<p>Everyone from Northern climes has been very helpful with advice about cold weather clothing for my daughter moving North for college next fall. So far almost everybody agrees, don’t buy anything right now unless I come across a real steal.
New question: A sales clerk at the ski store (who also said don’t buy anything until next fall), suggested getting a Goretex jacket in particular, instead of the other waterproof materials (we were looking at North Face and Columbia), she said it would hold up better. Is Goretex better? It did feel more pliable and rubbery rather than plastic-like, but costs significantly more.</p>
<p>i have a 20 dollar winter jacket that i bought at the deb. it’s fleece on the inside, and then theres some padding, and its grey on the outside. it keeps me plenty warm. i also have a leather jacket, and i’m going to be buying myself a motorcycle jacket sometime soon. i’ve never heard of goretex, sorry :)</p>
<p>Goretex is wonderful. Synthetic fiber, invented by a duPont chemist, I believe and has corporate headquarters in Newark, Delaware - my husbands home town. And, yes , very expensive. My husband has a goretex rain jacket that I bought him years ago. It holds up very well. Lands End carries jackets with goretex.</p>
<p>Around here (Pacific NW) we think Goretex more for rain than cold… </p>
<p>My S and I were talking about when during his busy summer he’ll have time to get organized to leave for school. I said that at least we wouldn’t need to deal too much with winter clothes as it looks like he may be heading from the NW to the SE. I suggested he take at least a warm jacket in case he was lucky enough to accompany a roommate or friend to a Thanksgiving in the NE… He agreed, and then laughed and said, yeah, but I better stock up on bathing suits and sandals!</p>
<p>I’ve got a question for you SE folks - how can I convince him that while a tan may be nice looking, he better bring sunscreen, too!</p>
<p>Goretex is a brand name: one of several similar fabrics made by competing manufacturers. The benefit of these waterproof/breathable fabrics is that they allow moisture from persperation to escape while preventing moisture from the outside to penetrate. The only real downside is that the treatment makes the fabric a bit stiff and “crinkly” – and these fabrics are pretty expensive.</p>
<p>North Face or Columbia may use Goretex or may use a competing brand “technical” fabric in a particular parka. I don’t think it much matters.</p>
<p>Thanks IDad, that was the actual comparison I was looking for - LLBean, NF, Columbia all sell jackets with the competing"technical" fabric, or with Goretex, the Goretex being almost 1/3 more expensive. I was wondering if there was any real reason to get Goretex. Side by side, the Gorestex was definitely less crinkly, but does it keep the wet out better?</p>
<p>Fendergirl - I think that’s what she may do, but she’ll need some substantial layers.</p>
<p>Wish it - Where exactly is he going? There’s a big difference in Raleigh, Richmond vs New Orleans. He will need to get sunscreen, and use it. A hat is important too, though less on campus. I think the latitude difference from the NW is enough for the sun just walking around on campus to be noticeably stronger. I’m not saying he needs sunscreen to go to class. If he goes to the beach or plays Frisbee with his shirt off(and how else when it is 95 would you do it?) - he’ll get sunburned, he should take it easy compared with the amount of time he would spend unprotected back home. In fact, a little controlled sun exposure with proper sunscreen would be a good idea, he may well get a farmer tan just walking around school - my daugter has sock marks all the time from wearing school uniform skirts, socks and saddle oxfords with bare legs.</p>
<p>Cangel,
Mountain Hardware is another brand to consider and their coats are not as stiff as some. Another good company to consider buying from is REI. They have an online site and carry many of the brands mentioned here plus their own. They usually have good informational sheets in their stores to help you figure out the best product for your needs,so they may have similar info online. Personally I think REI has better styling,construction and fit than LLBean. I don’t know what kind of coat you are looking for but I recommend a shell layered over a fleece jacket.( It doesn’t necessarily have to zip together like the Columbia coats.) It’s a much more versatile system. But then you’ll have just as many questions and choices about what kind of fleece to buy. Ski and Outside magazine have annual issues in which they review outerwear if you want a techy perspective.</p>
<p>i know the kind of material you are talking about, I think. the motorcycle jacket i’m buying sounds like its made of something similar. it’s not leather, it’s some kind of other material, and its waterproof/windproof, etc… there are even little “vents” that you can zip shut or open, to let some air in. its really nice. i know it will be pretty expensive in stores ($200?)… but it’s not out in stores yet. and i’ll get it at cost, so it’s not so bad… i hate overpaying on things, lol.</p>
<p>I am not sure about precise Dartmouth fashion nuances but what I think I’ve seen most often both around here among high schoolers and at various NE colleges is a North Face fleece that can zip in to a North Face shell (the shell is often Goretex but maybe not always). The shell can be worn in milder weather when it’s raining, the fleece is worn almost constantly, and thoughv the combination is fairly expensive it is very practical and seems to be common from North Carolina to Maine, from what I’ve seen.</p>
<p>Cangel,
I can’t figure out why you wouldn’t buy now if you’re buying online. There are year end clearances now. Sales in the fall are usually hit or miss. If you want better selection and a chance to see what other kids are wearing then I could understand why you would wait but you will probably pay full price then.</p>
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<p>No. I don’t think it makes a bit of difference. For example, Columbia calls their technical waterproof/breathable fabric “OmniTech”. Both my wife and I have their “Titanium” series winter parka/fleece combos with this fabric and it is 100% waterproof, even in driving rain.</p>
<p>All of this stuff is mostly marketing buzzwords. The “technical” aspects of this clothing would really only matter if your were hiking in the Andes mountains. To be perfectly honest, even the “non-technical” nylon shell fabrics have water repellent treatments that would be adequate for walking to class… or even skiing in anything but a torrential downpour (which is no fun, anyway!). My daughter has a TJ Maxx “special” winter parka that she has worn for years. Keeps her perfectly warm and dry.</p>
<p>You can even buy products to add to the washing machine that restore the water repellency of the “non-technical” fabrics.</p>
<p>Cangel, I haven’t been following the advice others have given, but make sure to get a set of polypropylene long underwear, some sock liners, and glove liners in addition to everything else. I am not big on spending a lot on expensive stuff, but I definitely recommend Goretex gloves (or a similar type material of another brand).</p>
<p>“All of this stuff is mostly marketing buzzwords. The “technical” aspects of this clothing would really only matter if your were hiking in the Andes mountains. To be perfectly honest, even the “non-technical” nylon shell fabrics have water repellent treatments that would be adequate for walking to class…”</p>
<p>Agreed you don’t need all these technical fabrics for simply walking to class but have to disagree about only needing them for hiking in the Andes. It is not all marketing. Sure, they keep changing the fabrics and making them better so you’ll buy the latest and greatest , but the benefits of all this stuff are real, especially if you do any kind of outdoor sports. I can tell a HUGE difference between my fleece with windstopper and fleece without. And from my recollection, downhill skiing at Dartmouth is free - they have their own ski hill. I would bet most students try it even if they’ve never done it before. I sure wouldn’t want to be sitting on the ski lift in cold, wind and snow in just any old jacket.</p>
<p>Agree with lizschup - Goretex or its competitors is valuable, but not needed for warmth when simply “out and about” and getting around. More relevant for outdoor sports/hiking/real exposure to the elements for extended periods. And, remember, it’s worth nothing if they don’t wear it. So wait and see if he even cares.</p>
<p>The main reason I haven’t bought online is my daughter is 4’9", and really needed to try on a jacket. Since I posted this we found a new store about 30 miles from here that actually had more than 1 jacket! She got to try a couple on, although they didn’t have the exact right size, now we know what size she needs to layer. Thanks guys!</p>
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<p>Extreme waterproof is not really necessary for skiing. I mean, jeans will get wet. But, unless it’s raining, a parka isn’t going to get soaked on the slopes. </p>
<p>The bigger problem is that all of these high tech parkas are too darn hot when you are actually skiing. Then, you freeze riding the chair lift. The best feature for this sort of thing are the zipper openings under the armpits and down the inside of the arms to keep from overheating! </p>
<p>To give you an idea, I wear winter parka when I run the snowblower. As long as it’s above 10 degrees, I take off my sweater and just wear the jacket over a turtleneck shirt. Otherwise, I roast.</p>
<p>For the same reason, I strongly recommend the parkas with zip out fleece linings. Put the fleece in for January/February and take it out for the rainy fall and spring months.</p>
<p>All things being equal, I would buy a parka with one of the high-tech waterproof/breathable fabrics. I’m just suggesting that people shouldn’t go crazy fretting about “features” and “technology” in winter clothing. It’s mostly hype.</p>
<p>Sounds like interesteddad could sign on as cangel’s Personal Shopper.</p>
<p>That’s hysterical, jmmom! Indeed!</p>
<p>Cangel, I think there is a good chance that S will be in Miami. And based on his behavior on vacations, I anticipate having a hard time convincing him that a little sunscreen will be useful. I am hoping that just as many schools give serious orientation sessions on the perils of binge drinking, that maybe Miami will do one for Northerners on sunburn! Do teenage boys down south wear sunscreen? Here it is not cool to…My D on the other hand, is very careful with her skin and always has been.</p>
<p>wish…your son will probably learn the lesson very quickly. Mine learned very quickly after a day at South Beach. He sent me a picture of what I thought was a lobster. Turned out to be him. He uses sun-screen now! 
It’s funny…a gortex thread, but you and I should be talking of sunscreen, sunglasses, sandals, and rain-gear. LOL</p>
<p>P.S. Did your son ever hear from mine?</p>
<p>In my experience, Goretex doesn’t add a lot of warmth. What it can do–if it’s not washed too often–is prevent what’s underneath it from getting wet. This can be invaluable.</p>
<p>Personally, after several experiences with getting extremely cold after getting wet, I prefer materials that insulate even when wet. Both wool and Polarfleece do this. Polarfleece under a waterproof cape or poncho is both dry and warm, and you can put the poncho over a backpack. And waterproof ponchos are cheap. This works well for things like walking around campus in frozen sleet (common in Boston and not common, thank heaves, in Seattle).</p>
<p>Skiing is a very different issue, because it can involve both cold and sweat. I have an extemely technical jacket that I use just for skiing (bought in late-80s but still adequate, despite its flame-orange lining) that has several layers of thinsulate as well as an outer layer of water-resistant material. I wear a very thin polarfleece shell under it, with a sweat-wicking tanktop under that.</p>