Help me with a softshell jacket/system. I read about too many and need help from the Hide

[Monmouth]

I read and read and read this weekend. Checked links from military sites providing reviews and pics, but need help. I'm looking to build a long term good quality cold weather setup that is modular (layers). I will be using this "system" for shooting in a variety of environments (range, field, competition, etc..) and styles (pistol and rifle) as well as long hikes carrying a large pack. My current setup:

- cheap base layer. Looking to upgrade to a Capilene.
- Bootleg oversized cheap fleece. I like the 782gear Smokin full zip sweater. Looks light in product weight and like the lack of collar.
- Carhartt jacket with the Arctic lining. It works and love the exterior material because it can take a beating, but doesn't fit right whilst shooting and hiking.

Now, please help me with the softshell or Level 5. I would like the following if possible:

- Color. Not important but can't be black or pink (ski colors).
- Function. I would like a forearm pocket if possible, need abrasion resistant material on the elbows for shooting prone, and hand pockets.
- Material. Material should be a little rugged to not tear easily and last. Doesn't need to be hard core wind/water proof because I have an ECWCS Level 6 set for wind and water that would be worn over the jacket.
- Size. I'm 6'2, 200lbs, and no belly so would like an athletic type cut.
- Mobility. I need to move well with the garment.

I don't mind spending money, but hope the money goes to a good garment and not for hype/publicity. This is where I'm getting hung up. I look at TAD's line (never saw it in person) and I just don't get it. Maybe it's me, but their garments and price just don't mesh (Stealth Hoodie). Maybe because it's called a hoodie, haha.

 

[Roddd]

If you buy a pink jacket, mobility will definitely be an issue. You need something you can run fast in!
The TAD stuff is expensive, but worth the money. I have a stealth hoodie on right now. For the life of me, I don't know what makes it so warm. But it works. I say go for the stealth hoodie and a hard shell jacket over it. If you don't like it, you'll be able to sell it on here.

 

[NWDSORT]

If money is of NO consideration then yes go with a TAD combo like posted above they make great well thought out products. If you want to save a bit and still great some great functionality then grab the Condor Summit Softshell. I have had mine for a few years now and it is great. High pockets, everything zips up,forearm pocket, pit zips for cooling, and pretty low profile. I use mine for MO training often and have never had a problem.

Links: Condor Summit Tactical Soft Shell Jacket

US CAV has them for 85 bucks. Condor Summit Soft Shell Jacket

 

[45.308]

Since its inception to the US market from Scotland, soft shells while the same are not but close. Search for Schoeller Dynamic fabric. It is the premium soft shell fabric in my experience. The difference is no fleece backing on the outer fabric. Fleece backing will bind due to high friction on the layer underneath it impeding body movement.

I have a Condor summit light I believe is what it is called that has no fleece backing Vs the standard Summit. For the coin its a superb jacket and I can buy 3 or more of them for the price of a big name jacket. Runs a little small, I was tweener large and xl so I went with x large to layer under.

There are others out there, plenty but I recommend no fleece backing having worn soft shells from many vendors and fabrics over 2 decades.

If you have more specific questions and such, just ask

good luck....

 

[plong]

^^^ There's the guy you want to listen to! If you happen to have a little more coin to drop Wild Things is having a 25% off sale right now: Wild Things® makes gear for all-mountain sports and the U.S. Military absolutely top-notch gear IMHO. I, personally, would choose their gear over TAD or Dead Bird (having owned all three, plus...) I completely agree about not having a lined shell if layering. I do, however, have a lined softshell from Wild Things that's pretty-much my favorite jacket this time of year in NEOh. I wear it with just a base-layer and the lining allows me to avoid an additional layer in all but the coldest temps here locally. If layering in colder temps I switch to an unlined softshell.

 

[Brett_B]

For an athletic cut I like the TAD gear stuff. I'm 6'3" 220lbs and XL fits me pretty well, but definitely on the snug side.

I wear the Merino half zip as a base layer. I like Merino much better than similar synthetics like underarmor, it's warmer and doesn't smell as bad.
Ranger jacket for an insulating mid-layer. 10oz Polartec wind pro is an awesome fleece material. Look at any other fleece using this same material and the prices are very close to TAD, and most are using the 8oz and not the 10oz weight.
Stealth LT for a breathable softshell/hardshell outer layer that's waterproof. The Stealth LT uses the new Schoeller fabric.

During high activity hunting/hiking I stow the Ranger jacket in my pack and just wear the Merino base and Stealth LT as an outer layer. It's very breathable, still stretchy, and very durable so it protects my arms from the thicket/thorns. When I setup for an evening hunt I break out the Ranger to keep warm. The Stealth LT also serves as my waterproof layer in case I run into rain, which prevents me from needing to pack a seperate hard shell. It sort of blurs the line between hardshell and softshell since it's fully seam taped.

I really like this setup, in fact I just wore it all weekend on a wild hog hunt in TN when it got down to the 20's at night. It's great to control temps when moving or in moderate temps with the layers, but keep in mind for real cold conditions (in the 20's) when sitting completely still for a long time (several hours) it's really hard to beat the big puffy stuff for keeping warm. So I will sometimes wear the Cabelas ecwcs polar weight stuff as an extra layer. I think it's just like the capilene stuff but more affordable and easier to find in the store. I will also sometimes bring a bigger/warmer generic camo jacket to wear on top since the Ranger LT breathes really well, but isn't as warm as the puffy stuff for long/still hunts in the cold.

 

[Bracamonte]

Hiking, moving, shooting in different weapons, conditions, mediums? If color/design is not a factor, then you definitely need to be looking at companies that specialize in technical outdoor clothing. A lot of guys get stuck looking at the tactical/military brands which are not as good in design, materials, and function.

Arc'Teryx
Mammut
Patagonia
Marmot
Mountain Hardwear (some of their stuff)

These are the brands that I have used for the last 16 years, and I believe to be some of the best.

Mammut may be a difficult fit for you as it's sized for the "euro guy." They use Schoeller and 3XDry for a lot of their products. 3XDry is a newer developed material that is porous (breathable) and reactive. In colder temps, the pores will close and trap heat. In warmer temps, the pores will open and allow to breath and release heat.

Wlld Things makes decent products. I'm disappointed with their cut on the pants (inseam and ride are way too short/small), and their zippers have failed on me.

TAD Ranger hoodie is a great product. The Stealth LT is too, but is extremely overpriced. It is a 3XDry jacket with taped seams, but probably not worth $475.

You can find great softshells in any of the brands listed above.

Wool performs better at temperature regulation than the polyester/synthetic stuff, and it also doesn't smell like the latter.

My $0.02.

 

[EXSOCAL]

I have a Marmot Windstopper soft-shell that has seen over 1000 miles of backpacking and 4 years of use and still looks great. My newest love is a soft-shell by Sitka, the Jetstream Jacket, its got all the bells and whistles, fits great, looks great, and Sitka is an outstanding company. Its worth a look. I have all dead bird hard shell gear but never liked their soft shell stuff for some reason, strange fit on my frame. The TAD stuff is highly revered but I have no personal experience with it, my buddies all love theirs.

Here is a link to the Sitka stuff.

Sitka Gear | Turning Clothing Into Gear

 

[Monmouth]

Thank you guys, this is why I come to the hide!

 

[Monmouth]

Since its inception to the US market from Scotland, soft shells while the same are not but close. Search for Schoeller Dynamic fabric. It is the premium soft shell fabric in my experience. The difference is no fleece backing on the outer fabric. Fleece backing will bind due to high friction on the layer underneath it impeding body movement.

I have a Condor summit light I believe is what it is called that has no fleece backing Vs the standard Summit. For the coin its a superb jacket and I can buy 3 or more of them for the price of a big name jacket. Runs a little small, I was tweener large and xl so I went with x large to layer under.

There are others out there, plenty but I recommend no fleece backing having worn soft shells from many vendors and fabrics over 2 decades.

If you have more specific questions and such, just ask

good luck....

As always, thank you for the help. Is this the jacket you referenced:

Condor Summit Zero Tactical Soft Shell Jacket

 

[45.308]

Soft shell is a term or type of fabric. While some manufactures do produce their own soft shell fabric, most of them buy and use the same soft shell fabric. Schoeller was the first to bring the term to the masses, Polartetch or Malden Mills I had good performance but was very warm and then with wool infused material. Gore got into the market since their Tex was found out to be a poor performer but I find their soft shell performance substandard compared to the top two and then their is a host of cheap knock offs. So, its the design and fit of the garment more than the fabric as Schoeller from too expensive Dead Bird is identical to Schoeller from anyone else.

If you have ape index you will have to stay with top shelf companies like WT, Mammut, Black Diamond or deal with gap-o-asis. Companies like Marmot, Mountain Barnyardwear (Mountain Hardware) and Condor tend to be cut to fit the more average body and you may have to go up a size.

Find the fabric and features you want then find the jacket and then the sizing.

 

[45.308]

As always, thank you for the help. Is this the jacket you referenced:

Condor Summit Zero Tactical Soft Shell Jacket

Yep that is it. I am just a fraction less than 5' 11" at 165-170 with a long ape, I wore medium in Black Diamond, WT, Arc and Mammut but large with Patagonia, Marmot, etc and I went with XL in the Condor as the large was a little snug but short and I need the sleeve length.

 

[Thump_rrr]

I have been using jackets by The North Face for 2 decades now and have been very pleased.
They have been used for everything from skiing, hiking, shooting, working in service work both on and offshore.
Combined with their Denali inner jacket made of polartec 300 fabric I have been kept warm and dry down to -40 degrees.
I have had an issue with one well worn jacket de laminating after 5 years but it was replaced at no cost to me.

I have recently purchased a 511 tactical Valiant duty jacket to use at work since it is more discreet.
It with a liner but I can honestly tell you that it does not come close to my North Face jackets as far as quality or functionality goes.

 

[7GRT]

Arc'teryx , IMHO

 

[Thumper580]

Any of these suppliers made products in tall or long??

 

[carp]

I am a Mountain Hardware whore myself, with quite a few house payments worth of system components. But If I were looking primarily at new Soft shell systems today, it would be the stuff from Arc'teryx. IMHO it is the best out there. Mountain Hardware seemed to me to have the best 6'1" 205 lb guy fit though.

 

[truth]

Men's First Ascent Clothing & Gear | Eddie Bauer

 

[Duke 6]

Can't go wrong with either Arc'Teryx or Patagonia. Both expensive, but well worth the cost.

 

[SFree]

Just found a store in my area that has the Condor Summit Light jacket and it is a wonderful garment for the money. Stitching is a little suspect in a spot or two, but the fabric and fit is more than worth the price tag.

 

[bogeybrown]

For an athletic cut I like the TAD gear stuff. I'm 6'3" 220lbs and XL fits me pretty well, but definitely on the snug side.

I wear the Merino half zip as a base layer. I like Merino much better than similar synthetics like underarmor, it's warmer and doesn't smell as bad.
Ranger jacket for an insulating mid-layer. 10oz Polartec wind pro is an awesome fleece material. Look at any other fleece using this same material and the prices are very close to TAD, and most are using the 8oz and not the 10oz weight.
Stealth LT for a breathable softshell/hardshell outer layer that's waterproof. The Stealth LT uses the new Schoeller fabric.

During high activity hunting/hiking I stow the Ranger jacket in my pack and just wear the Merino base and Stealth LT as an outer layer. It's very breathable, still stretchy, and very durable so it protects my arms from the thicket/thorns. When I setup for an evening hunt I break out the Ranger to keep warm. The Stealth LT also serves as my waterproof layer in case I run into rain, which prevents me from needing to pack a seperate hard shell. It sort of blurs the line between hardshell and softshell since it's fully seam taped.

I really like this setup, in fact I just wore it all weekend on a wild hog hunt in TN when it got down to the 20's at night. It's great to control temps when moving or in moderate temps with the layers, but keep in mind for real cold conditions (in the 20's) when sitting completely still for a long time (several hours) it's really hard to beat the big puffy stuff for keeping warm. So I will sometimes wear the Cabelas ecwcs polar weight stuff as an extra layer. I think it's just like the capilene stuff but more affordable and easier to find in the store. I will also sometimes bring a bigger/warmer generic camo jacket to wear on top since the Ranger LT breathes really well, but isn't as warm as the puffy stuff for long/still hunts in the cold.

I'm not the OP, but he posted his question at the same time I was researching this same exact issue so I just monitored the thread and went from there. After reading a gazillion reviews in the hopes of finding something I liked more than the TAD, I kept coming back to it, even though it wasn't available in the color I needed so I broke down and ordered the Ranger Jacket. From reading your (excellent) post, it appears that the next component should be the Stealth LT rather than the regular Stealth, correct?

I'm looking primarily for the additional wind-fighting with the added bonus of weather repellency once I get back to a place in the world that actually RAINS.

Am I going wrong with the Stealth LT? Although it has resale value, I hate buying a $500 piece of kit and having to ship it back from overseas if it isn't what I need.

Thanks for the info so far

 

[rljatl]

Personally, I am done with Patagonia. Patagonia has a top shelf reputation, but their design drives me crazy. The zippers they use are too small and get caught ALL the time in the material around the zipper. They seem to leave off hand pockets on some of their jackets. Another thing to watch out for is too much material around the neck and chin area. That drives me crazy too.

 

[Black Rifle]

I am a big fan of Sitka. I have a Jet Stream jacket for a soft shell and a Kelvin jacket for insulation. The fit is great and the system is versatile.

 

[George Az]

Well I have owned Tad gear and Marmot has worked well. But the future is First Spear or Kitanica. I might go old school with Filson, the stuff never wears out. If I am spending $300 + on a soft shell, I think I have to employ some American labor. Heck, I have North Face stuff 20 years old labelled "U.S.A" and it still works.

 

[Monmouth]

As always, thank you for the help. Is this the jacket you referenced:

Condor Summit Zero Tactical Soft Shell Jacket

Update,

I purchased this jacket in the tan and really happy with it. Won/buy it now it on EBay with free shipping and have it over the level3 ecwcs fleece. No binding, lightweight, slim profile, and this system keeps me very warm and draft free. It's my go to setup for the range now and the carhartt now sleeps in the garage.

I will experiment with another jacket next year, but for the money, give it a try. For those interested, $82? Shipped on the Condor and $39.99 for the level 3 fleece over at fort bragg surplus. I'm a large/long in the fleece and Xl in the Condor. Stay warm and shoot in the worst weather when possible.

 

[Timberbeast7]

I'm not the OP, but he posted his question at the same time I was researching this same exact issue so I just monitored the thread and went from there. After reading a gazillion reviews in the hopes of finding something I liked more than the TAD, I kept coming back to it, even though it wasn't available in the color I needed so I broke down and ordered the Ranger Jacket. From reading your (excellent) post, it appears that the next component should be the Stealth LT rather than the regular Stealth, correct?

I'm looking primarily for the additional wind-fighting with the added bonus of weather repellency once I get back to a place in the world that actually RAINS.

Am I going wrong with the Stealth LT? Although it has resale value, I hate buying a $500 piece of kit and having to ship it back from overseas if it isn't what I need.

Thanks for the info so far

I'd say the Stealth LT is what you're looking for. The Stealth might get a little bulky if you layer it with a Ranger Jacket (I have a Stealth and Ranger Hoodie). The Stealth LT is not lined and is made to function with the Ranger Jacket/Hoodie. To me the Stealth is kind of a stand alone jacket, it's a fleece lined soft-shell. The Stealth LT is made to be worn over an insulation layer or as a rain shell.

 

[dragbag]

A lot of great recommendations here. I love Marmot and original Mountain Hardware (early 1990's). Arcteryx is great gear but fit can be an issue with some things. They have come a long ways in fit so I just make sure I try before I buy.

One company I have tried really hard to love is Kuiu. They use some great fabrics (Torrey) and have some well thought out designs. But they suck in sizing. I know I know its cut for an athletic fit. BS! When an XL vest is the exact same length as a XXL and only 1/8" larger around that is just plain crap! Now lets talk sleeve length, great fit if you have midget arms. Also pricing is suspect.

 

[Brett_B]

I'm not the OP, but he posted his question at the same time I was researching this same exact issue so I just monitored the thread and went from there. After reading a gazillion reviews in the hopes of finding something I liked more than the TAD, I kept coming back to it, even though it wasn't available in the color I needed so I broke down and ordered the Ranger Jacket. From reading your (excellent) post, it appears that the next component should be the Stealth LT rather than the regular Stealth, correct?

I'm looking primarily for the additional wind-fighting with the added bonus of weather repellency once I get back to a place in the world that actually RAINS.

Am I going wrong with the Stealth LT? Although it has resale value, I hate buying a $500 piece of kit and having to ship it back from overseas if it isn't what I need.

Thanks for the info so far

Sorry for the slow reply, haven't been on the forum in a while.

If you have the Ranger jacket then as somebody already said the Stealth LT would be a good top layer for it. The lined Stealth will be warmer but it does not have taped seams (which is what makes the LT so expensive). So if you are looking for a durable softshell that can double as a hard shell for rain protection, the Stealth LT is the way to go over the Stealth. The lined Stealth will be water resistant, but it will eventually soak through because of the seams not being taped.

The Stealth LT price of $475 is a bit hard to swallow. I got lucky and picked up one of the early "factory seconds" that they released for around $225 since the first zippers they used weren't as waterproof as they wanted. For $225 this jacket is awesome, but $475 is pretty steep and there are a lot of good jackets for that price.

The LT does block the wind really well, much better than just the Ranger by itself since that is just an open fleece. However since the LT breathes so well, if you are doing a long still hunt in really cold and windy weather you may still need an extra layer to keep warm enough like I mentioned before. I wore this gear as described above on a TN hunt again just last weekend. Moderate temps during the day so I just wore the LT when hiking in and it continues to breathe great. Still hunts in the evening the temps dropped to the high 20's and I layered up with the Ranger again, and wore the generic camo jacket on top while sitting. I also spray the scent killer on that camo jacket, because scent killer will mess up the DWR treatment so I never spray it on the Stealth LT. On our last day we got rained on all day and it got down to the high 30's in the evening. The LT kept me completely dry, no seperate hard shell needed (and I have no idea what they think was wrong with the zippers since I have never had a problem). I was also warm enough with just the Ranger and my base layer with those temps. I only need more for warmth when temps drop to the 20's during a long still hunt.

I did have the Condor jacket mentioned in this thread before getting the LT. It was a nice jacket but it definitely did not breath like the LT does. I could not wear it while hiking in as it felt like I was wearing a trash bag. So then I was left with either a fleece which would easily snag, or bare arms to get cut up, as I worked my way through the thicket. The LT is much better for high output and giving you some protection from thicket and thorns. That Condor is also not 100% waterproof (no taped seams) so if you are out in the rain all day you will eventually get wet if you don't pack a seperate hard shell. One downside to the LT though is that it's a moderately noisy material. Its sort of scratchy, so not at all quiet like a fleece. I have never had it spoil a hunt though, just wanted you to be aware of it.

 

[tomcfc11]

Love my Acteryx bravo, use a northface for working and tearing up. you can find them all pretty cheap on some of the hourly sales sites. Watch the Arcteryx sizing as they are fitted. NF runs a bit bigger then my Patagonia, mountain hardware, marmot jackets.

 

[bogeybrown]

Sorry for the slow reply, haven't been on the forum in a while.

If you have the Ranger jacket then as somebody already said the Stealth LT would be a good top layer for it. The lined Stealth will be warmer but it does not have taped seams (which is what makes the LT so expensive). So if you are looking for a durable softshell that can double as a hard shell for rain protection, the Stealth LT is the way to go over the Stealth. The lined Stealth will be water resistant, but it will eventually soak through because of the seams not being taped.

The Stealth LT price of $475 is a bit hard to swallow. I got lucky and picked up one of the early "factory seconds" that they released for around $225 since the first zippers they used weren't as waterproof as they wanted. For $225 this jacket is awesome, but $475 is pretty steep and there are a lot of good jackets for that price.

The LT does block the wind really well, much better than just the Ranger by itself since that is just an open fleece. However since the LT breathes so well, if you are doing a long still hunt in really cold and windy weather you may still need an extra layer to keep warm enough like I mentioned before. I wore this gear as described above on a TN hunt again just last weekend. Moderate temps during the day so I just wore the LT when hiking in and it continues to breathe great. Still hunts in the evening the temps dropped to the high 20's and I layered up with the Ranger again, and wore the generic camo jacket on top while sitting. I also spray the scent killer on that camo jacket, because scent killer will mess up the DWR treatment so I never spray it on the Stealth LT. On our last day we got rained on all day and it got down to the high 30's in the evening. The LT kept me completely dry, no seperate hard shell needed (and I have no idea what they think was wrong with the zippers since I have never had a problem). I was also warm enough with just the Ranger and my base layer with those temps. I only need more for warmth when temps drop to the 20's during a long still hunt.

I did have the Condor jacket mentioned in this thread before getting the LT. It was a nice jacket but it definitely did not breath like the LT does. I could not wear it while hiking in as it felt like I was wearing a trash bag. So then I was left with either a fleece which would easily snag, or bare arms to get cut up, as I worked my way through the thicket. The LT is much better for high output and giving you some protection from thicket and thorns. That Condor is also not 100% waterproof (no taped seams) so if you are out in the rain all day you will eventually get wet if you don't pack a seperate hard shell. One downside to the LT though is that it's a moderately noisy material. Its sort of scratchy, so not at all quiet like a fleece. I have never had it spoil a hunt though, just wanted you to be aware of it.

Thanks Brett,

VERY helpful reply. The Ranger JUST reached my APO today, just in time for snow in the next day or so, which will give me an idea of what I want next. I'm actually leaning more towards the regular Stealth rather than the LT at this point, since one more WARM layer would be nice. I have goretex for when I need a proper rain jacket.

Other than the taped seams, is the material itself equally water repellent between the LT and regular Stealth?

 

[alpharider]

Any of these suppliers made products in tall or long??

I would also like to know.....anyone?

 

[blades]

Does anybody wear soft shell pants? If so what do you recommend? Sorry for the hijack op this thread has so much great info already.just thought this would add some more I am also in the market for a new softshell I love my marmot with windstopper. But want something more.

 

[sct4a]

Does anybody wear soft shell pants? If so what do you recommend? Sorry for the hijack op this thread has so much great info already.just thought this would add some more I am also in the market for a new softshell I love my marmot with windstopper. But want something more.

Both for the OP and you check arcteryx Men's / Arc'teryx LEAF I have a closet full of their jackets, shorts, pants, and shells. Quite overpriced but also takes alot of abuse and holds up really well. Their stuff also compresses really well so its easy to vacuum pack pants/jackets etc. to go in a ruck or go bag.

 

[TexasGunTrustLawyer]

So what about the vertx soft shell?

 

[bogeybrown]

I would also like to know.....anyone?

According to the FAQ on Kitanica's website, they periodically do tall or long sizes, but they're not continuously available. Not sure if that helps:
Kitanica - FAQ

 

[Desert_Racer]

I just bought the Arc'teryx Atom AF Jacket after freezing my balls off at Red Flag last month. This jacket is really warm and the price just dropped on them as well:
Arc'teryx LEAF Atom AF Jacket - Crocodile - Arc'teryx - Tactical Distributors- Tactical Gear
It is meant to be layered, so what I have found is a solid base layer coupled with this jacket keeps you really warm, but not to the point of sweating. Also, a nice feature is that the jacket stuffs into its own pocket to the size of a small camp pillow. I wanted a Wild Things Tactical High Loft jacket but they didn't have any available in my size at the time. Those are even warmer as they have twice the amount of Primaloft in them and have a hoody large enough to fit over a helmet. Those are around $300 +/- if my memory serves me correctly.

 

[roboto1138]

I was talking to a guy the other day that had on a Scottevest Alpha Jacket. Of course they are out of stock, but they seem pretty cool. I am gonna grab one when they come back into stock. I will post a review once I get one.

 

[roboto1138]

CCW Bestsellers: SCOTTEVEST

 

[SporterII]

I live in Mid / South Florida. Weather is what it is right now and am attending a class in North Fl., / Al. soon.
I stumbled on this thread just in time. Ordered a Condor Summit. Just received it. Says Made in China. Major FU in my house. I will say though, I would not have even been prepared at this level until traveling north and having to stop at Walmart at 3:30 AM. I have tried it on and It will get me thru. I like it having nothing to compare it to other than 360.00 NF at the local ski shop. Yes, we have one.
I like this jacket and will now have a base line to choose a replacement at my leisure. I have this adequate piece of gear now from stumbling on this thread.
Thanks.

 

[bogeybrown]

As mentioned earlier, with the help of this thread and some nice folks at TAD, I selected the Ranger Jacket and had it sent over to me in Trashcanistan. I have LIVED in the damn thing all week with temps in the teens to mid 30s with wicked winds and now 10 inches of snowfall in the last 24 hours.

I fricking LOVE this jacket. Even thought it's not a "shell" jacket, the Windpro fleece does an amazing job at stopping the wind, and after 10 hours of being out in the snow (a lot of it very wet), I have yet to get even damp in the jacket. I have no idea what miracle of engineering goes into a fleece that allows it to soak up wet snow all day and NOT get wet on the inside, but it is THE TITS!

For years I balked at the price of the TAD, largely because I was far enough south in the country that I didn't "need" it, and couldn't believe that a fleece could be so much better that it cost many times more than the other ones I had. I stand corrected, it's absolutely worth the money.

I still want a softshell to layer over it, but as well as the Ranger is working, it's not as pressing of a need as I'd originally anticipated.

 

[Bracamonte]

Does anybody wear soft shell pants? If so what do you recommend? Sorry for the hijack op this thread has so much great info already.just thought this would add some more I am also in the market for a new softshell I love my marmot with windstopper. But want something more.

I use to live primarily in softshell pants.

Look at:
Mammut
Black Diamond
Patagonia
Arc'Teryx

 

[Brett_B]

Thanks Brett,

VERY helpful reply. The Ranger JUST reached my APO today, just in time for snow in the next day or so, which will give me an idea of what I want next. I'm actually leaning more towards the regular Stealth rather than the LT at this point, since one more WARM layer would be nice. I have goretex for when I need a proper rain jacket.

Other than the taped seams, is the material itself equally water repellent between the LT and regular Stealth?

Glad to help! And thank you for your service. I wear my Ranger all the time, it is the best fleece I have ever owned and it really is worth the price over the North Face and Marmot stuff that I have (which are still quite good).

I don't have hands on experience with the lined Stealth but they both use Schoeller's c_change membrane according to the TAD site so I believe the materiel itself should be just as waterproof with the exception of the seams. If you already have a good waterproof hard shell, and have the room to pack it, it sounds like the lined Stealth would be a good route for you instead of the Stealth LT since it will be warmer. The fact that it's more affordable helps too!

Be sure that when you do wash it that you only use a waterproof membrane friendly soap, and you spray it with some fresh DWR treatment. That will go a long way to ensure you expensive jacket keeps performing as it should for years to come. I like the Granger's outerwear kit with the performance wash and XT waterproofer, even though it’s out of stock most places right now:

Amazon.com: Granger Outerwear Care Kit (Performance Wash & XT Waterproofer): Sports & Outdoors

I've used it frequently since I get my stuff dirty all the time and it works great.

 

[Brett_B]

I would also like to know.....anyone?

TAD doesn't list long/tall sizes for their jackets, but they all have longer sleeves to begin with. I'm 6'3" with very long arms and the TAD sleeve length fits me great in XL, not too short at all.

 

[haunas]

Just a consideration, any polyester fleece will stick to your skin in a fire or high heat situation, unless specifically FR. Prior to going to the sandbox, I made sure anything that was next to my skin was wool, just in case. I know it was not issue gear but I used an Ibex wool jacket under my cami top. DIdn't wash it much and it didn't stink. Now I just wear it since to me it feels like it regulates my body temp better.

Chris

 

[alpharider]

TAD doesn't list long/tall sizes for their jackets, but they all have longer sleeves to begin with. I'm 6'3" with very long arms and the TAD sleeve length fits me great in XL, not too short at all.

Thanks for the response, I'm 6'4" and 200 pounds so I would need an xl for length in TAD but would the rest be too baggy and oversized? I've heard they have an athletic fit.


Thanks again!

 

[bogeybrown]

Glad to help! And thank you for your service. I wear my Ranger all the time, it is the best fleece I have ever owned and it really is worth the price over the North Face and Marmot stuff that I have (which are still quite good).

I don't have hands on experience with the lined Stealth but they both use Schoeller's c_change membrane according to the TAD site so I believe the materiel itself should be just as waterproof with the exception of the seams. If you already have a good waterproof hard shell, and have the room to pack it, it sounds like the lined Stealth would be a good route for you instead of the Stealth LT since it will be warmer. The fact that it's more affordable helps too!

Be sure that when you do wash it that you only use a waterproof membrane friendly soap, and you spray it with some fresh DWR treatment. That will go a long way to ensure you expensive jacket keeps performing as it should for years to come. I like the Granger's outerwear kit with the performance wash and XT waterproofer, even though it’s out of stock most places right now:

Amazon.com: Granger Outerwear Care Kit (Performance Wash & XT Waterproofer): Sports & Outdoors

I've used it frequently since I get my stuff dirty all the time and it works great.

Funny, I was completing my TAD order while you were posting your reply. The LT had been out of stock in Large in all colors, which was helping to push me to the regular Stealth. When I went to do my order, they had restocked the LT in Large only, which I took as a sign or something so I went ahead and got it. I also considered bulk/friction with the fleece lining of the regular Stealth on top of the Ranger so I opted to sacrifice some warmth in favor of bomb-proof weather resistance and better maneuverability. Knowing me, I'll likely buy the damn Stealth also at some point down the road. Truthfully, the Ranger is so insanely warm with a decent base layer that I felt like the insulated Stealth would be overkill.

TAD confirmed that the regular and LT Stealth jackets were equally water repellant, but that the LT was considered water PROOF because of the taped seams, so you were spot on.

I appreciate the "thanks" for my service, but I'm out now and working privately. The high point is getting to continue to work with the military. Coincidentally, the low point is getting to continue to work with the military

 

[bogeybrown]

Just a consideration, any polyester fleece will stick to your skin in a fire or high heat situation, unless specifically FR. Prior to going to the sandbox, I made sure anything that was next to my skin was wool, just in case. I know it was not issue gear but I used an Ibex wool jacket under my cami top. DIdn't wash it much and it didn't stink. Now I just wear it since to me it feels like it regulates my body temp better.

Chris

I'm tracking. I use a merino base layer most of the time.
Having worked with explosives in various capacities for most of my adult life, I was always ANAL about flame retardance and static electricity, but truthfully, over here I will wear whatever the hell makes me comfortable. In the summers in Kandahar I would have worn a shirt soaked in gasoline if it would have kept me noticeably cooler

 

[bogeybrown]

Thanks for the response, I'm 6'4" and 200 pounds so I would need an xl for length in TAD but would the rest be too baggy and oversized? I've heard they have an athletic fit.


Thanks again!

If you call them they're more than happy to help you with sizing, but if it helps, I'm 6'00" 185 and the Ranger Jacket in Large fits me PERFECTLY. It's even a little longer in the arms which is great. Going by our relative sizes I'd say you'd be an XL.
The Ranger series is made to be a slim "athletic" fit so that it functions as a mid-layer underneath a shell. The Stealth jackets are supposed to fit slightly looser (to go over a mid layer).

 

[Brett_B]

Thanks for the response, I'm 6'4" and 200 pounds so I would need an xl for length in TAD but would the rest be too baggy and oversized? I've heard they have an athletic fit.


Thanks again!

I think an XL will fit you well. The TAD stuff is fitted, but not quite as tight fitting as the Arcteryx stuff, which is almost too tight for my build. I'm about 225lbs right now with an athletic build but even when I slim down to about 210 I don't find the TAD stuff baggy in XL. The Ranger jacket is very fitted and perfect for a mid layer without feeling to tight or baggy. The Stealth LT isn't quite as fitted since it was designed to have some room to work with a mid-layer, so it will be a bit baggier if you are only wearing a tight base layer but I think it's just fine since I don't like it real tight anyway.

 

[Brett_B]

Does anybody wear soft shell pants? If so what do you recommend? Sorry for the hijack op this thread has so much great info already.just thought this would add some more I am also in the market for a new softshell I love my marmot with windstopper. But want something more.

What do you want to use them for?

I have the Arcteryx Gamma guide pants in tan: Gamma Guide Pant / Men's / Pants/Shorts / Softshell

They are very high quality but I don’t find myself wearing them as much as I thought I would. They are very fitted, almost a little bit too tight. Fortunately they are stretchy so they still have very good range of motion. They are quite noisy when moving though. These days I wear them most often for mountain biking in bad weather since they are nice and stretchy and good for high output.

They are very breathable but since they aren’t lined nor do they have a membrane they aren’t real warm. So I would say that these pants and others like it are only for mid-temp weather or for high output unless you have more layers ready. I do really like the reinforced instep patches as they will last a long time. The DWR works ok for moisture resistance but they aren’t anything like a real waterproof pant. If they were less fitted I would like them better. I find myself wearing the TAD Force 10 RS cargo pants more often in the woods for hunting, and I can get 2 pairs of the TAD pants for the price of those Arcteryx pants. The Force 10’s are 50/50 nylon and cotton, and they have a baggier fit, so they are much more comfortable to me. I also think they are a little bit warmer and they feel more durable. If it’s a little damp out they have been fine even though they have some cotton since they are DWR coated and 50% nylon, but if it’s heavy rain I throw on some waterproof shell pants.

My hunting buddy wears the Mountain Hardwear Winter Wander soft shell pants and he really likes them for hiking:
Men's Winter Wander? Pant | MountainHardwear.com

These are also not lined so they are good for high output but not great for real cold conditions. They are very similar to my Arcteryx soft shells but they are not as noisy, and are much more affordable. After having checked out both in person I would have gotten these instead for the price but they were completely out of stock at the time.

 

[Brett_B]

Funny, I was completing my TAD order while you were posting your reply. The LT had been out of stock in Large in all colors, which was helping to push me to the regular Stealth. When I went to do my order, they had restocked the LT in Large only, which I took as a sign or something so I went ahead and got it. I also considered bulk/friction with the fleece lining of the regular Stealth on top of the Ranger so I opted to sacrifice some warmth in favor of bomb-proof weather resistance and better maneuverability. Knowing me, I'll likely buy the damn Stealth also at some point down the road. Truthfully, the Ranger is so insanely warm with a decent base layer that I felt like the insulated Stealth would be overkill.

TAD confirmed that the regular and LT Stealth jackets were equally water repellant, but that the LT was considered water PROOF because of the taped seams, so you were spot on.

I appreciate the "thanks" for my service, but I'm out now and working privately. The high point is getting to continue to work with the military. Coincidentally, the low point is getting to continue to work with the military

Cool! Congrats on your new gear. LOL at your last paragraph.

And as somebody already mentioned, merino really is the way to go. In addition to the fire hazard advantages, it's amazing what I put this stuff through and it still doesn't smell like horrible body odor.