Lightest stretch-woven softshell with a helmet-compatible hood?
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I'm looking for a lightweight stretch-woven softshell that has a hood that fits easily over a helmet. Something stretchier and more robust than my Houdini windshirt, but less than the typical ~20oz I see for fully featured climbing softshells that are stretch-woven (e.g. Rab Scimitar, NW Alpine Fast and Light jacket, etc). |
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jaredj wrote: I really like the look of the OR Ferrosi hoody, but haven't been able to try one on and the interwebs reviewers suggest it has a close cut and wouldn't fit over a hood.Is that a typo and you wanted to say helmet instead of hood? If so, I fit mine over my helmet all the time. Here is a video of a guy with his Ferrosi over his helmet starting at 1:20. vimeo.com/19746428 |
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Yeah, the Ferrosi hood fits over a helmet, and I really like it. When mine is trashed I would happily buy another, at full retail even! |
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Thanks for clearing that up, fellas. |
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i got an OR whirlwind hoody for my Red rocks trip (sierra trading post)...held up well. Also GoLite used to have and might still have some great softshell jackets |
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I have two ferrosi hoodies. Those jackets are the shit and my go to spring/summer-fall alpine climbing and ski touring jacket. The hood does fit over a helmet even on my giant sputnik head. |
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Thanks, guys. I hadn't seen that BD Alpine Start before - googling reveals that the backpackinglight crew have splooged themselves over it. That looks more like what I was seeking, anyhoo - I don't need a bunch of pockets. |
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I love the Marmot tempo hoody. Cheap as heck, light, super stretchy and breathable. I can wear it for pretty much anything. |
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I have a Ferrosi hoody and like it a lot. Fabric is Cordura and heavier weight than BD hoody (likely more durable). That said, the handwarmer pockets are useless under a harness. If you want the lightest, the BD is your best bet, but the Ferrosi is a great all-around piece. |
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Rab Boreas pullover is a very light stretch woven softshell. |
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Kai Larson wrote:Rab Boreas pullover is a very light stretch woven softshell. Not as water/wind resistant as others, but super light and breathable.Yeah, that looks like a good option. I've got some other Rab pieces and their cut generally works with my frame. I'd prefer something with a hood designed to fit over a helmet; the Boreas is marketed as (and looks like) an under-helmet design. |
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Brian Abram wrote:BD Alpine Start HoodyMy roommate picked up this piece recently, I am pretty impressed with the quality of it. Has more stretch than the Ferrosi material and appears to be similar in durability. I have a Ferrosi Windshirt (no hood) and have been considering the hoodie. I really like the material, though it doesn't breath well. Durable beyond anything else I have used and repels light rain. |
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jaredj wrote: Yeah, that looks like a good option. I've got some other Rab pieces and their cut generally works with my frame. I'd prefer something with a hood designed to fit over a helmet; the Boreas is marketed as (and looks like) an under-helmet design.It will work over a helmet, particularly something lower profile like a Petzl Meteor, but works best under a helmet. |
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Kai Larson wrote: It will work over a helmet, particularly something lower profile like a Petzl Meteor, but works best under a helmet.Oh cool - good to know! My local REI has an Alpine Start. I tried it on over my Elios helmet. It did OK if not zipped all the way up; definitely not as good a fit as one usually sees on the fully-featured softshells (I have a Rab Scimitar which fits great, and for a few years had a Gamma MX which also fit quite well). Seems like these ultralight softshells / stretchy windshirts are probably all gonna have a relatively trim hood design since light weight is usually a defining characteristic of them. |
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jaredj wrote: Oh cool - good to know! My local REI has an Alpine Start. I tried it on over my Elios helmet.Finaly got my hands on this piece, it's nice, but I wouldn't call it a softshell. Stretchy? yes. Breathable as a stretch woven softy? Highly unlikely. It looks as if the B.D.V. is BDs light weight softy. |
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Yeah, it's hard to get a sense of the breathability. This BPL thread provides measurements someone has concocted of CFM, a measure of breathability as I understand. It compares the Alpine Start to other windshirts, not other stretch wovens softshells. |
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Super impressed with my recently purchased RAB Boreas. It fits over my Petzl Meteor ok, but I'd probably just wear it under. |
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The OR Ferrosi gets a lot of recommendations but I think the hood is a deal breaker. Counter to what has been said, it is not helmet compatible. The hood can be stretched over a helmet but it is movement limiting. |
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Mammut Go-Far? |