A New Approach to Apparel: Raide Founder on Unconventional Shells, Zip-Off Baselayers, & ‘Staying Slippery’ (Ep.373)

3 comments on “A New Approach to Apparel: Raide Founder on Unconventional Shells, Zip-Off Baselayers, & ‘Staying Slippery’ (Ep.373)”

1. Btw: where is the new 2026 cham kit from Strafe? The new one looked quite promising both jacket and pants but they strangely havent been listed on their site yet…raides bibs look awesome all around but I am not sure if their jacket or other two pieces are that of a game changer compared to established pieces like r1techface, cham kit, NAUL (or freeride version) or helio active shell, flylow genius jacket (super awesome polartech neoshell fabric)…or the single best long underwear pants ever built: the patagucci nano air light pants…its not like that there are that big of trade offs with those pieces in either: looks, function and /or performance imho for their intended purposes (like skitouring your ass off, even leaving them on on the up AND down, while lasting many seasons but still being light and comfy)…so my point is: there are several (couple of discontinued) pieces of outerwear that are fekkin’ awesome for skitouring other than raide…one last info with my current 40L version of raides pack i purchased last season @my coreshop Blacksheepsports Munich…all-round badass pack but its not the most comfortable regarding the shoulder straps beyond 10 kilos which is not acceptable for such a big pack…it has to be supereasy and comfortable to carry loads up to 15,16,18 kilos if you are on a gear heavy tour plus skis on pack while climbing! what also gets in my head every time I touch it (and I am fiddlefactor-nazi) is that the fukken sternum strap a)wanders like a boyscout on steroids, and b) does absolutely nothing to absorb or distribute any load better as far as shoulderstrap position is concerned…while it appears to be a solid pack with a sleek and sexy look and the recognition of it on social it gathered those apparently minor gripes are that of a major aspect to point out whenever somebody wants to do bigger overnight stuff or equipment heavy daytouring like steep raide missions. I hope the boss can adress those VERY FUCKING CRUCIAL points with his new expedition pack…meanwhile for the bigger normal daypack or hut traverse +- 40L I reach for my all-time favourite backpack which i also own in the 28L version…, the current blue ice yagi 35L…those who know know;)

2. I love to see small brands making unapologetically niche products in this space. Kyle’s obviously putting a ton of thought and effort into making his dream kit, and good on him, it just doesn’t resonate with this heavy user. I’m long and lean, don’t want my clothing to flap in the wind (IMO a fitted garment also creates the micro climate that drives vapour transfer) don’t run hot, don’t carry my skins in my clothing, and am often (pretty much every day on a bike or skis for the past 10 weeks) working hard in damp conditions. For this specific use case I haven’t found anything that that works as well as my now aging and unstylish Salomon Windstopper XC ski jacket. With a trim, long, low back fit, light brushed lining, breathable panels, cut ventilation holes under the arms and down the back, and an old school PFAS DWR that is still going strong, worn over and under a variety (depending on conditions) of base layers and descending jackets, it’s by far the best jacket I’ve found for staying comfortable on the climb (on bike or skis) in damp conditions. Whereas if it’s dry (cold or mild) there are endless combinations (light fleece, softshell, wind shirt) that seems to work equivalently well. I would like to have tried (the now discontinued) Arc’teryx’s Proton Hybrid hoody, and Patagonia’s new Nano air ultralight freeride jacket seems similar (though with a baggy fit), but given how much heavy lifting the DWR does on these type of garments, I’m waiting for someone to develop a functional and long lasting post PFAS DWR before spending my hard earned cash replacing what I know actually works.

   • The regular NAUL (Nano Air Ultralight) DOESN’T have a baggy fit, you could give that one a shot…i love every aspect of it..it has got a better lower arm than the freeride version, is lighter and bit more comfy, takes less space in the backpack, is a bit cheaper and it looks quite cool too. Moreover the hood is a bit more fitted and comfy as well than the hood of the freeride version, which has pataguccis mountainbike lineup material…wether that material is sooo much better against wind or light precip, I mean I don’t know, but this piece is not a shell not even a light one anyway…but in stable dry midwinter-weather or even warmer spring days to start early into the day at low altitude when it’s still colder but as you get higher up the glacier you still can leave it on somehow even when the temperature rises. On the summit transition i leave it on, just throw the helio active shell on top and off i go, if the transition is wind exposed and colder i take the DAS light or both over the NAUL…Its a very good and versatile system. I originally bought the NAUL pullover but I found out that I need the cool hoodie…maybe the hero of the whole system, since I never experienced such a comfortable but just enough protection from any hood I’ve ever owned and I use the hood all the time…up, halfway up rather open or down depending on the wind goin up without a helmet…