Patagonia Techface Alternative?

They just raised the price from $189 to $219 so I’m looking for alternatives…anyone have something similar they like?

OR Vigor Plus, Eddie Bauer Sandstone Grid

Curious what application you like techface fleece for?

If you like techface get it on ebay.

OR Deviator is kind of similar kind of different, slightly more breathable slightly less weatherproof. I use it on dry days when moving faster. 

Apparently Costco has a really nice hooded alternative for REAL cheap. My friend just got it and he likes it a lot. Could be worth checking if you’ve got access to a membership

Mountain equipment shroud is an option for a hard face fleece.

Tech face fleeces aren't super popular these days due to them not being particularly good at anything. 

that guy named seb wrote:

Tech face fleeces aren't super popular these days due to them not being particularly good at anything. 

LOL

Kinda like every softshell-like layer I own and wear all the time :)

Mike K wrote:

LOL

Kinda like every softshell-like layer I own and wear all the time :)

Ah just looked at the tech fleece, ah I see this is a tricky one, it's not a fleece at all this is a real soft shell, there aren't many alternatives sadly, I'm pretty sure they sourced this or developed this for their special forces kit. For what it is I'd just pay for it, Ebay, reduced prices, etc, not hard to find a deal and make it affordable. 

Alternative would be go for something like a mountain equipment Kinesis. 

No one else I know of does a grid pile double weave, it's a very niche piece of kit.

Just finished my dissertation on soft shells, patagonia and their lost arrow program is really going hard on the soft shell systems. They had a proper jacket with shell features a few seasons ago and I'd try and find that if you can. 

R2 techface is currently on sale at Patagonia in some colors/sizes. A few R1's left too. And there's always plenty on their Worn Wear site too. 

that guy named seb wrote:

Ah just looked at the tech fleece, ah I see this is a tricky one, it's not a fleece at all this is a real soft shell, there aren't many alternatives sadly, I'm pretty sure they sourced this or developed this for their special forces kit. For what it is I'd just pay for it, Ebay, reduced prices, etc, not hard to find a deal and make it affordable. 

Alternative would be go for something like a mountain equipment Kinesis. 

No one else I know of does a grid pile double weave, it's a very niche piece of kit.

Just finished my dissertation on soft shells, patagonia and their lost arrow program is really going hard on the soft shell systems. They had a proper jacket with shell features a few seasons ago and I'd try and find that if you can. 

Where can I read this?

that guy named seb wrote:

Ah just looked at the tech fleece, ah I see this is a tricky one, it's not a fleece at all this is a real soft shell, there aren't many alternatives sadly, I'm pretty sure they sourced this or developed this for their special forces kit. For what it is I'd just pay for it, Ebay, reduced prices, etc, not hard to find a deal and make it affordable. 

Alternative would be go for something like a mountain equipment Kinesis. 

No one else I know of does a grid pile double weave, it's a very niche piece of kit.

Just finished my dissertation on soft shells, patagonia and their lost arrow program is really going hard on the soft shell systems. They had a proper jacket with shell features a few seasons ago and I'd try and find that if you can. 

Anyone making a durable softshell that isn't a full zip, like the old BD anorak style? That's my white whale right now. 

Casey J wrote:

Anyone making a durable softshell that isn't a full zip, like the old BD anorak style? That's my white whale right now. 

I went whale watching last year.

https://www.mountainproject.com/forum/topic/123808709/minimalist-softshells

Brandon R wrote:

I went whale watching last year.

https://www.mountainproject.com/forum/topic/123808709/minimalist-softshells

Yeah, I saw that, but nothing that quite fit the BDV hole. I'll run mine until it pulls apart and then grumble and buy a full zip. 

I'm happy to share my dissertation with everyone and anyone who wants to read it. I am currently just awaiting feedback from my supervisor as I'm sure there will be plenty of corrections and the like before it's suitable for release to the general public and to the partners in industry who have asked for it. 

The subject was looking at the suitability of wool to replace synthetic fibres in soft shell apparel, the findings were really cool and I'm pleased with it.

The best advice I could give after my findings would probably be, the ortovox wind jacket is probably the best windshirt you can buy, it wasn't featured in the testing but it's high amount of wool and low GSM should make it incredibly windproof and breathable if they executed it right. This does mind you come at a significant trade off with durability. 

that guy named seb wrote:

Ah just looked at the tech fleece, ah I see this is a tricky one, it's not a fleece at all this is a real soft shell, there aren't many alternatives sadly, I'm pretty sure they sourced this or developed this for their special forces kit. For what it is I'd just pay for it, Ebay, reduced prices, etc, not hard to find a deal and make it affordable. 

Alternative would be go for something like a mountain equipment Kinesis. 

No one else I know of does a grid pile double weave, it's a very niche piece of kit.

Just finished my dissertation on soft shells, patagonia and their lost arrow program is really going hard on the soft shell systems. They had a proper jacket with shell features a few seasons ago and I'd try and find that if you can. 

I love my Kinesis for colder days!

Mike K wrote:

I love my Kinesis for colder days!

The Kinesis is great and I'll be using it in Scotland this weekend, but it's hoped on the trend of high CFM materials which is pretty bad for wind resistance. Because nylon as a material is virtually immpermiable to air and water vapour brands are forced to tweak the density of the weave to improve breathability, this comes at a steep cost of water and wind resistance. Nylon also expands longitudinaly when wet, which will further increase the CFM(lowering wind resistance) and creates a ton of little channeling points for the water to enter.

It's worth having a look at the Aerotherm from mountain equipment for another soft shell option with a lower CFM. 

Aidan Ruggles wrote:

Apparently Costco has a really nice hooded alternative for REAL cheap. My friend just got it and he likes it a lot. Could be worth checking if you’ve got access to a membership

I have a few of them. You can order it without being a member and they were $14.99 when I got them a couple months ago. Love them. 

Gerry Zip-up hoodie 

that guy named seb wrote:

The Kinesis is great and I'll be using it in Scotland this weekend, but it's hoped on the trend of high CFM materials which is pretty bad for wind resistance. Because nylon as a material is virtually immpermiable to air and water vapour brands are forced to tweak the density of the weave to improve breathability, this comes at a steep cost of water and wind resistance. Nylon also expands longitudinaly when wet, which will further increase the CFM(lowering wind resistance) and creates a ton of little channeling points for the water to enter.

It's worth having a look at the Aerotherm from mountain equipment for another soft shell option with a lower CFM. 

Thanks

I do most of my climbing here in Vegas so I rarely have to deal with rain.  I didn't know that wind resistance would decrease after getting wet.

I also have a Rab Borealis which I like.  It sounds like the ME Aerotherm would sit between the Borealis and Kinesis in terms of warmth and have better wind resistance?

that guy named seb wrote:

Alternative would be go for something like a mountain equipment Kinesis. 

My Kinesis is the most worn pice of clothing I own. I could never pay msrp for one though.

Also I would be thrilled to read your dissertation!

Mike K wrote:

Thanks

I do most of my climbing here in Vegas so I rarely have to deal with rain.  I didn't know that wind resistance would decrease after getting wet.

I also have a Rab Borealis which I like.  It sounds like the ME Aerotherm would sit between the Borealis and Kinesis in terms of warmth and have better wind resistance?

I wouldn't say it's necessarily more wind resistant, ME like to use double weaves which I find tend to have worse wind resistance than a plain weave like in the Borealis, why not simply use an improvised pertex pile system with the Borealis and a grid fleece? 

Just out of curiosity what's your use case for the jacket? Happy to talk about this via a DM if you would rather keep the thread clear.