featheredfriends

Bump! We'll see you here on the 19th

It's actually been a selling point for that jacket since you'll likely have a warm hat anyways. As a belay piece it will stuff smaller into a stuff sack without it, and a permanent hood turns into a "snow catcher" if you don't use it. There are many good options out there like Dane pointed out. Ours simply offers a removable hood.

It's not really my style to respond to reviews other than saying "Thanks for making the effort to include us!", but thought I'd just address the assumption that we're not paying any attention to the "immense amount going on in thought, detailing, design, pattern and materials for the best of these types of jackets. Not knowing or recognizing the differenecs is what seperates the so/so jackets from the truely spectacular." Your opinions are certainly your own - I have no issue with them. As the buyer for the retail store, I also have the opportunity to examine down jackets from all of the brands we carry here (Rab, Westcomb, Patagonia, Mammut, Outdoor Research, etc) as well as other manufacturers pretty closely, and we regularly talk to their respective reps and designers about such things. Our owner and production manager spend even more time talking to the different fabric houses looking for "just the perfect fabric", and without the order restrictions that the larger companies have, we're much more responsive to advances in textiles versus folks who have to pre-order fabric for the next 2 or 3 years. I'm genuinely interested to hear what your opinions are, as an end user, on the design advances that we seem to be missing. Like I said...we know we're not perfect and are always looking for ways to really improve our product.

Thanks for your honest efforts Dane. It's feedback like this that keeps us on our toes I thought I'd just add a few things to this thread for clarification: 1) Unisex sizing has always been one of our weaknesses, and there is a switch between our sewn-through jackets and baffled ones. We spend a lot of time working with our customers to make sure they get the right fit. 2) We have the single zipper Volant jacket as our belay jacket. The Frontpoint is more accurately an expedition jacket and wasn't designed to be used as an "on/off" piece for the reasons you explained. 3) There's not a lot of "cutting edge" when it comes to stitching or jacket design. The patterns we've developed over the years are a result of much feedback from the field. Advances have, by and large, come in the way of materials. As a small batch manufacturer we stay way ahead of the curve when it comes to what shell materials we choose to hold our down inside the jacket. When shopping for a jacket we educate people to pay particular attention to what those materials are. It's also hard to evaluate the advantages of those materials unless you're using the jacket outside. Here's a little insider knowledge: magazines won't review a product unless it's "new". Other companies satisfy this by re-shaping panels, changing colors, etc to have a "new" jacket to present to editors. We kind've care about magazine reviews...but really not enough to constantly modify our designs. We are coming out with a lighter jacket this summer though - stay tuned! Hope this addresses some of your concerns, and like always if anyone has any questions at all - please give us a call. - Eddie Espinosa

Here it comes ya'll. Look for stuff in the shop and on our retail site: www.featheredfriendsretail.com

SEATTLE, October 15, 2009 - Mountain Madness, Inc. today announced the company will offer two avalanche awareness clinics supported by Backcountry Access (BCA) and The American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education (AIARE) DATES: November 18, 2009, 7-9pm and December 16th, 2009, 7-9 pm LOCATION: Feathered Friends, 119 Yale Ave North, Seattle, WA 98109. 206-292-2210 Guides from Mountain Madness and Steve Christie of BCA will be giving an “expanded” avalanche awareness talk. Key points of discussion will center on information gathering - how to access local avalanche bulletins, weather forecasts and travel conditions - and discuss how to observe “obvious clues” that indicate avalanche hazard. Modern companion rescue techniques will also be discussed. These talks are appropriate for recreationists of all levels – snowshoers, skiers, snowboarders and snowmachiners – and will provide an opportunity for open exchange. Mountain Madness is an AIARE course provider – a vast majority of students throughout the U.S. attend AIARE courses. AIARE’s stated mission is to: “save lives through education.” Suggested Donation of $5: Proceeds go to the Friends of the Northwest Weather and Avalanche Center (FOAC).

Please note - this account is answered by a couple of different folks...I sent this question over to Nick (who, despite no longer working for FF, still gets dragged back over to the dark side for questions such as this) and this is his reply. Cheers, Eddie

After the first week, we've raised over $1,500 bucks for the NWAC! Second week items have just been added - let's keep the momentum going! http://shop.ebay.com/feathered.friends/m.html?_dmd=1&_ipg=50&_sop=12&_rdc=1

Here's some info on your bag. P-BHAL translates as "PTFE made by BHA, Light." BHA is the name of the textile manufacturer, this is their lightweight PTFE (i.e. teflon) laminate fabric that is functionally similar to Gore-Tex. FF used this fabric for a period of time after we moved away from Gore DryLoft and before eVent became available. From your close-up photo the fabric looks like it is in great shape. Given the information visible on the tag and our history of using this fabric, I would estimate the date of manufacture to be around 1999. From the evidence (no collar, weight, and shape of the cut in the photo) I can say with certainty that this model is the Puffin -20. It is a wide bag that unzips flat and can be connected to a fabric groundsheet to use as a 2-person sleep system. Whether or not you would want to do this in subzero temps is a different question. FF doesn't usually offer this model bag at this temperature rating, so this was almost definitely a custom order. The overfill supports this hypothesis. Here is a link to the current specs on the Puffin so you can see the dimensions: http://featheredfriends.com/Picasso/Bags/Product/SemiRectangularHood.html This bag would have sold for about $600 retail. If the close-up photo is any indication of its overall condition then it should be in great shape. Thanks for bringing your bag to the Feathered Friends Roadshow!

Osprey Variant 37 just added to the mix! http://shop.ebay.com/feathered.friends/m.html?_dmd=1&_ipg=50&_sop=12&_rdc=1

There's a pair of Aztarex on there right now for 20 bucks. Someone is gonna get a good deal

Let the bidding begin! Ebay Auctions for the NWAC

Starts in a couple of hours! See you here.

Wes began his love of the outdoors in the rock & ice climbing community of the Western United States in the 70's. He then graduated on to high altitude climbing in Alaska and the Himalayas. He was co-leader with Scott Fischer for the 1987 American Everest Expedition. Wes eventually moved to East Africa where he worked for several years as the Director of the NOLS in Kenya. During this time he and Scott Fischer made the second successful climb of the Breach Icicle on Kilimanjaro. Along with Scott he pioneered the Shira Plateau route up Kilimanjaro, the route led by Mountain Madness, and has also developed new walking safaris. Join Wes as he reminisces about past adventures and exciting new ones waiting for you!

Sarah Garlick is coming into town and dropping mad science about the Geology of Rock Climbing. Hosted by yours truly and sponsored by the American Alpine Club, this is bound to be a special slideshow. If anyone cracks the "That's really gneiss so don't take it for granite" joke, they will be kicked out the back door into the alley.

Colin sent the madness in Alaska this year. Listen to some stories, look at some pictures and see the buds you haven't seen since the last show!

Alpinist, International Mountain Guide, aspiring writer and cake baker Zoe Hart will give an illustrated lecture about the life of an Alpine Princess. Despite roots in East coast, suburban, United States, Zoe Hart managed to find her way to the mountainous reigons of the world. First the Cascades and Rockies in North America and then onto the European Alps, where she now calls Chamonix home, Alaska, South America, Pakistan, India, and beyond. After ten years of travel and climbing, Zoe has joined the less than 70 women certified as UIAGM Mountain Guides, amongst the 10,000 men. Come join for an evening of laughs, stories, and the adventures of an Alpine princess. Patagonia, Nepal, Oman, Alaska, pink helmets, nail polish, and glitter.

In fact, down pasties are on sale now: buy one, get one free!

Thought I'd just weigh-in here: I'm glad you had a good experience the first time you came into our shop - we work hard to make sure everyone who walks in our door is treated like a friend and fellow climber/backpacker/hiker, not just a customer. Also, we don't just hire "salespeople", we hire folks who are just as excited to run around in the mountains as our customers are. Our staff may look a little rough around the edges sometimes, but they can also give you the blow by blow on almost any route at Index, where the good camping spot is at Josh, outfit you for Denali, and we have two guys who are thru-hiking the PCT and the CDT as we speak. We'll always give their outdoor resume a more critical eye than their sales experience. Our bag check policy is an unfortunate solution to ongoing issues we have with shoplifters. Every so often we still see folks who are very willing to stuff clothes in the packs they walk into the store with, and walk right out without paying for them. High end outerwear is made to compress and pack down very small, and it costs us a lot of money to lose. If we had a floor full of Carhartt clothing and flannel it probably wouldn't be an issue We do have a camera system installed, but we don't have the personnel to sit in front of the monitor during store hours (like REI does). It's mostly been used to identify thieves and learn how they're ripping us off (backpacks in the store is a common way - hence the policy). We know 99% of you wouldn't even imagine doing it...but like usual it's the 1% that screws it up for everyone else. Anyways, I hope this clears a few things up. Thanks for your patience and understanding if we request that you leave your packs at the front door while you visit. And thanks for your continued support of our shop! If you have any questions you can reach me here, Eddie

http://www.nectarlounge.com/calendar_0908.html

These just came in 5 minutes ago: Work Sack 20, 45 and 60 Due on Friday are the Dyneema 40b and 60 Come get 'em while they're hot (206) 292-2210

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