about is the fact that if something happens to me on the hill.....I can be seen from a distance.
Its time to buy new gear, and i will be looking for something that stands out again...probably in orange.
J
Jaynelson
Well-known member
Just bought a henious neon green all gore tex ski/snowboard jacket on a Boxing Day sale to use for sledding. Sled gear either looks super boring or looks like monster truck graphics....not happenin for this guy.
I also think the safety thing has some merit...although that's not specifically why I bought it.
I also think the safety thing has some merit...although that's not specifically why I bought it.
B
Bburrap
Active member
Yes it does...and it's Hideous! Why not just cut some arm holes in a traffic cone! To each their own just come down to preference.
((Sled gear either looks super boring or looks like monster truck graphics....)) That's awesome!
Last edited:
J
Jorli
Well-known member
I got Burton AK gear for this year and absolutely love it, its got color, gore-tex and style that doesn't look like it came from the fashion designer that makes gear for my 76 year old father!!!!! We live in color, film in color (wonderful invention) and see in color, why not wear it?
Color is a hard thing to use in our industry. Many of the companies are trying to break into the younger trendy fabrics, but have continuously year after year shown that the snowmobile industry buys black.
Like stated above, some of the companies have dabbled into making some color adds and flares but the colorways seem to be crazy wild or boring as all get out. We have seen color move well, but it definitely is in the lower end jackets, and more entry level or younger buyer markets.
I can however elaborate on why Klim doesn't use some of the color ways that other companies do. Klim, because of there relationship and use of Gore-Tex must send each fabric they choose to Gore to be tested and deemed "fit for use". Different fabrics and dies react to the bonding of the gore-tex membrane differently. Because our gore-tex used in jackets is different than gore-tex used in Burton, North Face, etc. you cannot say well why can Burton do it... Burtons gore-tex is "fit for use" in the ski/board industry and the gore-tex that Klim uses is "fit for use" in the powersports industry. A great example of this is check out the red color of the Klim Valdez Gore-Tex Pro Shell in person, it is noticeably different than that of the red Klim Tomahawk parka.
Different strokes for different folks, but at the end of the day our average consumer and high dollar customer buys black, and is mid 40's.
Like stated above, some of the companies have dabbled into making some color adds and flares but the colorways seem to be crazy wild or boring as all get out. We have seen color move well, but it definitely is in the lower end jackets, and more entry level or younger buyer markets.
I can however elaborate on why Klim doesn't use some of the color ways that other companies do. Klim, because of there relationship and use of Gore-Tex must send each fabric they choose to Gore to be tested and deemed "fit for use". Different fabrics and dies react to the bonding of the gore-tex membrane differently. Because our gore-tex used in jackets is different than gore-tex used in Burton, North Face, etc. you cannot say well why can Burton do it... Burtons gore-tex is "fit for use" in the ski/board industry and the gore-tex that Klim uses is "fit for use" in the powersports industry. A great example of this is check out the red color of the Klim Valdez Gore-Tex Pro Shell in person, it is noticeably different than that of the red Klim Tomahawk parka.
Different strokes for different folks, but at the end of the day our average consumer and high dollar customer buys black, and is mid 40's.
bring back the brown bomber! wwII leather and fur cold gear!
man photobucket is starting to suck! can you guys play that vid?
man photobucket is starting to suck! can you guys play that vid?
Last edited:
J
Jaynelson
Well-known member
I would partially blame that on a lack of options. The majority of high dollar sled gear purchased is black.....because that's the only option. Or the only non-ugly option. The average age of the dude who buys sled gear is mid 40's....because the younger crowd buys their stuff at the ski/snowboard shop that has way more options.
Go to a ski hill and people of all ages have stylish and colourful gear. And it's as expensive as any sled gear if not more so. Granted....way bigger market. That's the secret sauce I suppose.
Yes, it plays.....sideways
Reminds me of the Carhartt crews you used to see....okay, you still do up here in AK.
I think you point out excellent things to look at here too.
mid forties, wear snowboard gear, cheap, warm, dry, and colors!!! looking at pics..... guy on colorful sled, white background, and black clothes= BORING....
SESSIONS, BURTON, and all the rest of the high end snowbaord gear mfgs have great offerings ALOT CHEAPER than sled specific gear. i still have some klim stuff but, mostly wear oddball stuff so, i dont look like everyone else and i can find my gear when i peel it off at a lodge to eat lunch or dinner ect.....
look at the pic with the Tetons in the foreground you can see who stands out. both the wife and I wear bright colorful colthing to stand out in pics, and to be easily located if burried or lost.
look at the guys and girls in the high end of our sport makin video's... most of them are wearing wild colors too. this came to be from wanting more out of pics, than looking like everyone else.
we can buy two complete sets of snowboard gear for the price of one top or bottom from Klim, Motorfist ect.... i have yet to pay over 100.00 for a coat shell, or pants. Ski
SESSIONS, BURTON, and all the rest of the high end snowbaord gear mfgs have great offerings ALOT CHEAPER than sled specific gear. i still have some klim stuff but, mostly wear oddball stuff so, i dont look like everyone else and i can find my gear when i peel it off at a lodge to eat lunch or dinner ect.....
look at the pic with the Tetons in the foreground you can see who stands out. both the wife and I wear bright colorful colthing to stand out in pics, and to be easily located if burried or lost.
look at the guys and girls in the high end of our sport makin video's... most of them are wearing wild colors too. this came to be from wanting more out of pics, than looking like everyone else.
we can buy two complete sets of snowboard gear for the price of one top or bottom from Klim, Motorfist ect.... i have yet to pay over 100.00 for a coat shell, or pants. Ski
Last edited:
Those who can do... those who can't wear day-glo LMAO
I just bought this!
I just bought this!
L
Lushbomb
Moderator: Premium Member
I can never tell which bubba is Rick and which bubba is Chuck with all the black klim gear they all wear.. they are all the same.. goin up up up all the time in black..
adding some color makes you easier to make out, easier to spot in a storm, an Avy, in the trees, etc.. all black might be tough, but it ain't very smart..
adding some color makes you easier to make out, easier to spot in a storm, an Avy, in the trees, etc.. all black might be tough, but it ain't very smart..
tekvest for fishing? maby an abs if you fall through!haha
we wear a tekvest every time we get on the sled. it was about 65* that day, and i just left it on over my Thor fleece jersey (dont make them anymore). gotta ride through some nasty terrain to get to the fish. from the cabin, it is 20 miles one way to the lake we fish. we run trail, logging roads, lakes, a river, and 3 portages. fly in access only except for winter. no pressure on the "hogs" pull em out like pumpin water.
all the trouble is definately worth it. SkiSimilar threads
