WTF Mountain Hardwear?

[elliottwill]

I just ordered and received their Chocklite Anorak. Typical non-climbing fit: huge in the torso, lifts way up when you raise your arms, short sleeves. Compare to the R1 Hoody I'm wearing underneath it, same size:

 

 

What should I replace it with? What's light like a windshirt but a little tougher for scraping against rock? Any suggestions? Anyone want to sell a Houdini Jacket?

[DanielHarro]

NW Alpine Spider Hoody

[Pete_H]

OR stuff seems to fit me well - I'm slim with long arms and legs.

[bgroen]

Check out the rab boreas it might be what you're looking for. It's light, stretchy and a hoody it's also cut kind of long.

[layton]

OR stuff seems to fit me well - I'm slim with long arms and legs.

 

and smooth

[CaleHoopes]

Yeah, but OR needs to design climbing clothing that has pockets that ain't by default under my damn harness, K?

[TwoFortyJeff]

I use a Houdini. I thought I would have trashed it by now, but it's still going strong.

 

Look at the Arcteryx Gamma LT or the OR Ferrosi.

 

[aveman]

Look at the Rab Alpine Jacket. I have the Alpine Pull-on, which is the same, but Anorak style and no longer made. Burly for a windshell, great hood, great sizing for me.

[edwardsm]

lightweight windshell:

Rab Cirrus. *awesome* jacket, great fit.

 

great, lightweight softshell with excellent durability:

OR Ferrosi.

[ajpederson]

great, lightweight softshell with excellent durability:

OR Ferrosi.

 

+1 for the Ferrosi. I love mine and it seems very durable.

[elliottwill]

Hi all,

 

Thanks for the suggestions. This weekend I finally tore the seams out of my six year old Houdini, Incredible Hulk style. I ordered the new Gamma LT hoody on warranty; at 5x the weight of the Houdini it's probably overkill but we will see. At this point I think the Houdini can't be beat for an all-year, all-the-time, do-everything mountain shell. I'll post a review of the Gamma LT hoody if I'm wrong.

[edwardsm]

gamma lt or gamma sl?

 

the gamma sl is an amazing piece. the gamma lt is a basic midweight softshell.

[Luzak00]

gamma lt or gamma sl?

 

the gamma sl is an amazing piece. the gamma lt is a basic midweight softshell.

 

More or less true. I've found the Gamma LT to be the best of the simple, old-school softshells - it's water resistant, super stretchy, and should last a long time. A shame Dane didn't review it alongside the NW Alpine Big 4, et al. The Gamma SL is a different beast (and better I think, for most uses), and incredibly modern - perhaps more stretchy and a piece that really is invisible in use (in the good way).

 

That said, I don't think these pieces properly replace the Houdini.