Soft Shell Bonanza
by Matt Wymer, Rokslide Prostaff
Soft shells… Just the words alone can cause a debate between mountain hunters with most arguing that a soft shell is not a needed part of a backpack hunter’s kit. While the true ounce counter may have a point, I think that given the right set of conditions a soft shell jacket can be quite beneficial. The key, however, is to pick the right soft shell for the task.
In general soft shells are inherently quieter and more flexible than their hard-shell counterparts. This flexibility creates a form fitting garment that works with your natural movements allowing a full range of motion. I was able to corral together a group of soft shells and over the last seven months have been analyzing, comparing, and testing the various offerings. This is not an article that is going to tell you that brand X is better than brand Y. As I researched and tested these products, I found that each offering excelled and failed in different areas. Understanding the design intent is key to picking the right soft shell for your chosen task. The goal of this overview is to provide the soft-shell fan with some tools to match the right gear to the right task, and provide insight to those more resistant to the concept.
First Lite North Branch
For 2014, First Lite revamped the North Branch line to include a hoodless jacket and a modified pant. This line is designed for versatility and with the exclusive 37.5 fabric (formerly Cocana Active Particle technology), it is pretty darn breathable as it uses Active Carbon Technology to move perspiration to the outside of the garment where it is functionally neutralized. The fit of the North Branch line is designed to allow freedom of movement and is constructed with biomechanically accurate shooter’s sleeves, shoulders, seat, knees and gaiters. Additionally the layout of the zippers, pockets, and closures is such that it does not interfere as you draw your bow or shoulder your rifle.
Water proof zippers provide thermal regulation and for the pants, provide quick and easy access. The material used is proprietary to First Lite and entails a DuraFace stretch fabric with a fleece liner that provides solid weather protection, both in water resistance and wind blocking.
My assumption when I looked this product over was that this it was a soft shell system designed for mid to late season use. Testing concluded that it’s an ideal setup for the base camp hunter who is not covering more than a few miles a day, or the stop-and-go hunter who spends the day afield. While it provides great warmth, weather protection, and pretty darn good breathability, this sort of counteracts itself for extended high-exertion activity. I would classify the North Branch line as a light to medium exertion line, great for glassing, riding horseback or ATV, and as a daily wear item in cool to cold weather.
The North Branch jacket I tested was the warmest jacket in cold weather and stiff winds. It is well constructed and the taped seams made the jacket extremely weatherproof. The jacket is designed to keep you dry & warm while holding up to brush-busting escapades.
The real surprise to me was just how breathable this jacket was, considering its solid construction and weather resistance.
My biggest critique would be the absence of a left side external chest pocket. I utilize this pocket far more any other pocket and missed having it when I was wearing the North Branch. Since light weight is not a design intent of this jacket I’d like to see both a left chest pocket and possibly some pit zips to up the ante for those high exertion pushes.
The 2014 North Branch Pant exhibits similar function and breathability as the jacket. The pants include an integrated gaiter system that helps keep water out of your boots for quick water crossings and navigation through deep snow.
KUIU Guide
The KUIU guide series is an extremely comfortable soft shell system. It is designed for the active mid to late season hunter. While it is not as weatherproof as the First Lite North Branch series, it is more breathable. One can feel the wind moving through the Guide products, particularly through the extended pit zips. I believe that this is an intentional design by KUIU as the design intent focuses more on high exertion active moisture management and breathability, vs. wind-stopping weatherproof use. The Guide line does shed a light rain fall decently and dries quickly, especially when active. It dries quicker than the Sitka Gear Jetstream mentioned below and is noticably quiet.
The Guide pants are some of the most comfortable pants I have worn, with a soft inner lining that makes the pants easy to wear. The KUIU Guide pants are very similar to the previous generation of Sitka 90% pants, alhtough a tad thinner.
The jacket fit is athletic. While both of my Guide Jackets are in a meduim, I think a large would be better. The KUIU Guide Line is offered in both VIAS and VERDE. The jacket is offered in two solid colors.
Sitka Jetstream:
The Jetstream is offered as a jacket only, and is designed to provide comfort for demanding mountain hunts. Sitka claims it is 100% windproof, breathable, and highly water resistant. Testing revealed that it’s not as breathable as Sitka’s 90% in terms of felt field exertion, but generous pit zips allow you to dump heat quickly. It’s a pretty durable jacket that should stand up to abuse in mixed terrain, yet it is still quiet enough to put a stalk on. It boasts an athletic fit. While I can comfortably wear a size medium in the 90% series, I switched to a large for the Jetstream.
Like the Guide, it has a well-designed hood that does not get in the way. Designed for moderate exertion, in mid to late season temperatures, it provides higher protection from the elements than the Guide and 90% series. I got caught in a short but serious rain shower during a field test. The jacket shed the water with ease and I pretty much shook it dry and carried on. However, once the jacket has been completely soaked, it takes a while to dry. It started out somewhat loud but quieted down after a few washes. This jacket is now offered in several solid colors and makes for a great all purpose jacket.
Sitka 90%
For 2014 Sitka redesigned their iconic 90% line. The goal was to provide higher wind resistance, allowing a third of the wind-driven air that flowed through the previous generation. This improved wind resistance came at a cost and Sitka found that insulating the entire jacket caused overheating, especially during periods of high exertion. The solution that Sitka conceived was a body-mapped “checkered” fleece backer that puts insulation only where needed. This allows, what they call “convective cooling,” to dump excess heat. The 90% line, like the Guide, is designed to be worn with minimal under layers. As such Sitka applied thermal tape to the seams, making them smoother and more comfortable.
The 2014 90% changes also improved fabric stretch creating a more flexible, durable, and quieter system specifically designed for high exertion in early to mid-season temperatures. It’s not a tight fitting jacket. However, if you want to wear multiple layers underneath, go up a size.
I utilized the 90% Jacket on my sheep hunt this August. It was a great piece of gear to have in the kit and made glassing from windy ridgelines much more comfortable. It breathed extremely well and provided a nice layer of insulation to help me keep the chill down. The jacket is comfortable to wear and incredibly light for what you get out of it. It breathes extremely well, is nearly windproof, and even sheds a light rain decently. This jacket feels more like a heavy shirt than a light jacket.
The 90% pants are revamped as well and there is a distinct difference in both weight and feel from the previous generation. These new 90% pants feel very similar to the KUIU Attack pants. The new 90% also dries quickly and is very comfortable to wear.
For 2014, Sitka’s 90% line is offered in Optifade Open Country only. I’d love to see solid color options, too. 
Kryptek
The Kryptek Dalibor Lightweight Soft-shell is a durable, weather resistance soft shell that weighs in at just over a 1lb. Its tough finish is not the quietest, but it does shed light water and wind with ease. Kryptek states it is a Mechanical Stretch Woven Soft Shell bonded material in 100% Polyester, with a DWR coating.
I purchased this coat at Sportsmens Warehouse here in Anchorage and promptly ran it through a gauntlet of tests. It is comfortable to wear with a loose, but not baggy fit. Its stretchy fabric allows full range of motion and articulation. It features six pockets: two chest, two hand, and two bicep. The construction seems solid and well done and the Camo pattern is both unique and effective.
The DWR coating does a good job of fighting moisture, but is not a replacement for a rain jacket. The pockets are generous and feature quality zippers. This is a solid jacket for both the weight and cost. I was a bit disappointed with the Dalibor’s breathability. While it performs similar to the heavier soft shells, I was hoping it would compete better with the Sitka 90%.
Wrap Up
Both my controlled and field breathability tests seem give an edge to the 90%. The Sitka Jetstream, 90%, Kryptek Dalibor, and First Lite North Branch provide better wind resistance than the Guide. However, the Guide seemed to be cooler upon resting as the wind moving through the jacket provided both a cooling and drying effect.
You need to really think through what you want out of a soft shell, performance wise, and pick the one that meets your criteria. Picking the right jacket, specifically tailored to your application, will result in better performance than just simply buying the first one to grab your attention.
Summary
2014 Sitka 90% – Lightweight, High Exertion Activities, early to mid-season temps
2013 Kryptek Dalibor – Lightweight, Medium to High Exertion Activities, early to mid-season temps
KUIU Guide – Mid-weight, Medium to High Exertion Activities, early to mid-season temps
2014 Sitka Jetstream – Mid-weight, Moderate Exertion Activities, mid to late season temps
*Both of these jackets feature generous pit zips that allow one to push the exertion level and reduce moisture. I tested these jackets with the pit zips closed. Performance can be gained by utilizing the pit zips as needed.
2014 First Lite North Branch – Mid to Heavy Weight – Burly, tough weather buster, moderate to low exertion activities, mid to late season temps
You can discuss this article here
