ramsdude47
WKR
You inherently can't have excellent breathability and weather protection in one piece. This is why your outer layer should be light and packable.
You inherently can't have excellent breathability and weather protection in one piece. This is why your outer layer should be light and packable.
You inherently can't have excellent breathability and weather protection in one piece. This is why your outer layer should be light and packable.
Yeah. The holy grail of jackets is light and breathable while hiking up mountains, fully windproof and warm while glassing on a ridge, waterproof in a storm, and durable enough to blaze through thick brush. Such a thing will never exist, though. You can’t really have a breathable jacket that also blocks the wind well. If you find a soft shell that blocks the wind better, it will be less breathable.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.
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.
I used the Sitka Jetstream in this role last season during archery season on the East coast. Generally on a hot day, I was wearing a base layer like the Sitka Core lightweight long sleeve. On colder days I had my Apex hoodie over top of that. Once in my tree I put my Jetstream jacket on and that kept me comfortable down to probably 50 or so. If I got cold, I was able to layer a puffy underneath and I was toasty. Once it got down to 35 or 40 I swapped my Jetstream for my Fanatic jacket and when it got down to single digits I put it all together (minus the puffy) and had no problem staying warm.I'm loving this conversation. I am struggling as well with finding a decent softshell or 80-90% solution jacket. I am an "active" eastern hunter, I have no real permanent setups. I am aware that an active hunter in the East is still not ikely as active as one in the West, save a moose hunt maybe.
Taditional whitetail gear tends to be too warm and bulky for this style of hunting. I think I'm looking for something similar to what OP is.
I Don't need a softshell for the early season. Just something to protect my wool baselayer (Peleton 240ish)
As it cools down I'm looking to add something on top of that, that is still for abrasion resistance a touch more insulated and weather resistant. So baselayer plus shell and if I decided to hang or sit for a while have packable insulation with me if needed. Similar to a western style setup. So it doesn't need to cover 70 degrees F to 0F. But maybe 45-50ish to 15-20ish. With the help of a layer or 2.
Due to the activity range breathability is important but so is a good measure of weather protection so pit zips would be a priority and venting on pants like the thlete pants would be good.
Oh and if it's not too much of an ask maybe pay the odd bill and cut the grass.