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Patagonia Capilene 3 Vs. 4


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  • #1219855
    abdon gonzalez
    Member

    @abdonsillypages-com

    Locale: Misawa, Japan

    To summarize, Capilene garments come in three weights:

    Capilene 1 – 3.7 oz/yd2
    Capilene 2 – 4.0 oz/yd2
    Capilene 3 – 4.8 oz/yd2
    Capilene 4 – 5.3 oz/yd2

    The prices for the long sleve zipped versions are as follows:

    Capilene 2 – about $35
    Capilene 3 – about $40
    Capilene 4 – about $75

    Stupid question: is the extra .4 oz/yd of the #4 worth the 90% price increase over the #3? If you have owned both a #3 and a #4, would you please care to comment?

    #1364567
    abdon gonzalez
    Member

    @abdonsillypages-com

    Locale: Misawa, Japan

    The more I think about it, the more stupid it sounds. 90% price increase for a hair over 10% more insulation material…

    #1364569
    Miguel Arboleda
    BPL Member

    @butuki

    Locale: Kanto Plain, Japan

    Much as I love Patagonia designs I very rarely buy any of their stuff any more. The prices are totally ridiculous. Not only that, in the same way that computer software is limited in its regional distribution, I cannot buy Patagonia items online from countries outside Japan, where Patagonia prices are truly astronomical (for example in America the Men’s Stretch Element Jacket is $375.00. In Japan the same jacket goes for ¥51,975, or $437.00) Don’t ask me why.

    #1364570
    kevin davidson
    Member

    @kdesign

    Locale: Mythical State of Jefferson

    …. for yourself wholesale. Or near enough.

    That’s why not a few people make many of their Patagonia purchases through the P. site’s web specials, their big annual clearance sales, or through their factory outlet stores.

    Patience is eventually rewarded. At least that’s how it works out for me.

    #1364571
    Miguel Arboleda
    BPL Member

    @butuki

    Locale: Kanto Plain, Japan

    When I lived in the States I often drove up to Maine from Boston, on my way to the mountains, to drop by and cash in on the factory outlet deals. I know they must exist in Japan somewhere but my Japanese is not good enough to find out where, plus, since they are usually off the train routes along highways, and I don’t have a car, it’s hard to get to many of them. The online deals in the States are prohibited from being sold in Japan. It’s strange. Montane gear is also very expensive in Japan, but I have no trouble ordering it from abroad, at substantially reduced prices. Patagonia Japan doesn’t allow that. Again, don’t ask me why.

    #1364572
    abdon gonzalez
    Member

    @abdonsillypages-com

    Locale: Misawa, Japan

    This year my 8 years old daughter into snowboarding. My idea of snowboarding is backcountry so that’s where we are going to learn :). I’m trying to keep her as comfy and warm as possible, and the Capilene sounds like a good choice. Any other options for that kind of money would be welcome.

    The step of Capilene #2 to #3 makes sense: a 20% increase in fabric for less than 20% hike in price. As I have stated above, #3 to #4 is preposterous. Sounds like somebody said “Let’s add a smiget more fabric and double the price to see if anybody bites”.

    Miguel, where are you at? I’m in Misawa AFB, Aomori ken. I’m lucky enough to have access to USPS through the base.

    #1364573
    Joseph Rothstein
    Member

    @joe_r

    The more I think about it, the more stupid it sounds. 90% price increase for a hair over 10% more insulation material…

    The weight of the fabric alone doesn’t tell you how much insulation it provides. The construction of the #4 fabric might be such that it provides far more insulation than the #3, but you’d probably need to feel them side-by-side to check. For example, a microfleece layer gives a lot more insulation for a given weight than does a standard baselayer fabric. I agree that the price for the #4 is outrageous, but that’s what happens when you pay full price for Patagonia products.

    #1364574
    Miguel Arboleda
    BPL Member

    @butuki

    Locale: Kanto Plain, Japan

    Hi Abdon. I’m in Tokyo… a long way away from you! lol! I love Aomori, but, man, the winters are “c”o”l”d” there! Did you get a lot of snow last winter? I hear the whole Tohoku region was inundated with record snows. Niigata had 3 meters in one day last December!

    #1364575
    D P
    Member

    @dpenney

    To me, Capilene 3 feels more like a thick t-shirt material, whereas 4 is more of a fleece. If you recall the R.5 shirts, the material is similar/the same. I won’t comment on the prices, as I find Patagonia’s move towards recycling very honourable and I guess someone has to pay for that research ;)

    Although the website says that web specials are only for U.S. residents, I’ve taken advantage of those deals living outside the U.S. by ordering over the phone.

    #1364584
    JW
    BPL Member

    @litetrail

    There is a big difference in the two. Cap 3 is normal mid-weight base layer material a flat slightly waffled polyester. Cap 4 is Polartec Power Dry Grid which is smooth on the outside with 1/16″ square X 1/16″ tall grid squares on the inside. The result is a MUCH (IME) warmer piece with similar compressability and weight (hence the similor oz. per yard numbers). Also I feel the Power Dry is a superior product to capiline.

    The new Cap 4 is a fancy version of the old R.5 top. The new 4 has a chest pocket and anatomically cut sleeves and body. All crappy worthless updates that increased the weight of the item and bulk.

    Women’s R.5 tops are widely avail. on the web for closeout prices, so your daughter’s size might be out there for $30 instead of $75.

    #1364586
    Tom Clark
    BPL Member

    @tomclark

    Locale: East Coast

    Why not buy two cheaper/lighterweight tops? It might be warmer than the heavier top due to the heavier combined weight and the trapped air between the layers. It would definitely provide more flexibility.

    #1364591
    kevin davidson
    Member

    @kdesign

    Locale: Mythical State of Jefferson

    Miguel—there are 2 Patagonia outlet store in Japan. Osaka environs.
    http://www.patagonia.com/web/jp/patagonia.go?assetid=6553

    and Sapporo—if you venture that far North.
    http://www.patagonia.com/web/jp/patagonia.go?assetid=6554

    hope that helps.
    KD

    #1364602
    Miguel Arboleda
    BPL Member

    @butuki

    Locale: Kanto Plain, Japan

    Thanks, Kevin, for making the effort to look for that info. Unfortunately both places are a long way off (though I would give a lot to be up in Hokkaido right now!). I’ll check to see if it’s possible to mail order from them. If so, these are great leads! Thanks again.

    #1364633
    abdon gonzalez
    Member

    @abdonsillypages-com

    Locale: Misawa, Japan

    Dane, Jhaura, thanks for the r.5 info. Also thanks for the explanation on the 3 vs. the 4. Now it makes a bit more sense.

    I have been thinking about two small inner layers instead of a big one, but the Capilene 4 is not bulky at all. Me, I would not spend my money on it, but this is an 8 years old that I plan on taking backcountry where most people would not dare to thread.

    When Patagonia says “recycled”, are they talking post consumer recycled or plain old recycled fibers? If it is not post consumer, it means nothing.

    And Miguel, Where I am is pretty far up north but I don’t think it gets insanely cold up here. Temperatures rarely go bellow 20F during the day. Then again they rarely go above 30F. By most standards that is not particularly harsh, but then the winters wants to last forever, and so does the accumulated snow. This is in the low lands by the Pacific Ocean. Up in the mountains and to the coast of the Japan Sea gets a bit harsher. If you are into snowboarding, skiing, or just want to snowshoe the Hakoda volcano ridge, by all means let me know. It would not be an imposition; I’m always looking for an excuse to go :)

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