Best Softshell - What should a softshell be and do?

[Benjblt]

I'm on the hunt for the best softshell for, well, hunting. To me, a softshell should provide moderate to above average warmth, about like a heavier sweatshirt, but with a strong edge in wind protection and durability (abrasion resistance). Weight should be secondary as the weather protection aspect should be the number one goal in my mind, wind be the number one adversary. I won't ever plan on taking a softshell backpacking. When someone refers to a packable softshell, they are not referring to the same softshell category I am. . . or they probably aren't weight conscious. What is a softshell to you? What do you want it to do?

I have the Kuiu Guide jacket and I don't think it fits the bill. It doesn't cut wind well. It is breathable and moderately warm but it doesn't provide the wind protection I want. You'd say it cuts wind at 10 mph and 50 degrees but when you get a good stiff wind when it's 35 degrees outside you'll change your mind. My Columbia softshell is more durable and wind resistant by far. It is, however, not nearly as comfortable and feature rich as the Kuiu.

I ordered the Jetstream in Moss (I want my softshelll to be a solid color so I can wear casually) because it sounded like it'd fit the bill 100% but. . . it's too loud and the Moss is less of a green and more of a brown. (Different subject but I don't wear black or brown here in Oregon while hunting). I've currently ordered the Arc'teryx Gamma MX (probably too spendy) and the Kuiu Axis [seems to fit the wind and weather protection need but not the durability (this according to Kuiu CS themselves)] and the Kuiu Kutana softshell (would seem to fit the durability bill).

Any other thoughts guys? I'm looking for general insight as well as specific softshells you'd recommend.

 

[ramsdude47]

Gamma LT will be the best of the best - and costs less than the Gamma MX. Best bang for your buck will be the OR Ferrosi.

My quick reference for these kinds of ?s is outdoorgearlab, and that is their conclusion. My North Face Apex works great and would run much less on Ebay, poshmark, mercari, etc.

 

[Benjblt]

Gamma LT will be the best of the best - and costs less than the Gamma MX. Best bang for your buck will be the OR Ferrosi.

My quick reference for these kinds of ?s is outdoorgearlab, and that is their conclusion. My North Face Apex works great and would run much less on Ebay, poshmark, mercari, etc.

Those are too light. I have the OR Ferossi. It doesn't cut wind that well and it's not warm. I want some warmth and it isn't fleece lined. I've read Outdoorgearlab's stuff too. I take what they say with a grain of salt. They have good insight but they are after different things than I am.

 

[ramsdude47]

I wonder if an active insulation piece with a hardshell might be a better option for what you're describing. I am quite fond of my TNF Ventrix.

I have never found softshells to be able to fulfill what you are looking for as well as a layering system and a hardshell can.

 

[renagde]

I really like my Jetstream. Use it for a couple weeks and they start to be a lot more quiet. Mine actually does double duty, I'll often wear it as a outer layer hunting whitetails from a treestand. Takes a little to break them in. I think mine is warm for what it is, sheds light rain, is windproof, and is light. I can't ask for much more.

 

[elkduds]

My quick reference for these kinds of ?s is outdoorgearlab, and that is their conclusion. My North Face Apex works great and would run much less on Ebay, poshmark, mercari, etc.

Caveat Emptor:

Mercari = Bad Business

Never again will I do biz w Mercari. I bought a jacket from seller JenniferK. She posted a fraudulent picture of the item. Her ad copy was a flagrant misrepresentation of a poly-filled jacket as "800 fill power down." The second the jacket arrived I notified JenniferK and Mercari customer...

www.rokslide.com

 

[Meridian90]

Never owned one, but you could look at the SKRE hardscrabble jacket. There is a review on the site here and it sounds like it is an option at the very least.

I stay with the Jetstream personally (in subalpine) and I don't usually wear it casually.

 

[Desk Jockey]

I am a jetstream fan. Probably my most worn piece of gear.

First lite catalyst is worth a look. It isn’t as windproof as a jetstream.

 

[Benjblt]

I really like my Jetstream. Use it for a couple weeks and they start to be a lot more quiet. Mine actually does double duty, I'll often wear it as a outer layer hunting whitetails from a treestand. Takes a little to break them in. I think mine is warm for what it is, sheds light rain, is windproof, and is light. I can't ask for much more.

As it turns out the solid colors are faced with Nylon vs the camo with Polyester. I wonder if that has anything to do with it.

 

[Benjblt]

Caveat Emptor:

Mercari = Bad Business

Never again will I do biz w Mercari. I bought a jacket from seller JenniferK. She posted a fraudulent picture of the item. Her ad copy was a flagrant misrepresentation of a poly-filled jacket as "800 fill power down." The second the jacket arrived I notified JenniferK and Mercari customer...

www.rokslide.com

Huh?

 

[renagde]

As it turns out the solid colors are faced with Nylon vs the camo with Polyester. I wonder if that has anything to do with it.

Interesting. I've always heard people say that the Jetream is so noisy but I never had any problems with mine.

 

[Benjblt]

Interesting. I've always heard people say that the Jetream is so noisy but I never had any problems with mine.

yeah. I've had other fabrics get quieter like you say. So that's probably true. Thanks for the feedback.

 

[Bärenjäger]

I have the guide jacket as well and observed the same lack of wind-blocking performance. However, knowing it is meant to be a layering piece, I usually put it on over one of their fleece or wool hoodies. That's usually enough to cook me from the inside-out if I'm on the move. If I sit still, I usually wait for the sweat to evaporate and then put on more layers like down if needed. I've sat on windswept open edges in freezing temps with base layer, down and guide jacket and been fine. Add the hoodie and you could sit all day.

Sent from my Pixel 4 using Tapatalk

 

[Trial153]

I have used my Jetstream from the subarctic to mexico, my favorite bowhunting jacket of all time. I been eyeballing the OR obsidian though.....

 

[*zap*]

Packable, breathable to a degree for active use, pit zips, hood and windproof.

 

[doverpack12]

I would say I am generally looking for the same or similar aspects with my softshell. Started with a Guide when they came out and sold that due to lack of wind resistance, got tired of the wind and bought a Jetstream in optifade (2015) which is quiet enough and absolutely blocks wind, my one complaint is lack of breath ability (I will sweat like crazy but the wind is howling and cold if I take it off). Just recently got the Kuiu Axis which seems to be about my perfect mix of function and breath ability. Axis does breath much better than the Jetstream and so far seems to block wind (haven't been in extreme cold and wind yet, talking teens and 15 mph plus wind). In the 20's and 10 mph wind hiking uphill in over a foot of snow its performed great the couple days I've used it so far. The snow/rain protection is better on the axis too so for me the Axis adds positive features over the Jetstream and so far hasn't given up anything.

 

[MillCreekMike]

Cabella's Lookout fleece. Yeah, I know it's not one of the big names, but go check it out. No pit zips & only one adjustment for the hood. 3 years ago I had Jet Stream in my cart walking around trying to see if I was going to choke on this $350. Sitka load I was about to swallow when I came across the Lookout fleece. I put the Jet stream back. Twice I bought another soft shell (Kuiu Guide & FL Catalyst) only to find that the Lookout fleece was better. Give it a look.

 

[RCB]

"strong edge in wind protection" and "durability (abrasion resistance)"? "Weight should be secondary as the weather protection aspect should be the number one goal in my mind"? "wind be the number one adversary"? Sounds to me like you are describing a hard shell. Have you tried layering a hard shell or rain jacket over a light fleece? Heavier but more versatile. It won't breath very well, but a good wind breaker must sacrifice breathability. Or look for a waterproof jacket that also has some insulation layer (like fleece) underneath.

 

[Benjblt]

Cabella's Lookout fleece. Yeah, I know it's not one of the big names, but go check it out. No pit zips & only one adjustment for the hood. 3 years ago I had Jet Stream in my cart walking around trying to see if I was going to choke on this $350. Sitka load I was about to swallow when I came across the Lookout fleece. I put the Jet stream back. Twice I bought another soft shell (Kuiu Guide & FL Catalyst) only to find that the Lookout fleece was better. Give it a look.

That actually doesn't seem like a bad option. i think I've seen those in there before. Good suggestion. I'll take a look.

 

[Benjblt]

"strong edge in wind protection" and "durability (abrasion resistance)"? "Weight should be secondary as the weather protection aspect should be the number one goal in my mind"? "wind be the number one adversary"? Sounds to me like you are describing a hard shell. Have you tried layering a hard shell or rain jacket over a light fleece? Heavier but more versatile. It won't breath very well, but a good wind breaker must sacrifice breathability. Or look for a waterproof jacket that also has some insulation layer (like fleece) underneath.

Not a bad idea. I think I was mostly wanting something that had a little more breathability and I could just leave on during high output. I get pretty hot and sweaty in a hardshell.