Gore-tex Pac-lite?

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  • coolrobc
    Member
    • Jan 2006
    • 321

    #1

    Gore-tex Pac-lite?

    Hey there...

    Anyone have any experience with Gore-tex Pac-lite material?

    I found a few reviews of some products online, but I'd like to see if anyone here has used anything made from it.

    I just found that BassPro carries a Jackets for 89 and pants for 69 which is cheaper than most of the Gore-Tex knock offs I've been looking at.

    I'm looking for something for backpacking that I could also use as a shell when fly fishing, winter steelheading or in wet xc skiing conditions.

    According to the Gore site it's recommended for the types of activities I'm looking to use it for, just want some personal opinions if anyone's got any experience, + or -.

    Thanks in advance!
    Rob
    Last edited by coolrobc; 01-03-2007, 03:53 PM. Reason: Had to add a Hyphen to pac lite because of the dirty word filter, should be all one word.
    -Rob

    There's a fine line between fishing and just standing on the shore like an idiot. - Steven Wright
  • Neil
    Admin

    • May 2004
    • 6129

    #2
    I have a Golite Phantom jacket with Pac-lite which weighs just over a pound. It's not as breathable as I'd like (not even close) but that may be the Golite product more than the gore-tex itself. Still, I wear it 4 seasons and don't carry any other shell or raingear. (I'm currently looking for a softshell that is just as light and will combine the 2.)
    The best, the most successful adventurer, is the one having the most fun.

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    • mikeharo
      Member
      • Oct 2005
      • 70

      #3
      I have pieces made with xcr and pieces made with pa****e. I have not had the pa****e in wet conditions yet so I can't say about the foul weather ability. I can say that gore says they are just as waterproof as full blown xcr but in a smaller package to reduce weight. A disadvantage of this savings is that they are not as burly as xcr pieces. I have only good things to say about gtx xcr. The footwear is excellent and the outwear is phenominal.

      Neil, several companies have gtx softshell jackets. Mammut makes a really really really very nice one and mtn hardwear makes one too called the maneuver. I know the hardwear one is really expensive. The mammut gtx softshell looks really nice.
      I love UBU

      Comment

      • chrisbuon
        Member
        • Jan 2006
        • 8

        #4
        Hey Rob,

        I wore hardshell pants last year (a mix of xcr and pa****e). They were fine as far as being waterproof and pretty flexy for hardshell material. However, as I am a full-on sweaty bastard, they didn't seem to breathe at all. For example, on just about every uphill (no matter length) I had to pretty much fully vent the side zips from the tops of my gaiters to my butt. That helps, until the wind blows through me. Remember, though, these are lighter weight fabrics and prone to tears/rips. I was displeased to find a tear in my pants that I didn't even realize was there until I got home.


        Neil, on the softshell side, I just purchased an Arc'teryx Gamma MX Hoody and am extremely pleased with it. Yeah, super, ridiculously expensive (I randomly got mine for insanely cheap) but worth it. The fit is somewhat slimmer (in the sizes) than most other brands, but the Powerstretch material is fantastic. Just a nice, smartly made, not stupid-fancy jacket (other than that dumb radio pocket on the upper left arm). Breathes amazingly well (see sweaty bastardness above) and moves with you even better, especially the hood (helmet or not). I've yet to use it in winter conditions, but I wore it pretty much nonstop over some long AT days a couple weeks ago. I can easily fit two base layers and a thin fleece layer beneath it. But yeah, stupid expensive.

        Hope this helps,

        chris

        Comment

        • coolrobc
          Member
          • Jan 2006
          • 321

          #5
          Thanks Chris!

          I'm torn (pun intended) on the whole durability vs. packability issue.

          Any amount of breathability would be better than what I currently have, it's a pvc impregnated cotton. I'd really like a small light weight shell that's at least somewhat breathable but it's gotta be durable. I'm just not certain it that what I'm looking for really exists.

          I'm going to look at an Orvis packable/breathable jacket too. It even has neoprene cuffs.

          I think I'm just going to end up getting something that's not so packable.
          -Rob

          There's a fine line between fishing and just standing on the shore like an idiot. - Steven Wright

          Comment

          • wildbrookies
            Member
            • Sep 2004
            • 2706

            #6
            Hey coolrobc,

            Have you checked out the one that www.llbean.com has?...its called the Gore-tex Pac-lite Stowaway Wading jacket...it is alittle pricey at $149.00 and is kind of fashioned for fisherman, but definitely sounds like it would fit your needs and actually , the price is`nt that bad compared to other companies carrying Gore-tex jackets...just an idea...

            Wb
            "Get your mind off trout,if you can.I know they`ve got you.I can see it. Every fraternity of sufferers knows its brothers.Trout hook men;men don`t hook trout.Better try and throw the hook while you can.By the time you`re a grown man there probably won`t be a pure trout healthy enough to fiddle with"... Quote from Emerson in the book "The Earth Is Enough"by Harry Middleton

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            • coolrobc
              Member
              • Jan 2006
              • 321

              #7
              WB-

              Thanks! The Bean jacket is pretty similar to to the Orvis one I'm looking at.

              Like I said durability is one of my big concerns. From what I've seen of pac-lite it's pretty thin. Wish there was a way I could check out the Bean jacket without ordering it, their stores are just a bit to far away.
              -Rob

              There's a fine line between fishing and just standing on the shore like an idiot. - Steven Wright

              Comment

              • Boreal Chickadee
                Member
                • Jul 2004
                • 1648

                #8
                their stores are just a bit to far away.[/QUOTE]

                Unfortunately, this will be changing! I hiked with someone a couple of weeks ago who saw the plans for a Bean's that is coming to the Albany area. So why do I say unfortunately? Because as of the day they open in New York State we will be charged sales tax on all our mail order purchases from Bean's in Maine! I get free shipping and with no sales tax, it was another way to save a bit of money. Too bad it wasn't an outlet instead of a retail store, at least then I could scrounge around for some bargains.
                Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass.
                It's about learning to dance in the rain.

                Comment

                • coolrobc
                  Member
                  • Jan 2006
                  • 321

                  #9
                  Originally posted by Boreal Chickadee
                  Unfortunately, this will be changing!

                  Still 4+ hours for me, but closer than PA or Mass. I guess I can hold off a little longer.
                  -Rob

                  There's a fine line between fishing and just standing on the shore like an idiot. - Steven Wright

                  Comment

                  • eddogg12
                    ...46 or Bust!
                    • Aug 2006
                    • 320

                    #10
                    Originally posted by Boreal Chickadee
                    I hiked with someone a couple of weeks ago who saw the plans for a Bean's that is coming to the Albany area
                    ...I think I seen the Sign in Colonie Center, in Colonie NY. I think April or May, don't quote me. It is unfortunate, like EMS their stuff comes lightning fast, along with the bill for the TAX!!!!
                    http://community.webshots.com/user/eddogg12

                    Comment

                    • mikeharo
                      Member
                      • Oct 2005
                      • 70

                      #11
                      I hiked the last three days in gore tex pac lite pants and an xcr jacket. On thursday, it was 7 degrees at the trailhead and 20 by the time we were done. Friday it was 25 at the start and 30 by the end of the day with some light precipitation during the day. Today was about the same temperature with much more precip. I hiked in the mammut taku pac lite pants with 3/4 zip. They breathed very well and the 3/4 zip was great to help vent. I definitely think that the pac lite is more breathable than the xcr - probably because of the construction process. Pac lite does not require an outer layer like xcr - that is how the pieces are lighter. With less material for heat to breathe through, it makes sense they are more breathable.
                      I love UBU

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