Questions about Gore Tex Pro 3L and Mammut's Nordwand line

I'm looking at Mammut's Nordwand jacket and pants. I was checking out their website and read that Mammut sells the jacket in XXL on the site. The pants I can buy on Backcountry. The kit is pricy and the delivery of the jacket could take forever. I'm looking for reviews or feedback from anyone who rocks the Nordwand jacket and pants.

I'm also interested in hearing from anyone who has pants or jackets that are made with Gore Tex Pro 3L. I read this material breaths very well but is waterproof. That's impossible right? Gore Tex and Mammut make the GT 3L to be a miracle fabric. I would like to hear from the real world.

I don't have my mind made up so any information you guys can provide would be appreciated and used to make a decision. Thanks!

I can't comment on the Mammut stuff, but I've tried pretty much every w/b technology there is and sold several different brands at retail as well for a while. Gore Pro's primary benefit is durability. The newer version does breath much better than the old version, but still not as good as the true air permeable fabrics like eVent and Neo Shell. It would be my choice if I was going to be out for days, wearing a heavy pack, going into a thick bushwhack, or knew the weather was absolutely going to tank. I do feel it provides the best weather protection. It would also be my choice if I was spending $400+ on a jacket since they are not as delicate as some of the other fabrics and I woudl expect it to last a very long time.

Neo Shell and eVent wet out earlier in my experience and run a little "colder" to me since they don't block 100% of the wind like Gore Pro does. However, for highly aerobic stuff they can't be beat for breathability combined with weather protection.

This is all just my opinion and of course YMMV.

And wow I looked up that Nordwand and that's expensive. Have you thought about an Alpha SV at that price level? Made in Canada!

So the pants and jacket are hard shell!?! I thought Pro 3L was some kind of waterproof soft shell. Well that's that.. Thanks for the heads up Choco!

I have an Alpha SV jacket and bibs. They're also GoreTex Pro Shell. The kit is about six years old and still going strong. I can't imagine ice climbing in that outfit but does work well for split boarding. The pit zippers and full length zips on the bibs dump heat well.

Ha you can actually forget everything I just said, my w/b geek side came out too fast. I see now that the Nordwand does appear to be a soft shell (or at least stretch like one) with Gore Pro. That's pretty neat, actually. I'd be curious myself about it.

I don't have any experience with the Mammut Nordwand pieces but I picked up an Arc'teryx kit (Theta SV pants and Rush jacket) 2 years ago that's Goretex Pro 3L and it was much more breathable than previous GT pieces that I've had. Everything else that Chocodove said is spot on but it seems that it's been updated and improved since you bought your kit. I can't say much about softshell/stretch since my kit is definitely hardshell and is what I reach for in nasty conditions.

I've put in a couple orders direct with Mammut over the years. I think they all shipped within 1-2 days of placing the order so I doubt you'd have to wait very long.

Had a Millet jacket in Pro 3L. Wore it on 1 ski tour here in RMNP this March and promptly sold it. It was about 25F out and lightly snowing. I was wetter inside than outside. It felt identical to me in terms of breathability as every other Gore membrane I've worn over the past 10 years. Full disclosure though - I run very hot and very sweaty.

I'm a Neoshell and Powershield Pro convert. Not interested in bothering with anything else. Only use case I can see these days for a full "waterproof" membrane is a sedentary activity (ice fishing, snowmobiling) or maybe resort skiing on a blizzard powder day.

Thanks Jason..

Jon H,

hey you know me! I sweat just looking at 4+. I'm fat Haha.. If I get into trouble on steep ice it's always because I'm overheating. My eyeglasses fog and that little event usually means I'm yelling take, putting in V thread or bailing on a screw. Once it was all of the above!

What do you wear when you wanna stay at the right temp leading steep or hard ice?

This is what I wore last season and intend on continuing with it this season cause I was perfectly happy with it:

Silkweight merino baselayer
R1 Hoody
Atom LT Hoody
Rab Neoshell Jacket (Either Stretch Neo or the Nexus)
Mammut Ajungilak 100g/m primaloft belay jacket (Got it on STP 6 years ago for $99 and still going strong).

If it's above 20 or sunny, I'll almost always ditch the Atom LT. Above 30 and I'll ditch the R1 as well.

If it's in the low single digits (or subzero) I'll typically add an extra mid layer. Either an extra fleece or a puffball vest. Usually switch to a heavier merino baselayer as well.

Pants are a different story. I've got a pair of Northface Schoeller softshells. Purchased in Cham in 2010/11 I think. They have the PERFECT cut. Not a single centimeter of extraneous fabric. I've been searching for a replacement for years and haven't found anything at all which makes me nervous cause they're nearly dead. Everything (and I really mean everything) I've looked at has all this loose fabric around the calf and cuff. So irritating.

These are what I'm talking about: