Windshirts: 2012 State of the Market Report - Part 1: What is a Windshirt?

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Jul 10, 2012 at 3:09 pm #1291860

Stephanie Jordan
Spectator

@maia
Locale: Rocky Mountains

Companion forum thread to:

Windshirts: 2012 State of the Market Report – Part 1: What is a Windshirt?

Jul 11, 2012 at 3:22 pm #1894070

Jerry Adams
BPL Member

@retiredjerry
Locale: Oregon and Washington

This is what works for me currently, there are other perfectly good ways that work for others, blah, blah, blah,…

If it's warmer than about 40 F, if I wear any shirt I'll sweat, so I wear nothing. If it's raining it won't matter that I get wet. I just ignore any comments about the old guy not wearing a shirt : )

If I get cold and/or it starts raining I'll put on my hooded WPB jacket. Sometimes I'll put hood over head and don't put arms into sleaves. If it's not raining too hard/windy I'll unzip the front.

Sometimes it'll stop raining and I get a little warm, so I'll take off WPB jacket, then I'll get cold or it will start raining a little more and I'll have to put WPB jacket back on. Maybe I walk a little faster or slower. Maybe it would be a little more convenient to have a windshirt in this situation.

If I'm hiking and above 20 F, just shirt and WPB jacket is sufficient. May have to walk briskly to stay warm. I never go below 20 F.

When I stop hiking and I need warmth, I put on synthetic or down vest. The warmth per ounce is better for synthetic or down than having extra layers of windshirt, mid layer, or fleece. I have a lighter vest for warmer weather and a heavier vest for colder weather.

Jul 11, 2012 at 3:32 pm #1894073

Jerry Adams
BPL Member

@retiredjerry
Locale: Oregon and Washington

Long sleeve tight weave nylon like Supplex provides sun and bug protection.

But, if you have an extra 2.4 ounces of shirt that's not really necesary, who cares.

Jul 11, 2012 at 4:02 pm #1894083

Evan McCarthy
BPL Member

@evanrussia-2
Locale: Mid-Atlantic

What a great State of the Market Report. Thank you. This was written precisely the way I wanted, giving me the right amount of testing and narrative.

Dave Chenault, you are a must-read writer/contributor with a great sense of gear, the outdoors, and life (not necessarily in that order).

Jul 11, 2012 at 4:11 pm #1894087

Mike M
BPL Member

@mtwarden
Locale: Montana

nice review Dave! :)

like others I too have concluded that the windshirt is the most versatile 4 oz of clothing I own, mine is used all four seasons

I was looking into the MH Ghost due to it's extreme low weight (and deck of cards volume), the lack of hood and some reviews pointing towards less breathability, made me decide to stick w/ my tried and true Houdini

to the one comment that the Houdini isn't very hardy, I have to strongly disagree- mine has survived numerous rock scrambles and off trail excursions (mountain goat patrols)- no 4 oz garment is going to be bombproof, but the Houdini is plenty stout for it's diminutive weight

Jul 11, 2012 at 4:15 pm #1894089

Evan McCarthy
BPL Member

@evanrussia-2
Locale: Mid-Atlantic

I hike (and sleep, and live) cold, so I find a windshirt to be an incredible piece of gear for me when moving in temps between 40-60 degrees Fahrenheit, usually layered over thin merino. Any heavier of a shell and I overheat. Without, I'm too chilly for comfort and safety.

It also can be a perfect "insulation" layer for backpacking in the summer, when you flat out don't need anything heavier or warmer for camp or sleeping but your thin shirt just doesn't quite keep you fully warm around the campsite after dark.

Jul 11, 2012 at 6:51 pm #1894134

Tad Englund
BPL Member

@bestbuilder
Locale: Pacific Northwest

Dave, nice review. I'll be interested in Part 2- to see if there are any changes in your feelings.

BTW: I also appreciate that I had to go to the dictionary a few times, just to make sure I understood the meaning of some of the words you used.

Jul 11, 2012 at 7:10 pm #1894144

Dale Wambaugh
BPL Member

@dwambaugh
Locale: Pacific Northwest

He's still too fresh out of grad school —- even for Missoula :p

Jul 11, 2012 at 8:16 pm #1894166

Mathieu Fagnan
Spectator

@mfagnan

Good work David,

However, I was looking forward to get your insight on (at least one exemple of ) the lightest stuff out there…

I have a Marmot Ion from 2004 that weights 97gr with a full zip and a hood that works. The jacket still perfom after intensive usage. It's the single piece of gear that I have that I wear the most, all year round, from jogging to hicking to full on expedition (Denali, Everest).

Is there anything out there that is comparable in the sub 100gr range ???

Keep up the good work !

Jul 11, 2012 at 8:38 pm #1894172

Diego Zurek
Member

@diegozurek
Locale: Bucaramanga

Páramo Fuera Jacket and Smock, maybe not ultralight but tough.

Jul 11, 2012 at 9:03 pm #1894177

Warren Greer
Spectator

@warrengreer
Locale: SoCal

And engrossing. Dave, really liking your contributions here. I know when I click on another report by you that you have really thought about it from all angles and you are actively trying to head off missed criteria at the pass. Keep up the good work. It's obvious that you are doing a great job with all of the other comments of praise above.

-I've wanted to have a wind shirt that could replace a button-front longsleeve shirt for warmer weather where sun and bug protection are the biggest priorities. But I'm not sure that any of them are breathable enough to wear in place of the button-front.

*edited for spelling and to add the second paragraph.

Jul 11, 2012 at 11:54 pm #1894197

Mark Schultz
Member

@mgschultz

I find it odd BPL would even consider a windshirt weighing over 5 oz worthy of a review with all the options on the market, yet half of these windshirts are over 6 oz on up to 13 oz! I have the 3 oz TNF Verto and my wife has the 4 oz Houdini. My waterproof breathable fully hooded Pertex rain jacket weighs 9 oz. I can't imagine carrying a 13oz windshirt in addition to that.

Removing the pocket on the Houdini is a bizarre way to save 0.2 oz when the pocket doubles as a nice stuff stack. And then compare the custom cut look with a chest pocket destroyed? FYI: the article incorrectly reports the saving as 2 oz (half the weight of the Houdini) by removing a tiny pocket.

I hope Part 2 refocuses on truly lightweight windshirts < 5 oz and includes Mountain Hardware, more MB, and North Face in the mix. The article gets it right about the value and versatility of a windshirt, they are surprisingly awesome, but not if it weighs more than your bomber storm gear.

Jul 12, 2012 at 2:53 am #1894211

Martin Carpenter
Member

@martin_carpenter

They're considering them for the perspective they give on the lighter things :) The two (relatively very heavy) 'soft shell' things for an overview of potential options – they're quite different from straight up wind shirts and aren't really meant to be carried, more worn from the outset.

The lite speed is interesting in terms of the increased durability gained for the (minor) excess weight. That's potentially relevant for windshirts because they do get an awful lot of wear directly under rucksacks etc – much more so than waterproofs – and some of the very light ones aren't all that cheap either. They're definetly one place where I'd happily trade some weight for substantially increased garment lifespan.

I'm actually somewhat worried about the durability of gl (or even quantum) for windshirts – the abrasion resistance stats from Montane's website for it aren't at all good. 10,000k for GL and 40,000k for microlight at 12.5k PA (BN EN ISO 12947-2). iirc some of the Quantum's they previously used were 20,000k.

Of course hard to say what this means in the real world. Fabric testing might give some answers.

Jul 12, 2012 at 6:55 am #1894223

Eugene Smith
BPL Member

@eugeneius
Locale: Nuevo Mexico

Quality article Dave, as always.

I like the lack of any definitive "winner" in this test group- all are exceptional options with many factors to consider when deciding. The Houdini happens to be my 4oz. piece of magic, love that thing, even though it's in serious need of DWR maintenance and has a few ember holes.

This photograph is of me wearing my Houdini last weekend on the summit of The Needle. My faithful companion.

Jul 12, 2012 at 10:24 am #1894272

James holden
BPL Member

@bearbreeder-2

ive generally found light softshells more durable than windshirts … when you get to some of the UL fabric, durability in highly abrasive situations is questionable … i dont use my marmot trail wind too much these days climbing (not scrambling) as its gets pinholes

whether you use one or not is a personal choice … there is no "right" answer …

IMO a windshirt should be as breathable as possible or as cheap as possible, or yr better off going with one of those new fangled event like shells ….

Jul 12, 2012 at 10:41 am #1894281

john hansford
BPL Member

@johnh1

Surely the key with these garments is in the name – WINDshirts. They cut out the wind, and hence negate the chill factor, without providing unwanted insulation.

So you can be in a strong cold wind with a very thin and light baselayer, and be working hard uphill, without overheating.

They will also save wear and tear on your expensive Goretex, Event and so on.

You will hardly know you're wearing a 3 oz garment, and it takes up no room in your pack.

Jul 12, 2012 at 10:59 am #1894283

Adam Klags
BPL Member

@klags
Locale: Northeast USA

How come you guys left TNF verto out of this review? Its really light, and it has been my first foray into windshirts, so far I love it.

Jul 12, 2012 at 2:45 pm #1894358

Brian UL
Member

@maynard76
Locale: New England

I would like see a review of hood-less windshirts too.
I never liked the hoods on these things, they never really fit for one, but worse they are very loud in the wind and block your field of vision. A light balaclava fits pretty much perfectly, is warmer than any hood, and when you don't need the hood it isn't laying there blowing around your face.

Jul 13, 2012 at 7:20 pm #1894631

David Chenault
BPL Member

@davec
Locale: Queen City, MT

The dimensional measurements in the chart are all for a men's medium. Sorry for not making that clear from the beginning.

I had a recent opportunity to test both the bug-proofness and durability of the Boreas, and was impressed on both counts. Mosquitoes can probably get in when it is worn against the skin, but not easily or often. It stood up to the worst bushwhack I've ever done without significant wear, as well.

Jul 13, 2012 at 10:02 pm #1894655

Max Neale
BPL Member

@maximumdragonfly
Locale: Anchorage, AK

It uses 10D that's supposedly more wind resistant than the previous 15D. And it's cheaper.

http://www.patagonia.com/us/product/mens-houdini-jacket-windbreaker?p=24140-0-943

Jul 14, 2012 at 9:40 am #1894707

Theodore Cardos
Member

@tedcardos
Locale: South

I recently took the plunge and bought a paramo windshirt. I am totally please for the UK climate (chilly with on/off showers). Also if you add a paramo fleece under the windshirt you have a full-blown rain gear system that is truly versatile.

Jul 14, 2012 at 3:06 pm #1894766

Jeff M.
BPL Member

@catalyst

Very nice article. I second Howie's recommendation for the CAMP Magic jacket. Nice jacket and usually not too expensive.

Jul 14, 2012 at 4:54 pm #1894782

Jerry Adams
BPL Member

@retiredjerry
Locale: Oregon and Washington

do these wind shirts offer sun and insect protection?

Jul 15, 2012 at 6:36 am #1894860

Ron Gallant
Member

@rongallant
Locale: En

I can attest to the quality of the stoic wraith. Great price of gear. http://skunkapeblog.com/stoic-wraith-shell/

Jul 15, 2012 at 7:05 pm #1895027

folecr r
Spectator

@folecr

@greg Thanks! I bought one.
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