Snow outfit

Question
Hi Glenn,
I just have a simple question for you.  I'm looking to purchase a new snow outfit for the upcoming season, and I have a set in mind but I'm not totally sure about it yet.  You can view the set I have in mind at this link:
http://vancouver.craigslist.org/clo/412545703.html
Okay, my concern is the fur lining on the inside of the jacket.  I know it would keep me warm and thoroughly insulated, but would the fur lining hinder ventilation?  Also, if snow enters the inside of the jacket, the fur would just soak and keep the moisture in as well right?

Thank you for your help!


Answer
Hi Linda,

I hope that the answer I  will give will be some help in making your decision easier. I went on the manufacturer's website to try to get some more information on the materials used by the company and did not find anything that from their 08 website that would make the answer to your questions obvious as there was limited info on the technologies used. I do have an opinion based on my training as an outerwear expert with Sport Chek (which included recently taking a product knowledge camp staffed by North Face, Colombia, Ripzone, Helly Hansen, Burton and Orage representatives) as well as my own experience on the slopes with the materials and science  used for outerwear.

1) I have to assume that the fur lining, or as is probably the case, faux fur, is intended more as a fashion statement and comfort medium; the feel of the inside of the jacket being an issue when selling it. The way fur works as an insulator is by trapping air around the hairs. This is the insulation principle that used to be used in all early aboriginal winter garments (fur of the hide on the inside, skin on the outside) except when the goal was to reduce water penetration in which case the fur was on the outside, just like on the animal. If this is as I have suggested a manmade product there is no way of knowing what its potential moisture wicking (what you call soaking) or repellency potential is but I doubt it would actually absorb moisture.

2) The problem with the introduction of snow or external moisture such as rain into the inside of any jacket is that it tends to overload the ability of any moisture management system to handle its removal to the outside of the jacket again. What I refer to as a moisture management system is a minimum of three layers: baselayer, midlayer, outerlayer. This process can be complicated to describe but simply put works like this: Your body generates heat that cases water to turn into a vapour (simply smaller droplets of the water) which are then pushed and pulled through the various layers by the properties of the materials, either hydro/hydraphobic (water hating or water loving). Though its unlikely that the fur will saturate I can't give you an answer on how effectively moisture would be transported through the various layers without being allowed to return. This being the goal of any waterproof/breathable system.

To produce garments that are capable of doing this is very expensive, and your baselayer (underwear) is often the most important piece that starts the process. To my knowledge there is only one material that truly acts not only as a waterproof barrier next to the skin but also assists in the transportation of moisture to the outside of this baselayer and that is polypropylene. Great jackets will be defeated by poor baselayers anyday so your first or base layer needs to both repel moisture and at the same time prevent it from staying next to the skin.

To summarize:

a) If you get snow inside your garment you need to shake it out regardless of the lining on the inside (fur or otherwise) to reduce the amount of water volume the system needs to handle). A great jacket and pant combination will have powder belts and snow cuffs that operate on an elastic base so that they move with you and don't open up easily and in many cases attach the pants to the jacket for deep snow.

Perhaps try contacting the manufacturer directly to get their information on this piece. They were the first entry when I Googled the name.

b) What I assume that you mean by ventilation is the ability of the garment to shed excess moisture from inside. This is what is loosely termed breathability, rather than ventilation, which is accomplished by actually opening the jacket to let out heat. Unless the fur is made of a modern water hating material and the  layer next to it a water attracting material the moisture will have a tendency to stay where it is. As faux fur is generally made of some form of synthetic plastic like polyester this is usually the case. A lot of manufacturers are using this material around the edge of their hoods because it is an excellent wind barrier while still being soft to the face and easy to conform to the shape of your face leaving very little gap for wind to get inside. Pay attention to the positioning of the core and pit zips on the jacket and pant. Are they set up so you can easily reach them and do they work on the pants like a chimney in such a way that cold air comes in the front and pushes the warm air out?