Soft Shell Question

[bolt_clipper]

Patagonia dimension seems real nice. The cut is awesome, and the fabric is heavy (7! oz), so it will be real durable. Sure, it's $225, but from what I've heard it works great. Oh, by the way, don't buy the Essenshell jacket, as the hood sucks, no way to get the thing to fit over a helmet. Otherwise, sew your own with a microfiber shell and fleece lining.

[RobBob]

So...what other soft shells are good at a reasonable price? Something in the <$200 department. Or how low will those prices drop in the coming months? 50% might be worth it, but 25% is not worth waiting for to me at this point... Any advice?

[Bronco]

quote:

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Originally posted by bolt clipper:

Patagonia dimension seems real nice. The cut is awesome, and the fabric is heavy (7! oz), so it will be real durable. Sure, it's $225, but from what I've heard it works great. Oh, by the way, don't buy the Essenshell jacket, as the hood sucks, no way to get the thing to fit over a helmet. Otherwise, sew your own with a microfiber shell and fleece lining.

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You should be able to phone order one from their Dillon MT outlet store for about $180. Phone # is on the Patagucci website.

[AlpineTortoise]

As best I can tell the whole point of the soft shell "push" is that you:

1. Look good

2. Get to spend big bucks so you think that you have gotten the latest technology.

3. Have a water resistant, breathable shell that doesn't sound like a shower curtain every time you move.

 

But really? In the mountains? Wind DOES pass right through and they do not insulate, so you need to use additional insulation. The applications where this material might be useful is under strenuous activities like fast cross-country skiing or hiking up some steep hill with a heavy pack in the trees. But once you break out of the trees or get up on a ridge and the wind hits, you realize that you have been had by the manufacturers marketing machine. In essence you are wearing a useless additional layer.

It seems like an alternative compared to the $500+ they are charging for some of the goretex parkas nowdays, but don't fall for it. I would agree with some of the other gear opinions from this site and look to cheaper stores for fleece. Just hit it with some water repellant NickWax. But for your rock climbing exploits, I really don't know what material is tough for that?

Yes, as I age, I am becoming a cheap old fart.

[wdietsch]

quote:

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Originally posted by AlpineTortoise:

As best I can tell

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Mr. Alpine Tortoise,

What personal experience do you have with "soft shell" fabrics?

 

Sincerely,

 

Wes

[cj001f]

quote:

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Originally posted by Bronco:

quote:

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Originally posted by bolt clipper:

Patagonia dimension seems real nice. The cut is awesome, and the fabric is heavy (7! oz), so it will be real durable. Sure, it's $225, but from what I've heard it works great. Oh, by the way, don't buy the Essenshell jacket, as the hood sucks, no way to get the thing to fit over a helmet. Otherwise, sew your own with a microfiber shell and fleece lining.

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You should be able to phone order one from their Dillon MT outlet store for about $180. Phone # is on the Patagucci website.

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They've been on special at the Outlets for as low as $99

[wdietsch]

Anyone have any experience with the Mountain Hardwear Alchemy Jacket and/or Gore Windstopper Trango fabric?

[bolt_clipper]

Yeah, my forearms are too big for the arms even in size XXL.

[Dr_Flash_Amazing]

DFA tried the Alchemy on at REI the other day, just to check it out (not exactly "experience" but whatever). It did fit kinda funky, but the Windstopper Trango seems bomber as hell. Like Powershield, basically, but fleecier inside.

[bolt_clipper]

Post deleted by bolt_clipper

[Dr_Flash_Amazing]

Very funny, trad man. And you only wear wool knickers or painter's pants, right?

 

Incidentally, DFA did actually buy some Prana shorts a while back, but they don't stretch, which is pretty lame, and they bunch up all to hell under a harness. Metolius clothing all the way. And, as you astutely point out, a down jacket. Standing around in the cold is cold!

[bolt_clipper]

Post deleted by bolt_clipper

[Lambone]

Ok, bickerers...stay on topic here or go bicker at eachother in Spray.

 

I have always been impressed with how windproof schoeler fabric is. I've had a pair of Pat. Talus pants for years and they still work great.

 

I'm not sold on the jacket concept though. They seem to heavy. I like the windshirt witha light shell option. My .02$

 

Oh and Layton, not all retail employees are clueless.

[JayB]

As long as you keep moving Schoeller is the answer. Throw on the down when you stop. This combo rules for winter stuff - I stay way warmer, drier, and more comfortable with this setup than I ever did in shell gear.

 

The only times I've worn a hard-shell top since getting Schoeller gear three years ago has been while resort skiing (lots of time sitting on the lift in high winds) in the winter and in the midst of full on downpours.

[Skisports]

http://www.rei.com/online/store/ProductDisplay?productId=30856318&storeId=8001&catalogId=40000008001&langId=-1

 

Its around 130 on the rei website

[iain]

Does anyone have a season on those softshells (like Patagonia's stuff) yet? I would think you would wet out in a heartbeat in the PNW wet snowfall if you get stuck out there. Could be wrong though.

[bolt_clipper]

I went ice cragging with a guy in the rain. He wore the patagucci Dimension and REI scholler pants. We were in the rain for 2.5 hrs. He got soaked. I wore a homemade windsuit. I got soaked. I'm beginning to wonder about these softshell things. Sure, they're durable and windproof, but it seems that unless there is no precipitation, you will not be dry.

[slothrop]

Yup, that was me. Got soaked, duh. I'll hopefully be trying out the same combo this weekend in the driving snow on Mt. Daniel or something. But I'll bring along my light hardshell just in case

[freeclimb9]

"Soft Shell" is code for mid-layer clothing. Without question, a hard shell will better withstand windy, wet weather.

[bolt_clipper]

"Slothrop"? What's that mean? Have fun getting soaked again! Maybe Betsy had the right idea-wear a waterproof parka and bibs.

[iain]

[bolt_clipper]

Yeah, something like that. Ice climbing in that would be fun and easy!

[slothrop]

Ah yes, but how would I really know how much softshell+rain sucks without going through the suffering personally? A mellow day at the ice caves was the perfect opportunity to learn that I don't want to wear Schoeller in a rainstorm. Now to test it in snow!

 

Slothrop is a character from a book, Gravity's Rainbow. I like it because it's a stupid awkward word, and because the character gets all the ladiez.

[bolt_clipper]

And it wasn't even raining that hard most of the time. Guess Twight was wrong.

[iain]

I don't think Twight climbs in the rain, period.