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Who still makes a Windstopper soft shell jacket?
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I’ve been looking around recently for a replacement for my favorite skiing / ice climbing / winter mountaineering outer layer for sunny, dry, but windy Colorado, which is a truly windproof, moderately insulated softshell jacket. Like the old Arc’teryx Gamma SV (which I always coveted but never owned, because price). Back in the late 90s and 2000s, those were cutting edge tech, but now it seems like they’re gone. Current softshells are all thin / summer weight, and insulating midlayers are all synthetic puffies or fleece that is not truly windproof but merely somewhat wind resistant. The good stuff was Schoeller outer fabric and Gore Windstopper fleece— that’s the sort of thing I want to find. Marmot used to make one, Mountain Hardwear had that one with the strips of braille-like outer seam tape that was very popular for a few years. I’m still rocking a hyper-yellow Berghaus one from around 2010, but it’s getting fairly pilled and hydrophilic from years of pack strap abrasion and such. Anyone still make something like this? Am I just missing them when I look online? Is the Arc’teryx Sawyer Hoody supposed to be this jacket type? Does anyone else who I might actually afford make one? |
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I had this exact same problem! My 15 year old goretex wine stopper MH needed to be replaced. The only jacket I found on the market was this one. Size down if you are slim, I got a small when I'm usually a medium everywhere else. The jacket is great, the collar is gigantic though. I guess it's intended for sailing? https://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/123739?page=mens-mountain-classic-windproof-fleece-jacket-mens-tall&bc=516567-593-506674&feat=506674-GN3&csp=f&pos=6 |
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The Arcteryx Gamma MX is very similar to what you are describing. It’s a thick/bomber softshell with a fleece insulation. I’ve had one for years and wear it frequently. |
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Montbell and Arcteryx both make jackets like this: https://www.montbell.us/products/disp.php?cat_id=25015&p_id=2306113&gen_cd=1 https://arcteryx.com/shop/mens/kadin-hoody |
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1. Mammut Ultimate VII Hooded Jacket - Gore Infinium is the updated WindStopper. 2. Mountain Equipment Vulcan Jacket You're not going to find a lot of softshell jackets with a WindStopper membrane anymore as it's somewhat of an "antiquated' technology when considering modern options. Softshells, especially with membranes, are super heavy and dry very slowly when compared to unlined softshells and modern hardshells. |
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I've got one of these in Large if you're interested  |
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Marmot rom |
AlpineIce wrote: I love my Rab Kinetic but its not insulated. Check out the Ascendor Summit. https://rab.equipment/us/ascendor-summit-hoody?queryID=cfe55b7c2ddeadb7592d96457a48d414&objectID=43737&indexName=rab_live_us_products |
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Modern textile technologies make windstopper soft shells, especially those with a bonded fleece, almost useless - and as AlpineIce says it's now called Gore Infinium. That being said, some brands still make them. I used some of them when I just got into outdoor activities but their weight penalty and ultimately their limited breathability has put me off them ever since. A good double weave stretch soft shell with appropriate layering underneath is so much more comfortable. |
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Thank you, all! I knew there had to be some of these still out there, and I like the look of a bunch of these. Useful to know that Infinium is the new name for Windstopper. Chris C, I always thought the Gamma MX was a bit thinner than what I'm talking about, but I never actually tried one on. They used to make a Gamma SV that had thicker fleece. The MX was certainly on every single climber in the Ouray ice park back in the 2000s; they must have been onto something. |
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I’m not sure the ice park is where to look for the most cutting edge in alpine technology. |
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You could always wear a Houdini over a light fleece for the same effect but way lighter and cheaper, and more versatile |
