OR Ascentshell? Reviews and CFM? Vs. Gore Pro, Neoshell, and EVENT?

Loving the Ascentshell. I have the Skyward (70D face fabric v 20D on the Realm). No technical data on CFM, but definitely more than eVent, and it feels a little more breathable than Neoshell, but not sure by how much. Best I can compare is either each material over a leg or Neoshell bottoms and Ascentshell top. But, Ascentshell is more WP than Neoshell (15k v 10k). I am fully sold on Ascentshell over the other fabrics after a few months of comparing all three.

GTX Pro is another category all together. More WP, Way less breathable. Fills a different role.

Jared H, thanks for the 1st hand in formation.  I did not really like the old Gore tex gear that I’ve had which included the plain Gore Tex and GTX……….however, I liked GTX Pro a little bit more   and Neoshell even more.  If  as you say, it’s more breathable than Neoshell and also more waterproof than it sounds like a winner.

1. What are you using that jacket for?   I can’t see myself using a 26oz. shell for summer backpacking, but it looks like an awesome cold weather system, especially with the torsion flo side zippers.
2.  Do you find yourself using the torsion flo side sippers much or is it usually breathable enough without this mechanical breathability enhancement?  I am asking this because the Realm does not have the Torsion Flo side zippers.
3. Where did you find out this information that the jacket has a 15k waterproof rating?
4. I think that you could be mixing up Gore Tex Pro vs. Gore Tex Pro Shell.  The Gore Tex Pro is actually air permeable (Gore Tex Pro Shell is not air permeable) and it rates from .15-.3 CFM which I think is often more air permeable than EVENT which is .1CFM.

1. replaced my old winter hardshell. so far i have used it for alpine climbing, light mountaineering, snowshoeing, mtb, and ice climbing. have not had it through summer, though i could see some uses in all day rain/humidity.
2. side zips are really nice for intermittent periods of high intensity, especially in nasty weather, or changing conditions, but not necessary for general use. when I snowshoe/mtb up a steep/long hill, or am going to spend several days in changing conditions/altitudes, i like the air flow, being able to dump a lot of heat at the top, or a way to vent that doesn’t let super cold wind smash into my chest. i also sometimes open just the bottom to let heat from my pants vent out instead of into my jacket. but i really keep it zipped most of the time and it breathes well enough. my other jacket i use for the same activities in better weather is the Rab Kinetic…air permeable without pit zips…so no, pit zips not necessary with good fabric.
3. 15k WP rating is stated on several websites that reviewed the material. also talked to OR today and while they didn’t have the air permeability spec for the 3L Ascentshell, they said the 2L was .4 CFM, and the 3L would be a bit more…so likely more than Neoshell (.5). both supported by what I have found testing the different materials.
4. as far as i know, GTX Pro is the same as GTX Pro shell. The different types of GTX, according to their website, are: GTX, GTX Paclite (2L version of GTX), GTX Active, GTX Pro. yes, 1.5-3 CFM (no idea why they list a range, when tests should clearly indicate a single value), but still well below Neoshell and Ascentshell.

as far as i know, GTX Pro is the same as GTX Pro shell. The different types of GTX, according to their website, are: GTX, GTX Paclite (2L version of GTX), GTX Active, GTX Pro. yes, 1.5-3 CFM (no idea why they list a range, when tests should clearly indicate a single value), but still well below Neoshell and Ascentshell.

They are certainly different. GTX Pro Shell was nothing more then GTX XCR, so with the classical ePTFE-PU-laminate and so not air-permeable, with the addition of their woven micro-grid backer while GTX Pro uses a new 100% ePTFE-laminate which is air-permeable. Their range of CFM-values is actually more honnest because the measured value depends on the precize combination of face fabric, the membrane  and the backer used. Even eVent actually has a variable CFM with values from as low as 0,1 to as high as 0,5.

Unless you really need such level of protection now, I would wait to see how e.g. GTX Fastdry-technology will evolve.