Description
Explore new frontiers in comfort.
- Chest-high pockets accommodate a harness or pack
- Helmet-compatible hood features and extra-beefy brim for foul weather
- Watertight zips seal out moisture
- Butter Jersey inner cuffs comfortably encirle your wrists for extra warmth and draft protection
- Micro-chamois chin guard eliminates zipper chafe
- DWR treatment holds up for 80 washes
Terms And Conditions
This Usage Agreement (the "Agreement") governs your conduct while using various services on the web site Backcountry.com and its affiliate web sites (collectively, the "Site"). All references to "we," "us," and "our" shall mean Backcountry.com and all references to "you" and "your" shall mean the user of the Site and Site Services. This Agreement applies to various services and activities on the Site as well as to gear review and product ratings (collectively, "Site Services"). Please read this Agreement carefully.
BY ACCESSING, BROWSING, AND USING THE SITE, ANY SITE SERVICES AND OTHER SERVICES THEREIN, YOU AGREE TO BE BOUND BY THIS AGREEMENT AND ITS TERMS. IF YOU DO NOT AGREE TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY SUBSEQUENT MODIFICATION THEREOF, DO NOT ACCESS, BROWSE OR OTHERWISE USE THE SITE OR SITE SERVICES, INCLUDING THE SUBMISSION OF ANY REVIEWS OR COMMENTS.
Your use of the Site is governed by this Agreement and any other agreements and/or terms of use adopted by Backcountry.com and/or its affiliates. This Agreement shall govern in the event of, and to the extent of, any inconsistency with the Site. For more information on our privacy practices, read the Privacy Policy to understand our practices regarding the collection, use and disclosure of personal information on the Site and with respect to Site Services.
Any comments, reviews (including gear reviews and product ratings), posts, feedback, questions, answers, notes, messages, images, video, audio, materials, documents, data, graphics, ideas, suggestions or other communications (collectively, "User Content") you submit on the Site are not private or proprietary. By submitting User Content on or through the Site, you grant, assign and transfer to Backcountry.com all of your rights, title and interest, including without limitation, all intellectual property rights and moral rights, in and to such User Content. To the extent the preceding assignment and transfer is ineffective, you hereby grant Backcountry.com an irrevocable, royalty-free, worldwide, perpetual right and license to use, copy, modify, adapt, display, publish, archive, store, distribute, reproduce and create derivative works based upon such User Content, in any form, media, software or technology of any kind now existing or developed in the future.
By submitting such User Content on or through the Site, you are confirming that (a) you are the sole author of the User Content and the User Content originated with you and not copied in whole or in part from any other work; (b) you have obtained all necessary permissions associated with the User Content, including without limitation permissions relating to copyrights, trademarks, rights of publicity and/or rights of privacy; (c) the User Content does not contain hate speech or profanity and is not unlawful, threatening, abusive, harassing, tortuous, defamatory, vulgar, libelous, obscene, racially, ethnically or otherwise objectionable, an invasion of another's privacy, or otherwise in violation of this Agreement; (d) that you are not a minor and have the legal right and capacity to enter into and comply with this Agreement; (e) such User Content does not and will not, in any way, violate or breach any of the terms of this Agreement; and (f) Backcountry.com shall not in any circumstances be required to pay or incur any sums to any person or entity as a result of its use or exploitation of the User Content.
With respect to your conduct on the Site or while using the Site Services, you agree not to: (a) attempt to disguise the origin of any User Content transmitted to the Site Services whether through the Site or any third party site; (b) act in any manner that negatively affects other users' ability to use the Site and Site Services; (c) impersonate any person or entity, including without limitation, a manufacturer or owner of any product, or falsely state or otherwise misrepresent your affiliation with a person or entity; (d) interfere with the Site or Site Services, or servers or networks connected to the Site or Site Services, or disobey any requirements, procedures, policies, or regulations of networks connected to the Site or Site Services; (e) upload, post, or otherwise transmit any User Content that with respect to the Site Services: (i) is not relevant to the product, service, person or entity being reviewed; (ii) you do not have a right to transmit under any law or under contractual or fiduciary relationships (by way of example but not limitation, inside information, proprietary and confidential information learned or disclosed as part of employment relationships or under nondisclosure agreements); (iii) contains software viruses or any other computer code, files or programs designed to interrupt, destroy or limit the functionality of any computer software or hardware or telecommunications equipment; or (iv) is unsolicited or unauthorized advertising, promotional materials, "junk mail," "spam," "chain letters," "pyramid schemes," or any other form of solicitation.
By submitting any such User Content on or through the Site, you grant Backcountry.com permission to use your name, alias and any other information (as provided by you) to attribute such User Content to you. Without limiting the generality of the previous sentence, and subject to our Privacy Policy, you authorize Backcountry.com, its affiliates, and sublicensees to share the User Content across all affiliated Web sites, and to use your name and any other information in connection with its use of such User Content, as they may choose. You also grant Backcountry.com and its affiliates the right to use any material, information, ideas, concepts, know-how or techniques contained in such User Content. We are not responsible for the similarity of any of our Content or programming in any media to User Content submitted by you. Any and all rights granted in this section are granted without the need for any compensation to you in any form.
User Content does not reflect the views of Backcountry.com, and Backcountry.com does not represent or guarantee the truthfulness, accuracy, completeness, timeliness, integrity, quality or reliability of any User Content, nor does Backcountry.com endorse or support any opinions expressed in any User Content. In no event shall Backcountry.com have or be construed to have any responsibility or liability for or in connection with any User Content, Any gear reviews and/or product ratings submitted on the Site, if displayed, are displayed for entertainment and informational purposes only. Under no circumstances will Backcountry.com be liable in any way for any User Content, including but not limited to, any errors or omissions in any User Content, or for any loss or damage of any kind incurred as a result of the use of any User Content posted, emailed or otherwise transmitted via the Site or Site Services.
If Backcountry.com determines, in our sole and absolute discretion, that you or any User Content you submit violates this Agreement, we reserve the right, at any time, without notice and without limiting any and all other rights Backcountry.com may have under this Agreement, to: (a) refuse to allow you to submit further User Content; (b) remove and delete your User Content; (c) revoke your registration and right to use the User Content Submission Features; and (d) use any technological, legal, operational or other means available to enforce the terms of this Agreement, including, without limitation, blocking specific IP addresses or deactivating your registration, access to the Site and Site Services using your e-mail address, and your user name and password. Without limiting the foregoing, once User Content is submitted to the Site, Backcountry.com may take any or no action with respect to such User Content, including without limitation, deleting, editing, modifying, rejecting, or refusing to post such User Content, but is under no obligation to offer you the opportunity to edit, delete or otherwise modify User Content once it has been submitted. Backcountry.com shall have no duty to attribute authorship of User Content to you and shall not be obligated to enforce any form of attribution by third parties.
If, despite the foregoing assignment and transfer of rights in the User Content, it is determined that you retain moral rights (including the rights of attribution or integrity) in the User Content, you hereby declare that: (a) you do not require that any personally identifying information be used in connection with the User Content or any derivative works of or upgrades or updates thereto; (b) you have no objection to the publication, use, modification, deletion and exploitation of the User Content by Backcountry.com or its licensees, successors or assigns; (c) you forever waive and agree not to claim or assert any entitlement to any and all moral rights of an author in any of the User Content; and (d) you forever release Backcountry.com, and its licensees, successors and assigns from any claims that you could otherwise assert against Backcountry.com by virtue of any such moral rights.
You are prohibited from violating the security of any system or network compromising the Site or the Site Services, including but not limited to the following: (a) unauthorized access to or use of data, systems, or networks, including any attempt to probe, scan or test the vulnerability of the Site or Site Services or to breach security or authentication measures; (b) unauthorized monitoring of data or traffic on the Site or of the Site Services; (c) interference with the Site or Site Services including without limitation, any type of flooding technique or deliberate attempt to overload the system such as denial or service attacks; (d) forging of a message header or any part of a message header; or (e) using manual or electronic means to avoid any use or access limitation placed on this Site or the Site Services. Such violations may result in criminal or civil liability.
Backcountry.com reserves the right to report any activity or persons that Backcountry.com suspects has violated any law or regulation to appropriate law enforcement officials, regulators, or other appropriate third parties (including the disclosure of appropriate subscriber information). Backcountry.com may also cooperate with appropriate law enforcement agencies to assist in the investigation and prosecution of any illegal conduct. Indirect or attempted violations of this Agreement and actual or attempted violations thereof by a third party on behalf of any user shall be considered violations of this Agreement by such user.
BACKCOUNTRY.COM DOES NOT ENDORSE THE USER CONTENT, IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE USER CONTENT AND SPECIFICALLY DISCLAIMS ANY RESPONSIBILITY OR LIABILITY TO ANY PERSON OR ENTITY (INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, PERSONS WHO MAY USE OR RELY ON SUCH USER CONTENT) FOR ANY LOSS, DAMAGE (WHETHER ACTUAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR OTHERWISE), INJURY, CLAIM, LIABILITY OR OTHER CAUSE OF ANY KIND OR CHARACTER BASED UPON OR RESULTING FROM ANY USER CONTENT PROVIDED THROUGH THIS WEB SITE.
Share your thoughts
What do you think of the
Mountain Hardwear Kepler Softshell Jacket - Men's
? Share a...
I am 5'5' 130 pounds, is this jacket sized...
gon4730826
Member since
I am 5'5' 130 pounds, is this jacket sized up to layer? Is a small ok for me? Is it as fitted or athletic as it states? Thanks, G
Perfect
Thomas Briley
Member since
I picked this up at a local gear shop who was doing a sort of garage sale. I just picked it up on a whim because I needed a rain jacket very bad. It was definitely the best decision I made. It has held up great even in torrential downpours. The DryQ is incredibly lightweight and oh so breathable. I'm 5'10 and 155lbs and the medium works great. Fits plenty of layers underneath as well.
Great Jacket
can977285470
Member since
Bought this for use in London's cold and rainy climate. Has suited me for almost any condition so far. Completely waterproof and am planning on skiing in this jacket in the Swiss alps with some layers underneath. I could not be happier with my purchase. Dry Q technology blows goretex out of the water. It's breatheble and lightweight and can add a layer for any condition. I am 5'10" 165lbs and bought a large. I still have room to layer underneath but there is the flexibility to move if skiing or climbing... Great value for a quality product. I would reccomend this jacket to anyone looking to be active in cold weather. The lining is rather thin, but seems to work in almost any condition however.
Breather
Nick Stadie
Member since
When the zips are down, this guy breathes even better! I can wear this jacket touring, even in 5th gear. It's brilliant to find that sweet spot with a soft-shell layering system!
pso3567617
Member since
Dennis, the DWR just keeps water from soaking into the outer material on the jacket- so it's more likely that it would no longer be breathable, as when water soaks into the outer layer, it prevents water vapor from passing through. the membrane will still prevent water from getting in from the outside though.
Good news is that reapplying DWR would fix that.
I'm 5'11 about 180 pounds...what size...
gar100407304
Member since
I'm 5'11 about 180 pounds...what size should I get?
Mitch
Member since
If you like a more technical tighter fit only wearing a baselayer underneath, go with a medium. If you want a more relaxed fit for layering (down jacket ect) go with large.
Any chance the Azul in size small will be...
Suavisimo
Member since
Any chance the Azul in size small will be in stock anytime soon?
Arthur Debowski
Member since
We do not have any more Azul S on order at this time.
Cold, Hard Work
Nick Stadie
Member since
Perfect breathability and protection during cold weather touring in Rogers Pass, BC.
which size should i take? I'm 5'7 ...
fish
Member since
which size should i take? I'm 5'7 150lbs
Steven Jones
Member since
Hey fish, I suggest checking your measurements against the sizing chart to get the proper size. My guess is a small, though possibly a medium. The chart is below the price on the page. Best of luck!
Thomas Briley
Member since
The medium would probably be your best bet. Mine fits great even with a few layers underneath it.
More breathable than Windstopper
Jon
Member since
I got my Kepler to replace an old Dragon. Since the Kepler is ostensibly the replacement for the the Dragon, I thought I might share my impressions on the Kepler in comparison to the old jacket.
The Kepler seems to be a hard shell with a soft touch. On the MHW website, you can find this jacket in the shell section, described as a softshell. While that seems confusing (in no small part due to the fact that the site has a separate section for softshells where the Kepler is NOT located), it makes a lot of sense once you get your hands on it. It definitely has a soft feel both on the inside and on the face fabric, but the Dry.Q Elite membrane itself is rather stiff and a bit crinkly. The jacket overall is a lot softer than any hard shell, but it definitely is a shell. It's a lot more shell-like than the outgoing Dragon, as the face fabric feels more solid but the interior is actually softer against bare skin.
The fit is basically what I expected based on my experience with the Dragon and other MHW alpine jackets. The length in the back is long enough for bike riding. One thing that keeps coming up in reviews is the arm width/length. I definitely could have gone for narrower arm holes (where sleeves meet chest) because the jacket does lift up quite a bit when I lift my arms, but otherwise, the arms are perfect. I'm a pretty big-armed guy and the sleeves are plenty wide and long. I think when people talk about the lack of proper arm length, they mean when using the thumb loops. The butter jersey cuffs are recessed pretty far behind the wrist, so the thumb loops seem like an afterthought. The arms feel way too short when I use the thumb loops. When I forgo the loops and use the butter jersey cuffs as cuffs, the arms feel fine (and my wrists are ridiculously comfortable). Overall, I would say the fit and feel of the Kepler is an improvement over the Dragon.
It's waterproof. There is no doubt about that. My old Dragon was clearly not waterproof. It didn't even have a watertight main zipper. It did take a pretty serious rain to wet out the Dragon, but the Kepler is waterproof in all rains. The 40,000 mm waterproof rating means you could put a 130(!) foot column of water on the shoulder and not a drop would get through.
The Kepler is also significantly more breathable than the outgoing Dragon, which used Windstopper instead of a waterproof membrane. The Dragon, while more breathable than any waterproof-breathable I had tested up until now, still developed the microclimate problem common in shells. There wasn't any airflow so my body heat and sweat made the inside of my Dragon much like a tropical jungle. This happened to an even greater extent in my various waterproof-breathables. But in the Kepler (I suppose due to the air permeability of Dry.Q Elite) no microclimate develops. I took it on a serious bike ride on a foggy rainy day, and the only place I felt moist was under my backpack. My head was dry, my chest was dry, and my armpits(!) were dry. This crazy breathability and the lack of a microclimate means two things: 1) Overheating and the fatigue that comes with it are non-existent. You really can go harder longer in Dry.Q Elite. 2) Body heat and sweat escape so quickly that you might want an extra layer compared to a Gore Tex shell. It completely blocks the wind, but that plastic bag effect you probably are used to in waterproof-breathables just isn't there.
Overall, the Kepler is an outstanding piece that delivers on all its promises. There's not much to complain about, and it's all minor stuff. It's definitely a massive step forward from the Dragon and the status quo.
Fit is different
Sonya
Member since
I'm giving it four stars because the fabric is savvy and this things totally feels bombproof. Serious zippers. Serious fabric.
Unfortunately, compared to other MH jackets (I most recently purchased the Cutaway), this is kinda snug. I know they say softshell, but it's definitely different, with much less stretch and moveability. It's also cut kinda close in the armpits and sleeves. I'm no giant, (5'7, 140, got the medium like my Cutaway), but this thing seriously pulls at my armpits and elbows when I move around. The sleeves are also shorter than the other comparable softshells I've tried (MH, Stoic, EMS, Arcteryx). And there's crinkle. I definitely feel crinkle. Not awful, but this is definitely more firm-shell than soft.
Bombproof
Taylor
Member since
This shell is awesome, and the bright yellow has so much steeze! So far for me its been completely waterproof and super breathable. It's got that classic Mountain Hardware quality as well with watertight zippers and a very custom fitted hood which can fit over a helmet. Another nice feature is the wrist cuffs with thumb holes to keep out the snow and the burly pit zips. Such a great storm day jacket, would recommend to anyone!
I love this jacket but want a little more...
eri5078770
Member since
I love this jacket but want a little more insulation. Can anyone recommend a jacket like that?
Jeff Chrisler
Member since
You might want to check out the MH Snowtastic Jacket. Sounds like most believe it is warm.
Jon
Member since
Snowtastic and Kepler are made of the same material. Try the Gravitor, which has some insulation.
I have a Mountain hardwear Nitrous jacket...
emualliug11088832
Member since
I have a Mountain hardwear Nitrous jacket size Medium and a Mountain hardwear Dragon softshell size Medium. Do I need the Mountain Hardwear Kepler size Medium? I'm 6feet tall and weight 160pds. Thanks for your quick response.
Jon Webb
Member since
emualliug. If you have both the Nitrous and the Dragon in Medium you will probably be happy with a Kepler in Medium as well. I am about 5'9" and 155 and medium is my size for sure. I hope this info helps!
I'm 6'1 and 145 lbs. Would I need to get...
Jon Arrowsmith
Member since
I'm 6'1 and 145 lbs. Would I need to get a large to have a proper length? Also if I did get a large, would I be able to fit a down jacket underneath?
Jon Webb
Member since
Jon. Considering your dimensions you would probably be the happiest with a large. I think it will feel a little loose in the body of the jacket but the length should be just right. You will not have a problem layering under a large. Enjoy!!
Is this jacket windproof?
Tuanto
Member since
Is this jacket windproof?
James Jenden
Member since
For all intensive purposes, yes. DryQ allows a small amount of air permeability, but all this does is allow for better breathability. It should be effectively windproof to about 60mph, and if you have a wind resistant jacket underneath, you'll never notice the wind.
Strong, waterproof and very breathable
Sean Sewell
Member since
200 lb, 34" waist, 45" chest, 35" arms. Got an XXL in this to make sure I had room to layer under it. I tried the large and it was way to tight and the sleeves ended well before my wrist. XL would have probably been just fine, but I sized up to get a few layers under it. This jacket was one of the few that MH makes with the Dry Q that actually fits a ski helmet nicely. No idea why there even more expensive snow jackets cant fit a helmet, but this one does and is cheaper! Big pluses - waterproof, very breathable (almost too much, you can feel a slight breeze through the jacket, so I were a light windbreaker under to compensate) sturdy material (heavier than I would have liked, but it feels like it can take on anything) sturdy zippers, well placed pockets. And the green is bright! I am very excited to test this jacket it out this snowboard/splitboard season.
Sean Sewell
Member since
End of season review. Used this most of the 2011/2012 season here in Colorado. Used it on cold days (with a MH Nitrous underneath and merino 200) and used it on spring skiing days, 50+ degrees (just a merino 150 ss or poly shirt under). I have yet to open the underarm vents. That is incredible. I skinned all day with this on and it just breathed and breathed. I am a believer in this Dry Q! The only qualms I can think of, other than the weird fit I mentioned, is some material is starting to fray from my pack straps, under arm area. Not sure why, as this material feels burly as hell. If I could make just a few suggestions for future models - please incorporate two side pockets to accommodate skins and adjust the sizing. All in all this is the bees knees!
What makes this jacket a softshell? It...
James Jenden
Member since
What makes this jacket a softshell? It uses the DryQ membrane, making it completely waterproof. Seems to me it's a hardshell that uses a stretch woven face fabric instead of a ripstop polyester or nylon. Does Mountain Hardwear have a definition for softshell?
Jon Webb
Member since
James. Aaaaahhhh The perpetual hardshell vs. softshell debate. In my opinion, if it has a nice brushed fleecy back to the fabric and has a soft and quiet hand overall... it's a softshell. If it does not have fleecy material as the backer fabric (inner most layer) and does not have the softest hand... then I would call it a hardshell. I know this is a simple definition... but, it is the one that I think makes the most sense. Cheers!
James Jenden
Member since
Oh dear, Jon. Sadly, I would agree that your definition has become the standard. It makes sense, after all, soft hand == soft shell. The original softshells were the Buffalo and Montane smocks that traded waterproofing for breathability. While fabrics like Neoshell and DryQ are making that trade less and less necessary, I think there's still a place for them. My general rule has become that if it has a waterproof membrane in it, it's a hardshell. That soft fleece on the inside is always nice though!
Philz
Member since
For everyone information, this jacket is under Shell section on mountain hardwear web site, but their own description say softshell, can we lol about that? seem like they dont know themselve if its soft or hard shell....
So Far So Good
PAwanderer
Member since
I just got my Kepler yesterday and here we are with our first snow/rain mix of the season. So far I'm very pleased with the construction, fit, and weather-proofness. I'm 5'11 185 lbs. and the large fits me perfectly, though there's not a ton of room for bulky mid-layers. Tighter fitting light or mid-weight fleece would work best, maybe something like a nano-puff would work well too. I would not refer to the lining as fleece as much as would brushed or textured polyester for comfort of the skin and easy slipping on/off over your layers.
I own quite a number of softshells and this is most certainly the hardest softshell I've come across. Its also the first full fledged waterproof softshell I've had, so I'm okay with the tradeoff. There is a bit of stretch and no crinkle to the fabric whatsoever. I can't yet speak for this jacket's breathability, so I expect to report back later regarding the full performance of DryQ elite.
The hood is huge and fits well over my climbing helmet but also hugs my bare head when cinched, a definite plus, while the butter-jersey cuffs (with thumb holes!) feel great on the skin.
So far I'm super pleased with this jacket - I'll try to get around to some photo uploads when report back from the waterproof /breathable trials. If it passes the test, it may get 5 stars.
Nice and burly.
utah whatchamacallit
Member since
This jacket is burly. The jacket should withstand some foul weather. The jacket has a nice fleece lining for some warmth. This shell has short sleeves compared to arc'teryx, rab and so forth. Consequently, When I lifted my arms as if swinging an ice tool, the jacket left two inches of my arm exposed from where short gloves stopped. But for activities where you aren't raising your arm all the time above your head, it should be great.
The helmet compatible hood is large. Seems on par to Arc'teryx size. My Smith Variant brim helmet fits with no problems as well as the petzl elios.
I havent worn it enough to comment on breathability.
Idtmcp5420
Member since
How thick is the fleece? I'm looking for a soft-shell with no or thin insulation. Also, does it have a powder skirt?
Thanks
utah whatchamacallit
Member since
hi, the fleece is very low loft. More for comfort and adding a bit of warmth. And no, this doesn't have a snow skirt.
DryQ Elite?
Jon Webb
Member since
Watch this video to find out about the most technical and best performing waterproof/breathable and air permeable fabric on the market today!
James Jenden
Member since
Jon, how is DryQ the most technical waterproof/breathable fabric on the market today? Mountain Hardwear simply contracted with GE to rebrand eVent under a proprietary name. It's not really a market secret... I would love to hear how eVent are DryQ are functionally different. You seem to really know your stuff, help me out?
Jon Webb
Member since
James. Mountain Hardwear used the same laminate that is used in eVent Fabrics then worked with textile manufacturers and fabric mills in Japan and other places to develop our own woven face fabrics and woven backers. We did all of this extra innovative work with the shells and the backer fabrics to access a higher level of performance (waterproof-ness, breathability, and air permeability) from our DryQ Elite fabrics than what is available on the market today. By creating our own woven backers and face fabrics and by using what we consider to be the best performing E-PTFE on the market we were able to maintain air permeability, extreme waterproof-ness, and instant breathability as well as industry leading durability throughout the ENTIRE three layer fabric. Remember there is more to waterproof/breathable fabrics than just the laminate!
If we just "re-branded" eVent we would have bought the face fabric, laminate, and backer fabric (3-layer fabric) from GE and not bothered with developing our own face fabrics and backer fabrics on our own. It would have been a lot easier actually! I hope this answers your question. Please let me know if you have any more questions. If I don't know the answer... I can get it. Furthermore, don't listen to me... get a DryQ Elite jacket and see for yourself! The proof is in the performance! Enjoy!
James Jenden
Member since
This was really helpful, thanks man. I'm considering Westcomb's Switch Hoody with Neoshell right now, but I might add Your Drystein jacket to the list now. Definitely something to consider. I'd love to compare it to my eVent stash from Stoic.
Idtmcp5420
Member since
I own the switch lt hoody, and although it is very waterproof/breathable, I have had a couple problems with the design. The elastic bands that help to keep snow out don't really work that well. The one around the waist works for about 60 seconds, until the jacket rides up because I lift my arms or what not. Then, bottom elastic bands moves up to above my waist, and when I put my arms back at my waist the elastic bands stay at my waist. I have gotten snow in my bibs at times because the jacket rides up so high. Recently, I have just been leaving it untightened, which has worked better than with it tightened, but without a good closure system, snow will find its way up there. The other elastic band is located too high above your waist to keep snow out. It is even above my bibs, so I can't imagine it would do much good. Also, there is no ripstop material or anything for the main zipper, but apparently just a continuation of the neoshell material. While this would contribute to how light the jacket is (Under 1 pound, according to Westcomb Specs), I find I constantly snag the zipper, and it can be quite annoying. However, the material in that area shows no sign of wear, so that could attribute to the durability of the material.
I have and Arc'teryx Theta AR as well, which is Gore Tex Pro Shell, and I must say it is not at all very breathable. However, simply feeling the fabrics one can tell that it is a lot more burly than the neoshell. The neoshell seems very light and thin, but I have had no durability issues with it so far.
I do like the pockets, as they are easily accessible with a backpack on. I normally sweat a lot, but I was able to do about 30 minutes of hiking uphill, in about 20F without becoming overheated or sweaty. When I got to the top and realized I hadn't even opened the pit zips, I became a believer in neoshell.
However, with all the flaws of the Switch LT, I will be sending it back and waiting on a neoshell jacket that is perfect for me. For now, my Theta AR will do.

Dennis lee
Member since