Crackbolter

Hey, I might be in the Icicle on Sat & Sun. Anna, what kind of music can you play? I would love to jam it out around a campfire if I have another jam partner. I do grassy-dead-folky-kind of tunes. I can sing too. (Caution: Dogs will howl from miles around) I jam with folks all the time but mostly traditional bluegrass tunes that everyone knows.

[ 09-19-2002, 03:35 PM: Message edited by: Crackbolter ]

quote: Originally posted by rbw1966: Gore dryloft baby. Did you know that laminates have been around for 20 years? You still use laminates for everything? Try Epic by Nextec. This is the newest technology for use in down products. It also works well for super light shells and down jackets. Lighter More breathable More durable Greater water saturation level Loftier (stiffer fabrics loft less) Better feel (more comfortable) More colors available (important?)

quote: Originally posted by jhamaker: FF is designing my bag! It will be a beautiful light-weight bag w/ no fill in the floor. Could come out to be less than 14oz! Hound them about it so they will get it into production before next summer. We are on the third edition. It will need about 10 more remakes before we put it into production. Definately before your special trip.

Speaking of unclimbed Faces.... I just can't resist...weather is looking good. FA, FA, FA, FA!!!!! [ 09-19-2002, 10:25 AM: Message edited by: Crackbolter ]

Feel free to call me with any questions as well. I am always interested in helping out our local guys with gear. Sincerely, Tony Bentley Customer Service Feathered Friends 1119 Mercer St. Seattle, WA 98109 phone:206.292.6292 fax:206.292.6403

This isn't porn. Show me some beautiful naked girls bouldering in various erotic positions. That's porn. This is the closest I could find: [ 09-11-2002, 04:26 PM: Message edited by: Crackbolter ]

I must say, I just about spewed my coffe after reading the Beckey stuff. No offense Ray. This shit is funny!

Bummer... I hate to see this subject come up. Dan, Your experience was not abnormal. Check your P.M. INBOX. Drop me a line.

AMEN

"Sisu" is my favorite. P.1- 5.11d+++ sceary 5.10 mantle!!! P.2- 5.10b+++? P.3- 5.10c+++? P.4- 5.11a+++? P.5- 5.10 belay move (don't combine pitches!) P.6- 5.11a+++? P.7- 5.8? Rap off sport wall like D.H/L.A. or T.C. Overall, it is very enjoyable and I am greatful to have such a wonderful and challenging multipitch route in our area. [ 08-27-2002, 08:41 AM: Message edited by: Crackbolter ]

Doc, Check out the link at the start of this thread.

Obtaining 900 fill doesn't surprise me. It is just a matter of time when there will be 900+ fill power available. The birds are being raised for the purpose of the feathers which means that they will continue to breed the best birds until they acheive the results that the market needs. In this case, we all would like .5 ounce fabric that is waterproof but very breathable and durable and we would also like to have 1000+ fill power so our garments and bags weight next to nothing. It just a matter of time before the market will be able to produce these results. Currently the lightest material that is usable is .85 ounce ripstop nylon. Unfortunately, it is very easy to tear and has very little water resistancy. It is a great interior fabric though. Feathered Friends will be using a .9 ounce Pertex nylon taffeta next year which will be lighter than their standard 1.3 taffeta. This will be a great improvement which will allow people to have a very light interior fabric that has the same qualities like durability and feel (comfort) yet knocks some weight from the bags and garments. Any more questions?

quote: Originally posted by citizen dragon: Dear Mr. Down... There are other companies using 800+, yes even 900 fill down, feathery friends and w. mtneering do not have the exclusive corner on the down market. Does feathery frnds actually test their down or just claim that it is blah-blah fill power. I would like to know where one would find 900+ fill power GOOSE down. Eider duck is around 900 to 1000 fill power but this material is boycotted to save the species. We test our down if the quality looks questionable. Most of the time it exceeds 800 fill and sometimes acheives 880 to 890 fill. This depends on the batch. You are correct about cornering the market on the fill power. We have cornered the market on custom products though. Let me know if you need something custom tailored. Care for a tour?

One opinion is plenty... I appreciate it. I am kind of bummed that they can saturate easily considering that they are for snow travel and all of my other boots don't give me that problem. They will be put to the test this weekend...Thanks again! CB

Does anyone own these boots? Does anyone have any feedback? I am considering these and they fit like a glove but they have no history and no one has given them a good or bad review yet. If you own them, could you please give me some honest feedback and tell me what conditions you have tested them in? Sorry for not posting in the gear topic.

quote: Originally posted by chucK: I'm confused here . Doesn't REI still have their "satisfaction guaranteed" policy? Once the customer-service puke started stonewalling, couldn't you have just said, "And also, besides the obvious defects, I'm not satisfied with this product"??? You got it Chuck! This is the saving phrase.

Tom, I would be happy to help you out. It is all too easy to pull the REI managment strings. They express in providing the best Customer Service as possible. The only requirement is a receipt and the deed is done. Give me a call or email me and I will tell you what your next step is. If you broke the pole accidentally, different story. 206-292-6292 crackbolter@yahoo.com

"I AM BEING SERIOUS, THOUGH LETS SEE SOME JUSTIFICATION FOR THE GOUGING...." Inquiring minds want to know. [ 08-06-2002, 08:35 AM: Message edited by: Crackbolter ]

quote: Originally posted by erik: YEAH U CAN SIMILAR ARTICLES OVER THE INTERNET AT HALF THE PRICE. PLUS NOT HAVE TO DEAL WITH A CERTAIN EMPLOYEES FLAIR FOR BEING ANNOYING WHERE EVER HE MAY BE PRESENT..... I ALSO HAVE TALKED TO A DOWN SPECIALIST AND HE SEZ YO STUFF AINT THE HIGHEST QUALITY....SO WHY PAY THE HIGHEST PRICE?? GRANTED HIS SHIT COSTS MORE AND HE'S BIASED, BUT SERIOUDLY FEATHERS PFFT...ASK BONE ABOUT FEATHERS..... I AM BEING SERIOUS, THOUGH LETS SEE SOME JUSTIFICATION FOR THE GOUGING.... I will admit to your first spray about certain employees. Can't change everyone. Does the dumbsh*t at RE*'s climbing department represent the climbing community? I think not. Even if HE thinks he does. What I want to know is, what the hell is a down specialist? The only one I know is the one at Pacific Coast Feathers in Smoky Point and he could care less about a bunch of climbing products. Down is measured by volume per ounce. Plainly put, 800+ is the best that anyone can produce without using endangered ducks. Both Feathered Friends Nunatuk and Western Mountaineering are the only ones who use 800+ down. The fabrics that are used are the best in the industry, EPIC and E-Vent are used by more companies than you think. Some use different trade names though.(Patagonia "encapsil", etc.) In the past, down was only available at 550+ and now things are more engineered for optimal usage. Hence the perfect fruit and veggies at our local grocers. The birds used now are now producing the best down ever. The last reason is because you can't choose really detailed features. Imagine being allowed to choose exactly what interior fabric you want. This is only to help in saving weight or increasing/decreasing breathability. You get to choose from 4 or 5 interior fabrics: .8oz ripstop, 1.1 oz ripstop, 1.3oz taffeta, 1.3oz VBL, or polyester fleece. You can choose these fabrics as an exterior fabric as well along with Epic or the laminate fabrics. Now if you want say a half length zip, or 3/4 length zip; no problem. How about a little wider in the shoulders but narrower in the hips; no problem. Vice versa for the ladies. How about 5 years down the road adding more down; no problem. How about a half bag with .8 oz interior and exterior at 14 ounces; yup. Oh yeah, if you need it in a jiffy, give them $30 credit at Northwest bottlewerks and you get it in less than 2 weeks made from scratch. Mr Nunatuk was an old Feathered Friends employee at one point which is where many of his ideas came from. The Rock Wren was available 10 years before he went into business. The Raku is the result which won the Editor's choice from Backpacker. I would hope none of your guys ever read that publication since most of you are way more knowledgeable about products than any of the writers of that dirt rag. I think now a days down is the best for weight, packability, durability and breathability. I must express the importance of fabrics for each application. You wouldn't want to use a non breathable fabric in a bivy sack and you wouldn't want to use a super breathable fabric if you were to expose the shell to moisture. Most important is to use the correct interior and exterior fabric in combination with the type of shelter you perfer. I like the bivy sack/tarp combo in low altitude areas which for the bag fabrics I go with Epic outer and .8 oz interior. Super light bag and packs down tiny. Weighs 2lbs 4 ounces at 20 F. If you want my opinion about Lambone and his gear and partner selection, you can troll on someone else. C.B.

[ 08-06-2002, 08:44 AM: Message edited by: Crackbolter ]

quote: Originally posted by Dr Flash Amazing: Not a bad savings over the original 300+ dollar price tag. Of course, TNF may not earn as many cool mountaineering points as FF or Western Mntnrng, but at the price, it's tough to bitch about it. You'd be bitchin if you saw their labor force in Singapore. Besides, you don't really want to be a TNF poser do you? You can't get F>F or W>M stuff at your local Bon or Nordy's where they know you by first name Mr. Flash.

In case you can't afford a Feathered Friends jacket, they have a deal for you! Take a look: http://www.featheredfriends.com/sale_pages/salevst.htm http://www.featheredfriends.com/sale_pages/salejkt.htm These jackets are 750 fill down and perfect for you hard core climbers! Layer these under a shell or use them as a shell on their own.

Bob, I remember hearing about that accident. Thanks for finding the link. I agree with icegirl about having an accident specific topic. Even if there are poor opinions posted or misinformation being posted. This is nothing new to this website. It would be nice to have specific conversations regarding accidents and make it an on going discussion.. I will lurk now. T

Tex, I will take you out and teach you how to bolt. Just give me a PM. I will even show you where you can bolt. What kind of drill do you have? I am not as old as some folks but I can show you how. When should we get together?