Winter shell help

Waterproof or no? If not a rain shell, I would just get a windshirt with room for layering. Throw a high-loft or Power Dry fleece under the windshirt and you can go for cold/active weather no problem. Around town/low activity is a different animal. I use a synthetic fill jacket for that kind of stuff. If you want 2.5 layer waterproof, there's no difference for winter use for me, other than room to layer under. I like the OR jackets with the Torso Flow pit zips that go all the way to the hem. The extremities is where I really feel the cold. Good socks, gloves and hat takes care of the ***perception*** of being cold. Long johns warm me up a lot.

Waterproof? Yes! I live in the mountains of VA where it can get some wet nasty winter weather. I would want something a little tougher than a wind shell. I like to bushwhack in the winter. Weight is not a huge factor on this one but I don't want an anchor.

Carry both a windshirt and waterproof rain jacket. Use the windshirt for wind and light precip, it allows your sweat to evaporate. Put the wateproof jacket on when it rains steadily.

GoreTex Pro jackets have a mandatory (or so I've heard) >= 40 denier face fabric as outlined by Gore. So I would look for a jacket using this, as the face fabric and 3 layer construction make it durable. Unless you want eVent for something more breathable. I use a Gore Pro jacket for winter. I like that it's a really stiff material which helps with strong wind and pushing through blowdowns. Doesn't flap around as much as my wind shirt or PacLite jacket which in turn holds in more heat due to decrease in the bellows effect. I have the Patagonia Super Pluma after getting a wicked deal on it. Great shell, but far tooooo expensive unless on deep sale. Anyway, IMO, YMMV and so forth. Good luck on your search

Thanks Sam. The OR Foray material is GORE-TEX with Paclite product technology 2L, 100% polyester 50D plain weave. Being a two layer would that not be as good as say a 3 layer Gore-Tex for my needs?

Kurt, That jacket should do the job very well for you. The 2 layer construction should prove fine. 3 layer just has a smaller chance of delaminating, but you will probably never have to deal with that. The face fabric, being 50d, should prove plenty durable enough for you. Plus, it being an Outdoor Research jacket means it has a lifetime warranty. So even if it does delaminate, or you end up taking a tumble and slice the jacket open, they'll replace it! I have a PacLite jacket and I love it because it packs smaller and drapes around my body better than Gore Pro. But, it flaps more in the wind if it's a little too large on you. May or may not be a problem. I'm a cold person, so if my jacket is flapping too much in the wind, it's just pumping all of my heat out! No good. :-) Hope this helps!

I used an OR Paclite shell with those side zippers for many backpacking, hiking, and ice climbing seasons in PA and the Northeast. By "used" I mean I carried it in my pack, and maybe took it out 5 times. Unless it was actually raining (as in water)it was far, far more comfortable to wear a windshirt or soft shell while hiking. The Paclite would soak my back if wearing a pack and would trap too much perspiration, which was a real concern as I wanted my clothing and sleeping system to be dry. I almost always wore stretch woven softshells without membranes in those eastern winters…. with the shell stowed just in case. if you really want waterproof, think abut an Event or Neoshell jacket. L.L. Bean has a Neoshell item for $250,or REI has the Event Kimtah on sale for $170.