Why hardshells ice climbing?
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I see people asking about hardshell pants and jackets for ice climbing. I don't understand why. In my experience it's below freezing and there's no moisture to worry about. If it is close to freezing or above and the ice is dripping it's warm enough that the water doesn't penetrate my soft shell to make me cold. I'm wearing. I've postholed in deep snow, glissaded and been in storms but never felt like I needed hardshells. |
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I think to a certain extent you are right, |
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I've been out ice cragging on 5 degree days where the water was still dripping (because physics?). Definitely glad to have my hardshell jacket on that day. However, yes, most of the time I'm quite happy in softshells. |
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christoph benells wrote:I think to a certain extent you are right, but there are also a lot of trips that can require ice climbing, but are not ice cragging days.I've never worn a hardshell kit in the alpine unless I was snowboarding. Even then I would pack the hardshell jacket wear the softshell underneath and unzip my pants while skinning up. I've packed a hardshell on a trip in case of being out in bad weather. The bad weather rolls in and the GoreTex stays in the pack. One thought though. I could see busting a hardshell kit in bad weather when it's close to freezing. It's just every time I'm out and it's raging the temp's been way below 32. |
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I think this might be the first thing you've ever posted that I agree with. I've climbed routes that were flowing with water plenty. It basically freezes onto your clothes and you shake it off later. You don't get wet. |
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I actually like the hardshell pant/bib with a softshell jacket combo. |
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i think it would dangerous to go anywhere 5+ hours away from shelter without waterproof clothing in a winter climbing environment. |
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Kirby, how often do you reapply DWR to your softshell stuff? |
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yes, I prefer my softshell for ice climbing when it's a nice day, but early/late season when it's likely to be above freezing I'm more likely to grab my hardshell. |
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Like others, I have been ice climbing when it is well below freezing and been on lines that are dripping. Sometimes it is not the actual line that is dripping but the falls next to it are running full on. With a bit of winds you get all misty. Having a hard shell especially when out for multiple days. A soft-shell is fine otherwise. It is really all about picking the right shell for the conditions. |
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Yo High, say what? You've disagreed with stuff I posted. You're like the only one :) |
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kirby is so hard |
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Hey I like it! It's better than the usual fat jokes! Haha.. |
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I only use softshells in the cold, dry Rockies for climbing. Polartec PowerShield Pro is a fantastic thing. I am loving my Patagonia Knifeblade jacket to death. |
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Another vote for hardshell bottom, softshell top. |
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Patagonia Mixed Guide, Harshell/Softshell Combo. Hood, shoulders, chest are hardshell, lower half of body and sleeves are breathable but still pretty water resistant softshell. Best of both. |
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The only time I think of hard-shell over soft-shell is on exposed windy climbs. As others have said Polartec Powershield Pro is the shit and can take on a ton of water for a soft-shell fabric, but if you are up on Mount Washington or in the alpine getting hammered by wind its nice to have a windproof hard-shell. I know Windstopper and other windproof soft-shell fabrics exist but when things are "getting real" I like to batten down the hatches with a bomber hard-shell. |
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Softshells do poorly in the wind and freezing rain. I've never been so cold as when I had a light mist blowing on me, completely soaked. For the most part I wear soft shells but I prefer a hybrid pant with a softshell jacket and rain shell in my pack. For over night ascents I take a waterproof shell only, especially since they typically weigh less than softshells. |
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+1 Polartec PowerShield |
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Ray Pinpillage wrote: especially since they typically weigh less than softshells.this is a good point i have been using a windbreaker instead of a soft shell for most of my trips recently (ski touring the sierra nevada, cascade volcano ice and snow routes combined with snowboard descents down snowier terrain, multi pitch rock climbing from the sierra nevada to the white mountain in nh, alaska range technical climbs, denali ski descent) weighs next to nothing and you can practically store it in your pants pocket, and does essentially the same job as a soft shell. ice cragging though soft shell all the way |
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does anyone know the difference between gore tex windstopper an the normal gore tex membrane? |