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Striker Jacket Zipper Vents


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Just finished up 8 hours in the Striker suit over the weekend at the Extravaganza. I noticed it before, but we haven't had the cold and wind like we did on Saturday. I had a TON of air blowing in through the pit zips, to the point it felt like I was going to get frost bite on my shoulder blades. I took the jacket off to make sure the zippers were completely closed (they were). Has anyone else had this problem?

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There's the lite version and then the heavy. The lite version breaths better so you don't roast like a pig in your own clothing. I fish inside 85% of the time so the lite version works for me. My brother has the heavy b/c he likes hole hoping a lot and says he sometimes sweat.

I notice it too under the pitt and think that's normal. My brother's doesn't have that issue and roast like a pig.

I think that's how its design....but now you got me wondering???

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Venting and breathability are not the same thing. Any material can be made more breathable by putting more perforations in it .... but that also makes it not as warm, and not as waterproof.

Vents and zippers do not make a garment breathable, they are a way to get around breathability by letting warm air out (or cold air in). If cold air is coming in through your zipper vents then they're doing what they're designed to do ......

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I would contact Striker. If your getting wind in the zipper when closed there is something goofy there. I have the regualr striker suit and have had the zipper in the pits open most of the year. Its been so warm this year I only have closed the zippers a few times. Snowmobiling was one. I have had no issues with feeling wind in my regular suit. In fact its so warm I often dont wear the jacket, especially when walking my ice house out.

So far the only issue I have had with my suit is the snaps are too light and a few have popped out. No big deal but something they are aware they need to improve on.

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If the zippers do not have wind flaps then they are going to let cold air whip right through the zipper seams when the wind picks up.. That would not be a good design for something that is supposed to be designed to be wind proof.

Good thing my Frabill SnoSuit has wind flaps otherwise it would be pointless to wear during windy and cold conditions... which is why I bought it in the first place.

Sort of like.. buying a raincoat that is not waterproof... pointless.

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Well yes, zippered areas won't be as well insulated, especially without a wind flap. But to say the wind is just going to whip right through is a bit of an overstatement. Your arms are covering most of the zipper unless you are doing a lot of "raising the roof" to celebrate the big fish you are catching. cool

Most portable Canvas type houses don't have a wind flap over the zipper. and the cold wind doesn't blow right through. In fact they look similar to the the vents here on the Jacket:

69e57cbc.jpg

So does the SnoSuit have "flaps" over the zippered area on the vents? I cannot find a picture.

I can say that I haven't had any issues at all with mine, in fact I haven't even closed the vent zippers yet and I've spent a couple full days on the ice in low teen temps and taken a few snowmobile rides. I just keep em unzipped all the time.

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I certainly understand that a zipper isn't going to be exactly the same as highly insulated material. I didn't just fall off the turnip truck...

The fact of the matter is that I own 7 outdoor jackets, and I don't have this problem with any of them. I am very happy with the suit, but these zippers aren't gonna work for me, and it probably isn't going to work for a lot of people. I'd rather save someone else the $400 if this is a consistent problem. If not a consistent problem, all I want is a new jacket that doesn't leak. I spend a ton of time fishing outside at below zero temps, and I'm not interested in being cold.

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I have not noticed the wind coming thru mine yet and I think I would have noticed already while driving the wheeler out fishing. I will be on grindstone Sat with the wheeler and will pay close attention and let you know. If it's going to happen that should do it with the position of my arms on the handle bars and no windshield. Maybe you got some bad zippers or stitching on your suit.

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I'm curious to hear what Striker (or wherever you bought it) might have to say about your issue. Maybe there is some sort of defect with your coat or something.

I know quite a few people now that have this coat and this is the first I've heard of frostbite like sensation from the zippered vent.

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OP did mention that he noticed this issue on a day where it was extremely cold and windy... which is exactly the reason he bought his suit in the first place.. for protection on days just like that day... he didn't buy it or wear it for a 40 degree day in winter... on days like that.. none of us would need an extreme weather suit.

Point being is that a raincoat should be rainproof.. a windproof jacket should be designed in a way that it will perform in windy conditions meaning it has to be windproof.. that is reasonable expections of the product.

I have been in some other lesser made jackets and suits while driving the boat at 20-25 mph on an early and chilly fall or spring morning and can say for sure that if you don't have wind flaps then you're gonna be cold cause the wind will find it's way right in through the zippers at those speeds regardless of how much insulation you might have elsewhere on the jacket. I am sure the OP was experiencing the same thing out on the ice in those windy conditions.

I don't own or have ever used the Striker suit so I don't have any personal experience with this but I can say that this would be one of the concerns I would have about any jacket purchased for this application.

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  DTro said:
I'm curious to hear what Striker (or wherever you bought it) might have to say about your issue. Maybe there is some sort of defect with your coat or something.

I know quite a few people now that have this coat and this is the first I've heard of frostbite like sensation from the zippered vent.

Here is the response from Striker:

"I'm not sure how to respond to this since it's a vent! Do you have them

zipped completely shut? The zippers not only have exterior storm flaps, but

fabric taping on the inside. The only other option would be to use a

waterproof zip and that wouldn't work due to the severe bend angle and

discomfort you would feel from the stiffness of the zipper. I'm not sure

what I can do for you."

I looked closely at this last night, and it doesn't appear to me that there is any obvious defect or misalignment with the sewing, flaps, or zipper. I think the trouble is that it just isn't a very tightly sealed zipper like some. A chain is only as strong as it's weakest link, and the weak link in this jacket is the air/wind coming in through the zipper (when completely closed). Everything else is incredibly warm and well designed.

As mentioned by the next poster, I purchased the regular (not lite) version of the suit for the coldest of cold weather....-3O (or colder) in Canada lake trout fishing while sitting on a bucket. The fact that I was absolutely freezing at around 0degrees doesn't give me a whole lot of hope for staying warm in a lot colder weather.

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From the Manufacturer:

The underarm vents are a common feature in snowmobile jackets and other winter performance outerwear, including our own Lake Effect and Striker lines. We have not heard of any significant problems with underarm vents unless the user forgets to close the zippers. As far as air leakage is concerned, this design is good enough for snowmobilers riding 60+ MPH at sub-zero temps so we figured that they would be fine for ice fishing. These zip vents do not have closure flaps because they would be less comfortable due binding under the arm. Furthermore, access would be more difficult if there was a cover flap. This could be addressed by using a waterproof zipper, but these also would be less comfortable. There may be some trade offs involved but we feel strongly that the positives far outweigh the negatives.

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I sat out in 25 to 40 mph winds yesterday for 3 hours and had no issues with air getting through my zippers. I even lifted my arms up and tried to let air in. Yes a bit came in but nothing that would even come close to causing me to blame the zippers. Truthfully Im glad them zippers are there because 99% of this year I have had them open.

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Back in january I was out on one of the colder days we had this year, high singles low double digits with 15-20mph wind. With the regular floating striker suit, I had zero issues with air leakage through closed pit zips. I was sitting on a bucket, no shelter, back to the wind. I may keep my arms tucked in, I may not, wasn't paying attention.

I never paid attention to the pit zips until I read this thread and had to take a look at my jacket to see just where they were.

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I was out this past Saturday in 10-15mph winds, light snow and hole hopping. I had only a mid weight base layer top and bottom on my regular Striker Ice suit (floating).

With the wind to my side and back at certain times I do feel some cold coming through the under arm zipper. However at the same time I was giving off minor sweat from activity.

I wasnt too concern as if I had probably a heavy weight or pull over fleece sweater on too I likely woulda have felt nothing.

But having pros and cons I actually welcome the zipper vents as I feel it has more of an advantage being able to allow circulation in the event I get too warm.

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Up to 60 mph on my snowmobile this past weekend and had no problems with feeling any wind through my Striker Suit. Actually drove through a small snow/wind storm and was toasty all the way home. Others in the party were saying how cold they got when the winds picked up.

After them seeing my suit and how warm I was a few of them are ordering suits of their own.

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