Page 71 - Southern Oregon Magazine Spring 2019

O UTE R W E A R

The Right Jacket Makes A Difference

BRYANT HELGELAND OF MOUNTAIN PROVISIONS

here is a huge price range in outdoor gear for seemingly
similar products. Here’s what to look for when evaluat-
Ting why a more expensive jacket or pants is worth the
higher price.

How often are you going to use the jacket and for how long?
Daily wear working in the field? Wet season backpacking?
Summer backpacking? Are you using your jacket in remote
conditions where repair or replacement may not be possible?
Do you know how to repair tears or zipper failure?

Many products at first glance look similar. And in many cases,
they are. The more often you wear the jacket, the more durable
fabrics you’ll want unless you’re willing to sacrifice durability
for weight. Just be prepared to replace your jacket more often.
The differences are in the details and are difficult to spot unless
you know what to look for. The easiest ways to start evaluating
construction quality and attention to detail is by turning the
item inside out. Waterproof jackets and pants are a prime
example of this. Look at the seams and zippers.

Every time you stitch through the fabric you just made a
spot where it is no longer waterproof. In order to make it
waterproof again the stitches and seams need to be sealed with
a seam tape or other seam sealer (glue). The width of the seam
tape and how centered the seam is on the tape will tell you a
lot about the quality of construction… the narrower the tape
the better, as long as the seam is centered. Also check out the
seam tolerance. The smaller the seam tolerance, the higher the
quality.

Next check out the stitch count. The more stitches per inch,
the better. Tighter stitches are harder to snag. Lightweight
zippers and fabrics can help keep the weight down, but you’re
sacrificing durability. Storm flaps covering the zipper help keep
water out, but add weight. Unless it is a truly waterproof zipper
you will appreciate the storm flap despite the added weight.

Now on to fit. A garment should fit well without being baggy
or restrictively tight. Stretch added to the fabric can help
with the fit, but, in some cases, it’s added to compensate for
poor tailoring. A well-tailored garment should not restrict
movement or ride up as you move. Tailoring does take time and
effort though, and those add to the cost.

spring 2019 | www.southernoregonmagazine.com 69