Semi-technical shells with pockets for travel. Fjallraven?

[MarcusBrody]

I'm looking for a new shell for everyday outdoor use and travel. It should be fairly waterproof, cut so I can layer beneath is, and have a decent amount of pockets. Something I can hike or scramble in, ski in occasionally, or wear through an airport carrying my stuff on the way there. The latter leads to me wanting more and differently shaped pockets than most technical shells have. I live in the desert so when not traveling, wind and abrasion resistance is more important than being super waterproof, though immediate use willbe in NZ/Aus for a month this summer (their winter) where it will probably be high 30-40ss at night to 50s during the day, sometimes raining.

My current shell is an Arcteryx Zeta LT. I've no complaints (and avoided delam issues, knock on wood). It's been a great technical shell, but its pockets are big and really high on the chest to avoid harnesses so it's a bit odd to put much in them. It's also cut/sized pretty athletically so it's perfect with a baselayer or very light midlayer for higher output activities, but I start to feel like I'm inside a sausage casing if I try to wear it over a heavy sweater or puffy. I could just travel with both the tech shell and a more casual coat, but because I love outdoor gear, I want the perfect coat.

Does anyone have experience with Fjallraven's G-1000 shells? I was looking at the Skogso, which is G-1000 in the hood/shoulders and G-1000 lite for the body. I was thinking that with a little extra wax on the parts most likely to wet out it would be a good compromise travel jacket that I'd be happy to hike/ski in. I do wish it had at least one interior pocket though.

So any suggestions? I like the look of the Skogso, but I'm not wedded to a more casual looking jacket. I just want outdoor/travel versatility and pockets.

[AK47bp]

G-1000 is awesome but is stiff and pretty heavy compared to your current shell, even more so when waxed. My regular winter rain coat is lightly waxed G1000 and it’s more waterproof than anything else I have.

Anything where you sweat and exert a lot of energy and create body heat I wouldn’t want G-1000 on. For any other activity it’s fucking great.

They have it at REI, I’d recommend trying some on. Maybe mine are more heavy duty and they have a lighter weight version.

[MarcusBrody]

G-1000 is awesome but is stiff and pretty heavy compared to your current shell, even more so when waxed. My regular winter rain coat is lightly waxed G1000 and it’s more waterproof than anything else I have.

Anything where you sweat and exert a lot of energy and create body heat I wouldn’t want G-1000 on. For any other activity it’s fucking great.

They have it at REI, I’d recommend trying some on. Maybe mine are more heavy duty and they have a lighter weight version.

Thanks. That's really helpful. The shell I was looking at only has the G-1000 (heavy duty version) on the shoulders and hood. The body is a lighter variety. Still, if I'm looking at the right version of my current jacket, it's 11.8 oz. The Fjallraven is probably close to double that. It's a good idea to check REI. I'll look to see if they're still carrying jackets at my locations this time of the year.

[halliday]

Like AK47 said G1000 is great but it's kinda heavy especially when waxed. Although there are not many things as tough as waxed G1000. I wear my Fjallraven pants most ski days that are not freezing cold or blower snow.

[MarcusBrody]

Like AK47 said G1000 is great but it's kinda heavy especially when waxed. Although there are not many things as tough as waxed G1000. I wear my Fjallraven pants most ski days that are not freezing cold or blower snow.

The toughness is one of the attractions compared to my thin tech shell. Most of my "winter" shell outdoor wear is desert scrambling and I'm always a bit worried to shimmy up something or squeeze past an inevitably thorny bush in my shell. So far so good though.

[arild]

Like AK47 said G1000 is great but it's kinda heavy especially when waxed. Although there are not many things as tough as waxed G1000. I wear my Fjallraven pants most ski days that are not freezing cold or blower snow.

I actually prefer the G1000 I own exactly for blower and icy cold. Layered appropriately, of course.

support the raddest project going: http://heritagelabskis.com

[nickwm21]

I like Goretex PacLite for travel. I’ve been rocking a BD Liquid Point for a few years. I wouldn’t want to try to shove a G1000 jacket in my carryon.


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[MarcusBrody]

I like Goretex PacLite for travel. I’ve been rocking a BD Liquid Point for a few years. I wouldn’t want to try to shove a G1000 jacket in my carryon.

Any recommendations for PacLite shells with lots of pockets? I'm travel/hike with a 6 year old, so I'm always putting all sorts of random stuff in mine. And generally prefer to stick all my junk (wallet/phone/tickets/keys/etc) in my jacket pockets when going through airports and the like so I can just toss it on the security belt rather than having to dump my pants pockets. I'm having a hard time finding a tech shell with ample pockets. I did start to look at resort ski shells. They have more pockets, but I'd want to see how heavy they felt. I need to look more into them.

The non-technical contenders so far:

Fjallraven Skagso - G1000 on the shoulders, G1000- Lite for the rest. Like the look/colors and external pockets. Wish there was an interior pocket.



Kuhl Outsider - 4 + internal pockets. Waxed cotton/nylon mixed with stretch panels under the arms.


Orvis Foliage Waxed Cotton Field Coat - Notably less technical than the others. Can't see myself skiing in it, but it would likely make a good travel coat and I have a weakness for field coats. I can't imagine hiking in it would be an issue. Lots of pockets. The waxed fabric is all cotton, but from a reputable maker.

[Andyski]

I have had and loved a Skagso for many years, but even when waxed by one of their stores I don’t trust it to be waterproof for extended periods (waiting for the bus for 30 minutes in real rain). Maybe I need to get super aggro with the waxing, but I wouldn’t recommend it if you’re expecting that. It’s great otherwise.

[MarcusBrody]

I have had and loved a Skagso for many years, but even when waxed by one of their stores I don’t trust it to be waterproof for extended periods (waiting for the bus for 30 minutes in real rain). Maybe I need to get super aggro with the waxing, but I wouldn’t recommend it if you’re expecting that. It’s great otherwise.

That's really good to know. I don't know what I was expecting really. I should decide if I think I'm actually going to go out in the rain when traveling that often as it certainly isn't an issue around where I live.

[Island Bay]

Tried on the Skogso and Sten jackets today, and they’re both very nice (Sten required a size up to XL for me).
Really liked the Vardag anorak, though. Full G-1000 and generously cut. Would last a lifetime.

[Steffenator]

I'm been using G1000 products for years now and certainly think it has its place. Its not waterproof at all really, not even very water-resistant when waxed, so I dont bring it out for days with any precip at all - which is a big limiting factor for outdoor use. But I'll say that it breaks in nicely and becomes really soft and comfortable. Breathability is ok and durability is mega of course.

I'm an even bigger fan of the Black Diamond Dawn Patrol (pants and jacket) for a heavyweight softshell. That stuff is magic: super breathable, pretty warm, largely windproof, very durable, amazingly comfortable, and the face knit seems to have a natural propensity for beading water even as the DWR wears off. Its not suitable for rain, but resists wetting-out by wet snow or falling snow etc. And its cheap! Only real downside is heavy.

[halliday]

I find the waxed G1000 to be pretty wind proof and fairly water proof. Obviously it won't be as resistant to the elements as some Baker bibs and a FRS shell but it does pretty good and is relatively bomb proof. It's worth the money.

[Island Bay]

Bought a Vardag anorak, and have been wearing it the last week in wet NZ weather. Just dog walking and going surfing, but it's been 'fairly waterproof' as per halliday above. Great kit.

[highangle]

MB I hate to sound off the wall, but since you say "Travel" there are large parts of the world where you never want to flash any sort of affluence or even business attire in public - you don't want to stand out.

Classic example would be a well-heeled safari couple on a layover in an intermediate African nation without a fixer: Target for everything from petty theft gangs to kidnappers.

You see where I'm going here. A $500 barn jacket or a $1000 suit is definitely not going to mark you in Schiphol, but it damn sure will in LaPaz.

[old goat]

I wasn't familiar with G-1000. sounds like 60--40 cloth we used to wear. What goes around comes around I guess. We got rid of it when Goretex came along.

By the way, what does "semi-technical" mean? Or for that matter, "technical". And while we're at it "tactical". And is there a "semi-tactical"?

[plugboots]

I’ve traveled for 40 years and I can’t even imagine ever wanting to wear a shell in an airport. But if I did because you somehow seem to want that, I would get something that feels like the RAB Proflex fabric

[mrkbrnblm]

Avoid the field coat style. I have one(Barbour) for travel, and although there are aspects I like, everything about the pockets sucks. They get wet, they fill with snow, they dump stuff out, they get caught on things, etc. Normal jacket pockets that don’t protrude externally are much better.

Patagonia makes a very nice sort of workish/travelish goretex jacket that’s entirely waterproof and has decent breath ability.


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