Favourite windshirt

TinTin

Thru Hiker
I'm just not very satisfied with my Rab Vital Windshell Hoody. Pockets in the wrong place and I don't think it breathes all that well. It is the only wind-shirt I've owned except for a Higher State (Sportsshoes own brand) running jacket. Which is OK but again not sure it is as breathable as it could be.

So I'm just looking for suggestions for a good value wind shirt with a hood that breaths.

TIA
 

OwenM

Thru Hiker
I'm just not very satisfied with my Rab Vital Windshell Hoody.

TIA

I might have one of those, only when I brought it it was called a Ventus shirt. I've just looked on Rab's website and all the names have been changed, why do they do that.

It could be a Vital windshell only my shirt is a pull on. It might be a Borealis tour shirt or it could be a Momentum pull on I just can't tell from the photos. All very confusing.

Anyway I quite like it even if the sleeves are way too long. It's not in any way waterproof, just very windproof. 270g for a large. Most importantly it's very mosquito proof.
 

Charlie83

Thru Hiker
Although I dont actually wear them that often, I do have 5

2 patagonia Houdinis (121 & 129g) - quite fitted, chest pocket is pretty useless and if you put anything in it, it drags the material down

Arcteryx Squamish (178g), not so fitted, actually prefer it to the Houdini, and probably the one I'd take out with me these days

Rab Cirrus (147g) - was sure I ripped this badly a few years ago, but I found it recently and it seems ok, this was a favourite of mine for a few years.

Fjallraven highcoast (375g)- very much my favourite, just not for hiking, to heavy, but rather spiffing with Jean's and desert boots:D
 

Cali

Backpacker
MH Kor Preshell is my favorite. Soft feel next to skin, stretchy, and breathable. Packs easy into interior pocket, and I like the hand zip pockets. Also have an OR Tantrum II and BD Alpine Start.
 

Mole

Thru Hiker
Breathability and windproofness can vary a lot between fabrics on "windshirts"
E. G. Standard pertex is more windproof than Paramo.

Winter favourite - for proper highwindproofing is an old Montane Litespeed in pertex microlight. Fairly heavy (c180g) as well featured. Fits over a lot of layers.

Long term summer favourite is a Montane Featherlight smock in a special pertex quantum (at the time). 85g. No hood. Silver grey colour.

Current 3 season favourite is the Mass Drop Veil - fits me well over a midlayer)(athletic cut apparently!) and is pretty breathable. Full zip and hood 85g matt finish fabric. Had it since summer.

I had a Rab hooded windshirt (the model was only around for a season or 2) for a year a few years ago. They claimed it was a more breathable pertex microlight with permanent dwr, but though it was lighter, smarter looking and fit well, I found it less breathable than the old Montane Litespeed, and sold it on for what I bought it for new.
 

EM-Chiseller

Thru Hiker
Sold a few... Found the omm Sonic to be a sweat bag and odd sizing with excess material. A lot of the running types are okay for running with the right layer underneath... But add a vest or pack and their not so good.
The Chinese fauxdini was very good, but they don't do one in your size iirc.
I'm impressed with the salomon I'm currently using, but not used it in humid conditions.
The material in the salomon is like the fauxdini. No pockets other than the chest.
I found the rab to be a bit flappy, my la sportiva was good for wind and rain resistance but off set was lack of breathability.
I miss my old paramo wind jacket good hood, zips that had a pass through to get to pockets underneath. Just gave it up as I was counting grams... I've gained grams going for the salomon... But it works.
Recently got the Kor Preshell but not had chance to use it.
 

Dave V

Moderator
Staff member
I tried a few windproof out over the last two years, OMM Sonic Smock, Inov8 FZ, Alpkit Arro and Paramo Ostro.

For me the Ostro works best, nice fit (apart from the cuffs and arms being ever so slightly shorter than I'd like). Great hood, pass through pockets, smooth zip, pretty good breathability, far better than any of the others listed above, nice soft fabric that has very little rustle noise. It also performs well in a prolonged shower and seems to cool you well when its warm but locks the heat in well in cooler times.

OMM, lightest of them all but baggy, flappy and noisy and a bit clammy inside when walking up hills.
Inov8, didn't like at all, the shape felt off, narrow across the shoulders and wide at the bottom with long arms but very tight under the pits. Poor breathability and fabric felt cheap/delicate.
Alpkit, odd fit again the inner side of the arm was longer than the outer so I had material bunching at my cuff / under my wrist joint but I could never get it to cove my watch , tight under pits and the zip felt a bit catchy.

I sent the Inov8 and Alpkit back as I didn't like them but kept the OMM which now lives in my day pack or gets used when walking the dog in a breeze.
 
Current 3 season favourite is the Mass Drop Veil - fits me well over a midlayer)(athletic cut apparently!) and is pretty breathable. Full zip and hood 85g matt finish fabric. Had it since summer.
This is about the only one that has been of interest in recent years. Have been very close multiple times and still am. Did you go the Orange?
Can you tell me your chest size and the size you bought please?
The sizing issues that keep being referred to have been an obstacle as well.
Has excellent weight and an excellent price but I fear wouldn't drop enough heat (11 CFM) but may still give it a go.
 
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craige

Thru Hiker
@OwenM I believe the old rab wind shell used pertex fabric and the vital uses their own, hence name change. Definitely agree on other items with only slight updates. Stick a number after the original name.

I've been using an MH Kor preshell too. Really like it, it's far from the lightest but it feels really nice, has slight stretch, very breathable and the hand pockets are very handy... but wish I'd gone a size up for sleeve and body length.
 

Cali

Backpacker
@OwenM I believe the old rab wind shell used pertex fabric and the vital uses their own, hence name change. Definitely agree on other items with only slight updates. Stick a number after the original name.

I've been using an MH Kor preshell too. Really like it, it's far from the lightest but it feels really nice, has slight stretch, very breathable and the hand pockets are very handy... but wish I'd gone a size up for sleeve and body length.

I like that it's fairly active fit, but because of stretch it allows some layering underneath. Glad I went with the Large (42 chest, 5'9") as medium would have been too small. Got a second one in Dive color when they were on sale last year.
 

Mole

Thru Hiker
This is about the only one that has been of interest in recent years. Have been very close multiple times and still am. Did you go the Orange?
Can you tell me your chest size and the size you bought please?
The sizing issues that keep being referred to have been an obstacle as well.
Has excellent weight and an excellent price but I fear wouldn't drop enough heat (11 CFM) but may still give it a go.

Never orange. :banhappy:
I don't like visual pollution ;) only use it for safety gear.

Dark blue.
I'm a Rab large (like I was their designers mannequin)

Think I bought xl Veil.
Will look tonight. Out hiking with scouts right now. Fierce weather.
 
Never orange. :banhappy:
I don't like visual pollution ;) only use it for safety gear.

Dark blue.
I'm a Rab large (like I was their designers mannequin)

Think I bought xl Veil.
Will look tonight. Out hiking with scouts right now. Fierce weather.
Ta very much. Keep warm.
 

Robert P

Thru Hiker
Does any man (or woman) really need 3 windshirts?

Montane Jetstream

Paramo Fuera

Haglofs windshirt

Montane Litespeed

Marmot Trail

Massdrop Veil

Montane Featherlite Marathon

Personally I find windshirts one of the most useful pieces of clothing on the hill, hence the collection above... To be fair, some are mainly used for running. Outside of winter (Paramo + baselayer), a baselayer + windshirt is usually all I need, just using a waterproof if it is raining. On the other hand, it is extremely rare for me to wear a fleece on the hill.
 

Shewie

Chief Slackpacker
Staff member
Montane Litespeed for me, current one is due for replacement as it's pretty useless in light showers now, luckily I've got another exactly the same squirreled away somewhere.

I bought a full zip Inov8 of the same fabric last year but it's a bit too athletic for my for my current physique, something to work on :rolleyes:
 

Whiteburn

Thru Hiker
Montane Slipstream GL Smock, 90g, 8yrs old & still works.
I don't need another one....I don't need another one...….I don't need another one.....
 
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