Wind Shirts

[Scot Bail]

Does anyone know anything about the Montbell u.l. wind jacket? How it compares to the montane aero or the dragonfly? I am looking for a 3 oz wind shirt with good breathability and some water resistance. The three mentioned are at the top of my list so far.
Thanks

[Ryan Jordan]

Quantum is more breathable by a long shot.
Epic is almost twice as heavy as Quantum, in its lightest flavor.

[Alan Dixon]

I’d just like to make a second pitch for the Montane Litespeed. This has been my primary windshirt for a year now. I would say that’s its additional warmth, durability and features more than make up for its weight in comparison to sub-one-ounce-per-yard fabric windshirts/jackets.

The PEAQ sidepanels are breathable and the Microlite fabric makes it more durable than Quantum and sub 1 oz poly shells. This is especially appreciated in the sleeves. The double insulated hood is very warm and protective possibly giving one the option of skipping a balaclava or certainly taking a lighter one or small skull cap. With the new Shield DWR it makes a dandy softshell and works well in moderate precipitation.

The trick here is to NOT pack the extra gear that the Litespeed’s warmth and features gain you. That way you might save more than the 2 ounces it weighs compared to super light windshirts.

>From Mike
>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!

Yeah Mike that would be near ideal with Shield DWR. Although, Microlite in the sleeves would preserve most of its durability.

-Alan

[Christian Schloegell]

Waterproof/breathable Event rainshells have become so light and braethable, when compared to what we used to have until a couple of years ago, that I wonder whether carrying a seperate light windshirt (in addition to a wp/b shell) may also be redundant. When the wind is blowing so hard that you would like wind protection, couldn’t you just pt on the Event shell and basically have the same effect with little detriment?

Chris

[Alan Dixon]

>Waterproof/breathable Event rainshells have become so light and braethable, when compared to what we used to have until a couple of years ago, that I wonder whether carrying a seperate light windshirt (in addition to a wp/b shell) may also be redundant.

this is an excellent question. and with a bit of tweaking its close to being true. (read to the end :)

First, it depends. For cooler, less humid, conditions when you aren’t working in your aerobic range, you could probably get by with something like an eVENT jackt for a general purpose shell. I know people that use fabrics far less breathable than eVENT under these conditions.

if you’re cranking into your aerobic range you’re going to sweat like a pig in even the most breathable of the wp/b shells. Even eVENT is going to sweat up good. Even in the winter.

in warmer and/or more humid conditions with wind you might find yourself too warm and too clammy to use a very breathable wp/b shell but not warm enough without it. although a large front zip on the jacke may help with temperature regulation as long as it isn’t raining hard.

You’ll likely need to do some personal testing to see what you can get away with.

Finally, I am experimenting with the ID eVENT jackt and a 1.9 oz Quantum vest from Montane (available spring next year?). For 10.7 oz I get a very, very breathable windshell and a wp breathable jacket (yeah, i’m kindofnotcounting the vest because it’s so light :). At the point that i need sleeves and a hood conditions are such that I won’t mind wearing the eVENT jacket.

-A

[Jay Ham]

Scott,

I own a Montbell U.L. wind jacket and like it very much. True to Montbell’s claim, my size medium weighs 2.6 ounces. The Ballistic Airlight fabric is pretty tough for as light as it is. I can not compare it to either the Patagonia or Montane though as I have not owned either. The obvious difference is the Montbell is full-zip (I think it is a YKK #2.5 or #3 coil zipper). Hem and cuffs are non-adjustable lycra. there is a napolean pocket on the left breast with a hidden zipper (can’t see the teeth). Build quality is superb, easily matching typical patagonia quality. Hope this helps.

Jay

[Bryce Nerland]

I have been looking at some of Montane’s windshirts. How do Pertex Microlight and Pertex Quantum windshirts compare in terms of breathablity, water resistance, and durability?

[Douglas Griffith]

I’m shopping the closeout deals on Marmot Chinook (don’t see it on Marmot site anymore). Did Marmot change the fabric on 04 as rumored in review, or keep P-120R? I’d really like a “breathable” jacket version versus “waterproof”.

later edit – OK accessed old marmot catalog web sites, s04.marmot.com (spring is “s”, fall is “f”) instead of http://www.marmot.com. Answer is “Specs unchanged”. ( Spring 03 does show a P-110R, probably a typo.)

[peter smith]

I bought a Marmot Chinook in August. The fabric label says “100% polyester”, and the weight is around 3.7 oz for men’s large.

The Chinook performed well in the Colorado Rockies in August, with very little condensation even when
climbing steep hills. The humidity was low and the temperatures were mild (high 40’s and above).

More recently I have used the Chinook to go jogging when conditions were around 30 degrees, with moderate humidity. To my displeasure, the inside of jacket was lined with water droplets
at the end of the jog, especially the middle of the back. In comparison, my nike sweatpants, which are probably made of supplex nylon, were very slightly damp but had no condensation whatsoever.

I was intrigued by the difference in performance between the Chinook at higher and lower temperatures, and by the difference between the Chinook and the nike sweatpants, so I ran a simple
experiment. I placed a water droplet on the inside of the fabric, and measured the time it took to disperse. For the nike sweatpants, the drop rapidly dispersed and was no longer visible after a second or so. For the Chinook sweatshirt,
the water droplet stayed put and did not disperse.

To summarize, I think that the Chinook does a good
job of transmitting water vapor but a poor job of
dispersing liquid water. Hence it has good breathability at high temperatures but poor breathability around freezing. Overall, its breathability is inferior to a cheap nike jogging suit, though it may be slightly more windproof.
If you wear this jacket around 30 degrees, there’s a good chance that your base layer will be soaked by the water droplets accumulating on the inner fabric. Given that Marmot specifically advertise the Chinook as a highly breathable garment designed for aerobic activities, I think that they should be excoriated for the poor performance of their fabric.

Does anyone know whether the DWR is applied to both sides of the material, or only to the outside? If it is applied to the inside then it would actually inhibit breathability at lower temperatures, because it would cause water droplets to bead up rather than disperse.

[John S.]

Douglas,

Backcountryoutlet.com implies that the last fabric type used on the chinook was called NP-550.

[D G]

I’m considering buying this windshirt and am wondering if anybody knows approximately where this windshirt falls with regards to breathability and water resistance.

I’m specifically looking for something highly breathable, with water resistance being secondary.
Something in Pertex Quantum like the Montane Aero sounds ideal, but I’d have to order it and I’m not sure about sizing. I can buy the Montbell locally.

Thanks
Dan Goldenberg

[Colin Thomas]

If you go with the Aero I would size up. I did not listen to BPL and had to send mine back for the next size up. I hade got a M but it was a bit tight in the chest and the sleeves where too short. The large is perfect in the chest and the sleeves almost perfect, still a tad short.

[James Mills]

How could you not compare the original Marmot Windshirt in the reviews? Just as a baseline if nothing else.

[John Davis]

Some good points here, Alan. I tried running in a Golite Wisp during light drizzle and was soaked.

In humid climates a windproof should not be completely windproof! Breathability is more important. In a real blast, the waterproofs, which are very windproof, go over the virtual windproof. Equilibrium fabric is just the job for windproofs for the British summer, although I fully appreciate that Epic and an umbrella might be better for places like Zion.

I look for comfortable closures at the waist, neck and cuffs from a windproof as waterproofs tend not to provide these. Then, cold air which gets through the waterproof’s closures is stopped by the windproof.

[Alex Orgren]

>I tried running in a Golite Wisp during light drizzle and was soaked.

I had similar experience with the Golite Ether, only I was just walking. Based on my few trials, I wouldn’t wear it during any level of exertion unless the temperature was down into the 40s (F). However, I haven’t found any waterproof or windproof fabric that will stay dry while running at any temperature.

[Peter Engelbrecht]

Has anyone looked at the Marmot Ion windshirt? It looks interesting made of Quantum (like the Montane shirts), with hood and full zip in 3 oz.

[Jon Rhoderick]

does anyone know how one might obtain a montaine featherlite smock in the us?

[Christopher Holden]

http://www.prolitegear.com/montane_featherlite_windsmock.html

[Nia Schmald]

I see that prolite has a small's and mediums but if you need larger you can order from the UK. I ordered a montane from planetfear.com and shipping was about 20 usd to CA. jackson-sports.com seems to have a better price at the moment on the featherlite. Shipping a 3 oz jacket isn't that bad.

[G Kullenberg]

mistake

[G Kullenberg]

mistake

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