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Windshirt Advice Request

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Mar 24, 2009 at 6:53 am #1235035

David Mcevoy
Member

@dave_mac68
Locale: Virginia Beach

I am about to purchase a windshirt, but I am torn between Golite's Ether and Wisp and Montbell's Parka and Jacket. I see that Golite seems to be popular on the gera swap, but does anyone have experience with these offerings and what would you suggest and why? Thank you in advance.

John sorry for the confusion, I should have said, 'Montbell UL Wind Parka: http://www.montbell.us/products/disp.php?cat_id=61&p_id=2303183

Mar 24, 2009 at 7:23 am #1488350

Dana S
BPL Member

@naman919
Locale: Richmond, Virginia

David,

I'm an Ether fan. Also, I'm a fan of hoods in general so that was the selling point over the Wisp.

I have no experience with Montbell's Parka/Jacket but after washing my Ether to get the DWR off as much as possible, it's been fine and breathes very well.

I love the weight, under 4 oz for a large, and it's practically nothing in your pack (though that's true for all windshirts i reckon).

Also, i like the full zip of the Ether vs the Wisp.

Just my two cents, but check out other ideas too! Montane has some sweet Featherlite series windshirts. I tried to get a Smock but it didn't fit quite right.

– Dana

Mar 24, 2009 at 8:15 am #1488371

J B
BPL Member

@johannb
Locale: Europe

No experience with the GoLite, but I had a Mont-Bell U.L. Windshirt and that one was nice.

Mar 24, 2009 at 11:51 am #1488454

slavenya slavenya
BPL Member

@slavenya
Locale: Israel

Did you have a chance to look at Montane SpeedLight?

Everyone seem to love it.

Mar 24, 2009 at 11:56 am #1488458

EndoftheTrail
BPL Member

@ben2world-2

No direct experience, but isn't the MontBell UL windshirt non-breathable? I vaguely recall Ryan Jordan calling it "sweat fabric"?

Mar 24, 2009 at 12:38 pm #1488466

John Haley
Member

@quoddy
Locale: New York/Vermont Border

I've been using the Ether wind shirt for a couple of years and for the weight it can't be beat for wind and light drizzle stopping. This is an item I always hike with.

Mar 24, 2009 at 2:41 pm #1488514

John Frederick Anderson
BPL Member

@fredfoto
Locale: Spain

I recommend the Ether too. If you buy a windshirt, make sure it has a hood- invaluable, in my opinion.

cheers,
fred

Mar 24, 2009 at 3:20 pm #1488525

gdinero senior
Member

@gmoney

I second the comment that you want a hood.

I have a ~4-yr-old marmott chinook that I love.

Mar 24, 2009 at 3:58 pm #1488536

Matt Lutz
Member

@citystuckhiker
Locale: Midwest

I have a 2007 or 2008 Ether (hooded) with a full zip and find it amazing. Breathable and moderate water resistance. I love it.

Mar 24, 2009 at 4:52 pm #1488548

t.darrah
BPL Member

@thomdarrah
Locale: Southern Oregon

I like both my Houdini and my Wildthings epic 1/2 zip wind shirts/jackets. They both are offered in black which is for me a plus. The hood on the 09 Houdini is redesigned and fits better then earlier versions IMO.

Mar 24, 2009 at 4:56 pm #1488549

Ross Bleakney
BPL Member

@rossbleakney
Locale: Cascades

I have a Montbell wind shirt and I like it a lot. I'm not sure of the model or year though. It definitely breathes well and is quite light. If I remember correctly, mine does not have a hood (I have several wind shirts, so it is hard to remember).

Mar 24, 2009 at 5:27 pm #1488560

James Ennis
Member

@jimennis
Locale: South

I have the Wisp and really like its performance. I am one of the few, I guess, who don't like hoods. The Wisp performs well in wind and light rain and I usually wear it in addition to a poncho in heavy rain with good results. I don't like to hike in it unless the temps are in the 20s due to overheating.

Mar 24, 2009 at 5:33 pm #1488561

John Gluth
Member

@jgluth

Love my Ether…my ears always get cold, so a hood is a must-have for me.

Probably my single favorite clothing item.

Mar 25, 2009 at 5:53 pm #1488832

Ray Dunham
Member

@raymond
Locale: SE US

I have the Wisp and love it.

Mar 25, 2009 at 7:32 pm #1488866

Brett Peugh
BPL Member

@bpeugh
Locale: Midwest

DriDucks or a homemade one out of Momentum

Mar 26, 2009 at 3:25 am #1488902

J B
BPL Member

@johannb
Locale: Europe

No direct experience, but isn't the MontBell UL windshirt non-breathable? I vaguely recall Ryan Jordan calling it "sweat fabric"?

I didn't have any problems with it.

Mar 26, 2009 at 8:34 am #1488936

Nick Gatel
BPL Member

@ngatel
Locale: Southern California

I have no problem with the Montbell wind shirt either.

But lets remember we all are different. Ryan hikes a lot in very cold weather. I hike a lot in hot weather. I would need a lot more insulation if hiking with him in the winter, and would not do as well temperature-wise. I am sure I would do better in very hot weather.

All we can do is absorb input from others, and then based on our experience make choices that seem right for us. Unfortunately, sometimes we buy stuff that does not work as well as we might have hoped.

Mar 27, 2009 at 10:00 am #1489212

Monty Montana
BPL Member

@tarasbulba
Locale: Rocky Mountains

David, my first windshirt was the Golite Wisp, and I really loved its packability and wispy weight. I mean, I could just wad it up and stuff it in my hip pocket! Yet, at altitude when the wind whistled I knew I was missing something even when I had a on a balaclava, and that was a hood. So I picked up a used Patagonia Houdini here, and like so many others, became a firm believer in the necessity of a hood. BTW, I have read favorable reviews on the MB windshirts.

Roger, I think it was, did a review of several windshirts a while back, and you could find it by clicking on "articles" above.
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