by wildbluesea » Fri 31 Aug, 2012 11:30 am
Ok, I’m a self-confessed gear junky, especially where jackets are concerned. I got my first Gore-Tex jacket in 1989 from Mountain Designs. It was replaced under warranty due to a leaking seam, and the jacket it was replaced with I still have. Since then I have purchased a new one every few years. I have spoken on this site about my U.S. Military ECWCS jackets. They are great and very cheap, but, admittedly, heavier than most intrepid bushwalkers on this site would like. But my collection has continued to grow, much to my wife’s chagrin.
This year I have purchased three new jackets. And I have to admit that they are the best I have; my favourite designs. So, hopefully for my wife, they will be the last for quite some years.
Firstly, if you want a longer, bushwalking type jacket, I thoroughly recommend the Macpac Resolution Event fabric jacket. Yes, I have two…. They retails for $599 but always wait until the sales. It’s on sale now for $359 on Macpac’s website. Only criticism of this jacket is that there are no pit zips. Although Event is a great breathable jacket, you can’t totally rely on any fabric alone – venting such as pit zips etc. makes all the difference, as does correct layering.
However, my two newest jackets are a Montane Superfly XT Event fabric jacket and the Westcombe Apoc Neoshell fabric jacket. These are shorter, Alpine style jackets that are equally at home at altitude in the snow, or touring the town on a cold day. They are both brilliant looking jackets.
How do they perform, and how do they compare?
The Montane has heaps of pockets, a great fitting hood and is cut longer at the rear to keep your backside warm and dry – no chance of plumber’s crack here when you are bending over, retrieving something from your pack. The Event fabric is thicker than the NeoShell, which may make it a bit tougher for bush-bashing, but probably makes it slightly less breathable – technology aside. The cut is fantastic, making it a great looking jacket to show off on the track….or the pub. My only criticism of this jacket is that instead of pit zips, it has zips to vent at the sides. Don’t know about anyone else, but it’s my underarms that need antiperspirant - not my sides. Anyway, it’s only a small complaint. I purchased mine from the U.K. from OutdoorGB for $362 usd.( Don’t know why paypal charged dollars instead of pounds) Freight was $17. I have just found a Montane website link from Australia that lists the price at $649 AUD! The size was my usual medium, which was true to form. I thoroughly recommend this company – they have some great gear, often discounted, and are great to deal with. I love this jacket.
Next the Apoc. Like the Superfly, the Apoc is a great mountain jacket, but I bet most people that wear them won't be climbing mountains - it's a great looking jacket for wearing everywhere where rain and cold weather are expected. But it's light enough to roll away into a small carry bag or daypack. It is the thinnest, lightest jacket that I own. The NeoShell has a stretch to it that makes it feel like a soft shell, making it the most comfortable outer shell that I own. I really love the style, including the hood, which doesn't come at the expense of a collar - the Apoc has both. Pockets are plentiful, including an internal one, which is an ideal size for your phone. The sleeve pocket, oddly enough, is on the right sleeve, which makes it hard to use for right-handers...come on, we are the majority. I have found that NeoShell lives up to Polartec's claims of being the most breathable fabric currently on the market. I have heard that some people claim that it is so breathable that you can actually feel a small amount of airflow come through into the jacket. I don’t know about that. I’m more inclined to say that because the fabric is so much thinner than virtually any other waterproof fabric, it is the cold you feel coming through the jacket, highlighting the need to layer correctly. But the thinness helps make it the most breathable. I now find this is my go-to jacket for everything. The cut is a bit small. I had to return my first one for a larger size. However the staff at Campsaver in the U.S. were great. Anything over $400 and you get free freight to Australia! Now that’s a first! They are the only company that I have found to discount the Apoc. Only one Apoc left I believe, but they advised they will be getting more in. I got my black one for $431, (free freight) which is fifty bucks off Westcomb’s retail. I liked this jacket so much that I bought a grey one as well. It was a clearance item for $335, so I had to pay $38 for freight as it was under the $400 free freight amount. I think it was an early release version, as the grey fabric was offset with yellow tags and logo, which is a bit odd. The current grey on the Westcomb site is offset with black. But I couldn’t say no at this price. I believe the reason no-one else discounts Westcomb is because under a warranty claim, Westcomb will only replace if you pay the balance to make up to retail. I can’t speak highly enough about this jacket. It’s worth every cent, even at retail. And it’s made in Canada – not China, like the Montane and so many others.
Which jacket looks the best? To my eye, I’d say the Montane Superfly XT wins by a hair. But the stretch and lightness of the Westcomb Apoc jacket etc. will probably appeal more to most avid bushwalkers on this site.
My advice? Get both! Tell the wife she can wear one.
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and either give it a thumbs up or down.
and they told me in store it's strong and will withstand backpacks.