Soft Shells - Anyone own one?

[leatherneck]

What sort of soft shell do you own and what conditions do you use them in. Thinking of purchasing an Arc-Teryx Gamma. Any recommendations?

[James]

I've got a Patagonia. In mild met weather it's great on its own, and it works well as a layer in colder wet weather.

[Waterman]

I have a Patagonia one as well.

As long as you are not in a downpour, or in the rain for an extended period of time, it works great.

I have found that the DWR (durable water resistant coating) on the fabric needs to be redone about every year. This coating causes the water to bead up and run off the fabric rather than penetrating it. Once the DWR is shot, you will get wet faster. Redoing it costs about $10 for the materials and about an hour of time.

I have been happy with mine.......

I still use a hard shell rain jacket for extended time in the rain. The softshell gets the call on the "variable conditions" days.

[Sneeker]

Yeah Ive got a couple from Mountain Equipment Coop. www.mec.ca (http://www.mec.ca).

this is the one i wear every day http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524442618975&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302698749&bmUID=1203240390284.

Its like a fleece but its wind proof and water resistant. I've worn it every day pretty much except for the summer time even in -30 weather (as a top layer). Very durable. Very affordable. Im very happy with it. it going to be my next jacket once I wear this one out.

Mec has a pretty good selection for this stuff even pangora jackets.

[punchinout]

this is a North Face Bionic...i really like it, pretty light, good insulation. good mobility. i can stick a full size 1911 under there in a Galco combat master and its hard to see...well minor bulge next to my beer gut.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v602/punchinout18/HPIM0677.jpg

[vyderka]

I've got ORC's PCU. It sees lots of use: from everyday use in the town when it's getting colder here to hiking in nearby mountains. It breaths really well, is really windproof, works fine in light showers (but wets through after longer exposition on water), water beads on it without any need to renew DWR (it's one of EPIC features- fabric repells water without a need to nikwax it, just wash'n'go).
That's it:
http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/1672/pcusoftshellao9.th.jpg (http://img204.imageshack.us/my.php?image=pcusoftshellao9.jpg)

[aaronlow]

Hi there! What do you want to use the soft-shell for? I have the Gamma MX and love it. I think of soft-shells for use in colder temps (so it's probably not going to rain) where breathability is a must - hence the advantage over a hard shell. In the backcountry, the Gamma MX rocks. You might want to also check out Westcomb. They're another Vancouver-based company, but unlike Arc'Teryx, ALL of their stuff is made in Vancouver and is slightly cheaper than Arc'Teryx. They use eVent which is a lot more breathable than Gore-Tex and they offer softshells made of Powershield and various Schoeller fabrics. This year, they're coming out with a new model, the "Skeena" which sounds intriguing - a super breathable eVent soft shell material that will be super water-resistant (way more than the Gamma MX's powershield) bonded to a merino wool wicking layer. Stay away from Windstopper - it doesn't breathe nearly as well as Powershield or Dryskin/WB-400.

[Ubar]

I really like the idea of a Beyond softshell, but they havent replied to my emails asking if they can do their Cold Fusion jacket in olive green material... (I have seen other products made of Schoeller WB400 in green but its not an option offered on the Beyond page)

http://beyondclothing.com/customize/cold-fusion-tactical-jacket/

Has anyone dealt with Beyond, would it be best to phone them?

[Albatross]

I have a North Face S/S. The thing is awesome, I can use it all winter. (NORCAL winter mind you.) I also have a cheap outer shell from Cabela's that I throw on when it rains. Taken it to tahoe numerous times, only problem I have ever had is when the snow was melting and I was eating sh!t a lot. It soaked thru, but in mild rain it still works very very well.

[Silent 6]

I have a columbia that I bought a year ago. I use it for hiking and general wear when I don't want the weight and bulk of a heavier coat. The "skin" is fairly resistant, except to small embers, I burned a tiny hole in the skin standing near a campfire. It's gone through heavy brush, thorns, etc. Most conditions you'd find in a regular hiking conditions you'd find in Michigan.

I love the thing and wear it quite often.

[James]

I really like the idea of a Beyond softshell, but they havent replied to my emails asking if they can do their Cold Fusion jacket in olive green material... (I have seen other products made of Schoeller WB400 in green but its not an option offered on the Beyond page)

http://beyondclothing.com/customize/cold-fusion-tactical-jacket/

Has anyone dealt with Beyond, would it be best to phone them?

I've got a set of utilities I ordered from them via internet. It was EASY.

[Waterman]

I have two custom Beyond Fleece windstopper fleece jackets, and I have been very happy with them, and I wear them alot, and in a variety of conditions.

A lot of jackets don't fit me well (it's the swimmer build: long arms and big shoulders with a not equally as long torso), so having them make one up to my measurements has been great, enough material where I need it, and not an excess where I don't.

I would love to get a custom Beyond Softshell, but at $400 with all the options that I want, I have been holding off. Maybe over the summer when my income is a little more generous.

In the past, I have found them to be good at answering emails. If you are looking for a green jacket, check their "tactical" section: I think the address is: www.beyondtactical.com.

[Ubar]

It was in their tactical section I was looking, but apparently that only means Tan or Black...

[slobo]

I like my my OG Sleeka Softie from the UK. Got it before the Pound went through the ceiling on a biz trip over there. I too also like the ORC PCU. Also have a Patagonia-made ECWCS III ACU windjacket from when they were protoyped and tested by the 10th Mountain in Afghan. I don't know if Patagonia is making the current issue production version but from the photos I've seen, the details look the same. Just don't know if the fabric or production quality's changed any.

[scrybe]

Currently have a North Face Bionic. I like it for light use around town, but it's too thin to put up with much abuse. The sleeves particullarly. I find that it doesn't stand up to wind or cold as well as the Columbia Titanium that it replaced. I prefer the fit of the North Face, but still wear the Columbia when I'm out in the woods and the temperature really drops.

[Irish_11]

Ive got a North Face Bionic too, its a lighter weight model than Punch's its great in the fall/spring and in the rain. Perfect in Seattle. Ive got a Columbia Titanium for the winter that's got some insulation to it. Its nice for backpacking since the pockets are set higher so you can use them with a waist belt on.

[Herrmannek]

I have "feelfree" soft hell but I don't know how to use it and what to expect from it... Don't know the brand. I just walked into the shop and left with it.. pure impulse buy.... I used it this summer for pretty everything, because it was only long sleeve blouse i took with me. I know one thing for sure if you are on the watch there is clean night sky, you wear just t-shirt and this jacket you will start cracking your teeth... It protects well from the wind(tested), not really sure about the rain, it keeps warm when wet but I think it was never meant to be waterproof, but I'm not really sure. Its not enough to warm you up, take warm polar or other insulation with you... I've paid 269zł with is 120$

[Andy S]

I was given a Black Warrior Ops Jacket along with the trainng jacket for under it. Love it and i'm not a fan of Black Hawk. I also have the 5.11 one, an MC and a couple of others but my Blackhawk one is very nice, warm yet cool and pretty waterproof.

http://www.blackhawk.com/product1.asp?P=82OJ&C=C1371