What hardshell are you wearing?

Hello. Looking for what everyone is wearing in terms of your hard shell jacket. I'm in the market and there's so much in terms of fabric technology that it's a bit mind-boggling. When you list what you're wearing, if you would please list some pros and cons?

Cheers

dead bird beta AR

great waterproofing, big pit zips for ventilation, hooded. Pretty durable, but I ripped it up a little bit tree riding and using a rope tow. Got it pretty cheap online. Only downside is it's a bit short on me, ie., can't use it as an ass-protector if you're sitting on chair lifts at a ski area.

I have an REI entry-level shell that I got on sale. It's whatever Gore-Tex equivalent they use. It's fine and perfectly functional. REI Elements or some such? Are any of these waterproof/breathable fabrics truly different?

But I live in CO: I use my shell as a wind breaker much more often than as a rain/snow shell. I don't ice climb.

http://www.sierratradingpost.com/avalanche-wear-linear-jacket-waterproof-for-men~p~6641h/?filterString=s~avalanche%2F&colorFamily=03

30 bucks at Serria. Tested by me at the base of the Sharkstooth. Hail, Snow, then pounding rain all the way back to the car. Heavy enough it will break some wind in the mtns.

Thanks for all the quick replies guys. I have been looking at TNF shells but just haven't been super impressed. To clarify, I will be mostly alpine climbing and mountaineering.

Cheers

arcteryx Alpha SL: as light weight as you can go unless you're opting for a "Houdini" style layer. Is very lightweight (~10.8 oz), packable (stuffs into small sack) for carrying/clipping, incredibly well built/articulated for remarkable fit, long enough to stay below your harness (even has a seam to prevent pulling through), highly effective shell for its weight (Paclite GORE-TEX). Its made for climbing.

BonhommeRichard wrote:arcteryx Alpha SL: as light weight as you can go unless you're opting for a "Houdini" style layer. Is very lightweight (~10.8 oz)

I beg to differ. The Mont Bell Torrent Flier is Gore Paclite and only 8.6 oz. Not that 2 oz really makes that big of a difference, but I got rid of my Alpha SL, replaced it with the Torrent Flier and it does pack down substantially smaller (although the SL was a burlier denier I think).

Plus the Torrent Flier is at least $50 cheaper; the MB website actually has last seasons colors (L and XL only though) for $150. Smoking deal on a great jacket.

To the OP, the Torrent Flier is my summer thunderstorm and shoulder season wind/precip layer. In winter for ski touring, mountaineering or alpine and ice climbing I wear a soft shell (a hardshell isn't really needed in CO winters). When skiing at the resort I wear an OR Mentor which is a burly 3-layer Goretex Pro shell that can take a ton of abuse. Might switch that out for a Gore Windstopper or other laminate softy this year.

Guchi alpine pro, over kill for most things but really nice when you need it.

Mountain Hardwear drystein.
No pit zips but breathable stretch side. hood sized for a hemet. athletic fit.

Rab stretch neo. On backcountry for $200. I like it a lot. Fit is good for me. Breathable, but I haven't worn the high end gortex to compare it. Harness compatible pockets.

i'd avoid anything made by Gore. if you do your research (check out Backpacking Light) or google Army Natick Labs waterproof-breathable tests, you'll see it doesn't start breathing until the interior environment is 100% humid (you're wearing like a motherfucker) and it's not air permeable. the newest barriers are air permeable, meaning you get a bit of air moving through the fabric, keeping you far cooler. the main two fabrics are Polartec's NeoShell (check out Rab for pieces made of this) and Mt Hardwear's DryQ Elite. they're both air permeable and outperform Gore by 200% or so, depending on the outside environment.

Marmot Precip. You don't need a $200+++ shell for summer alpine or mountaineering.

I really really like my Westcomb Shift LT Hoody.

Lightweight, but reasonably durable.

First hardshell that breathes enough that I don't sweat buckets while wearing it. Polartec Neoshell membrane.

It's becoming my alpine hard shell of choice when I'm going to be wearing my shell while climbing.

I do like what Mountain Hardwear is doing with the Dry Q. Does anyone have experience wearing the MH Torsun jacket? I saw it on their website and it looks like it's gotten good reviews.

I've tried on the Mountain Hardwear Torsun Jacket. Material is definitely different than the tradition Gore-Tex jacket. I liked it a lot. The men's medium was spot on. I'm 5'10, 170 pounds.

I just ordered the Mountain Hardwear Alchemy Hooded Jacket, new for Fall/Winter 2014/15. MH markets this as the first watetproof/breathable softshell jacket for alpine climbing. It's made with a their Dry.Q Elite membrane. I'm still waiting to receive it in the mail.

Here's a link to Mountain Hardwear's Alchemy Jacket.

Here's the only review of the Alchemy Hooded Jacket I could find on the Internet. It's a new jacket, so there isn't much out there yet.

doligo wrote:Marmot Precip. You don't need a $200+++ shell for summer alpine or mountaineering.

If he's in the market in October, he may not be shopping for a summer jacket :)

I have a deadbird alpha sv for the nasty stuff (zero degrees and high winds? check!), and an rei eVent for beater duty. They are both fairly heavy, not too cheap, and probably not good all-rounder choices.

I'm orange

I've been testing the Torsun for a couple months now...in/around Colorado and two trips to the Cascades. Waterproof and it breathes far better than any Gore product. I hate hard shells and rarely wear them. The NeoShell stuff (only worn pieces by Rab) is great and the DryQ seems close to it in terms of breathability.

Fit on the Torsun is spot on, exactly as the other poster said. I'm 5'10", 165, great fit. Arms long enough, not too much material through the body. Pockets vent well, hood good on a helmet.

$350 is spendy...but if you buy a Precip Marmot, Gore product, or Patagonia H2O product, you will dread wearing it. At least with a NeoShell or DryQ jacket you can get away with wearing it and not wet yourself out from the inside....

Good luck!

Review of the Rab Stretch NeoShell--- elevationoutdoors.com/the-r…

Awesome review coppolillo, thanks for sharing that. I've been highly recommended to the Neoshell stuff so I may just go with that. Sounds pretty legit. Keep em coming guys, I really appreciate all the feedback.

Cheers

My current favourite shell is an EMS Helix Anorak - it's neoshell, super light, really well thought out features, fits me really well. It has pit zips (which I've never used and would rather they had left out) and a nice kangaroo pocket in the front. They make a full-zip version as well that also looks really good. Plus you can't beat the price.

3rd hardshell- Solstice, 2nd gen Goretex, 4 ext pockets high enough for harness, Cordura reinforced shoulders to wrists. Pits zips. BEST ever. Didn't breathe worth stink in the rain, had to use the zips. Cold dry weather? Awesome. Bullet proof, wore it til the Goretex failed, about ten years of climbing & construction... daily use, 6 months per year. 3rd least packable - I think the relatively light taslan fabric of the majority allowed pretty good packing, which the Cordura bulked out. It had huge wrist velcro, which never failed. 2 cargo pockets were top access, with flaps, the two hand warmers were a titch small. (I have XXL bear paw hands), 4.9/5 stars

4th - Lowe Alpine, Triple Point Ceramic fabric - 2 pockets high, two low. Ok for climbing, sturdy fabric overall, no Cordura. More breathable than Gore, but it's a coating, and wore out a lot sooner than the Gore. Maybe 4.5, 5 years. Great fit. (I have very long torso and arms) Least packable. 4/5

5th -LL Bean, 3rd gen Goretex, two pockets low one Napoleon high, similar fabric to Lowe. Wore until the Gore started to leak through. Two layer vs. 3, it did breathe better, was cooler, but only lasted 5 years of work/ climbing/skiing. Second least packable 3/5

6th - Mountain Hardwear Conduit Silk. SUCKED. Waterproofing wore out in less than 2 years, "welded" on Napoleon pocket came off after 3 months, fabric sticks to skin like glue in humid weather. Fabric began ripping in about one year. Hood ok, best feature was the wrist velcro. 0/5

Current - Marmot Precip - breathes reasonably well, better than any of my old Gore jackets, single layer maybe? Texture on the inside that doesn't nearly keep it from sticking to my skin in humid weather, but 1 step better than the Conduit Silk glue. XL has long enough sleeves, meaning I have an extra 12 to 14 inches in the torso. Marmot Precips now come in tall sizes, something to consider if you need it. 2 street pockets, no inside pockets, no cargos. Wimpy fabric, would not trust on site/ wall/ offwidth, good enough for skiing/ class 4. Integral hood can be rolled into collar, good on drizzly Seattle days with an OR Seattle Sombrero (better visibility than a hood) 2 years and counting, shows no signs of leakage yet. NOT being worn at work... 2/5

The sum of my opinions about shells - built in hood with some way to roll it down and tie it there/ zip into collar is good. Big velcro on wrists is good. I'd rather have external storm flaps than exposed zips, and I'd rather have snaps than velcro since I can unzip and keep it snapped, and get some forward ventilation. I love pit zips. Cordura shoulder, elbow and forearm reinforcement was great, no hesitation about groveling into a snow cave or wearing during demolition. Four external pockets placed high are the way to go; mittens in the hand warmers, and cargos for hats/ neck gaiter/ goggles. Never found a use for powder skirts, the hemline draw cord was always enough, but I never lived in a powder snow state. Wired hoods are good. Make sure that any hood control cords have a lash down point, loose ends go wild in the wind; I got battered by a Cordlok during a storm one day. If I could get a neoprene gasket inside the collar, a la kayaking jackets, I would - It's very rare that I want that hood up, and even when it is, I hate getting sleet down my neck. Gussets at cuffs - if you are a rolled sleeve guy, you might want to find a jack with big enough gussets to allow you to roll the sleeves - I just remembered I did that all the time with my Solstice. I think, with a hardshell, my goal is a very adaptable second skin, almost a gator hide.

Future - Rab Latok ordered yesterday, eVent material. Review soon

Let's keep this going! I like hearing everyone's opinions because there are so many on a vast subject like this.