(no subject)

[shapinglight]

Have been trying to revise my plot_wout_porn story. Haven't finished but eyes are hurting. Have to stop.

A question, though, to all you kind Americans on my flist:

What do you call anoraks (hiking jackets) in the US? I mean the real heavy duty ones a mountaineer might wear. And what about rucksacks? Are they rucksacks? Packs? Something else?

Any info gratefully received.

Comments

[antennapedia.livejournal.com]

I'd probably call a serious rain/snow jacket a "parka". I'd know what a rucksack was, but I'm more likely to call it a "backpack" or maybe a "pack" if it was a particularly geek or technical piece of hiking gear.

[shapinglight]

Good to know. Thank you.

[tx-cronopio.livejournal.com]

Yep, parka (although that implies it's used in freezing temps) and backpack. NEVER rucksack :)

[shapinglight]

Thanks. Parka and pack seem like the words to go for.

[twilightofmagic.livejournal.com]

Backpack for the backpack. Hiking jackets are just called jackets, but might be a down jacket or a hiking jacket, I guess. Sorry, not much help. Definitely not an anorack.

[shapinglight]

Judging by this thread, most people think parka. Which is probably better for my purposes as it's shorter.

Anorak - obviously only in use over here.

[twilightofmagic.livejournal.com]

A parka is specific to snow travel though. Is that the environment you have your character in?

[shapinglight]

It is, so that's fine.

[whichclothes.livejournal.com]

Yeah. Definitely parkas and backpacks.

Can't wait to see it!

[shapinglight]

That's three in favour of parkas and packs. Hope it won't disappoint.

[rebcake.livejournal.com]

I third (fourth?) the parka and backpack contingent. If you really wanna sound fancy, you can refer to the parka as a gore-tex® jacket or coat, but that's for folks in the Pacific Northwest or other outdoorsy types, and refers to a particular breathable waterproof fabric favored by the serious. Also, a pack usually means the big, multiple day backpacking pack, while a backpack would more normally mean a day-trip sized bag or school bag worn on the back.

Ask me anything! I owe you several!

[shapinglight]

Thanks for the differentiation between backpack and pack. That's very helpful. I'll probably stick with parka as being more generic (and quick).

[2maggie2.livejournal.com]

Backpack for sure. But parka -- does imply for snow; and it has a hood. And while I didn't get deep into the climbing community, I did spend a few years around it. I don't recall people talking about parkas, even if they were going ice-climbing. Here's the link to Patagonia (outdoor clothing firm that's popular among climbers) for the alpine climbing page. No parkas:

http://www.patagonia.com/web/us/shop/alpine-climbing?k=3f

But definitely not an anorak, either. Down jackets.

[shapinglight]

Thanks for the link, Maggie, though I think I'll probably stick with parka, if only because it's quicker.

[deird1]

*tilts head*

How interesting. Apparently, in this case, Aussies use the American terms...

[kassto.livejournal.com]

Yeah, here in NZ we use the Yankee terms too — pack (the big one for many days) and parka. But we call it tramping.

[shapinglight]

Tramping?

[kassto.livejournal.com]

As in tramping=hiking=bushwalking=walking

[shapinglight]

I've got Waltzing Matilda on the brain now - which I'm sure was not your intention.

[shapinglight]

Whereas Brits wander merrily off in their own direction.

[shipperx.livejournal.com]

I'm Southern so that may impact it since generally coats are a rarity in the first place, but I can't think of a specific word for those jackets. It's usually just "coat" or "jacket" or, at most, "ski jacket" (if it's down) or 'fleece jacket' if it's fleece.

And it's usually just backpack or pack.

[shapinglight]

Thanks. So far, parka and pack seem like the favourites.

[owenthurman.livejournal.com]

If it's just for rain (no heavy insulation) it's a shell rather than a parka. People who don't play hard outdoors would probably just call all of the above jackets or coats.

[shapinglight]

It's for really difficult snow conditions, so judging what people say here, I shall go with parka.

[http://users.livejournal.com/mad_brilliant_/]

Anorak is a jacket or coat. Unless! It's lined with fur and has a hood and is meant for extremely cold and snowy weather, then it's called a parka.

And then there's the backpack. :)

[shapinglight]

Thanks. I think that makes 'parka' and 'pack' pretty much the unanimous choices.