[julianf0918]

So I'm looking to get a new/ different jacket for spring skiing. The jacket that I ride with currently is an Oakley Freight, designed to be looser fitting with a lot of warmth for mid winter days spent sending it with the help of lifts. I really like the anorak style fit where the bottom sits right about at the top of my thighs, but as the days get warmer, I'm starting to notice the extra insulation while standing in the lift line.

So I'm looking for a zero insulation hard shell jacket with more of an anorak, looser fit, hopefully from a smaller company like Flylow or Trew. Specifically I'm looking at the Flylow Quantum or the Trew Cosmic. This jacket, as the title implies, would be used as a spring skiing and backcountry jacket.

What are some independent companies that you guys would recommend?

Also, what size would you guys recommend to achieve the desired fit? I'm 6 foot, 215 ish with pretty wide shoulders.
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If you don't do it this year, you'll be one year older when you do

[Nick (AT)]

Personally I don't understand why anyone would want a hardshell for spring backcountry skiing!

except for an ultra light one that will spend almost all the time in the pack
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Nick (AT)

We are not an endangered species ourselves yet, but this is not for lack of trying. (Douglas Adams)

[nils]

FWIW, in my experience skiing western US backcountry in the spring, the best approach is having both a very breathable, very thin microfiber (e.g. patagonia houdini, which is so breathable I use it on the uphills on mild winter days) and an eVent jacket (the REI Shuksan is a great jacket and good value; Westcomb makes some great eVent jackets) for when the wind picks up or weather moves in.

I have a bunch of hardshells that no longer get used -- they don't have the wider comfort range of my eVent shells, and are the suck on sunny but cool spring days. there have been some good threads here lately on waterproof 'breathable' fabrics -- do a search -- but bottom line is that eVent is almost in a class by itself.
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"Now is not the time for sound-bites" - David Cameron

For Sale: 7tm bindings

[XXX_er]

I never use a hardshell in the BC, -30C at asulkan hut all I wore was one midweight jersey and a patagucci soft shell

[tree7sheep]

I currently have my sights on the - RAB Latok jacket. --> Since I am looking for a burly Event jacket that can with stand abrassive surfaces and broken off fir branches at speed. It would also fill the need of a new rain shell come spring.

[Fenris]

The lighter weight RAB Momentum has been holding up well to my East Coast silly fast tree skiing. It's also my rain shell.

[DougR]

Mammut Brisk or Ultimate Hoody. Very nice Gore Windstopper softshell. Virtually waterproof and very breathable, especially in the Ultimate Hoody. The Kento is also great and very light. It uses Mammut's proprietary WB fabric: Drytech Extreme stretch.
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DougR

[SkaredShtles]

[Gary at Tahoe]

+1 ...Pata Houdini, I use it year around

The Squamish Hoody jacket from Arcteryx looks interesting also


I also have buried in the pack a Marmot precip W/B jkt ($99) that I almost never use.

Gary

[Pinnah]

For the price of a Houdini, you can buy 2 of these and pizza for 2.


http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/72489?page=mountain-classic-anorak


I've used one as my beat on it bc shell for many, many years. It just won't die.

The only complaints I have with it are the lack of a chest sunglass pocket and lack of pit zips. LLBean has been selling that basic for longer than many of the readers of this forum have been alive. But, if that sort of "classic" status isn't your fashion cup o tea, I can produce an exact knock off with a custom label sewed in for about the same price as a Houdini. One of kind label. Will look exactly like the LLBean anorak (aham, because it is one). Can't get more core and obscure than that.
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Dave "Pinnah" Mann
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"It is impossible, or not easy, to do noble acts without the proper equipment."
Aristotle, <<Politics>>, 1323a-b, trans Jowett

[Gary at Tahoe]

The Houdini has a shell of tight weave nylon (full zip/super lt.wt.) with a DWR treatment on the outside. Very breathable

The Bean anarok is coated inside and out (per their website info) thus they claim useable in rain and maybe the need for pitzips.

Houdini can be had online for $80+ range depending on color and size.

[Pinnah]

The Bean anorak is coated with a DWR treatment, as are most non-waterproof windbreakers these days, including the Patagonia Houdini.

The LLBean website is clear that the anorak is rated for water-resistance, not water-proof.

The fabric on the Bean anorak is heavier. It's closer to the old Supplex nylon. The fabric on the Houdini is a light nylon ripstop, which is more packable and more frail (ski edges, rock scuffs and thorn catches).

We're talking here about a product category that doesn't get it's due - Windbreakers.

Even that terms conjures up images of cheap crap and we all feel better paying more than that $100 for a "technical shell" like the Houdini that wearing a cheap "windbreaker". But at the end of the day, we're talking about unlined windbreakers and the only big differences to discuss come down to fabric, features and cut preferences.

IMO, there are 3 basic basic fabric choices: tough nylon (Supplex and it's ilk), super light nylon and light polyester (e.g. Pertex). I like Pertex better than anything I've tried but it's hard to find with the right set of features.
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Dave "Pinnah" Mann
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"It is impossible, or not easy, to do noble acts without the proper equipment."
Aristotle, <<Politics>>, 1323a-b, trans Jowett

[XXX_er]

why do you worry about a piece being waterfroof or having DWR when its freezing out ?

[Gary at Tahoe]

Dave...you are right. I called Bean and the coating inside and out is a DWR.

I got the Houdini as my Mt. bike backup jacket and use it for XC skiing and BC skiing (packs down to a mid sized orange).

The Bean anarok looks good, but it kind of reminds me of a SD anarok I had in the 70-80's

Good to be wrong....Gary

[snotsicle]

I use a microft cycling jacket.