GORE-TEX Active Shell on Test at the 3 Peaks Yacht Race

We sent Stu Pitches from www.facewest.co.uk one of our new Firelite GORE-TEX Active Shell Jackets to test a few months ago and he's been giving it a good workout! Below are his thoughts and experiences from the recent 3 Peaks Yacht Race where he finished second:

I have had a Firelite Jacket for a few months now but due to the amazingly dry spring we have had, I have had a lot more time to appreciate it's light weight rather than it's bad weather performance.

Luckily last week was the 3 Peaks Yacht Race where I had plenty of oppportunity to do both. The race started in Barmouth and leg one was a brief 4 hour sail to Caernarfon. From there an 18 mile run to Snowdon and back via Llanberis. In the valley the weather wasn't too bad but as we ascended it got worse and worse, by the top visibility was less than 5 metres and the rain was near horizontal. The Firelite performed well, keeping all the elements out, but one point is that Activ Shell is not very warm. Even though it blocks all the wind, the thinness of the fabric, lack of backing and generally a lack of midlayer means much heat is conducted away. If you are cold when you put on a superlight shell jacket, dont expect to warm up much. As we descended into Llanberis, I was reluctant to remove my shell and I found the membrane performance good. After reaching the road in Llanberis I was back to running in a base layer and the Firelite went back into the sack.

After another 24 hours sailing we reached Whitehaven. First a bike from Whitehaven to Ennerdale Youth Hostel which started off wet so I left the boat wearing the Firelite but it didn't turn into much, so much of the cycle was done with the front zip undone as venting, and I was pretty sweat free on arrival at Gillerthwaite. The tabbed cuffs also allow you to push the sleeves up to your elbows which gets rid of a surprising amount of heat. The run over Black Sail Pass, down to Wasdale and up to Scafell Pike (and of course back again) were done with the jacket in my bag. With 1500m of climbing on this 6 hour leg I was keen not to be carrying any excess baggage. Just knowing you have the lightest selection of kit possible gives you a bit of a mental boost and perhaps more importantly doesn't nag at you when you are feeling rough.

Another 36 hours of sailing and we were docking in Fort William for the final leg. For the first time we would be running in daylight. Unusually for scotland it was a clear, dry and still evening, so again it was the weight of the Firelite that was it's greatest asset. Shell jackets of this nature are destined to be carried more than worn. An ideal trip is where the seriousness of the situation demands proper shell clothing but that clothing never leaves your bag. A glorious run up and down the Ben saw us overhaul the team in front to take 2nd place. After 80 hours of continous racing the top 3 teams were separated by less than 3 hours.