Best of the light weight and no frills softshells

By jtcash Ranked #2521 - Men's Softshell Jackets October 22, 2009

I am 5'8", 170lb, and chest 40". I bought this in Medium and in carbon. I specifically chose carbon as opposed to the other brighter colours because it's styling when you wear it around town, even though it will get most of its miles on the trails.

Fit: For my height and weight, this jacket is a VERY snug fit. I can definitely not fit anything under this besides a 100-fleece. It is great if just wearing a base layer/t-shirt underneath. If you want to layer it, I highly suggest you size up. BC is known to make clothing tighter than other big brands.

Design: 2 hand pockets by the waist (not compatible with a backpack). One chest pocket. One pocket on the inside of the jacket directly behind the chest pocket. The inside pocket has a little hole for you to feed your MP3 cord allowing for a cleaner setup.

ALL zippers on this jacket are NOT water resistant. They are just regular zippers with a flaps on top to prevent water from getting in.

Arms are NOT articulated. In fact, I don't think any part of this jacket is articulated. But it shouldn't really have to since it is a stretchy softshell.

Material: Jacket is made entirely of Polartech Power Shield except for the chest and inside pocket which is something similar to Schoeller. All seams are just stitched and not taped or welded. So there is a chance that water can get in during bad weather.

The inside is like microfleece keeping you warm in temperatures above 10C. Anything colder, and you'll want to start layering.

I drove my car at 55mph and stuck out my car. Little to no wind gets through this material! They claim 98% which is probably true.

There is a large storm flap behind the main zipper giving you a feeling of comfort and protection from the zipper and the elements.

After two months, the DWR seems to be holding up but again, I have not been under too much precipitation. The DWR around the elbows are wearing down a little bit after two months but that's because that area gets the most wear and pressure. This means that water will not always bead up and some will soak a little into the face fabric, albeit, it's not that bad yet. The same will be true for the shoulders too when wearing a heavy pack.

Cinch cords are located on the bottom only. I never use them because the jacket is already really snug.

Summary: Not worth $200. It is a simple jacket without any bells and whistles. It is a good combination of being light-weight, light warmth, high wind-resistance, and for turning heads when walking around town. It feels good against your skin when you wear it too. Just make sure to size up if you plan on layering.

Give me some thumbs up if you like this review.

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

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