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Posted by Jim S on January 12, 2007 at 2:24:27 pm EST
In reply to Soft Shell Jackets and Warmth! posted by John Boyd on January 11, 2007 at 7:57:04 pm EST

John
Thickness = warmth. Advertising hype = ?
Softshells ARE NOT WARM, they are a special layer that works mostly for extreme sports where you have immense aerobic heat output combined with the associated sweat. The need to vent while maintaining a wind layer for your skin is of paramount importance in these activities, not insulation.

If you are not an extreme aerobic sport person you will not need a soft shell. Many people are reporting that they don't even take their softshell camping anymore. I have an Arterix softshell which is great when its 50 degrees out but its not a "warm jacket".

I live in Bend Oregon and since it was -5 when I got up at 8 this morning, I have a perfect clothes testing area at my house. People who live in cold dress differently than people who visit the cold. I work construction outside. I wear wool socks and old Sorel PAC boots. I wear an old pair of 300 fleece pants under a triple layer goretex bib, and on top I wear (Yes I know) a cotton tee shirt, a cotton hooded pullover and then as an overlayer depending on temperature I wear either another cotton hood with a zipper or a TNF Puffin down sweater and maybe a light cheap coated nylon shell if its snowing. Gloves are rarely worn except at break.

Thickness = warmth but not if that that thick layer isn't static, if its flapping in the wind or soaked with snow its not gonna keep you warm. Down jackets are the only way you can get the thickness with reasonable weight, but they are often have too thin of shells so they flap in the wind. Not flapping while maintaining breathability is the job of the shell which is seam sealed, whereas most down jackets are not even water proof. I know my gear is old, but my favorite jacket is down weighs about 2 and a half pounds, has an expedition type hood and high pockets in front - three ply goretex and its a guaranteed to keep you dry in extreme wet weather coat. Now I can wwwear that coat at just about any temp.
Jim S

Replies

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• Re: Soft Shell Jackets and Warmth! - dianne (Guest) 16:47:03 02/10/2007
  • Re: Soft Shell Jackets and Warmth! - Yuma_R 20:39:29 02/24/2007
• Re: Soft Shell Jackets and Warmth! - John Boyd 15:50:01 01/12/2007
  • Re: Soft Shell Jackets and Warmth! - Brian in SLC 17:08:49 01/12/2007
    • Re: Soft Shell Jackets and Warmth! - Stewart (Guest) 04:39:50 01/18/2007

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