Originally posted by: ja1484
Originally posted by: intogamer
I need to get a jacket for the winter... specifically New England weather.
I ordered this Burton jacket (i'm not even sure if it has an insulated layer)
Text
I was thinking about changing it for this North Face one
Text
I get 12.7% Microsoft Cash back and 20% off code for both (except for the burton -sale item) and it's pretty rare to get a good discount on TNF stuff. Or.. what else would ATOT recommend?
Speaking from a slightly different strandpoint, an uninsulated shell with layers underneath is almost ALWAYS better for cold weather sports. It's much easier to adjust to changes in conditions. For something like snowboarding, an insulated shell may actually be too warm, and cause you to sweat too much. Add to that the fact that insulated shells really *can't* wick and breathe because of the insulating layer, and you're at another disadvantage.
I've used a lot of combinations, but if I had to make recommendations, I'd look at either of the following:
For a non-insulated weatherproof/breathable shell, I've yet to find something that works better than the
Mountain Hardwear Exposure Parka. It performs at a top level as long as you keep it washed and keep its waterproofing treatment fresh (Revivex by WL Gore is great, but use the spray-on stuff...the wash-in shit doesn't work nearly as well).
Though it's a little more pricey, the
Outdoor Research Mentor Jacket is also excellent. FWIW, I think Mountain Hardwear's Conduit membrane far surpasses Gore-Tex, HyVent, and all the other laminates out there.
If you must get something with built in insulation, the OR Chaos (can be found at the same website as the mentor, under Down/Synthetic) is a good choice, but I wouldn't snowboard in it.
If you need more info on insulating/base layers, you can PM or whatever.