brettbrown
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Has anyone tried the First Ascent clothing? It is clothing designed by the guides that work at Whittaker Mountaineering. Between them they have a very impressive list of guides. ( including Dave Hahn - 11 time on the summit of Everest, Ed Viesturs - summited all 14 of the world's 8000-meter peaksall without the use of supplemental oxygen)
eddiebauer.com/home.jsp?siteId=2
It is made by Eddie Bauer.
I was looking at the First Ascent Men's Rainier Storm Shell Pant. It is their brand of Gore-Tex. It cost less yet looks good in the pictures. I called to ask if it was a DWR treated material or if it was a true "hard shell". I spoke to a woman in rentals. She told me that they rent the pants there (Whittaker Mountaineering in WA) and they get washed about 100 times a season. She said they don't ever need to be treated. At their site they describe them as "not feeling like your wearing a potato chip bag". The women also went on to say that the only wear and tear after a whole season was from people sticking their crampons through them.
The fact that you can only buy them through Whittaker (and very few retailers) makes it hard to check on reviews. I was hoping someone out there can share some field testing.
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marks
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I was under impression that this series was brand new (this season). Is it not (if a guide company has had it for years I guess no)?
You're exactly right though. Very few are selling this series yet so I've received very little feedback. Keep in mind the guiding companies are either paid to wear the stuff or get it for peanuts so I wouldn't necessarily equate that to a great product (though it's got to work at least well).
Regardless though I'd be very interested in hearing user reviews as well.
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brettbrown
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Eddie Bauer makes the clothes. Supposedly the guides at Whittaker did 100% of the design work. Whittaker sells the gear. Eddie Bauer has about six locations that sell First Ascent clothes. I probably wouldnt give it a second look but the idea of a hard shell that is soft and quiet sounds ideal.
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blackfriday
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While the whole idea behind Whittaker guides designing clothes is for marketing for the general public since anything Everest is great sell. But for climbers, that's not that big of a deal. Patagonia got Steve House using and testing its clothing. Mountain Hardwear got Ueli Steck. Arcteryx got Will Gadd. With all respect to Ed, and I read his book, he's a total bad ass. I still personally think Steve House, Ueli Steck and Will Gadd are better climbers than Ed.
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brettbrown
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I understand the marketing gimmick. Still, a form of Gore-tex that is soft, quiet and costs 1/3 less sounds intriguing.
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marks
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brettbrown said:
I understand the marketing gimmick. Still, a form of Gore-tex that is soft, quiet and costs 1/3 less sounds intriguing.
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Ya sounds interesting to me as well. When we get gear testing going again this would be a great test.
Mark
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All Eddie Bauer retailers should have First Ascent. I have some of it. The baselayers are wonderful. Very comfy and soft and don't do any of that annoying bunching. I also have some jackets and a few of the quarter zip fleece. So far I'm very happy, and pretty much live in my fleece and baselayers. The jackets are warm and have kept me dry. I have the BC 100 and it's waterproof (even the zippers). We've had a fair amount of rain where I am the past few weeks and I didn't get wet at all. Give the product a try. Eddie Bauer has a great return policy, if you don't like it exchange it for something else or just return it. That's why I keep going back to them.
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brettbrown
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Thanks, for the info. I ordered a pair of the rain pants. They just showed up today in the mail. BackPacker magazine had a 15% discount code in it for mail, phone and store orders. I called the order in and got free shipping. Total the pants cost me $169. I hope they are as waterproof as everyone says. The Eddie Bauer version of Goretex is laminated between 2 layers of nylon. They are pretty soft and quiet. They pack small (I have a small PO Box and they stuffed the package in the box with the rest of my mail). The workmanship looks like it's quality. The zippers are rubberized. The cut is athletic yet I can move in them.
The deciding factor for me was when I called Whittiker and spoke to someone in charge of rentals. She told me the rental pants have been washed over 100 times so far and they are holding up very well and it is indeed a waterproof material not just a DWR treatment.
I'll follow up with a review the next time it rains. (If I jumped in the shower with them on, my wife might have me taken away by the people in the white coats)
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climbhigher
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That sounds great and we all await your review. Hopefully you get some crappy weather for our sake.
Matt
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marks
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climbhigher said:
That sounds great and we all await your review. Hopefully you get some crappy weather for our sake.
Matt |
Lol wow Matt. Classic.
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Tulley
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hey i realize these posts are a bit old but i was just curious brett how these pants turned out...they seem like they are too good 2 be true. was just wondering how they actually turned out from another backpacker/climber.
thanks
Tulley
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brettbrown
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The quality is great. It is more like an Event fabric than Gore tex (soft and quiet). I also purchased a Marmot Greeland jacket that I sent back because the arms didn't have much down in them ($380). I bought the F.A. Peak VX jacket (on sale for $225). It was 850 vs the 800 fill in the Marmot. It has a whole lot more down in it. It is quality. The stuff sack that it comes with could be smaller. It will compress more. The jacket pisses all over the Marmot.
I have also purchased their fleece shirts. They have been having great sales. The mountaineering socks are not any warmer than the Smart wool mountaineering socks. I wore one of each one day to test them to work. I have a base layer on the way. I'll test that this weekend.
I think they are just offering great prices just to get the product line up and going. I think the prices will soon go up to match their competition.
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Tulley
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oh alright sweet! well as long as the pants are pretty durable (comparative or close 2 pro shell perhaps?) and waterproof i think i might purchase a pair!
another quick question is how are they for sizing, i know arcteryx runs pretty small are they pretty true 2 whats posted?
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brettbrown
| Posted: January 6th, 2010 Edited: January 6th, 2010 | Quote, Reply |
I have a 32" waist and I'm 5-9. I can get them over my Arcteryx Gamma MX pants with a base layer under the softshell. Yet they are not baggy.They are offering free shipping for Jan 6th and 7th with the code "WINTER" at eddiebauer.com and free shipping over $75 at www.whittakermountaineering.com.
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Tulley
| Posted: January 6th, 2010 Edited: January 6th, 2010 | Quote, Reply |
not to be a pain but it does a great job with waterproofing? similar 2 event and goretex im assuming, and from what you are saying im guessing they are very durable...for example getting caught on a stick while walking a trail.
and are the seems on these pants taped? because no matter how great the fabric is the seams make the difference :)
all of this is incredibly helpful thank you
Tulley
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brettbrown
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I have not bushwacked in them but they have like a nylon outer layer. They look like they can take it. Yes the seams are taped.
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spotter
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Hey Brett:
I know this post is waaay old, but I'm about to buy a Peak XV and the storm shell pants too. Any updates on how do they perform?
And by the way, I'm about the same height and waist size as you. What sizes did you buy? And for the jacket as there a previous post about the pant... do you think it'd be advisable to buy a size bigger than what their size chart states (considering they say the fit is slim and I want to layer underneath)? Or should I stick true to size?
Best regards from Argentina!
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Keese
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I got to wonder about anyone coming out with "the most awesomestical" gear that is still using Gore-Tex and not eVent. It would seem that unless you are using the best of the fabrics you aren't going to be getting the best in gear.
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First Ascent clothing is the real deal. Its no frills clothing for the outdoor professional or enthusiast. I am a proud owner of the First Ascent Downlight Light Jacket, Mountain Guide Shell, Frontpoint Jacket, cloud layer, BC-200 etc. For those of you interested in the First Ascent line of Eddie Bauer here is some history for you. Mountain Hardware used to use a team of athletes to test their gear, basically all mountaineers including Ed Viesturs, Dave Hahn, Pete Whittaker and many more amazing climbers. Basically this group of wonder athletes tested MH's gear and gave their feedback however as most of you know Columbia bought MH and from my understanding of the industry MH stopped listening to their athletes and a revamped Eddie Bauer took an opportunity to start a serious clothing line and signed Ed, Pete, Dave plus many more and used there advice and opinions and designed the clothing to their specs. And Voila! First Ascent is not only reasonable priced but it is a serious line of clothes for the serious adventurer. My down light sweater is so amazingly warm and it even folds into its own pocket and doubles as a great camp pillow. The frontpoint jacket has the perfect amount of polartec powerstretch while not compromising its warmth. If you haven't tried Eddie Bauer's First Ascent line you are missing out. The Quality is amazing, its durable and the return policy is fantastic. You can find First Ascent in basically all the Eddie Bauer stores with the exception of the outlets. Also if you work in the outdoor industry you might want to explore the First Ascent website, it could be worth your while.
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dvalente
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I also have several pieces of FA clothing and love all of them. Multiple fleeces, the downlight vest, igniter jacket, and others including my favorite, the FA Mitten. My hands will never be cold again.
This stuff is the real deal. Well made, great performing, backed by a lifetime guarantee. I have had no issues with any of it, but Eddie Bauer stands behind their products like not many other companies these days so that if there ever is a problem they (claim they) will make things right.
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