Sale time at PHD

[Moondog55]

http://www.phdesigns.co.uk/special-offers.php?cat=79

I may just get that down jumper after all

[gayet]

The Yukon jacket is very nice. I got one in this sale last year - same price then.

Pity the Zeta trousers are only water resistant.

[cams]

Sweet. Hopefully they have a deal on the down pants. Been looking for some of them.

[Maelgwn]

The products on sale are here:

http://phdesigns.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f52be6b77acbf695649694b8d&id=227c4010b7&e=c640fac6c2

[gayet]

The Zeta pants that are in the sale seem to be different to the standard Zeta - They are claimed to be waterproof rather than just resistant - uses Tempest fabric rather than DriShell. Does anyone have any experience with this? At current conversion rates they look to be a good deal if they are WP. Around $200 inc postage for insulated water and wind proof trousers. Pity i'm tall and thinnish as the Large looks to be the appropriate length, although I may fit 2 of me inside them.

[Maelgwn]

The Zeta pants that are in the sale seem to be different to the standard Zeta - They are claimed to be waterproof rather than just resistant - uses Tempest fabric rather than DriShell. Does anyone have any experience with this? At current conversion rates they look to be a good deal if they are WP. Around $200 inc postage for insulated water and wind proof trousers. Pity i'm tall and thinnish as the Large looks to be the appropriate length, although I may fit 2 of me inside them.

What is your intended use of the product?

Tempest is presumably heavier than drishell. For bushwalking (if that is your intended use) they are too warm to replace your overpants, and overkill for around camp. For skiing, they are still too warm to replace your overpants and probably not sturdy enough to cope with ski edges and ice etc ... Good for sitting around camp I suppose but then the waterproofness is not needed?

[gayet]

Just normal Tas type environments, although at this point I have no plans for scaling Feders in mid winter. I do feel the cold though and have walked with thermals and trousers and waterproof overs and still been cold. Or at least not as warm as i might like. I need to decent pair of waterproof pants - those i have are really only slight shower resistant, and the theory is with some poly thermals these would be sufficient. Most walking would be short distances with a pack and day rambles from a base with day pack and camera gear. I know they are rated at -10 which is way warmer than I will need but activity levels in the main won't be that high.

[Maelgwn]

I think you would find thermals (maybe even the heavy weight merino (260 i think?) + fleece pants + goretex/event overpants a more versatile combination, and not run the risk of a very warm peace of clothing that has limited use.

[Moondog55]

I love insulated trousers for the evening and I often take my ski trousers or snowboard pants on a winter bushwalk or ski-tour. No such thing as clothing that is "Too warm" when just standing around, that is why we have zippers.
I'm a shorts and long-john walker and tourer but when I stop I want WARM ( with capitals for emphasis), people who say we do not need this sort of clothing have never been in a bad winter storm on Bogong.

[Maelgwn]

I love insulated trousers for the evening and I often take my ski trousers or snowboard pants on a winter bushwalk or ski-tour. No such thing as clothing that is "Too warm" when just standing around, that is why we have zippers.
I'm a shorts and long-john walker and tourer but when I stop I want WARM ( with capitals for emphasis), people who say we do not need this sort of clothing have never been in a bad winter storm on Bogong.

I have a tent + sleeping bag for storms.

Agree they would be ok for ski-touring but overkill for 'general' tassie use.

Warm in pants for around camp etc would be better suited in UL non-waterproof down pants (IMO).

[gayet]

One reason for thinking about the Zeta is that a pair of goretex/event pants will cost about $300 +/- and these, with the current exchange rate - VAT + postage would come in around $175 to $200 max. And I can always cool down, its harder to warm up. Given that I might stop many times a day I prefer to be on the warm side. And in colder situations (if I ever venture into Tas higlands in winter) these would be far better than simply goretex/event with layers under - probably lighter than the combination of layers.

I spent 10 days on the west coast last year (in oct) living in waterproofs and thermals and trousers 'cause it was just cold and wet and windy. I have no qualms about being seen in public in thermals only if it does get warm (maybe some shorts for modesty's sake) so i could reduce the clothing allowance in the pack a bit.

Have I convinced myself yet? Not sure - depends on when I can get them here.

[Moondog55]

[quote=]I have a tent + sleeping bag for storms.

Agree they would be ok for ski-touring but overkill for 'general' tassie use.

Warm in pants for around camp etc would be better suited in UL non-waterproof down pants (IMO).
[/quote]
My experience ( I have owned many pairs of down pants ) says the opposite, for Australian conditions down and the lightweight shells are far to fragile and far too easy to wet-out.

Every trip is different and I always tend to pack and prepare for the worst conditions I have ever experienced and wind&water resistant insulated pants are now at the top of my winter list.
If Patagonia decide to bring back the "Puffball " pants/Bib&Brace for the civilian market I get another pair STAT