Recommend a lightweight softshell

[Kai]

Patagonia Houdini.

3 ounces.

I never use my heavy softshell any more for skiing.

[Ski to Be]

You can't go wrong with most of the suggestions. Shells are so good now. I have had the best luck with Marmot and Arctyrex. It depends on the conditions. I wear a patagonia capiline base layer and that is it and have a spare dry one to change into at the top. I just add a super light shell if it is raining/snowing. I have the Alpha SV Arcteryx and I love it. Also Arcteryx stuff is pricey but it is bulletproof. You will get tired of the jacket before the jacket gets tired.

[XXX-er]

Windstopper Active next-to-skin works best for the sweatiest of the sweaty. I'm a ubersweaty Viking and I've been wearing a MH Transition Jacket hoodie next-to-skin for the past three touring seasons. Works great from 5F to 40F when moving (e.g., skinning, hiking, scrambling) so long as I use the zipper to vent. During breaks I layer over it and it quickly bakes dry. Best touring base layer I've ever used by a mile. People can't figure out how to use next-to-skin stuff so MH quit making it. Fuck.

Based on what steve has written in the past I been doing more with less this season so at asulkan hut it was -30C and I was wearing a patagonnia acsenstionist with 1 smart wool base layer and I was fine of course the big puffy went on soon as I stopped

then for a rando event where I did 10,000ft over nite in temps between freezing and -10C I tried wearing JUST the ascentionist with no base layer and I was definatley warm enough & more comfy

unfortunatley the acsenionist whjich I truly loved shit the bed when I washed it last week ... all the seams fell apart

[hopelesslyadolescent]

In the Sierra, I rarely need more than a thin base layer (prefer merino zip-neck) and a very light windshirt. Used to use Marmot DriClime, but prefer a thin, stretchy softshell like the Stoic Microlith pullover. Very thin, lightweight, breathes great, keeps the wind and light moisture off and tough as nails. I have a variety of softshell jackets of varying thickness and windproofness, but when I'm climbing the windshirt is usually all that's necessary, then can pull something insulated on when stopping or on top of the ridge.

[bbense]

bump this thread looking for any new opinions, experiences, etc had this season? what are people liking the most? others sticking with their tried and true?

I bought the Westcomb hybrid jacket ( Schoeller Dryskin with Event shoulders )

http://www.rei.com/product/804461/we...:referralID=NA

I haven't had the chance to test it in a really big dump, but for everything else I really like it. It provides just enough extra windbreak w/o compromising breathablity.

[JRainey]

I got the arcteryx gamma sl hybrid, for spring touring and it's been pretty nice. It's lighter weight than almost any other option beside the houdini or something like that. Stretch woven on the shoulders and outer arms, then slightly stretchy nylon wind breaker material everywhere else. Not the best when wet snow is falling, but for everything else it's fine.

I wanted something I could wear over a base layer to beat wind and snow while skinning, but not get sweaty. I didn't want vents, I just wanted breathable material. This works perfectly for what I need. It cuts 80%-90% of wind with a base layer on. The uber stretch in the shoulders and arms is great for movement. I've been crashing through tree branching for three weeks and it's doing fine. I even had a bout with some razor sharp boulders that turned out fine.

It's expensive for what it is, but I did a lot of research and it was hard to find: Light (13oz), non-fleeced, stretchy. So i'm pretty happy with the purchase.

[auvgeek]

I bought the Westcomb hybrid jacket ( Schoeller Dryskin with Event shoulders )

http://www.rei.com/product/804461/we...:referralID=NA

I haven't had the chance to test it in a really big dump, but for everything else I really like it. It provides just enough extra windbreak w/o compromising breathablity.

This has been my go-to ski jacket for the past few years. It was a huge step up from my full gore-tex jacket - first time I fully understood that you could wear less, sweat less, and be warmer (ETA: I rarely wear this skinning up, just in the resort or skiing down). Really love it, but I'd probably go with the neoshell if I were buying new - lighter and supposedly more weatherproof. The Spectre LT is a very similar (technical) fit while the Apoc is a little baggier. (I'm 5'11", 165# and usually wear a medium.)

The Skeena has a thin layer of merino wool as a lining. I would not be my choice if I were going for Big Steve's approach (which I'd like to try out, incidentally).

Edit: Only con is the back can get a bit cold if you're not wearing a backpack and it's windy.

[mposa]

mammut ultimate softshell hoody has awesome ventilation (elbow to hem zips).

Seconded. Love this jacket for breathability. The windstopper fabric is not very water resistant, however.

[hopelesslyadolescent]

Can't beat the hybrids for cold, stormy, windy days. I have hybrids from Arcteryx, Westcomb, and Patagonia, and they're much better in the Sierra than a hardshell. W/B shoulders, arms and hoods keep them from wetting out and the softshell bodies breathe so much better. Best of both worlds unless it's nearly raining. All three are different, though. Patagonia is much burlier, tighter softshell weave, so it's my usual resort shell. Westcomb is the lightest, so I use it in the bc on storm days. But most days in the Sierra, a thin base layer and light but tightly woven windshirt does the trick, even if it's cold.

[JRainey]

Seconded. Love this jacket for breathability. The windstopper fabric is not very water resistant, however.

It's not really that breathable either. You could say obsolete, but some people don't want even a tickle from the wind.

[I've seen black diamonds!]

Could anyone comment on the breathability of Nylon (Patagonia) vs. Polyester (Marmot) windshirts? I use a Driclime vest as much as any piece of clothing, but recent string of windy, 32 degree and snowing days had me wanting something with sleeves, a hood and no insulation.

[North]

Bumping for spring '13.

I'm looking for something to replace my Flylow Kung Fu for spring touring. I was never overly impressed with the Fu, but it worked well enough when I was low on funds in college.

Unlike most in this thread I don't run particularly hot or cold, probably in the middle. FWIW my winter jacket is GoreTex ProShell. I usually wear this over a thin baselayer and a cashmere midlayer. Works for me for 90% of CO winter tours. On the up pits zips and front zip are mostly open, no hat.

I was originally thinking NeoShell, based on some of Lou D's reviews of the Westcomb Shift and good reviews on the Rab Stretch Neo, but it sounds like Neo is just a better breathing hardshell fabric?

I picked up a Westcomb Focus LT (eVent DVL) on a whim, but it seems pretty thin - worried about durability.

Any fabrics or specific jackets I should be looking at?

[Lindahl]

Outdoor Research Ferrosi is my mild weather softshell. Kickass jacket. About as light and breathable as it gets. I like the Marmot Tempo for a winter or winter-like spring softshell, since more layers can fit under it. Not a fan of Windstopper, Powershield or other membrane softshells. I'd rather just layer a fleece under the Tempo, or a well-vented hardshell. Lighter and more flexible.

[Andeh]

I picked up a Black Diamond Dawn Patrol LT jacket on sale at the SLC BD store while visiting, and so far it seems pretty awesome. It's Schoeller NanoSphere fabric, and seems to repel water/wet snow extremely well, in addition to breathing WAY better than my old GoreTex 3L shell.

So far I've used it 1 day with heavy precip (mixed wet snow / snow, temps. ~34-28), 1 day cold & partly cloudy (mid 20s), 1 day warm & windy (mid 30s-40), and 1 day cool & clear (low 30s). The day with precip I skinned up with it on (and a Merino 2 shirt under), and the only wet spot I had on me at the top was my lower back, where I had my GoreTex Pro bibs under the Dawn Patrol with my pack pressing against it. The wet precip just beaded off as well as the GoreTex Pro bibs. It has a pretty athletic cut, but I have no problems wearing a Merino shirt and an R1 fleece jacket underneath.

I liked it so much I picked up a pair of the Dawn Patrol Touring pants on clearance as well.

[NWSkier]

I'm also in a OR ferossi for warm spring tours and colder hiking/running. Pretty impressed with waterproofing so far for how light it is. Breathability and weight are up there too. It doesn't have adjustable cuffs or pit zips (later isn't nessisary with as breathable as it is) but its an great around jacket for the northwest

[XXX-er]

since the acensionist fell apart I have had a light mountain hardware a light MEC which both shit the bed, got warranty to buy a light BD and A Marmot neoshell

IME on a continuim the heavier stuff is more expensive/breathes less well the lighter stuff is cheaper/breathes better ... I wouldn't overthink this stuff

it sure would be nice if they put breast pockets in the lighter cheaper stuff but I think they are cutting every pocket/button/cord lock/ zipper ect to get that price down

[Micol]

Please take a look at our made in Colorado garments fully seam taped.
I apologize for not having more selection but we have sold about 97%
of all the speculative garments we made for the season.

[Charmander]

Scott has 4 or 5 options, they're all well priced, light, breathable and stretchy.

Worth a look anyways.