This is the sweetest jacket/soft shell I have ever worn. Just last week I was in a restaurant and my buddy spilled a full cup of Hawaiian Punch across the table and all over me. I stood up and the juice just beaded off. I was dry and the jacket was not colored or stained at all. Furthermore, in the cold this jacket is wind-proof and worm. Great color options and an all round sweet coat.

As an avalanche forecaster, I'm pretty hard on things. Two stroke machines, storm days where you can't see your ski tips, spilling the red bull on yourself on the last hour of a 15 hour shift, these things are hard on gear. The shift welder has been my go to shell all season, from winds blowing 50 mph on the skyline to snow falling at 3" in an hour, the shift welder has clocked in and given 115%. I'm super psyched on this piece. I'm 145 lbs, 5' 10" and I wear a medium. Plenty of well placed pockets to hold camera, compass and more. As soon as there's a womens available, I'm buying my wife one!

Ok, let me start off by saying i love this jacket, the fit is great, and the color is awesome (tahoe M 6'2 185). I find myself wearing this jacket more often than not. Now to my complaint. The jacket is just average in its water shedding abilities. I live in Olympia, Wa and after only 15-20 minutes in a light drizzle the shoulders are soaked all the way through as are some spots on the arms. Now i know that this isnt a "waterproof" jacket but i was expecting a little more in a "highly water resistant" jacket. Another complaint has already been mentioned, the fact that there are no velcro wrist straps. As well as the jacket repels the wind a breeze always seems to climb up the sleeves. Therefore i can only recommend this jacket for moderate to light weather, anything more than that and your better off with something else. Though i guess this is the niche market a softshell is fulfilling.

This has turned into my favorite jacket for about everything! I've taken it up on really long alpine climbs in heavy snow, rain and stayed bone dry. The fleece lining is extremely soft as well as the fleece lined pockets. The hood fits well over a helmet and it zips up nicely to somewhat cover your mouth. The arms are just right....a little longer than other brands. Great jacket and what looks to be one that will be around for a long time to come.

Its Great, love the versatility in the winter time. Great after skiing, or on a backcountry day building a jumps in the spring time. I am not going to lie, this jacket turns heads. Thats all I am saying.

Likes:
Love how the zippers have the finger prints on them.
Its really soft on your face when you zip it all the way up.
Also how they have the loops on the zipper them so you can switch your lift passes around if you know what I mean.

Dislikes:
It has this really soft little stop cord on the front near your chin, that sometimes bugs when its really snowy out.

SIZING:
I am 6 foot 2 inches and 185 lbs.
It fits me just right, sleeves are just long enough how i would like them.

I'm 6'0" 175#. Originally went with the Large, but it was a little too large for my liking. I guess it would have worked well with multiple layers, but I opted to trade it in for a medium, which I love the fit of. It is form fitting in a nice way, but starts to get a little tight with more than a couple of thin baselayers. Very thin and light - like wearing a long sleeve shirt with a hood. Works well in wind and light rain, but it will soak through if you're out in precipitation for too long - even the light stuff. Of note, the fit is NOT exactly like the Rime Pullover. At least not on me. I wear a Large in the Rime because I could barely get the medium on and off without dislocating a shoulder in the process.

I have been lusting after this jacket for quite a while, and I picked it up on SAC recently. It would be an understatement to call me a jacket whore, and I felt guilty about ordering another. Until I got it in the mail. This thing is AWESOME and a half. It's super comfortable and it looks killer (I am 6' and 145 pounds and the small fits snug but not tight) It's quite breathable and it pukes heat. I had this packed for a backpacking trip, hoping to only use it at night for lounging around camp. A few miles in, it started raining and I pulled on the Shift Welder expecting to be MISERABLE in the 80 degree heat and Tennessee humidity. Granted, I was toasty, but I was dry inside and out and far from miserable. I could go on an on, but I will stop here. Buy one.

This jacket is my new go-to. It's hard to replace the shift composite, but I love the hood on this jacket (been rainy here lately) and the softer feel is nice. I'm 5'7" - 165lbs, athletic build and the M fits great. The jacket is super comfortable and regulates my tempature perfectly. You can go for jog in the morning, and wear it in to the office in the afternoon and not get cold, or hot. The shift composite seems a bit warmer, but I think that may be the higher neckline keeping more wind out. I've yet to test under extreme conditions but if it's anything like the composite, I'm confident it will be great

because this is the best, most versatile jacket ever made. I got it a while back and wanted to use it a bit before I reviewed it. PERFORMANCE: Repels water like crazy. I've yet to see any water soak into the material (I have some things that are 'highly water resistant' but don't live up to it). Crazy light as far as weight goes, and blocks wind perfectly. Insulation is light, but I think it is meant to be layered with. I've worn it with the BC Rime under it (at TShirt under that), and don't need anything else. THE FIT: I got a large and its perfect. This is what I wear in pretty much everything. Length is spot on, and not bulky anywhere. Athletic cut, which is nice. I'm pretty athletic, but not exactly in perfect shape, and no problem with the fit around the stomach. Arms are long, but not so long that there is any issue. There is plenty of room to layer...I've worn a heavy weight Icebreaker and the Rime under it at the same time, and I felt wonderful. BOTTOM LINE: buy it. It's worth the money. If you get it at the SAC price, that's just gravy...but find a way to get one, however you do it.

Bottom line this thing rocks. Details....I bought both colors in an XL to see which one I liked better. The "blue" looking one is really turquoise and rather bright. The Other color is gray with the slightest hint of green!

I wear an XL in the BC.com Hoody and the BC.com Stoic shell. I needed a Large in this Welder. I found this coat to have more room than other BC.com products and less of a slim fit. I exchanged it and the L fits great with my broad shoulders.

This is a great softshell jacket, very versatile. I used this jacket for tours, around town and resort days. It says "highly water- resistant" but its very tough. I haven't worn it in a downpour yet, but in the dry utah climate it has held up in all conditions. Make sure to pick up some nik-wax softshell wash for when washing your jacket. As far as size. I am 5'11 and 160lbs. I tried on both the medium and large. The medium fits snug and athletic for me, but I went with the large for layering purposes, the sleeves are a bit longer on the large. And as always, with backcountrys unlimited return policy you can always change out your size!

I got this off of SAC the day they unveiled this, and for the price I don't think you could beat it. I got the medium and it is a very athletic fit. I am 5'9" and 185 with broad shoulders and it fits like a glove with a layer underneath. You don't need much under this b/c it is surprisingly warm for the weight, so i wouldn't try and layer this over a heavy sweater due to the fit. The sleeves are on the long side, so keep that in mind if you have to size up. The welded seams rock on these and the hood allows for a wide field of vision that moves with you head very well. The carbon is lighter in person than in the pictures, but still looks great. My only complaint that I can think of is that the two way zipper doesn't catch on the first try sometimes like it should. This is more of an annoyance than a problem, but for everything this jacket offers I will grin and bear it.

But at least the Shift Welder softshell would be a solid triple. First of all, as mentioned in other reviews..the colors shown in the pics are way off. My monitor rocks an AS-IPS panel (best lcd you can get) and I calibrate it monthly with an Eye-One pro....the "carbon" I received is a lighter shade of gray than the carbon in the pics...and much lighter than the carbon portions shown in the "Tahoe/Carbon" model. This isn't a bad thing however..just something to be aware of.

The look of this hoody is techie and sharp, the welded seams offer a very sleek and streamlined look, yet the polartec material is very smooth, soft and quiet...moreso than any other softshell I own. I had the chance to try out the hood the very next day that it arrived, and I found that it can be adjusted to fit very well and the jacket as a whole does a good job of blocking an icy wind of 10-15mph gusts. The athletic fit means that I will likely never use the bottom hem cinch unless I lose about 10lbs and use it for rock climbing with updrafts. Overall, very impressed with the jackets windblocking and warmth with just a t-shirt and mid-weight longsleeve baselayer underneath in windy 38-45F weather...not made for extremely cold, stormy weather however. Haven't experienced the wet yet...but with welded seams and polartec material it should pass with flying colors in anything short of a white-out or downpour.

Now for the stuff that keeps it from being an out of the park homer and rating 5 stars. I've never owned a jacket with a double zipper and can't think of a good use for it personally. This one just makes it difficult to zip up the first try and I've never successfully unzipped the bottom zipper...maybe mine is defective? Even though I like the no velcro cinch cuffs for casual use (it falls fashionably to the middle of my hands) it could be a drafty problem with gloves that don't have a gauntlet that can be cinched down. The last minor detail is the heat transfer goat logos which may or may not survive for long (especially the one on the back hem) ...maybe on the next version, BC could just use a regular zip and spend the money saved on embroidered logos?

The bottom line is that this high quality jacket deserves to be on the same shortlist with TNF, Arc', Marmot, MHW and other top brands when you are looking for a weather resistant hooded softie. I can't say that it's totally worth the asking price (got mine on S&C) but you can definitely spend more and end up with a less worthy piece. And the best part...since only BC sells this jacket, it is fairly rare and you likely won't see anyone else wearing one ;)

I got my shift welder off SAC a couple weeks ago...liked the fit, liked the style but hadn't really tested it...until today. It was -10F or colder at the summit of Jackson Hole Mtn Resort today. I get off the tram and am greeted by a huge blast of wind that knocks some other dude's skis over. But I'm not cold. Not feelin the wind. I skied the entire day with this jacket over a mid weight fleece and patagonia capilene 2 base layer and while I got cool at times (sitting on the lift), it was never uncomfortable. If you're on the fence about this one, just do it..buy this jacket.

This jacket is so comfortable, it almost feels like an old cotton hoodie. But it repels water (in heavy, constant rain it is not completely waterproof), does great in the wind, is thin and lightweight, and is very warm (in part, because of the higher neck). It seems very well-made, and the welded seams cut down on bulk (and also look pretty cool). The chest pocket is decent-sized, the interior pocket has a hole for your earbuds, and the hand pockets are huge. The hood is not just for looks, it is fully adjustable (you can adjust it to fit your head). And the interior is soft and cozy enough that it feels great over a short-sleeve shirt. The sleeves are indeed on the long side, but tapered enough that this is not problematic. I agree with others that the Tahoe blue isn't as pictured (it is more of a brighter teal) so if you are not into vivid colors, you may wish to go with the Carbon.

Love this jacket. The material is unlike anything I've worn before; very, very soft and quiet - the softest of softshells. I have an Arc'teryx Gamma SV (no hood) and used to wear a Cloudveil Serendipity back in the day. While both the Arc and the Cloudveil are excellent pieces in their own right, the Shift Welder is better suited - I think - to high-output athletic pursuits. The jacket blocks the wind, but the lighter material means that you're less likely to over-heat climbing or earning some turns. The fit is VERY athletic. I am 5'8" 160lbs and ordered a M. The fit is snug, but will accommodate a base- and mid- layer [R1 or El Cap 1/4 zip] without a problem. The sleeves are a litte long, but I wouldn't let that influence your decision. They don't look awkward and they're just long enough that they won't get pulled down your arm when you reach overhead. Oh, and the hood really is designed to work with a helmet. I can get a Petzl Ecrin or a Smith Variant under it with no problem. I bought the Carbon; my roommate went with the Tahoe. I look way better in this jacket... do with that as you will.

This jacket is awesome. I wear an XL in BC brand, MH, and Patagonia, and the XL fit me great. The powershield fabric is wonderful. I threw a dixie cup of water at myself when the jacket arrived and it was like a force field knocked it away, just rolled on off. Wouldn't wear it in a long down pour though. amazing range of motion with the stretchy material. ipod pocket is a nice touch. get one before they are gone.

Love the jacket!!! One of the sickest soft shelled jackets I have ever owned! Super water resistant, super warm, super comfy. Can't say enough about it. One thing though that drives me crazy, the zipper can unzip from the bottom which is a great idea but it is tough to zip up and gets stuck all of the time.

For a long time I was skeptical of softshells because they seemed like a really expensive layer that I just couldn't see myself using. Every time I went shopping for outdoors gear, I would glance at the softshell jackets but simply wasn't impressed. Then, I discovered the Shift Welder on Steep and Cheap. I thought, "now that is a sick jacket!" but didn't buy it right away. I told myself that if I saw it on SAC again, I'd buy it for sure. A few weeks later, my brand new Shift Welder arrived and I was subsequently blown away by the quality of this softshell hoody.

Check it out:

The fabric is incredible! It's the softest softshell I've ever felt and 99.9% windproof. I took it backpacking in Death Valley and busted it out to combat the chilly desert nights. I was actually camping in a canyon so the wind was extra fierce. I stayed completely warm with just a base layer underneath and could only hear the wind. I also used this jacket in Chicago just last week. As you may know Chicago has ridiculous wind and COLD! But I was fine with a long sleeve shirt under this jacket. Also, having the hood was nice in Chicago since the wind seems to come from everywhere.

I know this is a long review, but I also just have to attest to the excellent design of this jacket. I mean this thing is extremely well thought out. I'm talking about extra long sleeve to tuck your hands into when you don't have gloves, drawstring adjusters in the front pockets so you don't have to fiddle with them with cold hands, and an inside i-pod pocket with a hole in it to run your headphone through.

I highly recommend (love) this jacket.

-from a person who hates softshells

This is my first soft shell jacket. I put in a lot of research to find a great one. I really wanted on with a hood. And a nice thin lining. Powder skirt? Would be to have a removable one. Pit zips? Could be helpful while ski touring. But I bought this one because I found it was a good balance of features/function and price. I got it in a medium (Tahoe Blue, totally love the color), and I'm thinking I should have gotten the small. I really like its cut and a small might hinder layering. The sleeves are plenty long (maybe too long) and never expose my wrist no matter how hard I stretch. And so far, I've forgot about it's lack of venting, it was 50 degrees out on the ski hill today and the jacket was breathing real well.
The only really down falls I've had are the the zippers. The main zipper is a little hard to initiate due to the double zipper. And my hand zippers have bound up on me once each.

Originally I bought the regular shift jacket with no hood on SAC. The fabric is awesome. It's just plain comfortable, blocks a good amount of wind and when I was walking in the rain (without the hoody) the water just shed right off. I'm 5-11ish, 250lb with a 49" chest and bought the shift in an XL. The shoulders and chest were just about roomy enough but the torso was snug on my belly. When I decided to return it I also went for this hoody. The picture for the Tahoe/Carbon two tone jacket is just plain wrong. Instead of a dark navy blue and black two tone I got a teal and light grey two tone... SHould have known better looking at the other two available colors... I am going to wear this to the mountain this weekend but if I can't get over the color it's going back. I might look around for a similar jacket with pit zips as well. I'll take any suggestions of an equally awesome softshell with pit zips and color options that don't make me feel immasculated. Seriously, white zippers?

This jacket is great. I got the Taho and yes, it is lighter than the picture. its very much teal, but i dont mind too much. I am 6' 1", 145 lbs (tall and skinny) and i got a medium and it fits great. it has enough room for a little layering underneath and the sleeves end at just about my thumb when i have a straight arm and fingers outstrectched. It is warm but in like 20 degree weather, a good baselayer and maybe even a fleece would be necessary to stay warm. the jacket is light and packs down relatively well. if you see it on sale, get it. You will be glad that you did.

This is one of the best softshells i have ever used. Under the sink test, it sheds water with no problem, I don't feel a think on a windy day, and the cut is pretty sick. I'm 5'9 170 and i got a large, and it fits perfect with a sweatshirt underneath. It extremely comfortable, the inside is so soft and the outside moves really well. it also has kept be very dry as it breaths so well.

The reason it only gets 4 stars is because of the looks (It is very important, admit it). As you might have read, the Tahoe color i received what not what i expected. The one in the picture would have been SOOO awesome, but instead i got a teal (much like this http://www.candlechem.com/images/D152teal.gif) instead of the awesome blue shown in the picture. I think the teal will be bearable, there are no Carbon's in large left anyway. The other thing is the welded seams. They do not let in any water. But as for looks, the seams do pop out and I'm pretty sure there are more seams on this jacket than any other jacket I've looked at.

My shift welder hoody finally came today-and I was not disappointed. It is the best jacket EVER MADE. It allowed the ancient Atlantians to survive underwater and turn water into straight breathable air. No, but seriously this jacket is everything they say it is and more. Soft, breathable, Frickin' Sweet Looking, lightweight, mind-blowingly amazing feeling and looking, and amazingly comfortable. Did I say it looks really cool? My only complaint would be with the sizing. As usual BC makes the sleeves a little long, or maybe my arms are too short :( ! It's not long enough to be a problem though, thankfully. They also say that is is an athletic fit, and this is surely true, I am 5'9.5" and have recently dropped from 190 to 175 in the last couple months. At my current weight it fits pretty much perfectly, but with no room for a second layer below it. My biggest problem at this point is that its 80 degrees out in D.C. and I can't really wear it outside. It looks like its going to rain in a couple days and I'll get to go outside and dance in pure ecstasy. I might sleep in this jacket and nothing else tonight. I think I'm in love. Thank you backcountry.com .

My shift welder hoody finally came today-and I was not disappointed. It is the best jacket EVER MADE. It allowed the ancient Atlantians to survive underwater and turn water into straight breathable air. No, but seriously this jacket is everything they say it is and more. Soft, breathable, Frickin' Sweet Looking, lightweight, mind-blowingly amazing feeling and looking, and amazingly comfortable. Did I say it looks really cool? My only complaint would be with the sizing. As usual BC makes the sleeves a little long, or maybe my arms are too short :( ! It's not long enough to be a problem though, thankfully. They also say that is is an athletic fit, and this is surely true, I am 5'9.5" and have recently dropped from 190 to 175 in the last couple months. At my current weight it fits pretty much perfectly, but with no room for a second layer below it. My biggest problem at this point is that its 80 degrees out in D.C. and I can't really wear it outside. It looks like its going to rain in a couple days and I'll get to go outside and dance in pure ecstasy. I might sleep in this jacket and nothing else tonight. I think I'm in love. Thank you backcountry.com .

This Jacket rocks! It has plenty of pockets, the material is great and very functional. The whole thing is welded, no seams anywhere. The hood is helmet compatible; the collar is very high to protect you from evil wind blasts. I am 5'11 165 lbs and the medium fits well. The sleeves are a bit long. The material looks like it is from a NASA research lab, very soft and shiny. The Backcountry.com SHIFT Welder Hoody is also very light!

I just got this jacket today, and I already know i'll be wearing this all the time. I talked to some gearheads after I purchased a large and they recommended a XL for my 6'2" - 6'3" 180lbs build. I disagreed with them and just let the thing ship. I have it on right now and I can tell you the sleeves do not fall short of my wrist, I actually have about an inch and a half of sleeve I can pull on my hands if I wanted to...

BOTTOM LINE: If you are Tall and lanky and are worrying about getting short sleeves, A large will fit you amazingly.

NOTE: it is an athletic fit but not skin tight definitely ideal for layering.

Dude stop thinking about it and just buy it...

I have gone through quite a few jackets and this jacket is by far my favorite jacket I have ever owned,super light yet warm. If you're looking for a good waterproof shell that keeps you warm but not too warm when hiking, skiing, etc and is not bulky this is it. LOVE IT!!!

After buying on SAC, just received this today. Very sweet softshell. Workmanship looks great, it's very comfy, stretches well, and the colour is great. I'm 5'8", 165 lbs, and it's a good fit on me; enough room for a layer underneath, Only one minor gripe: the sleeves are crazy long--I wish they were a bit shorter or had velcro cinch. I bought the Flylow Kung Fu jacket recently, and wasn't really happy with it (it didn't seem to breathe that well), but just wearing this around the house, it seems like it breathes like a champ. I can hardly wait to get 'er out to the hill for some spring turns.

Just

Very awesome material, very comfortable, and lots of good details. I love how the double hood cinch design allows you to use it either with or without a helmet, and still be able to have full visibility either way. Fit-wise, I'm 6'0" 180lb. I was trying to decide between the Large and the XL and got both. Either one could really work. Even with a medium-weight fleece underneath, the cut on the L was generous enough that it was comfortable. But I decided to go with the XL anyway, as I plan to use it for winter backpacking and felt that the extra room for a heavyweight fleece or just extra ventilation was worth the bagginess. If I were using it for skiing or just a general jacket, I'd have probably gone with the L. Though I have to say, even slightly over-sized, it still looks great!

My welder (Carbon) just arrived and I'm stoked!!

First impressions:
Great fit! - I'm 5'7 145lbs and the Medium fits amazingly well. It's not too tight and not too baggy, a great balance that suits my taste. People have noted the sleeves are long, which is true but the tapered ends prevent it from hanging past the base of your palm.
Impressed! - The color Carbon is slightly lighter than in the picture but really sweet looking! The Jacket has a very clean look with the welded seams and it feels like a quality made jacket. People have noted how this jacket continues to deliver after months of use, and right off the bat it makes water look like rubber bouncing off glue! The feel is really soft (the fleece lining is really soft and it can stretch which shows off it's functional abilities.

notes: I had NO problems with the zippers at all, contrary to some of the reviews. The front two hand pockets are extremely spacious and extends all the way up the jacket (can fit a 27oz klean kanteen in it). Minor gripe: the internal pocket is quite small, JUST big enough to fit my iphone in.

This jacket is bomber. Killer construction, light weight and looks sexy, too. I wore it on an extended trip through the Wind Rivers and it held up beautifully. I wore it with one thin base layer and it breathed great and repelled water and snow all day long. When I wet it out under a hard shell a night in my sleeping bag dried it out fine. comfortable over a helmet and goggles. I'm 5'10", 170 lbs and bought a small (weird, I know), it fits slim and I don't layer much under it so it's perfect.

Sleaves don't have velcro closures, but I just tuck the first two inches inside to make a cuff when not wearing gloves. First two inches is double thickness so easy to roll cuff under.
I wish the zippers were longer on the chest pockets since the pocket are full length but zippers are short, but probably would have added a lot of weight.

Very light weight. Hood fits well over helmet, also has good tightening system for pulling hood back for visibility.

I took a major digger on pavement while wearing this jacket. I had a major bruise and raspberry on my shoulder, but the jacket was fine. No rips, I just brushed some dirt off. I thought it was toast, but it held up fine.

I bought this hoping it would fill a gap in my collection of shells. I needed something that was light, comfortable and blocked wind and water. It fit the bill, but I just didn't like the fit and how much the lining stuck to everything I wore. I found myself always going to my Rime pullover or a rain jacket instead of the Welder. With that being the case I decided to return the Welder instead of decorate my closet with it. Now I can afford a new Gore-Tex rain jacket to replace my aging Precip.

What can I say, I put my new Backcountry Shift Welder Hoody on today and didn't want to take the damn thing off. I'm currently in the USAF and was actually contemplating on bringing it to work and wearing it during my midshift where no one would see me. Since it's not part of the duty uniform and I didn't want to get in trouble. I wised up and didn't take it. But that doesn't mean I didn't want to!! Alright I rattled on long enough. Bottom line, this jacket is everything I expected and more. End note, got it on SAC for half the price....Backcountry.com ROCKS!

Plenty of people have weighed in on just how ridiculously stupendous this jacket is.... especially at the SAC price. I'll refrain from joining the chorus, and just comment on size. I'm skinny with wide shoulders at 6'2" 190lbs and the Large is pretty tight (esp in the sleeves) with a base layer on and 100 weight polartec. You shouldn't need much more than that, but if you're any larger than I am or want some extra room to layer, you may want to step up to the XL.

Okay.... I'll join the chorus... the jacket is absurd. The construction, durability, breathability and cut are perfect. It's all wrapped in an understated look in true BC style, is purposeful and not slapped all over with zippers or logos.

This jacket does it all. I have used it anywhere from skiing in February to backpacking in July. The breathability is excellent, super comfortable, stretchy, durable. The water repellent does a fantastic job except in total downpour. Definitely recommend this jacket as well as all other backcountry.com gear

Ok, so I just got this jacket and haven't been able to test it out. But first impressions are great. The fit is awesome (6'2", 165, got a large), the color is really cool(tahoe, looks great in person), the hood is a little big, but thats really nothing to complain about considering you will probably have a helmet on. All in all I can say im greatly impressed and can't wait till im able to give a full review on this jacket

I am 5'8", 135 lbs, slim build. I bought a small jacket and ended up returning it. The small fit me OK, it was not skin tight but there was zero extra space- no room for anything other than a base layer without an uncomfortable body-hugging fit.

I am just writing this review to give people a heads up on the size. If you plan to layer at all with this, I would definitely go a size up.

A little pricy on backcountry, but jump at the SAC price! As the other reviews state, this jacket rocks and handles just about anything you can throw at it or on it. The only drawback is the lack of adjustable wrists, but it would not prevent me from getting this again!

Soft, comfy, and performs well.

One gripe I do have though is that the forearms aren't wide enough to fit many layers underneath. They'll fit a medium fleece OK, but if you have a couple layers under that, or a really thick fleece, then it's a pretty tight fit in the forearm area. I've also got an Arc'teryx Venta SV, and I find that has a much wider sleeve to fit more layers underneath. I'm a bit bummed because I even sized up to an XL so that I could layer easily. If I had to do it again I'd probably order the Welder in L (6', 180lb) and plan on using that in moderate weather, and keep the XL Venta for freezing. In pretty much every other aspect I do like the Shift Welder better.

By the way, I've found that the zipper goes a lot easier if you make sure to hold the top and bottom zippers in alignment as you stick the other side in.