Not As Good as the Previous Shift

By HIKER-D Ranked #250 - Men's Softshell Jackets December 12, 2008

I own last years model of the Shift (the one with the pocket on the sleeve).

In comparison, this year's Shift verison has markedly DEGRADED. Last year's model was perfect. Solid construction and function. This year's Shift **LACKS** the zipper wind flap(!!) and the cuffs are really WIDE(!!). Since Power Shield is billed as a wind shield(!) for the elements, having wind pass thru the zipper or wide cuff is sacrilegious. Secondly the length has been markedly shortened in the the front especially....less material, but the price is still the same?!! Thirdly, it lacks the pockets of last year's shift--no sleeve pocket, mp3 port, internal front pocket (and you still pay the same?!). Fourthly, the build quality is ***really AMATEURISH***....the shockingly horrendous un-parallel stitch line(!!) and bundled sew quality throughout maybe would be expected as a factory seconds product made in China but not for a product made in Canada! Fifthly, the sleeve panels are really goofy (no joke)--my arms look like wrinkly accordions from the maladjusted assembled wide panel width (sort of what you see on a puppet with no filling in the arms) and the front forearm panel SINKS(!!) into itself like a DENT ready to collect water....it looks like something a fashion student hurriedly put together in their first semester class--no joke (the stuffed jacket pictures on this website is seriously misleading when you have it at home to personally try on with a base layer long sleeve and actually use it in the elements). I hope Backcountry ***SERIOUSLY REEVALUATES** this model and comes out with a better version next year (like the 'good ole days'...or better). What a disappointment!

View Details: Backcountry.com Shift Element Softshell Jacket - Men's

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