Get Outdoors - Women: Shell Jacket and Pants

Having the right shell can make the difference between a good trip and misery defined. The range of options and prices now available in waterproof, breathable jackets and pants means there is one that is right for almost everyone who expects to sweat and stay comfortable and warm. If you wear gear that does not breathe, you not only risk discomfort but increase the risk of hypothermia because your clothing is damp.

Many choose GoreTex because they know from experience that GoreTex will last many, many years and will remain waterproof, breathable and wind resistant throughout its life. (Although you may need to add a new DWR coating, more on that below.) Gore is meticulous about who uses its fabrics. If you buy GoreTex, you can be confident that the manufacturer is meeting standards of Gore in addition to its own. GoreTex is a good choice for women who want the utmost in safety and reliability, especially for mountaineering, backpacking or in other situations where protection from the elements is crucial.

GoreTex outerwear can be categorized as "two layer (2-ply)" or "three layer (3-ply)." In the two layer version, the GoreTex is laminated to a treated outer shell fabric (usually nylon or polyester), and the jacket is then lined with a mesh or sometimes light fleece lining. In three layer garments the outer shell, GoreTex layer and a fine net lining are all laminated together. We think the two layer versions typically have a softer "hand" and the three layer versions a slightly beefier feel. Some women don?t like the free-hanging mesh liner in two-layer jackets, which can pull a little bit when you put them on over some types of layers. Some think that three-layer is crunchy. Both types perform well, although the three-layer version is typically chosen by serious mountaineers and more technical users, while the two-layer version is often a favorite for buyers who expect a lot of city use in addition to backpacking, skiing or hiking.

As we said above, however, GoreTex is no longer the end-all fabric for good jackets. All the major manufacturers now offer proprietary fabric alternatives to GoreTex, many of them very good, and some of them great values. These two often come in 2-ply and 3-ply versions. Some of these fabrics have the ability to stretch, which is a feature we really like. While GoreTex is a laminate, some waterproof, breathable fabrics are treatments applied to the fabric itself. These tend to be less expensive, and can be good values for users who do not expect a lot of hard wear.Fabric considerations for shell pants are largely the same as for jackets. For technical users, full side zips are important so that pnts can be easily put on while wearing boots, crampons or skis, and opening full side zips part way provides great ventilation. Notice whether the pants offer a protective side flap over the zipper. While these can be nice, they also can have velcro strips that tear at bare hands. We are especially fond of pants that stretch. For mountaineers and other "extreme-weather" users, we recommend shell pants with front-to-back "pee zippers" that allow you to relieve yourself without dropping your pants.

All of these garments are durable, and all of the manufacturers discussed here offer excellent warranties in the unlikely event of a problem. All of these garments can all be washed in the machine and dried in the drier (not too hot!). Just read and follow the care labels, and your jackets and pants should last through many adventures. Bear in mind that many waterproof and breathable items, including GoreTex, have outer shell fabrics that are coated with a water repellant coating, known as Durable Water Repellant, or "DWR". With hard use or on pressure points, the DWR can wear off, and when that happens the outer fabric may appear waterlogged, even though the garment itself does not leak. Simply recoat the fabric with a spray on or wash in DWR coating such as Nikwax offers, and it should come right back to beading up water.