Yankz Sportshell jacket & pants?

Posted by: Fishnaked

Yankz Sportshell jacket & pants? - 12/03/08 02:19 PM

I emailed them about the cost and weight of their pants and received a nice and thorough reply (something I seldom see from companies). I'm just wondering how many out there have experience with this stuff in the rain. A search here revealed one account of rain soaking in at 10 minutes. Anyone else have experience with these? I'd like to support this company if their product suits my needs. http://www.sportshell.com/

Thanks.
Posted by: sabre11004

Re: Yankz Sportshell jacket & pants? - 12/03/08 04:41 PM

That particular material is the same as the construction industry uses to wrap houses for water protection. It comes in several name brands and if you get the right material (there are several) I think that it would offer water proof properties. The material is very stiff (a washing does help) but over time it gets a little better. I have the same material that I use for wet conditions under my sleeping bag and it only weighs in at around 1 oz...

The first step that you take will be one of those that get you there....
Posted by: finallyME

Re: Yankz Sportshell jacket & pants? - 12/04/08 07:12 AM

They say it is poly spun. But, what poly? If it is polyethylene, then it is probably TYVEK 1443R. If it is polypropylene, then think propore and dri-ducks.
Posted by: BarryP

Re: Yankz Sportshell jacket & pants? - 12/04/08 01:10 PM

I have 2 types of those jackets (with nice cuffs and w/o). And I also have the pants.

They are a very soft tyvek. They feel nice on the skin. Nice lightweight. The seams haven’t leaked on me yet in a steady rain. But I have not used them in a downpour yet.

However, for me, they don’t breathe well at all. I would not wear them above 60F. With any backpacking, I start sweating in them.

I breath much better in my O2 jacket. I also have driducks that I bought from GG. I would rate them close to the O2 but not as good in terms of breathability.

Sometimes I backpack w/ a one dollar 2oz poncho; still I use the O2 the most.

All in all, I use Yankz for non-backpacking in 50-60F weather. It’s a neat jacket with a statement to it (whatever that is <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />).

-Barry
Posted by: mugs

Re: Yankz Sportshell jacket & pants? - 12/06/08 09:29 PM

I bought their jacket..It SUCKED !!!!!!
It was shredded to bits in 1 day of mild backpacking on a trail. Seem to get cought on everyhting. So I used for a butt pad the rest of the trek. My driducks weathered 3 years of abuse before haveing to reitre them, and I do mean they went through the ringer with me. Even kept me dry during a friek snow storm last year where I was forced to abandon "ship" and trek back to the trail head for the next 12 hours, in almost white out conditions. I found out from the weather report when I finally got home that It snowed 16 inches that night.
Posted by: Fishnaked

Re: Yankz Sportshell jacket & pants? - 12/08/08 12:57 PM

Quote:
I have 2 types of those jackets (with nice cuffs and w/o). And I also have the pants.

They are a very soft tyvek. They feel nice on the skin. Nice lightweight. The seams haven’t leaked on me yet in a steady rain. But I have not used them in a downpour yet.

However, for me, they don’t breathe well at all. I would not wear them above 60F. With any backpacking, I start sweating in them.

I breath much better in my O2 jacket. I also have driducks that I bought from GG. I would rate them close to the O2 but not as good in terms of breathability.

Sometimes I backpack w/ a one dollar 2oz poncho; still I use the O2 the most.

All in all, I use Yankz for non-backpacking in 50-60F weather. It’s a neat jacket with a statement to it (whatever that is <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />).

-Barry


Thanks for the replies, everyone.

And Barry, sounds like these could work for me as all they'd be used for is rain protection at camp (don't need hiking protection as my mode of travel is via kayak) and as a vapor barrier liner in my sleeping bag. And I don't need bomber rain protection as I retreat to my tent when it starts raining really hard.

Do these things tend to attract dirt and get grungy looking fast? Any other comments would be appreciated.

Thanks.