The neoshell thread

[GeezerSteve]

What softshells have you tried?

Many.

How many next-to-skin semi-VBs have you tried?

[Lindahl]

I've tried regular VBs. Not a fan, except for extreme cold and I need it to add warmth without bulk. I prefer being completely dry.

[Dry]

Knifeblade pants?

Patagonia BC Guide pants. Same material.

http://www.patagonia.com/us/product/...?p=83555-0-155

Neoshell? I have at least one jacket version from Westcomb (2), Marmot, Mammut, NW ALpine, Rab. They all perform as claimed. But not sure without going back to my notes...I don't think any of them are of the same fabrics.

Which is pretty neat as it allows you to pick and choose what you require for insulation in your water proof garment..

[JRainey]

Knifeblade pants?

[Lindahl]

Hahaha... she looked REALLY bored.

[Dry]

Original Knifeblade pullover is Polartec® Power Shield PRO and the BC pants are Polartec® Power Shield®. (corrected materials info see below) Great pants for dh skiing. Love them. Pull over is one of my favorite climbing shells. Good warm weather ski shell as well.

If the video is correct the newest Knifeblade jacket and Knifeblade pants are both Polartec® Power Shield PRO®. Even better I think for skiing. Undecided yet on the climbing end. Although the Northwall pants of Polartec® Power Shield PRO® have been good in really cold weather for skiing. Too much faff in the cuff for me as a climbing pant.

[JRainey]

Yeah, I was kind of hoping for some northwall pants w/o fleece.

I think the new BD Dawn Patrol Hybrid jacket looks pretty nice, with WBP through the front, shoulders, top or arms, then stretch woven on the back and sides. Seems like a better pattern than Patagonia's hybrid guide.

I like normal stretch woven for skiing, but I'm skiing in Europe now and lines are blurred between lift serve and touring. Stretch woven is just a little cold, I have to over insulate for lack of windproofness.

Not to be contrary, but I was under the impression that Power Shield "Pro" was developed for the knifeblade/northwall introduction. Also that this years BC Pants are Power Shield "Stretch Woven", which differs for traditional Power Shield in that it is a membrane-less fabric.

[Dry]

I was under the impression that Power Shield "Pro" was developed for the knifeblade/northwall introduction. Also that this years BC Pants are Power Shield "Stretch Woven", which differs for traditional Power Shield in that it is a membrane-less fabric.

You are correct. Thank you! Polartec has a multitude of fabric combinations. The first Power Shield PRO® I used were early samples of the Northwall pant and the Knifeblade 2 years ago now. I was wrong the current Knifeblade Pullover and the BC Guide pant are NOT the same material. You are right the BC Guide pant does not have the PRO membrane My apologies. And thanks again for pointing out my error.

[Lindahl]

Yeah, I was kind of hoping for some northwall pants w/o fleece.

I think the new BD Dawn Patrol Hybrid jacket looks pretty nice, with WBP through the front, shoulders, top or arms, then stretch woven on the back and sides. Seems like a better pattern than Patagonia's hybrid guide.

I like normal stretch woven for skiing, but I'm skiing in Europe now and lines are blurred between lift serve and touring. Stretch woven is just a little cold, I have to over insulate for lack of windproofness.

The BD jacket looks nice, but maybe try this, instead? Rather than wearing Powershield, toss a light nylon windshell on, underneath your stretch-woven. It gives you similar air permeability to Powershield, at a fraction on the price (difference of a few hundred dollars!). You get to have both a stretch woven and windshell this way - getting to use the stretch-woven alone for more traditional US-like tours (take off the highly packable windshirt when you start your long climb). The windshirt you can use seperately on it's own, as well. I find it great as a belay jacket for warm weather rock climbing, and as a great packable lightweight on-the-move warmth piece for hiking/backpacking.

I haven't tried this before, but I've run into your same problem on my legs, on nastier winter days (stretch-woven jackets have worked fine for me on those days, but I'm not in Europe). The numbers look right, as the CFMs are ~identical, and I intend to give this a try next season.

[le dog]

anyone tried the Golite Neoshell jacket? at 225$ (more or less the same in €) seems a real steal.

[verbier61]

For about that amount you could get the new rab nexus jacket. My rab neoshell stretch has been perfect so far and I am impressed

[XXX-er]

I bought the BD Dawn Patrol hybrid but then I went to the store next door and came upon the Marmot Nabu neoshell at 100$ off and less $ than the BD so took the BD back altho the BD had some nice features LOTS of pockets, the skin stashing inner pockets were nice looking

I hiked it around down in vancover and then wore the Marmot Nabu in the shower to test, the neo shell is totaly water proof, its been very warm for northern BC so I am getting wet skinning up while wearing it but I would get wet wearing anything even an xc skiing shell

Neo shell definatley breathes and is not as warm as a gortex shell while still being water proof, gona have to play with it some more

edit: I buy everything (hopefully on sale) that I write about

[kootenayskier]

My Patagonia Knifeblade pants are working well for ski touring. As with my Knifeblade pullover, the Powershield Pro membrane/fabric delivers excellent breathe-ability with functional wind and water proofing, and just the right balance of substance vs lightweight stretch. Designed for alpine climbing, but I appreciate the minimalism (no gaiters or superfluous pockets) for touring.

[Ted Striker]

anyone tried the Golite Neoshell jacket? at 225$ (more or less the same in €) seems a real steal.

For about that amount you could get the new rab nexus jacket. My rab neoshell stretch has been perfect so far and I am impressed

Yeah, the Rab is nice - if it fits. The cut of the neck on the Rab jackets I've tried on didn't work for me. My GoLite (not neoshell) jacket has a nice fit for a skinny guy.

EMS has a neoshell jacket now that's 200ish dollars.

[Cocximus]

First ascent neoteric pants look good. Neoshell with removable schoeller bib.

[robgoose]

Yeah, the Rab is nice - if it fits. The cut of the neck on the Rab jackets I've tried on didn't work for me. My GoLite (not neoshell) jacket has a nice fit for a skinny guy.

EMS has a neoshell jacket now that's 200ish dollars.

Any one have a chance to compare the ems helix to the more pricey neoshells?

[MrSmith]

Any one have a chance to compare the ems helix to the more pricey neoshells?

Heavy. And I recall it lacking some features I desired, though I can't remember what. It was a while ago.

[robgoose]

So Grubbs -- is the Helix full-zip heavier than the anorak? worth it as a ski softshell?

[robgoose]

Right -- I knew that (I think) back when this thread started
Lol

[cinnepa]

For about that amount you could get the new rab nexus jacket. My rab neoshell stretch has been perfect so far and I am impressed

how's the RAB sizing go, need to step up 1?

[cinnepa]

First ascent neoteric pants look good. Neoshell with removable schoeller bib.

tried them on and they're money, come in tall sizes too - just waiting for the price to drop some.

[verbier61]

how's the RAB sizing go, need to step up 1?

Fwiw, I have always an L for norrona haglofs mammut and Rab, and between an M and an L for patagonia and flylow... Hope it helps

[retirwntm]

Euro sizing to me has always been tighter in the body, chest and shoulders, longer in the arms than US sizing. Apparently mericans are fatter and have shorter arms.

[werdswerf]

Anyone here have experience with Flylow's neoshell line (Lab Coat and Compound Pant)? I'm wondering about the durability of Flylow's version of this fabric. Any delam or "bubbling" issues like with the Westcomb Shift?

[XXX-er]

I hiked it around down in vancover and then wore the Marmot Nabu in the shower to test, the neo shell is totaly water proof, its been very warm for northern BC so I am getting wet skinning up while wearing it but I would get wet wearing anything even an xc skiing shell

Neo shell definatley breathes and is not as warm as a gortex shell while still being water proof, gona have to play with it some more

edit: I buy everything (hopefully on sale) that I write about

So I got a couple of months on this piece wearing most every day some of it in very cold weather, it breathes like a heavier soft shell so at -10C to -20C it works well with just a base layer, no durability issues ... i'm liking neo shell