Wind Shirts

[Colin Thomas]

I am thinking about getting this windshirt but have not tried one on yet. I am trying to figure out what size I would need. Usually I am a medium (5 11/170lbs) from most brands. I have herd that Montane sizes their clothing small. So should I go up a size like this site claims? Also is it the same with their pants too. Any help would be appreciated.

[Paul Diez]

I’m 5′-8″ and 160-165#. I find my size medium Montane Featherlite smock to be a comfortable but snug fit over a base layer (e.g. a light polypro shirt). I’d need to go to a large to wear comfortably over an insulating layer.

[obx hiker]

I have a nike “tiger woods” half sleeve wind shirt that I am almost positive is pertex quantum ( not well labeled because I guess the golfing crowd doesn’t really care?) I trail run with this admittedly half sleeve, tight V-neck ( can barely get it over my head), and elastic bottom. Anyway at the end of my run the very first thing I do is pull off the wind-shirt and it is never the slightest bit damp. I have run the same route with a Marmot chinook at most half zipped ( or less) and the interior had some condensation. Do you think it’s the half sleeves or the material?

[Jerold Swan]

I have the Montane Aero in size large. I’m 5’10” and quite thin (150 pounds). It’s loose on me over just a base layer and I usually tuck it in to prevent flapping.

[Michael Martin]

My two cents…
I’m 6’2″, 165lb and usually take a size large in most clothing. I have a large featherlite smock, and a large litespeed jacket (both by Montane). Both fit well over a base layer, but are tight over 200 weight fleece. (fwiw, the tag with the lightspeed jacket cites a 42″ chest).

I would order an XL size if I had to do it over again.

[Anonymous]

Is there anyone who have checked out the NEW Patagonia’s Dragonfly full-Zip (or pull over)?
I’ would like to have some infomations about it, because we can’t get it in Japan, yet.

-One Step Beyond! 2004-

[Anonymous]

Wondering if anyone makes an all Epic 1.7 oz p sq/yd windshirt. Could that may be the ultimate? Could it be simply a price competition issue in that the end price would be too high?
Would it be too warm and need a super light mesh in the pits. Any thougts by anyone.

This could span the gap between windshirts and waterproof breathables…

[Ryan Jordan]

Feathered Friends makes the Jackorack in the light ripstop Epic (“Malibu”). It has pit zips, huge vented torso pockets, and a hood. It’s roomy enough to layer insulation under it. I’ve worn mine a ton – it’s one of my favorite jackets. I wish the Epic was more breathable but you can’t have it all, I guess!

[Ken Helwig]

Also the beauty of the Montane Aero Smock windshirt is the price! At roughly $65 (Thru Hiker in the S.F. Bay area sells it) and the weight at 2.5 oz. makes it a great buy.

[Ryan Jordan]

Good call. It’s a great wind shirt for the price. For a 3-oz item, you’d think shipping would be cheaper! Shop around (Google it!) and you should be able to get away with shipping and the shirt for less than $65.

[Michael Martin]

Wild Things Gear (www.wildthingsgear.com/windshirt.html) also has an Epic windshirt listed on their website. I haven’t used one, so I don’t know about quality or availability.

[Chet Clocksin]

Has anyone had experience with this windshirt/jacket? Sounds like it could be the ultimate combination for breathability/durability.
from Back Country Gear’s description:
” Many of you out there requested a featherlite that zipped up and had a hood. Well, Montane listened. The Lite Speed Jacket features a Pertex Microlite DWT+ shell with Pertex Quantum DWR+ side panels. The cuffs have an internal elasticized cuff, full length zip, integral roll-away adjustable hood, a chest pocket for your valuables, and it’s own stuff sack that doubles as a hackysack.”

Thanks,

Chet

[Ryan Jordan]

Chet – the Lightspeed is a great little shell – unique is its 2-layer hood, which provides tremendous wind resistance. Combined the the Microlight, this wind shirt is one of the most protective on the market.

[Chet Clocksin]

Ryan, do you think the hood is overkill for a windshirt? Obviously the hood has merit for additional protection, but I’m wondering, based on your experience do you typically carry a seperate, hooded jacket in addition to your windshirt? And if so, do you typically choose a windshirt without a hood? Or is the hood worth it just to extend the range in which you can use the windshirt, even if you have a seperate jacket (like maybe the Precip)? I know, a lot of questions.
One more: Do the Quantum side panels result in a significant improvement in breathability ?

Thanks again,
Chet

[Ryan Jordan]

The hood does indeed extend the windshirt to some pretty foul conditions. The ability to keep your head warm and maintain the breathability of a wind shirt – you can take this concept to some incredibly cold and windy conditions. The Quantum side panels – I don’t know that they significantly increase breathability (although Quantum is more breathable that Microlight) so much as they keep the weight down in low-abrasion areas.

This is the kind of wind shirt I’d want to pair with a poncho, which I’d normally only bring out in a squall. For me, two hooded jackets are usually redundant, so if you carry a hooded rain jacket already, then a non-hooded wind shirt might provide for a more versatile clothing system with less duplication.

[Michael Martin]

Chet-

I’ve used my litespeed for almost a year now. It is my favorite wind shell for backpacking, trail running, and backcountry skiing. A couple of comments:

1) I’m afraid that I have to disagree with Ryan about the sidepanels. Montane’s website claims the side panels are “PEAQ”, not Quantum. Using an informal “blow-thru” test, the fabric seems to have greater air permeability than Quantum, more comparable to Equilibrium. These panels are a great feature of the jacket as they add substantial breathability just where you need it — sort of like the mesh armpit panels on Marmot’s driclime windshirts, but with better weather protection. (Ryan — I’d welcome your comments about this….)

2) I love the flexibility of the shell. I’d say the extra warmth of the hood justifies its weight, although I think the dual-layer construction is overkill for most conditions where I’ve used it. (I suppose you could cut the hood liner out and save a few grams if you wanted to.) Also, if you do carry a hooded storm shell or poncho, the litespeed hood can be rolled up into a gasket around your neck to minimize chimney-effect heat loss there.

3) One trick that the full zip and light fabric allow is to fully unzip the shell and pull the hem through the shoulder straps of a pack during periods of high exertion like extended hill climbs. This lets your arms breathe because they are not closed off by the pack straps (a poor man’s pit-zip!). You can then instantly zip up and/or don the hood when you get to the top.

4) My size large weighs 5.2oz, which is not the lightest windshirt out there these days. But it remains my favorite due to the hood, side panels, and ventilation options.

5) What I’d really like to see from Montane is a 4 oz Quantum full-zip windshell with a single-layer hood and the PEAQ sidepanels. Oh well, I need something on my gear wish list for next year! ;)

Cheers,

-Mike

[Tom Ekblad]

Anybody have a comment about this wind shirt?

[Ryan Jordan]

Tom, I used the Helios in conjunction with a hoodless poncho on a recent trip to CA’s Lost Coast under some incredibly foul conditions. It was GREAT! Here’s the trip report/photos:

http://ftp.backpackinglight.com/galleries/LostCoast04.html

[Tom Ekblad]

Living in Southern California, I haven’t had 56 hours of rain in the past 10 years. Your report of drying out while sleeping surprised me. How much of that would you attribute to the bivy sack?

[Ryan Jordan]

> How much would you attribute drying out to the bivy sack?

A lot. I can’t imagine what it would have been like in a Gore-Tex bivy.

[carlos fernandez rivas]

Someone has expecience with the marmot chinook jacket

I´m looking for a hooded windshirt …. and the finalist are the golite helios and the marmot………what has the most breathable fabric?
(water resistance is not important for me )

thanks

[Michael Martin]

The Golite Helios uses an acrylic coating which renders it much less breathable (but more water resistant) than the Marmot Chinook.

[Bryan Redd]

I was in a store yesterday that carries “closeout” GoLite products. They had some yellow shells with hoods built with a rip-stop nylon. One of them had a label in the collar area with the “EPIC” logo—and all of the shirts were identical but only one had this label.

Did GoLite make a wind shell made of EPIC? If so, what was it called? What can you tell me about its performance? Or were these simply prototypes?

[Anonymous]

There are two models in Hong Kong:

The 2002 discontinued model “Flow” (with hood)($1200 HKD) – only a sample remains in the shop – the golite lable says the fabric is silicon encapsulated but there is no EPIC label. Based on the “feel”, I am 80% sure that EPIC fabric is used.

The current model without hood called Harmony ($920HKD) and come with a EPIC label. The fabric is much thinner and lighter than the Wild Thing Windshirt but I am not sure whether the water resistant and breathability performance are affected? Though the colours of the Wild Thing Windshirts are more exotic.

[Thomas Cole]

Ryan, Wildthings Epic vs Montane Aero/Quantum: For a windshirt I would choose breathability over water resistance. How do these two compare.

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