and the beat goes on

THEY JUST KEEP COMING AND ALWAYS BRING A SMILE TO MY DAYS

Well Wiggy, you’ve done it again. I’ve been a Territory Manager in Northern NY for an industrial supply company for 36 years and until now have braved the elements with Lands End & LL Bean “3-season jackets.” I spend a fair amount of time outdoors calling on the quarries and factories in my territory. For the most part, this outerwear was adequate until now. Having just received a Ducksback sweater my comfort has been elevated to a whole new level. I should have known better. I am impressed.
Like I believe most of your customers were, I was introduced to your excellent products through the purchase of an FTRSS inner sleeping bag which has served me on 10 successive Montana elk hunts admirably. Each of those hunts was spent tent camping down to -10 F in complete comfort. Thank goodness when I purchased it you offered your original sweater at a discounted price. It has become my go to casual wear around hunting camp and home.

We actually met when my wife and I visited GJ in the fall of 2012. My bucket list for the trip included a stop at your shop, of course. You came out of your office and we shot the breeze about CO elk hunting. Thank you for that. I also went away with an arm load of other gear including your mukluks, the most comfortable and warmest boots I own. I routinely wear only a pair of thin liner socks with them in the dead of winter. In addition, I purchased mittens and a pair of overboots. Subsequently, I ordered your leather boots, boot dryers, and Lamilite socks. I have never been disappointed.

Thank you again for your excellent outdoor products. They have greatly increased my ability to function when the weather turns nasty. I recommend your products highly to all of my friends.

Your satisfied customer,

Bill James

PS I sleep every night with one of your Lamilite pillows under my head. I own 4!

THE CON JOB CONTINUES

i

Introducing the next generation of GORE-TEX® technology

As the saying goes “there’s no bad weather, just bad clothing.” Quality gear can make or break an outdoor adventure and if you’re anything like me, you’ve probably figured this out the hard way. So to ensure that you’re prepared for whatever this season may bring, here is the debut of the REI Co-op Drypoint GTX® Jacket featuring brand new GORE-TEX® technology (a first-time partnership for REI). By harnessing the strength of the most breathable and waterproof three-layer fabric by GORE® to date, the Drypoint GTX® jacket is bringing lightweight durability to a whole new level.

There they go again; “the most breathable and waterproof three layer fabric by gore to date”! I have yet to learn from gore or their competitors how this is possible. All of them have said the same words over and over again so many times I think they actually believe themselves.

An extension of the co-op’s lighter-weight Flash series, the REI design team created the Drypoint GTX® jacket with a focus on simplicity, so you can move faster on the trail. The proof of performance for the Drypoint GTX® jacket lies in the details. Rather than using pit zippers, pockets stand double duty as mesh-lined core vents. When asked about the significance behind the details Britt Berg, principal apparel designer at REI, said, “The Drypoint collection was designed with focused simplicity built for trail use. The features in the collection are thoughtful but specific, the lines minimal and purposeful. Every detail has a reason on the Drypoint.”

Imagine pockets that are lined with a mesh fabric to allow the vapor before it turns to liquid to move sideways out of the garment so long as the zippered pockets are unzipped a held open.

Built to withstand up to 60 mile per hour winds, the Drypoint was made to keep you comfortable in harsh conditions. A two-point adjustable hood allows you to adapt to the elements with a built-in visor preserving your field of view and blocking wind and rain. Fully taped seams provide waterproof protection while an adjustable hem drawcord works to keep the cold out.

This is an unlined garment made from extremely light weight fabric, so I doubt that the draw cord will do anything to keep one warm. Insulation is needed for that. The purpose of the taped seams is to make sure that all aspects of this garment are waterproof.

A GORE-TEX® Active waterproof breathable laminate keeps the rain out without trapping moisture in. So even if you warm up or the weather changes, you can keep the jacket on. The lightweight, soft and incredible breathability of the Active shell technology can be attributed to the addition of the CKnit backer. “CKnit as a material adds an incredibly open pathway for moisture vapor to escape the garment while being soft, lightweight and very durable. REI members from trail runners to dog walkers will benefit from the performance and comfort characteristics of GORE-TEX® Active shell,” said Andy Lovell, fabrics sales at GORE®.

When I read this first sentence I was wearing my hip waders. Once again the words “waterproof breathable appear. The fabric keeps the rain out but “without trapping “your” moisture in “the garment” I guess. Don’t you just love to read “incredible breathability”attributed to the CKnit backer which is the same knit backing that has been used for years to cover the ptfe film so it doesn’t get damaged. Moist vapor does not go through the 3 layer laminate!!!

The Drypoint GTX® jacket was inspired by moving on the trail and executed with the help of REI Co-op experts and members—all part of the REI Cooperative Design philosophy. The new user-focused design process enables REI to go straight to the source of 17 million members and almost 12,000 employees across the co-op to collaboratively create product based on user feedback.

17 million is a lot for the pied piper to play too and have a lot of bucks wasted.

The Drypoint GTX® jacket is part of a new series of REI Co-op brand jackets and pants that utilize the next generation of GORE-TEX® technology. The entire 2018 spring collection—including plus size options—is now available at REI stores and online.

And the beat goes on and on and on. I was watching the television show “truth or consequences” many years ago and the question was asked what goes on and on and on and etc. the contestant said Texas, that was the first time anyone ever answered a question correctly. However, Texas exists. When it comes to waterproof breathable the verbiage just keeps flowing sort of like the water inside one of these jackets coming directly from the sweat coming out of your body. I wonder each time I read of a new w/b fabric entering the market place or a new company stepping to the plate or an old company as is the case here perpetuating a myth will continue to con their customers into believing they are purchasing something that does not work as is claimed, never has worked or will ever work as claimed.

Each time I bring this farce to the attention of my readers I receive several responses stating that they have purchase a mostly goretex jacket and found it did not work. Are the manufacturers and retailers so gullible to believe that it does work or are they only thinking about the profits from selling this trash garment! The garment that rei is offering is $249.00, an amazing price for trash.

It is unfortunate and tragic that this retailer has people on staff who have it appears to me no earthly knowledge of the fact that they are working with and ultimately selling a non-functioning product.

And so the beat goes on and the con job goes on as well!!!