9 replies to this topic

[mdwsttech]

Hello all, although I have visted this site many times, this is my first post.

Does anyone have any good suggestions on clothing that will hold up well to the abuse they recieve in the field. Ive tried several different companies which I will keep nameless, but haven't had much luck. Finding the appropriate pair of gloves that are thin enough to work in ... yet warm, if I could find a pair that would make it through one season, I would cosider them a success. Also pants/bibs/Jackets. I personally bought a pair of bibs through Ski Area Supply and am very pleased. As we all know you get what you pay for. Any other options that may a bit less expensive that would allow me to outfit my crew? Any direction would be helpful. Thanks

Joe

[spunkyskier01]

the blue collar best freind, carhart

[Lift Dinosaur]

We tried Carhart's back in the early days, and they became known as "logoed sponges".

[poloxskier]

mdwsttech, on Feb 16 2006, 11:01 AM, said:

Hello all, although I have visted this site many times, this is my first post.

Does anyone have any good suggestions on clothing that will hold up well to the abuse they recieve in the field. Ive tried several different companies which I will keep nameless, but haven't had much luck. Finding the appropriate pair of gloves that are thin enough to work in ... yet warm, if I could find a pair that would make it through one season, I would cosider them a success. Also pants/bibs/Jackets. I personally bought a pair of bibs through Ski Area Supply and am very pleased. As we all know you get what you pay for. Any other options that may a bit less expensive that would allow me to outfit my crew? Any direction would be helpful. Thanks

Joe

For gloves I have found that $10 work gloves from the local hardware store are some of the best and hold up better than most ski gloves. The insulated neopreme gloves that I got at ace hardware work great but the toughest ski company gloves that I have found and are really warm are the marmot work gloves. The best and most durable brands for bibs/pants/jackets that I have tried are DNA, marker and Phenix, although I havent had many other brands my phenix pants have held up for arround 10 years but I dont work in those too often. Also Carharts are some of the toughest and warmest gear that I have ever owned.

This post has been edited by poloxskier: 16 February 2006 - 03:47 PM

[mdwsttech]

ehhhh, ... I will stay away from Carhart, although durable and fairly inexpensive in comparison to the "Maintenance Bibs" I'm wearing from "Ski Area Supplies" they do become heavy overloaded sponges. Considering the wonderful weather we can experience here in Northern MN, they then become big bricks of ice. Let me rephrase my original post and refrain from looking for the "inexpensive". I have tried "Rubicon bibs" bought through a Ski Patrol supply company. Although the quality was good, they quickly became unusable. Lift Maintenance gear has to have exceptional quality above and beyond the standard. A mix of 500-1000 denier is a must to hold up against the elements aside from the weather(i.e. grease, tools, dirt, gravel). Despite its rigid nature at first, it quickly becomes well broken in. But it's heavy and combersome. Has anyone had any luck with a rip-stop nylon, such as Helly Hanson's "Helly-Tech", or a Nylon/Poly Blend? I can get pro-form pricing on this. My gut tells me, "No Way".

[Lift Kid]

mdwsttech, on Feb 16 2006, 04:17 PM, said:

ehhhh, ... I will stay away from Carhart, although durable and fairly inexpensive in comparison to the "Maintenance Bibs" I'm wearing from "Ski Area Supplies" they do become heavy overloaded sponges. Considering the wonderful weather we can experience here in Northern MN, they then become big bricks of ice. Let me rephrase my original post and refrain from looking for the "inexpensive". I have tried "Rubicon bibs" bought through a Ski Patrol supply company. Although the quality was good, they quickly became unusable. Lift Maintenance gear has to have exceptional quality above and beyond the standard. A mix of 500-1000 denier is a must to hold up against the elements aside from the weather(i.e. grease, tools, dirt, gravel). Despite its rigid nature at first, it quickly becomes well broken in. But it's heavy and combersome. Has anyone had any luck with a rip-stop nylon, such as Helly Hanson's "Helly-Tech", or a Nylon/Poly Blend? I can get pro-form pricing on this. My gut tells me, "No Way".

Where do you work! I am from Minnetonka, MN.

[mdwsttech]

Spirit Mountain
Duluth, MN

[liftmech]

I think we've had this discussion somewhere else on the board, but here goes:
We (Intrawest CO, i.e. Copper and Winter Park) have been using Mountain Uniforms for the past few years and we're pretty satisfied with them. They are durable and relatively waterproof (especially when coated with grease).

[mdwsttech]

Yes I am a little familiar with their product(s). Two years ago I had them (Mtn Unifotms) send me a pair of pants. Quality was good but I decided to go with the Rubicons I spoke of earlier in the post. Actually I recall that, had I ordered them, they would have been shipped with the your order. But that placed us on a time restraint as the order was on hold till Intrawest's was placed to bring up quanity. Anyhow..thanks for the feedback Liftmech. I did recieve another response not posted here but the "Cactus" Pant at skitele.com that look bombproof.

[Aussierob]

We got all new North Face uniforms this year at Whistler Blackcomb. They are a semi custom design. They seem to be OK so far. I find some guys are very hard on clothing, others not so. I guess your impression of durability will depend on how hard you are on your clothing.