Light on a budget

There is an articke omewhere on this site about going light on a budget. Im sure someone can link to it. As to your question I would get a softshell jacket. At over 2lbs it is very heavy for what it does and isnt flexible.

Unless you are going off trail my budget choice would be driducks for rain and fleece for insulation. Also sometimes lightweight cheap down jackets have been found at old navy and costco. For a fleece and driducks combo ypu should come in at around 24 oz and $50. So both cheaper and lighter than your softshell you are referncing.

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/forums/thread_display.html?forum_thread_id=2059&disable_pagination=1

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/lw_testimony_shortt_journey.html

http://www.lytw8.com/

I wouldn't trust that brand only because they do not seem to understand outdoor garment terminology too well.

Usually a softshell is not made with a waterproof fabric but instead uses something more breathable but highly water resistant. It just seems like they sell products aimed at people wanting to buy into an image more than providing products focused on performance and value.

For comparison look at this adidas softshell at REI:
http://www.rei.com/product/839195/adidas-terrex-swift-rib-fleece-jacket-mens-2011-closeout

$80 MSRP (cheaper on closeout with member discounts), weighs less than 600gm (which should be a standard for most softshells, anything heavier will probably be way too warm or stifling for 90% of usage).

Also if you peruse this site you'll find many people forgo softshells while actually hiking. They are limited in their versatility. Not quite warm enough to really be an insulation layer, not quite water resistant enough to provide storm protection, and generally heavy and bulky for what they offer.

You'll probably be better served by a more traditional setup of a cheap and light windshirt (departmentofgoods.com often has a $30 2.5oz stoic wraith windshirt), a warm generic fleece for warmth (or a synthetic/down puffy for more $$$) and a cheap but effective WPB shell like a driducks, tyvek MYOG, or a poncho tarp setup for storm protection. Those three items can often be found for the same weight as the softshell you linked but with more warmth, less rain, and better breathability in the long term.

The jacket in your original post is junk. There are MANY threads on these forums about UL and even SUL gear on a budget.

In general, UL backpacking is not more expensive than traditional backpacking, and is often cheaper.

Excellent resource from WhiteBlaze.net:

http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/content.php?190-Cheap-Gear-%96-How-to-Dirt-Bag-and-Deal-Shop-Like-a-Professional

http://www.eddiebauer.com/catalog/product.jsp?ensembleId=38933&&categoryId=28068&categoryName=JACKETS-AND-PARKAS&pCategoryId=16&pCategoryName=OUTERWEAR–BLAZERS&gpCategoryId=2&gpCategoryName=MEN&ggpCategoryId=1&ggpCategoryName=EB&catPath=~~categoryId=28068~~categoryName=JACKETS-AND-PARKAS~~pCategoryId=16~~pCategoryName=OUTERWEAR–BLAZERS~~gpCategoryId=2~~gpCategoryName=MEN~~ggpCategoryId=1~~ggpCategoryName=EB&viewAll=n&pg=1

that will crush the jacket you're looking at. and less than 1/2 the price…

Thank you all for good links and suggestions it will take me some time to absorb all the info.