Wind Shirt vs. Softshell

I have both and the main differences I see are breathability, stretch and durability (thus weight). In winter activites where moisture control is of utmost importance a breathable softshell would be a better option. Conversely, a windshirt is a 4 season item that I never leave home without and the softshell gets hung up (for hiking at least) once it hits 40 degree's. If you are trying to decide one or the other, you will probably find the windshirt a more versatile purchase. If you are looking for a skiing kit, a softshell with a windshirt as backup protection stored in your pocket is a great combo.

For durability, yes, and also for weight with the lightest softshells probably weighing at least several times the weight of a typical 3-4 oz windshirt.

One very well-made softshell (IMHO) is the Icefall Jacket by Ibex. Very expensive at $235 retail, but very weather resistent and durable with lite softshell exterior and also warm with merino wool lining.

The Icefall can currently be obtained at the Ibex website for substantial discount of $85 with a sale price of $150.

See — http://www.ibexwear.com/F06/View_Product.php?GarmentID=583&thePhoto=../Photos/F06/526_8990.jpg&Category=1048&CategoryLine=#

The Icefall was reviewed by BPL in July 2003:

See — http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/00109.html

JRS

I agree, the Icefall is an amazing piece. I use it sking, winter climbing and around the town in the fall. Great all around jkt. It is the only softshell I own. Just beware if you are over 6' that the sleeves are kinda short.

I wear both in the winter. A superlight windshirt over a polypro for skinning and travel, then the softshell goes on over that for the descent, and sometimes over a light puff layer if it is really cold. I find that the softshell I have is too warm for most touring/travel (Patagonia Dimension jacket). As far as durability, the softshell is great ( I once ripped an arm off a lightweight windshirt while tree skiing!) I believe that the windshirt, while breathable, creates a micro climate between itself and the polypro. It also allows me to always keep my Avy Tranciever under a layer. I have always considered a windshirt one type of softshell. Maybe going with a heavier windshirt (still lighter than a modern softshell) would be the ideal compromise?

I think soft shells are great for day hikes or skiing– single purpose or short term events where you have a reasonable expectation of the weather. They are great for commuting and they look good too.

I've asked a lot of climbers about soft shells and what I heard is they are great for casual or moderate conditions, but not good for more extreme stuff: if it is really wet, or really cold, the soft shell doesn't meet the demand. As I can buy a really good rain shell and an insulating garment for about the same price and weight as a soft shell, I've chalked them up to being more outdoor fashion than hardcore backcountry gear.

The windshirt excels in a pallet of ultralight clothing as you can use it for multiple layering techniques and retain the light weight and low bulk. Soft shells are heavy and bulky for a single garment, and they aren't cheap.

I have a Marmot DriClime Windshirt that is a good example. I really like the garment a lot, but the insulation is tied to the shell, so I am always committed to the full 16oz it weighs. I have a Montane Lightspeed that is about 6oz and I can layer that with anything I like and get a hood too. It takes up the space of a small apple. Layering it with, say, a Powerstretch long sleeve tee gives me about the same insulation as the Marmot, yet I can wear the Powerstretch alone, or the shell with a silkweight tee, polyfill vest, or all the above. Breatability and DWR are neear identical. If you want to get your wardrobe light, it must have that kind of flexibility.

$139.95

And if STP's 20% coupon is still good, even cheaper still.

See thread at: http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/xdpy/forum_thread/6515/index.html

With the coupon code identified at the above BPL thread, obtained a hooded Ibex Shak for $71 or so from STP, down from retail price ($140) and sale price ($89 or so), with the 20% coupon more than offsetting the shipping ($10).

JRS

In cold and windy conditions, stretch fabrics help to retain warmth by minimizing the bellows effect. I also suspect that this minimizes condensation, because sweat doesn't have a chance to mix with cold air prior to passing through the fabric.

Does anyone know of an ultralight, ultrabreathable, hooded windshirt made out of stretch fabric?

The nearest I've seen is Montbell's stretch windshirt. But it lacks a hood and has a PU coating which can't help the breathability.

Patagonia and others make several windshirts using a combination of nonstretch and stretch fabrics. But their stretch fabrics are relatively heavy – around 3.5 oz/yd. Do lighter stretch fabrics akin to 1 oz nonstretch nylon exist?

Something a home sewer can do that manufacturers typically won't mess with for woven fabrics is to cut the pattern on a bias. With ripstop, the square grid looks like diamond quilt on the finished shirt. This method wastes more fabric and requires careful layout and cutting. This gives the material some stretch around the girth and in the verical direction, and the cut edges are fray-resistent during handling but still requires finishing (overlock). Add a few panels of stretchwoven material down the side seams and one can tailor a windshirt to fit quite closely. I've done this with windshirts for cycling to eliminate wind flap on fast descents.

A hoodless mens medium windshirt in 1.9oz uncoated nylon fabric weighs in at 4.2 ounces with 3 oz stretch woven panels down the inside arms and sides and a full #3 coil zipper, and no other features (pockets, drawcords, atc). A hood might add another half ounce as my 2" collar is doubled stretch woven. I haven't seen any knit stretch fabrics less than 3 oz available from the usual sources.

If you try this cut the pattern large (maybe start with an old sweatshirt ripped apart at the seams), seam it to fit and let it hang for a few days before hemming it, as the material will "grow" in length some. I like to baste in a strip of non-stretch right after cutting along the zipper line so that doesn't stretch in handling or sewing.

In spring/summer/fall i will use a windshirt,it gives me protection from the wind (like a softshell)protects me from light rain (like a softshell).The big difference is in the insulation factor,a windshirt gives little insulation wich is perfect for hiking where you generate a lot of bodyheat but protects you from the elements!A softshell is soon to warm because of the heavier fabric and added insulation.A softshell is at it best in cold temps where you need the extra insulation factor and more warmth it gives.And the big difference is the weight of the product,windshirts are much lighter and that is what we ultralight hikers want!