Cotton Ventile is an exceptionally tightweave and lightweight fabric. The
genuine article is indeed waterproof in the sense that it prevents the
ingress of water, and dries quickly. It was used for many years to make some
speciality garments for the British military and others. But it is intended
as a shell layer and in cold wet conditions does not insulate. It is
windproof as well. In dry cold/wind it is excellent - quiet and comfortable.
Waxed cotton - as made by such companies as Barbour etc - is much lighter
than waxed canvas and does breath. Many of these garments are lined too. As
a bonus this fabric is very thornproof as well. The only synthetics worth
considering are the breathable type; and in this regard some work very well,
and some don't. Goretex is the only stuff I have tried that works although
there are no doubt others.
I have been out in temperatures down to minus 60 degrees - and up on
mountains on ice with the wind howling so hard it was difficult to stay
planted on the ground. It can be deadly - but the real killer is probably
wet and windy weather when the temperature runs just above (or around)
freezing to about 50 degrees Fahrenheit. This kind of weather might kill
more people in summertime in mountains than perhaps the Alps, Himalayas and
Rockies in winter put together. The reason is that people get caught out in
sport shoes, jeans and t/sweatshirts etc.
My own preference is the natural fibres; cotton (Ventile), wool etc. But I
have used synthetics that were very good - just noisy, uncomfortable and
some produced moderate to heavy consensation. They also are not very hard
wearing in the longterm. As everything else - you generally get what you pay
for.
Cheers,
Lee
----Original Message Follows----
From: "James N. McBride" <jnmcbr@xxxxxxx>
Reply-To: olympus@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
To: <olympus@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: RE: [OM] Hiking Advice
Date: Sat, 24 Aug 2002 14:24:44 -0600
I thought you got good advice, except the recommendation to use cotton
outerwear for rainy conditions. The waxed cotton is usually a heavy canvas
material used for conditions where abrasion and snagging are a problem. The
wax finish does not breath well so moisture tends to collect inside unless
there a lot of ventilation openings to let the air through. Loggers,
construction workers, and ranchers use the waxed canvas stuff a lot. As I
remember the cotton ventile is a tightly woven wind resistant material but I
don't remember it being waterproof. I haven't seen that used around here for
about 30 years. Wet cotton and cold wind are a recipe for hypothermia and
lots of people have died that way. There are many light weight, waterproof,
windproof and breathable outerwear garments made now from synthetic
materials. There are also non-cotton clothes made to wick moisture away
from the skin and transport it to and through the breathable outer garments.
Patagonia and North Face are two of the leaders in this technology but there
are others. Any mountaineering shop can advise you as to what is available
to meet your needs. Cotton is good for very hot dry conditions. /jim
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-olympus@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:owner-olympus@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]On Behalf Of W.Xato
Sent: Saturday, August 24, 2002 9:16 AM
To: olympus@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: [OM] Hiking Advice
Thanks for all the sage advice, especially about
water. <<big snip>>
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