Soft Shell Jackets

**teledave** · 10-06-2003, 01:38 PM

Whose got 'em?
Whatdya think about 'em?

Looking at a Cloudveil.

Any thoughts?

(Didn't use the search fx because I'm trying to pad my post count!)

**Pinner** · 10-06-2003, 01:41 PM

Cloudveil Serendipity

**Jiffy** · 10-06-2003, 03:40 PM

ditto for Serendipity.

i'm a sweater in a 3-ply, so foties were a no-brainer.
on the wettest day on lift served last year, only the arms where the rested on my legs were damp.
dont know how they hold-up, going into season 2, but thinking of picking up some pants.

**Pinner** · 10-06-2003, 05:40 PM

You skied the last two seasons with no pants??

**laseranimal** · 10-06-2003, 05:44 PM

I wondfer if Pinner will make it to 400 posts here or 4000 posts at the other place faster

**IluvBob** · 10-06-2003, 05:46 PM

Originally posted by Pinner
You skied the last two seasons with no pants??

that shows everyone you'r nutz!

**Stikki** · 10-06-2003, 08:23 PM

I haven't used or even seen one in person yet but the Mountain Hardware Snychro jacket looks pretty nice.

**Gorillo** · 10-06-2003, 09:03 PM

they the bomb. I use a beyond fleece ( made to mesure) one myself and love the jacket. the arc'teyx gama is sweet too good fit and well built.

Tested in patagonia rain and sucks at full downpoor. be advised to use a gore-tex shell on top. But both together nothing getting through. Other that puking rain I wear it all the time ( zip of hood is soo gay but so usedfull ! )

My 22 cents

**Innominatus** · 10-06-2003, 10:26 PM

I gotta toss a mention of Ibex into the ring.

They're another little-guy company in the Cloudveil mold, with a similarly sterling reputation but even lesser known. Based out of New Hampshire, I think. They build sweet shit that lasts, and they take care of their customers, which is always worth paying back.

I have an Ibex softshell; one of my climbing buddies has a Cloudveil Serendipity he swears by, so I've had chance to compare the two side by side.

Both are excellent; the Ibex seems even higher quality, tho.

My usual 1 cent, anyway.

**Buster Highmen** · 10-07-2003, 12:00 AM

I've skied a Serendipity for 2 years now. It rools.
The negatives: high wind or total downpour.
The positives: super breatheability and price relative to the $400 gortex. It's slightly stretchy and water resistant, very cool material.

I carry a scarf for the high wind days and really like the jacket for hiking or skinning.

I've also have a pair of the IceFlow bibs. They're great too. They wick moisture away well, even on soppy ass Cascade daze.

I ski PNW and it gets sloppy and big wind here, but I ski in this stuff more than my Marmot or Moonstone.

**Ski Monkey** · 10-07-2003, 11:12 AM

A little tangent, for those of you with softshells. What do you layer it with?

**Buster Highmen** · 10-07-2003, 11:18 AM

Originally posted by Ski Monkey
A little tangent, for those of you with softshells. What do you layer it with?

Layer 1: medium poly pro with a lightweight underneath if it's below 10 F in the morning.
Layer 2: Fleece vest. Optional scarf if blasting or below 10 F.
Layer 3: Serendipity w/ bibs.

**rip** · 10-07-2003, 12:17 PM

Anyone know where you can get a Cloudveil Serendipity for less than 220? Every site I looked at had them priced at that.

**homerjay** · 10-07-2003, 12:29 PM

New sierra trading post catalog had some, as usual, sizes may be limited.

**rip** · 10-07-2003, 01:37 PM

whats the word on the salomon soft shells? same, better, worse? seems like the same material should mean they are about the same as any of the others.

**Viva** · 10-07-2003, 01:53 PM

Originally posted by ripley ripper
Anyone know where you can get a Cloudveil Serendipity for less than 220? Every site I looked at had them priced at that.

Depends on the size you want. Climb max (Climax!) here in Portland may have one or two of last year's lying around. Those were on sale for about 150- of course, you have no say on the color.

If you're interested, I can find out more and make the arrangements.

**IBISguru** · 10-07-2003, 02:09 PM

What about Helly Hansen shells?

Looking at buying a Helly Tech - 10 jacket...If I can goddamn find one anywhere.

People wearing them find them warm when layered properly? How about waterproofing?

**Jiffy** · 10-07-2003, 02:55 PM

Originally posted by Pinner
You skied the last two seasons with no pants??

man, talk about blue balls.

i layer, uptop, with short sleeve + long sleeve polypro only. for me the windflow is perfect cuz it keeps my core temp down.

**joshbu** · 10-07-2003, 02:56 PM

Two points:

I have a Cloudveil Cascade jacket. Not sure if it's a weird cut, but it only really fits me if it's zipped all the way up. I also find it to be too short: the jacket ends right about where by pack hip strap is, so it always gets all bunched up over the strap.

Lesson: It's good to try things on instead of buying online...

IBISguru: the 10 refers to the jacket's waterproofing rating: 10,000mm. This is somewhat low. 20K is pretty common. Otherwise a nice jacket.

**Mountain Junkie** · 10-07-2003, 02:59 PM

The Salomon stuff isn't bad, however it is a ski specific cut. This means its a bit baggier, with a more fashionable cut. In general, I don't think it's as versatile as the other coats.

As for layering, I tend to wear the exact same thing as I did with a hardshell. Sometimes I'll throw a fleece vest in there for the colder days.

Yeah, Ibex is freaking good stuff. However, it's also the most expensive. Whatever floats your boat.

I have the Cloudveil Ice Floe. I like the pockets better than the Serendiptiy, plus the neck is cut a bit higher. After a year of use in Colorado weather (ie non-wet), I've reached the following conclusion about the difference in soft vs. hard shells. If you like to be comfortable and occasionally cold, go soft shell. If you like to be comfortable and occasionally hot, go for a hard shell.

**IBISguru** · 10-08-2003, 10:06 AM

Spent the morning on the phone with Helly. Super cool and nice people there (Delta BC office).

I am trying to track down a jacket out of their "Collective". They only will ship this to certain places and where I am ain't it. So now I am trying to justify buying over the phone.

Anybody have one of these? I am liking the Distort. Fit for these? Does Helly fit large or small. For the particulars I am ~6'1 200+. Will an XL do me? I don't want a jacket that ends right at the waist, so I avoid the bunching up issue.

**acostiga** · 11-03-2003, 07:46 AM

any word on that helly jacket?

**nhtele** · 11-03-2003, 09:36 AM

Cloudveil Ice floe jacket.

Same fabric as the Serendipity (Schoeller Dryskin Extreme), but with a hood. The stlying is much more of a full-on mountain shell: Hood, several pockets, Velcro at the cuffs, etc.

I've been really happy with mine for a season now.

**nate s** · 11-03-2003, 06:25 PM

my g/f has the serendipity and loves it. i have marmot pants that are the same material and wear them pretty much all winter. i have been wearing a driclime windshirt (with light shell in pack)which is pretty sweet but not stretchy like schoeller. i am looking to get a patagucci dimension this year, everyone i know that has one loves it. pata sizing is better for long arms & torsos too.

**Mcwop** · 11-03-2003, 08:40 PM

Patagonia White Smoke Jacket rocks. Tried one on and love it. Has a hood that zips off, and a powder skirt. Rockin' for a soft shell. Was down on Patagucci for a while because of poor quality paddling gear. Stuff seems top notch.

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