XCskiNYC
11-17-2009, 20:00
I bought another shell. Price-matched with a local retailer to get a Mountain Hardwear Typhoon for about $140:
http://www.mountainhardwear.com/Product.aspx?top=1827∏=2445&cat=1869&viewAll=False (http://www.mountainhardwear.com/Product.aspx?top=1827&prod=2445&cat=1869&viewAll=False)
This jacket seems to be very similar to the Marmot Minimalist (also $200 list) and the Arcteryx Beta SL ($250 list). All three are constructed with Gore-
Tex Pac-Lite material, are manufactured in the People's Republic of China, and appear to be constructed with cleanly-welded inner seams and an inner material that looks like smooth vinyl. The outer material/coating of the Marmot is thicker and smoother than that of the other two jackets. The design of all three is pretty similar though the Arcteryx apparently does not have pit zips which probably saves on weight. The Arcteryx claims a lighter weight of 11.1 ozs while the other two claim weights of 15 ozs. each.
Anyway, any Typhoon owners or folks who have owned one of the two other very similar shells? Is it decent rain protection? Fairly durable (you can get five seasons out of it)? Breathability I'm not expecting so much but hopefully the pit zips, combined with the good-sized pockets having mesh linings (allowing further venting) will allow for at least a modicum of ventilation.
http://www.mountainhardwear.com/Product.aspx?top=1827∏=2445&cat=1869&viewAll=False (http://www.mountainhardwear.com/Product.aspx?top=1827&prod=2445&cat=1869&viewAll=False)
This jacket seems to be very similar to the Marmot Minimalist (also $200 list) and the Arcteryx Beta SL ($250 list). All three are constructed with Gore-
Tex Pac-Lite material, are manufactured in the People's Republic of China, and appear to be constructed with cleanly-welded inner seams and an inner material that looks like smooth vinyl. The outer material/coating of the Marmot is thicker and smoother than that of the other two jackets. The design of all three is pretty similar though the Arcteryx apparently does not have pit zips which probably saves on weight. The Arcteryx claims a lighter weight of 11.1 ozs while the other two claim weights of 15 ozs. each.
Anyway, any Typhoon owners or folks who have owned one of the two other very similar shells? Is it decent rain protection? Fairly durable (you can get five seasons out of it)? Breathability I'm not expecting so much but hopefully the pit zips, combined with the good-sized pockets having mesh linings (allowing further venting) will allow for at least a modicum of ventilation.