Mishmi Takin Cayambe Soft Shell Jacket

A well made technical waterproof jacket with a fleece lining suitable for a wide range of outdoor activities. All seams are taped and Aquaguard zippers are used throughout.

The Mishmi Takin Cayambe Soft Shell packs a lot of features into a compact jacket. Featuring a three-layer waterproof fabric with a rating of 10,000mm (moderate to heavy rain) this jacket can handle some heavy wet weather. Fully taped seams in a contrasting color add to the waterproof exterior while adding some style.

Aquaguard zippers are used throughout and, along with a helmet compatible hood, they add another layer of protection. To keep rain from running up the arms velcro cuff adjusters can be tightened down around the nylon thumb-hole sleeves. The jacket has a low cut hem with an adjustable cinch cord. The inside of the softshell has an interesting bonded textured fleece.

Due to California experiencing an extremely dry winter for the first four months I used the soft shell as a windbreaker while mountain biking. It took me a few wearings to figure out what was comfortable to wear underneath as the jacket is cut very slim. At 5'9" and 165 lbs I'm definitely not large, yet the medium size was a fairly tight fit. I ended up wearing just a base layer underneath and that seemed to work well. Luckily the fabric is pretty stretchy so I never felt constrained.

The jacket was more than capable of keeping me warm riding into the mid to low 30's with a wool base layer. Having the long hem in the back worked really well to keep the jacket from riding up while riding.

Finally, after months of dryness, we got some rain, I went out for a few wet hikes just to see how it would react. In light rain, the fabric just made the water bead up and run off. I found that in heavy rain the fabric appeared to be wetting out yet I was not feeling any moisture inside. In the photo, you can see the beading on the arms of the soft shell while the shoulders appear to wet out.

Because the product literature says it's not intended for heavy downpours I put it to the shower test. After standing in the shower for half an hour the fabric again looked and felt totally wet on the outside but I was perfectly dry on the inside, I was impressed. I hung up the jacket and it was dry in about 20 minutes.

The fleece liner never felt damp and it also seems to do a good job in the breathability of the jacket. Having the waffle fleece fabric (see photo) isolates my body from the outer layer so I never got that clammy sweat so prevalent in rain gear. The hood provides good coverage and the thumb hole sleeves do a great job keeping rain from migrating up the sleeves.

I could see using this jacket rock or ice climbing, cross-country skiing, or winter backpacking. The slim fit would really work well with a backpack. My only knock is the jacket could be a little bit roomier or I need to get a little slimmer.

Info:

• Sizes: Extra Small to 2X-Large
• Colors: Blue Grey, Sedona Grey
• Cost: Was $300, on sale now $225