Shelling it out for Shells

[goof1671]

Recently bought a Montane Superfly from a shop in Melbourne. No good. The wrist tabs failed almost immediately, both of them, which to me means a design fault. The glue between the velcro and the rubber failed. When I contacted the shop I was told "Yes, unfortunately there was a batch of jackets that had the wrong glue. Send it back and we will fix it because we have the right glue." So I sent the jacket back and 2 weeks later I get it back with a repair job I could have done better. The excess glue had not been removed where it had squeezed out when sandwiched between the 2 materials. Oh, and the tabs failed again immediately. So much for the "right glue".

I want better than this when I buy a $400- jacket.

I sent it back and got a refund, went straight to Macpac and bought a Prophet. Bomber. Should have done that in the first place and the Prophet now lives with the rest of my kit which includes 3 Macpac tents, Macpac backpacks, Macpac sleeping bags, Macpac Down jackets........the list goes on and on. I for one think Macpac make the best stuff. I'm not saying that there aren't other manufacturers out there making good stuff too but Macpac is proven. To me anyway.

And now I see that they are bringing out a new Prophet jacket called an XPD. This one looks like it is exactly the same as the current prophet but with a much cooler colour (citrus) and of particular note is the addition of 2 pockets for hands (well, it would be silly of them to only put one pocket on for only one hand).

Now as much as I don't NEED a new jacket, because the one I have now is excellent, the simple fact is I also know that I will most likely get one. Why? Well for one thing it's CITRUS and secondly, it's got hand pockets. And everytime I am out in it, in 8/8ths cloud and horizontal rain, I know that if I don't get one of these new ones (the one with the hand pockets) I will burn myself up just thinking about it. Particularly everytime I realise that I want to put my hands somewhere but can't.

Can someone out there please reasure me that I am not being unreasonable and fiscally irresponsible and that I am in fact making a sound decision?

[blacksheep]

I can't reassure you, sorry ...you actually may not need the prophet XPD if you already have a prophet- that is a great jacket. We made the XPD for guys like Wes Moulehttp://macpac.com.au/user/6288 who wanted a super burly fabric on the outside of the forearms of a mid length jacket for pushing through untracked scrub, and from feedback form Marty Schmidt http://macpac.com.au/user/6289who wanted generous storage pockets in and alpine jaclet, and also some fleece lined hand warmer pocketsfor miserable wether walkin-ins to the mountains. But the cut and peformance of the prophet is essentially the same, with a few centimeters of extra length on the XPD model. The XPD is a little heavier, but it is made for XPD (eXPeDition) use..
I'm sure you'll be pleased with you choice, and if you really need a second jacket, then look at the traverse eVent jkt http://www.macpac.com.au/shop/en_au/gear-and-clothing/mens-clothing/mens-rainwear/event-rainjacket-traverse.htmlfor light and fast hikes and for biking (and it comes in citrine too!)
thanks for your support,
Cam.

[ninjapuppet]

blacksheep, can your valuable information be put up on Macpac's page for the 2 jackets somehow?

post xmas sales were too irresistable and so I was tossing up between the prophet vs prophet XPD.
Wasnt sure which way to go and what the main differences were till i read your posts on here and various other forums.
I'm an impulse buyer and found that doing side by side comparisons took longer than my attention span could handle because both features looked the same.
I ended up going with the normal prophet jacket after reading your post above.


My lightweight Macpac rockover pants got torn in about 5 different places from just sitting on rocks on my last trip so i'm looking for something more durable.
Saw the scree pants but theres no information on it. The product desciption page just says: scree pants from macpac
http://www.macpac.com.au/shop/en_au/gear-and-clothing/mens-clothing/mens-pants-and-shorts/trekking-scree-pants.html?___SID=U

I got a pair anyway in nz and hopefully these can be abit more durable.

[Nuts]

I have been using that (and other) Montane jackets for a couple of years. Never had a problem, very nice jackets, Very similar to the new macpac range.

[goof1671]

WELL............ After some time awaiting the arrival of the jackets into the local shop here on Hobbiton (3 weeks overdue) I went and bought one. They were still unpacking them from the boxes when I snipped a large size. Brilliant.

I wasn't actually looking for a sane, rational, balanced, well rounded statement as to why I should stick with my current Prophet, but I must say thankyou very much for taking the time to reply to my post. I KNOW I should stick with the current one, it is a bomber jacket as was the first one I had way back when. But when I saw and tried on the new one, it has got exactly what I thought should be added to the old one.

And those lined hand pockets. Yep, that's the deal sealer right there.

Now I can't wait for it to pizz down so I can go walking in it. And being in Tassie, we all know I won't have to wait long for that.

So if you are out bushwalking in the pizzling rain and you see someone in a citrine Prophet with his hands shoved deep into the pockets and a big grin on his face, then that's me, so be sure and say G'day.

[ninjapuppet]

Mate, thats the attitude i like to see!
so you now have both jackets, are you going to sell the older prophet?

can you please give us a detailed run down on the differences that you notice?
I gather that it has:
- larger pockets with fleece inside?
- more burly elbow fabric
- longer cut?

is that the only differences so far?
I usually wear a medium but found that with these, had to go one size down. My unqualified view is that the sizing is abit generous in these prophets.

[blacksheep]

Mate, thats the attitude i like to see!
so you now have both jackets, are you going to sell the older prophet?

can you please give us a detailed run down on the differences that you notice?
I gather that it has:
- larger pockets with fleece inside?
- more burly elbow fabric
- longer cut?

is that the only differences so far?
I usually wear a medium but found that with these, had to go one size down. My unqualified view is that the sizing is abit generous in these prophets.

re: sizing, we added 2.5 cm to sleeve length and (size dependant) around 5cm to body length for the XPD. The body sizing is the same, it does feel larger however, as the fabric is stiffer/stronger. The lighter fabric on regular prophet fold and drapes differently...

did you spot the little tricky bit on the fleecy handwarmer pockets yet? a small envelope just the right size for a little chemical handwarmer..

[goof1671]

can you please give us a detailed run down on the differences that you notice?
I gather that it has:
- larger pockets with fleece inside?
- more burly elbow fabric
- longer cut?

is that the only differences so far?
I usually wear a medium but found that with these, had to go one size down. My unqualified view is that the sizing is abit generous in these prophets.

Check, Check and Check. Concur with all of the above. I have got a Large in the new and a XL in the older. On your first query re the "larger pockets with fleece inside", the new one has the addition of 2 more pockets perfectly placed for your hands, hence the fleece. It retains the other pockets as well for chuckin' stuff in.

My SOP for carriage is to roll the jacket up into it's own hood whilst it also contains 1 X pr poly gloves and 1 X poly beanie in the internal pocket. This unit then gets stuffed into the external pocket of my AARN Peak Aspiration pack. Perfect. I have noticed that the new does not quite roll as small as the old. This is not a criticism, merely an observation. As Blacksheep says it is made of different material. I don't know if it is actually tougher, but it feels tougher, but then again I never managed to break/tear/rip the old one bashing through horizontal scrub or glissading. It's like comparing blue metal and gravel.

I might sell the old one. At the moment it has been relegated to the cupboard in the shed which contains all the old bushwalking kit that cannot under any circumstances be gotten rid of.

[ninjapuppet]

golf1671,

You should sell your old prophet since I'm sure it will fetch very good value.
I sold my prohet for nearly the same value i bought it for, tho mine was still new. Just got myself an XPD prophet too and I think thats the way to go. the extra 2 pockets make things so much easier to organise knick knacks. Not sure if i'll use the handwarmer slots since i reckon I'd rather put them in my boots if i had handwarmers with me.

I agree with matty's review that the hood is the best Ive ever seen on a waterproof jacket. the pullcord design is simply amazing and simple to operate with gloves on. On the world stage, Macpac's high end gear is seriously right up there with the best. Ive owed (or borrowed) waterproof jackets from most of the worlds big brands like patagonia and Arc'tyrx and would not find macpac to be lacking in anyway. Just really wonder why the occasional review found on the net can only be found here, or ski.com.au while the other big brands have thousands of reviews allover.

[ninjapuppet]

Just a quick note for people wanting to buy:

i wanted a citrine in small, which macpac.com.au listed as sold out. I emailed them asking when it would be in stock but they never seem to reply to my emails. I then saw it was in stock in the new zealand's site macpac.co.nz and tried to order but they wouldnt ship here!??!

went in store, and there it was: small.

so i probally pays to actually visit a store and ask, rather than relying on macpac's e-marketing team. The guys at the store know their stuff and can search around to see if other branches have it.

[blacksheep]

Just a quick note for people wanting to buy:

i wanted a citrine in small, which macpac.com.au listed as sold out. I emailed them asking when it would be in stock but they never seem to reply to my emails. I then saw it was in stock in the new zealand's site macpac.co.nz and tried to order but they wouldnt ship here!??!

went in store, and there it was: small.

so i probally pays to actually visit a store and ask, rather than relying on macpac's e-marketing team. The guys at the store know their stuff and can search around to see if other branches have it.

the website is set so that if SOH in AU stores <5 it shows out of stock...sorry about this, but otherwise we get orders for stock we may have sold...
what e-mail address are you using that had no reply? can you send a copy of the e-mail to me to find out where things are slipping up? [email protected]
cheers

[Joel]

Also as a quick note, I've been taking advantage of the strong aus dollar.

I've ordered a Mammut Extreme Logan for $380 AUD from mtntools.com.

I'd hate to think what it would be worth in Australia. I'm guessing over $1000.

Before anyone starts going off about not supporting local retailers.... I'm a low income earner. Mountaineering aint cheap, and I aint rich.

[ninjapuppet]

more like $1218 from here http://en.item.rakuten.com/banjos/14/

[DaveGwy]

ARGH I saw the XPD in the Hobart store today... One of the toughest decisions of my week to walk out empty handed (Well, I was carrying 5 pairs of Geothermals at a very good price, but they ain't a Prophet!).

I now need to convince my g/f why I should spend the money on the jacket. It is very obvious in my head, but how can I convince her?? Any Suggestions? I did have one good point - "But you women spend that much on a formal dress! I'm going to get heaps more use than 1 or 2 formals!". She had to agree with that. ^.^

[Joel]

If she's not much of an outdoors person, maybe you could play (dramatically overplay) the safety angle.
Or if you are rich enough, you could buy one for her too then she surely can't get mad at you.
I should have had a look at the Prophet. Like the OP, I too love macpac dearly.

And let's face it, if it's good enough for Wes Moule then it's certainly good enough for pretty much anyone.

[superyamagucci]

Shell out for something made outside of China.