Soft-shell jackets, and a useful outdoorsy link

[pozorvlak]

I went into Tiso's yesterday, planning to enter their competition to win shedloads of Icebreaker gear (they make high-performance outdoor clothing from merino wool - I have one of their jumpers, and it's lovely). While I was there, I got chatting to one of the sales assistants, who finally managed to explain this business of Soft Shell jackets to me. Briefly, soft shells are windproof and highly breathable, but not very waterproof. They're ideal for high Alpine climbing, or skiing, but in Scotland you should think of them as a windproof mid-layer: with the amount of rain we experience, you'll need a waterproof hard shell at some point. And then there are things like the Buffalo Mountain Shirt, which is sometimes called a soft-shell: it's kind of furry on the inside, and apparently can get soaking before you start to feel wet. Hmmmm.

Anyway, he also pointed me at http://www.psychovertical.com/, which looks like it has some good, independent discussions of what outdoor gear is good and what isn't. It looks a bit hardcore for me, but that's probably good. The soft-shell elucidation I'd heard came almost verbatim from the site :-)

Comments

[elvum.livejournal.com]

Buffaloes and similar "synthetic pile" garments are ideal for mountain biking, and are a pretty good replacement for the base/mid (and occasionally outer) layers for most outdoor activities. They do develop a characteristic smell after a few days, however...

I'm not sure about "soft shell" jackets for Alpine mountaineering - I think I'd still want a waterproof.

[pozorvlak.livejournal.com]

"Ideal" is probably stretching it, yeah. Maybe "good" or "useful" would be better. I think he meant for above the cloudline stuff - do you get that in the Alps? I've skiied there, but not done any mountaineering (or even hillwalking).

Thanks for the info!

Terror Alert Status Briefing

[(Anonymous)]

The British have reacted to the recent terrorism alerts by raising their security level from "Miffed" to "Peeved." Soon, though, security levels may be raised yet again to "Irritated" or even "A Bit Cross." Londoners have not been "A Bit Cross" since the blitz in 1940, when tea
supplies all but ran out.

Terrorists have been recategorized from "Tiresome" to a "Bloody Nuisance." The last time the British issued a "Bloody Nuisance" warning level was during the great fire of 1666.

Also, the French Government announced yesterday that it has raised its
terror alert level from "Run" to "Hide." The only two higher levels in France are "Surrender" and "Collaborate."

The rise was precipitated by a recent fire that destroyed France 's white flag factory, effectively paralyzing the country's military capability.

It's not only the English and French that are on a heightened level of
alert. Italy has increased the alert level from "Shout Loudly and
Excitedly" to "Elaborate Military Posturing." Two more levels remain:
"Ineffective Combat Operations" and "Change Sides."

The Germans also increased their alert state from "Disdainful Arrogance" to "Sing Marching Songs". They also have two higher levels: "Invade a
Neighbour" and "Lose."

Belgians, on the other hand, are all on holiday, as is customary, and the only threat they are worried about is NATO pulling out of Brussels.

Re: Terror Alert Status Briefing

[pozorvlak.livejournal.com]

Er, yes... who are you?