How does the Ready Mix fabric compared to other soft shells fabrics ?

Although I have a Ready Mix and an Epsilon, I can't really give a good answer seeing as the Epsilon still has its tags on and has never been used… just wanted to say that I am also interested in more info about these fabrics from anyone who knows.

Interestingly, I often wear a Patagonia R.5 (Powerdry with the interior grid fabric) under the Ready Mix, which is essentially what the Epsilon has as it's interior. After using and hating an Arcteryx Gamma MX, I was struck by the design of the Epsilon as a real softshell- not some overpriced jacket that will make me prespire like crazy and get soaked, only to dry out two days later. I have not used the epsilon because my size medium's hood won't fit over my climbing helmet. Not sure if it supposed to, as the fleece stuff is also in the hood area, and I can't see the reason for that if it was meant to go over a helmet.
The limited use that the Ready Mix has gotten has made it my favorite cool to cold weather piece with the caveat that I wish the hood/hem adjsutments had larger fixtures to make them easier to adjust with gloves. Though the hood fits very well, I could never get the hang of Patagonia hood adjustments… it's just me.

I have found the RM to breathe very well, about as well as an Epic pullover I had and MUCH better than Powershield light. The DWR has yet to wear off, so can't say anything about drying times, but it sheds snow wonderfully. The Patagonia cut is much baggier than Arcteryx… so body type may determine fit. Not sure how durable the Ready Mix fabric is- I have some scuffing on the cuffs and am not sure how it got there as I have been careful with it. Also, the interior tends to catch on stuff- if my helmet has any nicks of scuffs and is not perfectly smooth, the hood will catch and snag.
If we ever get winter here again I will do alot more testing…

Hi Michael,
My wife and I have the Ready Mix jacket and I'll say it's hands down our most used winter shell layer. We just used it skiing and snowshoeing in -5F to 15F (-25F to -5F with windchill) for several days in the High Peaks region of the Adirondaks. It breathes very well, blocks the wind very well and will handle a fair amount of precipitation. The size this past year was true with room to layer underneath (year before it was way oversized and you had to wear a full size smaller). The ones we have are also bright orange, a great winter safety color. If I had one wish it would be for Patagonia to make the shoulders and hood waterproof, like the Arcteryx Alpha Comp – this would make it amazingly versatile. I'm not a fan of the Alpha Comp however because the cut is too short – the Ready Mix offers much better coverage front and back.

I was curious – 1) how you find the Ready Mix after further use 2) how you think the Gamma MX powershield material would work in pants. The one place I think I would appreciate a little more wind blocking and warmth in very cold weather would be for the legs – in Ibex Guidelite pants, which are fantastic, we were still cold (again, it was bitter cold and windy). I thought a more wind resistant and less breathable pant would have done the trick.

Thanks,

EJ

Yup, I agree on the Ready Mix. Great Jacket for features and the perfect balance of breathability and weather resistance. It also dries very fast. The only things I do not like are the single waist drawcord and Pattigonia's soft hood closure thingys… but that is minor. I will buy another one just in case they discontinue the jacket.

I noticed your other post about the Gamma MX Pants and did not respond given that I have not used Powershield on the legs (just in jackets and gloves).
As you know, the stretch of the stuff is wonderful, and it does block a goodly amount of wind, but breathes better than hard shells. Even if it didn't, the fit and mobility would be worth the cost. I tend to wear my Gamma MX jacket for cool weather rock climbing (nothing in bad weather or when weight is an issue), and after 4 years the cuffs are starting to go, but otherwise it has taken a real beating and has proven durable. Good fabric for certain activities, juts not for when I am wearing a pack or working uphill- or when it is raining.

My only concern with the Gamma MX pants would be that the seat and knees of any pants that I use in winter tend to get abused a bit, and the DWR wears off there first. With non-stretch wovens, in my experience, there is not as much moisture absorption as with stretch wovens in these areas.

However, I bet the Guidelites absorb a bit too so you are used to working with it, so this is not really a slight against Powershield as it is against stretchwovens in general.

To be honest, I almost bought the Gamma MX pants for ice climbing and winter packing, but am between sizes (30 inch waist, 33 inch inseam). I went with the REI Taku pants and don't regret it because I now have two large holes from my frontpoints in the knee area, and that would be horrible to do to pants as nice as the Gamma's. Of course the stupid velcro waist cinch closure on the Taku pants managed to tear the fabric of my well-loved Cloudveil Epic anarok to shreds… stupid pants.

If the Gamma pants had fit me, I'd wear them tomorrow when I go out climbing and for my daily 5 mile hike. Since my legs do not get as hot as my torso, the more limited breathability and additional warmth would be welcome. POwershield will block wind, and being above treeline in the Dacks is a place where I'd sure want that, but there is a noticable difference in wind resistance between it and hardshells (speaking from my experience with jackets). It might be very well suited to winter use in the Dacks.
If you have found them at $100 off, I'd grab them. At that price, you could always sell them and maybe not even take a hit if they did not meet your needs.

Hi Michael,
do you have any more info on how the Ready Mix compares to the Epsilon jackets? Last time you still hadn't used the Epsilons but perhaps now you have a better idea.

Sorry, I sold the Epsilon given that it just did not fit correctly. I wish I could be of more help…