For the first time in a few years the snow has been deep enough for local skiing so I retrieved my oldest skis from the garage. Bought in 1987 for a six-week ski tour in the Canadian Rockies these have become the ones I bring out for skiing from home as they're the only waxless skis I have and for short trips I don't want to mess about with waxes. I don't mind if they get scraped or scratched either. I thought they'd have collapsed long before now. Not that I have any new skis. My most recent pair are eighteen years old.
In their day these Asnes Nansen skis were wide. They look narrow now. As I was using such old skis I also got out my Swix Mountain poles, which are a bit younger, dating from the early 1990s. These non-adjustable poles are very tough and have big baskets with leather cross-pieces and leather grips. My boots are the same age as the poles - Garmont Tours, which are really just leather walking boots with a sole with that square toe that clips into three-pin bindings. There are supergaiters permanently attached to the boots. I haven't removed them for decades. I just flip off the toes to stop the tension curling the boots.
To go with the old ski gear I dug out some old clothing. Most ancient of all was a Helly-Hansen double-pile jacket dating from 1982 and which I took on the Pacific Crest Trail. Fleece wasn't around then and fibre-pile jackets were standard for walkers and climbers though not for general wear as they very quickly looked scruffy - the rough soon outers covered in balls of fibres, known as pilling. The double-pile jacket didn't suffer from this as it has pile on both sides, as the name suggests. This makes it very warm for the weight (580 grams). It's longer than most modern fleece jackets and has cuffs with thumb loops, an extended back, handwarmer pockets and chunky zips. I wore it a great deal in the 1980s but haven't done so for many years. It's still in good condition.
To go with the pile jacket I found a ragg wool hat and a Ventile jacket, both from sometime in the 1990s. The hat is double-layer and very warm. The jacket is double-layer too. It's called the Snowsled Wilderness and is longer than most modern jackets, which I like. It has a good wired hood and five roomy pockets. Ventile is soft, quiet and breathable and excellent for cold, dry conditions. I remember it does keep out rain but goes stiff when wet and takes ages to dry. I found the Wilderness jacket very comfortable. It's heavy at 1.19kg but I didn't notice this when skiing.
All this old gear performed well, just as well as modern gear would, on a ski tour in sub-zero temperatures and with a gusty cold wind at times. It's all lasted well too. Good gear has always been durable. Taking this stuff out reminded me that I was as comfortable in the 1980s and 1990s as I am now.
Very encouraging - I've got out my Asnes Sondre Telemark skis and leather boots in preparation for a 8 day trip across the Hardangervidda with Pete Barron. They worked OK the other day on High Pike (near Carrock Fell) although I think the fish scales are very worn so weren't gripping well. Suggestion I have had is to use grip wax as well.
ReplyDeleteI have some Asnes Sondre skis as well and I used them to cross the Hardangervidda many years ago. Mine are waxing ones though. The problem with putting grip wax on the waxless pattern is that removing it to change wax is really difficult. I guess if the pattern is minimal now you could smooth it out.
DeleteHmm, good point. Will have a think about what I'll do about that!
DeleteOn the coldest, wet days I still sometimes reach for my Sprayway Commanche jacket, which I bought partly (mostly!) on the basis of one of your reviews. It is still going strong, in remarkably good overall nick, and is one of the most 'bombproof' items of gear I've ever purchased; maybe the Jack Wolfskin Gecko fleece runs it close.
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear the Commanche jacket is still going. And the Gecko fleece. My Gecko is my most worn fleece of the last two decades. It is a bit thin in places now but still usable.
DeleteReading the article I feel kind of bad that I retired my 10 year old Lowe Alpine Powerstretch Top that has followed me on the Appalachian Trail, Pacific Crest Trail, Nordkalottleden, GR11 and all the other small bits and pieces.
ReplyDeleteI retired it after smearing white wood oil on it while renovating our house :-( Otherwise I would still own it.
Carsten I can relate somewhat.. Whilst crossing the Pyrenees I ordered a PHD Waterlite shirt, unpacked it in my hotel room and wore it in town, bought an ice cream and realised when I got back to my room that the ice cream counter had been repainted and some paint had smeared onto my brand new PHD shirt. I had to resort to a blue permanent marker pen! But that down shirt should last me 25 years I reckon? Buy wise, buy once as they say. Good quality gear lasts. I suspect UV light is a silent 'gear killer' whether it be tent or pack fabrics.
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