Time for an update, Holidays, Gore-tex and Work

Its been far too long since my last blog but  here things have been busy so lots of catching up to do, Firstly a trip to Ireland and the UK Which was great, I did manage a couple of treks, One in the hills above Clonmel, Not difficult and then i climbed the Holiest mountain in Ireland called Croagh Patrick, Its not super high but its a tough climb, 2 hours busting your lungs on the way up and about 1.5 hrs down, Glad i did it but really not the nicest climb in the world but a good training ground and would like to have something similar close to home, Here you can see me at the top wearing my $750 Arcteryx shell, It was cool and cloudy when i left as well as some mist in the air and although the clouds broke to give good views the nip in the air stayed however i was drenched when i got back to the car, Not outside but inside, So much for breathable Gortex of which i will go into later

Back at home i started working for The North Face which for a hiker is a dream job as you get to see and learn about the latest gear and have some discount so that you can afford to buy some, I do have a list of wants but not really needs as i have pretty much everything i need except Mountaineering boots, I did buy The North Face Himalayan jacket which is something i have wanted for years, Its impressive in its weight/warmth ratio but has a god awful zipper which really lets it down, In the description on line it states it has a 2 way zipper but it doesn't, The zipper is small and fiddly and i would not want to try and do it up at altitude in the cold, Its a shame but i can live with it, I recently tested it here as we have had a very cold spell and i dressed up to take some wildlife shots in my backyard at night where the temperature dropped to -6, 4 hours and i was still nice and warm, Here i am ready to go outside dressed in The North Face Himalayan Jacket and pants with Cabelas ice fishing boots and Outdoor research Alti Gloves

Gortex is Gortex right? Wrong
Goretex to me is like in the 80's when everything said turbo, Good marketing, I do have many Goretex products and i do believe it is a good product but not the be all and end all, There are 3 kinds of Goretex
1. Normal Goretex used in jackets and shoes/boots
2. Gortex Active, used in very light weight jackets for running etc
3, Goretex Pro, 3 layers use in high end jackets etc
I have goretex hiking boots and used Salomon GTX hiking boots when i walked the Camino, Goretex boots and shoes are great when the temperatures are low, Once the temperatures rise its blister time, Goretex is supposed to allow you boots/clothing to breathe but stop water getting in which it can do but if you build up more sweat than it can get rid of then you cook, Like my feet did on the Camino and when i used my Arcteryx jacket on Croagh Patrick, Once you know this then you can dress accordingly, In summer or warm conditions i will not use Goretex boots/shoes and will layer to keep cool,Goretex lining acn also break down, I have 4 pairs of Salomon boots and after a lot of hiking i.e 300-400 miles when it rains my feet get wet, I have not had that in my North Face boots so it could just be a Salomon problem

Here is a good article on Goretex taken from the Outdoor Research site

Ever wonder what the difference is between all the different types of GORE-TEX®?  After all, isn’t GORE-TEX® just GORE-TEX® – our beloved waterproof and breathable fabric that comprises the most rugged outdoor jackets?

The answer is a simple no.

Not all GORE-TEX® is created equal. But knowing what the different types are, how they are different and when to use which one sometimes feels mysterious.

There are three types of GORE-TEX® – GORE-TEX®, GORE-TEX® Active and GORE-TEX® Pro – and each are geared towards different activities. Since not all of these fabrics are intended for the same use, to know which type of jacket you need to get you must first know what activities you will be doing and what attributes you want. Will you be cross country skiing? Taking short afternoon hikes? Do you want something lightweight? Super breathable? Mega durable?

Just as a refresher to jog your weather-protection memory, GORE-TEX® is a material made by laminating, or sandwiching together, an ePTFE (expanded Polytetrafluoroethylene) membrane to other face fabrics to create a waterproof yet also breathable fabric. The membrane is an incredibly thin and microscopically porous material (the pours are 20,000 times smaller than a water drop) and allows moisture to pass out of the material but not let water in.

In addition, there are multiple fabric constructions: three-layer constructions (the membrane is bonded to face fabrics on both sides), two-layer (the membrane is bonded to a face fabric on one side and can have a liner on the other allowing the option for insulation), insulated and non-insulated. In addition, GORE-TEX® can be paired with a variety of face fabrics, have DWR treatments and be seam sealed to increase its protection level.

The type of GORE-TEX® will often dictate the construction, as does the end use of the product.

So, you ask, what are the different types?

The Three Types of GORE-TEX®

GORE-TEX® is a versatile fabric that can be used for anything from mountaineering to everyday, around-town wear. Durably windproof, waterproof and able to breathe, GORE-TEX® can come in anything from two- to three-layer constructions depending on the end use.

In addition, there is an offshoot of this product technology, called GORE-TEX® PacLite®, a 2-layer GORE-TEX® that is constructed to be lightweight, breathable and incredibly minimalistic. GORE-TEX® PacLite® are some of the lightest, most packable fabrics, ideal for activities that require saving space and weight – like running, hiking or cycling.

GORE-TEX® Active – as the name merits – is meant for highly aerobic activities that you will likely do in a day (like cross-country skiing, alpine climbing or other stop-and-go activities). You want a jacket to breathe, and breathe well, when you are, for example, skinning up the backside of a mountain. But it also needs to be simultaneously protective in less-than-ideal conditions.

GORE-TEX® Active is lightweight, capitalizes on a minimalistic design and is incredibly breathable, which is ideal for these stop-and-go activities. Typically, GORE-TEX® Active (as well as GORE-TEX® Pro) are made with a three-layer construction.

Last, GORE-TEX® Pro is engineered to be rugged, durable and ideal for extended use in extreme conditions – like a multi-day mountaineering, guiding or freeriding. Extended use activities that subject you to miserably conditions require a beefy, three-layer construction with maximum protection.

While jackets get the most attention, pants, gloves, hats and even gaiters can utilize the waterproof, breathable technology of GORE-TEX®.  

Now that its 2018 the count down to Mera is on, Trekking and gym time is now increasing, Better to start slow and train over a long period of time

Dave