Gore-tex vs. Schoeller

Hey guys, I'm looking for some advice from all you PNW veterans. I'm in need of a new jacket for the moister conditions out here. I'm wondering if schoeller or other soft shell materials can cut it out here when the snow turns really moist, or (shudder the thought) into rain.<br><br>My old gore-tex coat, even after nikwax treatment, gets me fairly wet.<br><br>Pants too I guess.<br><br>Any thoughts?

From my experience, I wouldn't travel into the backcountry without a hardshell (ie-Gore) jacket. I like using schoeller pants for spring tours, but my shoulders and back get way too wet on stormy days to go with only a soft shell jacket. <br>Curious about your current goretex jacket...when you hold it up to a bright light does the material look like there are patches (particularly around shoulders and hood) that appear to be more translucent than others...the goretex in your jacket could be delaminating and you may be able to get a warranty replacement from gore or the jacket manufacturer. I bought a marmot alpinist jacket eight years ago and currently am using the third warranty replacement marmot has sent me, every three years the goretex delams and the jacket leaks, I send it in and they mail me a new one. Might wanna try that before tossing out your old jacket.

NOTHING will keep you dry in the rain. This was firmly established yesterday on Baker.

sounds like you guys shoulda been wearing polyurethane rubber ducky jackets...or perhaps a scuba drysuit...?

A rubber jacket would have left us just as wet. A drysuit...I'll try one next time..just what the doctor ordered.

I used an umbrella on the first 4 miles which were on trail. Umbrellas work on trails, allowing you to keep your head uncovered and vent your torso. I was relatively dry until I stowed it when we broke out of the trees and into the wind. No rainwear fabric will keep you dry in serious rain and exertion. The only was to deal is to carry and use extra layers. Yesterday demonstrated again that you can be sporting numb extremities when the ambient temperature is 32-50 degrees F.