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Mountain Hardwear Alchemy Softshell Jacket - Men's

Item #MHW0678 | 229 in Stock
3 Star Rating

Cheap Thread, questionable assembly but Awesome Material and Design

By Ranked #221 - Men's Softshell Jackets November 12, 2008

I can't remember the last time I wanted a jacket as badly as I wanted this one: awesome design, mountain hardware label, etc. The taped seams, etc. I love the look of this jacket and it really does fit like a glove, but everyone who buys this should know that

A) It's just another premium brand made in China.
B) Columbia owns Mountain Hardware and has for years now (to me that means "Superior Cost-Cutting" particularly at the expense of quality).

My chief complaint about this jacket is that they used cheap - I mean Cheap thread to assemble this thing. Several of the seams have several points where the thread wore right through after only one year of use. The technology is there, the design is there, but why on earth a company would want to skimp on something basic like thread is Waaaayyyy beyond me.

I'm a 30-something... I'm hardly putting this thing through it's paces and I have several jackets that I rotate through....

Helpful Votes: 1 Yes | 0 No

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Tech Specs:

Material:
[Shell] Gore-Tex Windstopper Softshell and Alchemy Stretch Softshell (91%) nylon and 9% Lycra; [Lining]: Fleece 
Waterproof Rating:
Water-resistant 
Breathable Rating:
Not specified 
Core Venting:
No, naturally breathable throughout 
Pockets:
2 Hand zip, 1 welded chest, 1 interior zip 
Seam Taped:
No, welded seams 
Powder Skirt:
No 
Hood:
No 
Zip-in Compatibility:
No 
Weight:
[Lrg] 1lb 6oz. (632g) 
Recommended Use:
Ice / alpine climbing, backcountry skiing 
Manufacturer Warranty:
Lifetime 
Country of Origin:
China 

Change me.