Print

•    Recent Posts
•    Safety & Responsibility
•    Contact Us
•    Weather
•    How to Post Pics
•    Walkie Talkies
•    Strangford & Ards Peninsula Days Out

Follow @niwild

[chris]

Well since we own all the guchi kit under the sun who's up for a bit of Scottish winter mountaineering? I'm looking at all those guys with their changabangs, spitz's, latoks, morpheus' and ogres!We'll even let you come if you own a North face coat. Dates and location to be arranged (all suggestions welcome) but Jan or Feb would be good.
Should give plenty of time to gather the necessary gear and the new daddies amongst us plenty of time to book it off, in fact why not ask for that as your Christmas pressie!

[suspectmonkey]

Would you believe I got a new jacket just before all this smoke damaged frenzy kicked off   Although in fairness I was pretty set on this one so no amount of Mountain Equipment gear could have made me change my mind!

Matthew, look away now, worried you might get too excited by the brand name

[chris]

very nice, I love rab stuff too, fits me better than mountain equipment. Have you had eVent before?

[suspectmonkey]

very nice, I love rab stuff too, fits me better than mountain equipment. Have you had eVent before?

Nope, first eVent jacket!  Wasn't exactly delighted with Gore Performance shell so hopefully will be a lot happier with this!  It's nearly 500g lighter than my old TNF jacket as well, although in fairness it's rather spartan when it comes to features

[whoRya]

I love the idea of the Rab e-vent gear and the reviews are often very positive for them.  But I found when I tried the stuff on there was one thing that I thought would bug me.  There is a lot of zip and when you have it zipped down to about collar bone height it meant there were two large flaps of material either side.  The fact that it has cut down on weight and not put a strengthened collar on it compounds that.

I'd imagine for walking a Scottish winter with it fully zipped it wouldn't matter, but I thought it could be annoying up the Mournes when it's not too cold and the material is flapping about.

[chris]

Its the same stuff as gore, basically the guys who invented it decided they could make it more breathable and Al said it couldn't be done so they parted ways and walla! Basically its a more expanded version of the ptfe membrane (the holes are bigger) and instead of "painting" on the thin layer that protects it from all the nasty oils our skin produces its impregnated with a gas version.
All that said its supposed to be more breathable than gore (pro shell this is) although the down sides are you need to wash it ALOT more (due to the pores in the membrane being larger and therefore more likely to clog with dirt) its also lets the wind in more than gore (again due to the nature of the membrane).
Don't worry tho, as long as you wash it, you'll be fine! I got an eVent jacket too.

[RedLeader]

So is eVent better than Goretex Pro Shell?

I was pretty disapppointed that the Mountain Equipment jacket I bought had no pit zips - I thought that was a big part of helping breathability when you were exercising hard.

[twentyclicks]

I'm about to order a fair bit of gucci kit on work pro-deal and will definitely be looking to break it in before taking it to the alps in March  
Scotland would be awesome - I'm sure I can get a weekend off work once the sales have died down!

What's the likely plan?
Travel Fri eve, late car camp, Sat/Sun hardcore & awesome outdoors stuff, Travel Sun afternoon/eve?
Would we need 3 full days to allow for travel (winter roads/ferry)... I could probably do Fri-Sun, or Sat-Mon?

Which area/route does anyone fancy? (e.g. winter CMD arete?)

Any preferred dates? (thus far I am probably flexible from 22nd or 29th Jan onwards).


ps. Nice jacket Suspect, and Chris with the Latok... was my contender but Montane fit me better so Venture it is.  Will be interesting to try the eVent.  We do have a Mammut in work that is just superlative, but it is super crinkly and £330 so sense is trying to prevail!

[chris]

So is eVent better than Goretex Pro Shell?

I was pretty disapppointed that the Mountain Equipment jacket I bought had no pit zips - I thought that was a big part of helping breathability when you were exercising hard.

it's one of these things, what's better down or synthetic, gas or multi fuel, gore or event. It'll go on for ever! Both gore and event have their pro's and con's. Same with pit zips, if your sweating more than the ret of your jacket and you open your pit zips your just gonna get wet from the rain, keep them closed and you'll get wet from sweat!

[twentyclicks]

So is eVent better than Goretex Pro Shell?

I was pretty disapppointed that the Mountain Equipment jacket I bought had no pit zips - I thought that was a big part of helping breathability when you were exercising hard.

eVent tends to be a bit softer and gets more so with washing (which it needs more).  As to what works better, that is argued ad infinitum in pubs and forums the world over.  Paramo or Ventile is more breathable but they both have drawbacks that often rule them out i.e. when Ventile finally saturates it can take forever to dry out/becomes heavy & paramo is heavy, warm and heavy rain does push through, although the fabric just pumps it out again as soon as it has a chance.  I wanted a paramo, but I honestly run very hot when active (and prefer to feel cool) and chill when chilling, so better to carry insulation for rest stops and a light shell for only the worst weather.

I don't like pit zips personally - affect the arm movements, less packability, extra weight, will let water in if open in rain.  Soft-shell or wind top and get wet is more comfortable if working that hard.  If it's not raining, heat rises so opening the front zip will vent better anyway.  IMO.  It's a tough jacket you've picked up - I've seen some trashed ones that keep going, and excellent hood by all accounts.

[RedLeader]

Think we need a jacket thread rather than hijacking the Scotland thread. I'll throw one up.

Thread is here:
http://www.ni-wild.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=1543.0

[LandyLiam]

Me, my north face jacket, and more importantly, my land rover are tempted on a scottish weekender. What sort of activity are we talking about, any location in mind?

[chris]

Me, my north face jacket, and more importantly, my land rover are tempted on a scottish weekender. What sort of activity are we talking about, any location in mind?

Nothing too crazy. I had looked at the likes of the CMD or something along those lines but I think most people would be put off if we had to start using crampons etc on a ridge! (Although shout if I'm wrong )
Probably just hit an area with a good few peaks, do a bit of Munro bagging and hopefully we'll get some proper Scottish winter conditions!
The guys from the nevis trip will know what I'm talking about here:
I was thinking of the area south of sugar lumps, the ring of steel or what ever it was called, looked to be a good few peaks and some arêtes.

What would most people be up for? Walking with a touch of easy climbing?

[MG1]

I think Neil renamed it as the circle of death

If i can get permission from the boss i'd be up for it.

There s the Cairngorms as well. Some crackin hills.

[LandyLiam]

Most of that meant nothing too me except the last line "walking with a touch of easy climbing" which sounds good to me. I've no climbing gear so might have to pass on that bit but happy to watch.

[Rugged Track]

A comment of appreciation by Rugged Track [November 04, 2024]

Cable Car ride up Donard by Rugged Track [March 29, 2023]

Lough Shannagh by Scribble [March 22, 2023]

Where has everyone gone? by Glenn B [March 02, 2023]

Lake District wild camp taking in Great Gable and Scafell Pike by Rugged Track [January 18, 2023]

Slieve Meelbeg and Slieve Meelmore overnighter by Rugged Track [January 18, 2023]

Overnighter 2nd July 2022 by No time for anything [June 13, 2022]

Hello 👋🏻 by RedLeader [March 13, 2022]

Overnighter on 21st August by Wolf_Larson [November 02, 2021]

crabbing by Glenn B [July 19, 2021]

Slieve Bearnagh Day Hike by ScotsRambler [July 04, 2021]

Slieive Binnian Hike by Rugged Track [November 06, 2020]

Silent Valley by Binnianboy [June 28, 2020]

Is it safe... by Rugged Track [June 02, 2020]

Be careful on water when going to camp Islands by Rugged Track [March 10, 2020]

Widow of retired PSNI man who died on Mournes keeps reliving trauma of it all by RedLeader [February 03, 2020]

When will the christmas camp be this year? by Andy-D [December 30, 2019]

You've got a mention... by NorthernSky [December 12, 2019]

Hammock Wild Camp Annalong Wood by Rugged Track [November 28, 2019]

Hen Mountain Wild Camp by Rugged Track [November 28, 2019]

Happy Valley by Binnianboy [September 30, 2019]

My Photo was picked for the Irish Mountain Log by AndyWeb [September 17, 2019]

THE DEVIL'S COACH ROAD........... ! by AndyWeb [September 17, 2019]

Rams Island Camp - 17th or 24th August? by Rugged Track [August 31, 2019]

Mourne Mountains: Who owns the County Down mountains? by NorthernSky [August 28, 2019]