SIA 2017: Reports from the Floor

[Lorenzzo]

Looks as though the Wasatch may be in for almost every possible condition this week....including...rain.

 

[Read Blinn]

Looks as though the Wasatch may be in for almost every possible condition this week....including...rain.

Rain??? In the winter??? What are they thinking????

 

[Tom K.]

... we always try to ski aspirationally !

Words to live by!

 

[Lorenzzo]

Rain??? In the winter??? What are they thinking????

Under my reign there'd be no rain....

 

[AmyPJ]

Looks as though the Wasatch may be in for almost every possible condition this week....including...rain.

I know. Ugh. But only below 7000 feet, we hope.

 

[TonyC]

Between tonight and Thursday night it is expected to rain to 9,000 feet at Mammoth with high winds and only a short break Wednesday afternoon and evening.

I called Mammoth yesterday and they had not finalized plans. They are likely to relocate the demo to Canyon Lodge to mitigate wind impact. If so that will be in pouring rain most of the event. We're taking a pass on this one.

Scheckter says possibly another 5-7 feet of snow will fall on the upper mountain.

 

[TonyC]

I just called Mammoth again and the SIA demo for Wed/Thu has been cancelled because of the weather. They are considering a reschedule but don't know when that might be.

 

[Lucky]

I did not yet and actually it is nto on my priority to get on it at the show because I have a pair waiting for me back at home that I will be usung for an long term test. But for you...I will try to get on it this afternoon.

Thank you

 

[Tricia]

A few standouts for me from the test at Snowbasin -

• Gortex is waterproof for snow conditions, not rain
• The Blizzard Sheeva 10 is unbelievable and should be on the radar of any woman who's looking for a narrowish powder ski.
• The Armada Trace 98 skied more nimble than the Victa 93 and was super in a big variety of conditions.

 

[Dwight]

A few standouts for me from the test at Snowbasin -

• Gortex is waterproof for snow conditions, not rain

No HH coat?

 

[Jersey Skier]

Probably needs a refresh of DWR. Being in NJ, my Goretex sees a lot more rain than snow and with a good DWR coating it's always kept me 100% dry.

 

[Lorenzzo]

Probably needs a refresh of DWR. Being in NJ, my Goretex sees a lot more rain than snow and with a good DWR coating it's always kept me 100% dry.

Agreed. But then why do we need Goretex if it's the DWR protecting us?

 

[Read Blinn]

A few standouts for me from the test at Snowbasin -

• Gortex is waterproof for snow conditions, not rain.

Beg to differ. Even without a coating refresh, I stay dry in my gortex, jacket and pants. Skiing New England I've had plenty of chances to test it. Don't know if it compares to Neoshell (if that's what you call it); I've heard great things about that.

 

[Tricia]

No HH coat?

The cost itself was waterproof, but I had some water seep in through the pit zips. The pants were wet on the outside but dry inside
My mittens are a different story.

 

[Monique]

Agreed. But then why do we need Goretex if it's the DWR protecting us?

Penny over on ski diva can and has answered this ad nauseum. I'm still not sure I get it, but there's a reason ...

 

[Dwight]

The cost itself was waterproof, but I had some water seep in through the pit zips. The pants were wet on the outside but dry inside
My mittens are a different story.

Rain is hard to keep dry no matter what. Though I love HH gear.

 

[Alexzn]

OK, here is a quick rundown on why GoreTex. If you are bored with technical details, skip to the short version.

Here is a long version: GoreTex (or a similar membrane) is designed to let the water vapor (steam) through and keep water droplets from penetrating the membrane. DWR coating is designed to make water bead on the outer fabric layer to prevent the formation of a thin boundary layer of water on that fabric. Why is this important? becuase GoreTex membrane is a passive object, thus to transport steam it needs some driving force. Normally, the driving force comes from the absolute humidity inside the warm garment being higher than the absolute humidity of the cold outside air (the relative humidity of course goes the opposite way, but that's behind the point). Formation of the water layer on the outer face of the fabric (when the DWR fails) kills that driving force and effectively shuts down the GoreTex membrane for vapor transport. The membrane still remains waterproof, so rain or snowmelt would not penetrate it, but now it has the breathability of rubber (i.e. none) so you will get wet from your own sweat.

Short version: Without a functioning DWR GoreTex remains waterproof, but stops being breathable, so you won't get drenched from rain/snow, but would still get uncomfortable becuase of your own sweat.

 

[markojp]

Sailing foul weather gortex is the bomb for really wet days.

 

[Alexzn]

A few standouts for me from the test at Snowbasin -

• Gortex is waterproof for snow conditions, not rain

BTW, that statement tells you something about the design of the jacket you were wearing. GoreTex should be absolutely waterproof in the rain if a jacket is properly designed and the DWR coating is in good condition.

 

[Alexzn]

BTW, this is why most GoreTex gloves/mittens suck - the membrane is almost never directly bonded the the shell, so as soon as water seeps in between the shell and the membrane, your gloves are as breathable as a pair of rubber gloves. This is why a snow-sealed leather gloves is more effective than a generic cheap/mid-priced Gore tex glove. The uber-expensive Arcteryx ski gloves are a different story- this is how a waterproof breathable ski glove should be made- there the membrane is directly bonded to the shell fabric.