Wind shirts / wind stoppers

[andrewbish]

I am thinking of adding a hooded wind shirt to my layering options. When I was a kid, growing up in NewZld, a wind stopper was called a windbreaker and was made of nylon - it was perfect for taking the sting out of cold westerlies, but you'd cook when the wind stopped or the temperature rose a little.

Nowadays, we have a bunch of breathable, ultralight materials to choose from, like pertex.

I am considering the following jackets:

• Patagonia Houdini
• Montane Litespeed
• Mont Bell Tachyon

A colleague has just bought an Arcteryx Squamish Hoodyand reckons it's the bees knees.

I intend to use the wind stopper mostly for bushwalking in the Vic high country, particularly in Spring and Autumn, mostly as a wind stopper (duh) but also as a waterproof layer for light rain.

So, I have two questions:
- have you used any of these products and if so, what is your opinion of them
- what do you think of using a wind stopper in the layering mix.

Andrew

[andrewbish]

Another option I am considering is something like this Rab Nimbus wind top, which has a bit more water resistance - making it more versatile - though at the cost of greater weight (about 100gm heavier than the others I mentioned) and prob with reduced breathability.

[forest]

I've a Montane Featherweight Smock (No Hood)

Good piece of kit, actually quite warm, even if damp ?? and it dry's very quickly.
A rainshell can do a similar job but the windshirts can be a lot more breathable.

It's "water resistant" in a good downpore for about 20 minutes.
After that and it startes to wet through on the top of my shoulders and arms (if i'm running and swinging them infront).

I always take mine but they are no scrub bashing item of clothing, it's quite thin but so far has supprised me with how durable it is ??.
Just don't go near big sparky fires as I have read a lot that sparks flash straight through the thin nylons.

[Dale]

I own the Montane JetStream: http://www.backpackinglight.com.au/prod86.htm and used it for 5 days in the Budawangs a few weeks ago. The Jetstream is made from a different fabric to the Litespeed - I believe the Litespeed is more water reistant. I used the Jetstream in some light showers and it was fine. I picked this shirt because I wanted the lightest I could get and happy for it to just do duty as a windshirt and use my event top for 'real' rain.

[Maelgwn]

I also have a friend with the Arcteryx Squamish and it certainly is impressive. Superlight and quick water resistant when new with the DWR still in-tact. Still I think it is too expensive for something that fragile.

If you want something similar, MEC in Canada do quite a nice windshirt as well, not an Arteryx but still good.

[phan_TOM]

I've had a Montane Featherlight Smock for a while now and its been great for what it is. Definitely not
a rain jacket, it can handle a shower or some drizzle but wets through pretty easily (dries quickly too), plus
it has no hood.

Packs tiny so I leave it in my day pack for walking or for when my work has me outside, but being so light I dont
wear it near any vegetation or fire etc etc It may vaporise into dust at the mention of the word robust? Nah,
its not that bad, its actually suprisingly tough for how thin it is.

Climbed Bald Rock out near Tenterfield mid-winter this year and it was 6ºC and blowing a gale on top. We stopped
for a snack and I pulled it on over a light fleece jumper while we were admiring the view and the difference was
marked. It stopped the wind robbing any heat and let the fleece do its thing keeping me warm. The material feels
nice and silky and there is a little garage for the zipper to stop it digging into the underside of your chin or catching
on a beard.

[norts]

I have the patagonia houdini, only done a few walks so far but it will go with me on every walk from now on.
I wouldnt use it in the scrub , even light scrub.
Was on Frenchmans on Saturday morning with a very cold wind, only needed a light fleece, beanie and the houdini for warmth.

Roger

[andrewbish]

I've had a Montane Featherlight Smock for a while now .. but being so light I dont wear it near any vegetation or fire etc etc ..

I have the patagonia houdini, ..I wouldnt use it in the scrub , even light scrub..Roger

I've a Montane Featherweight Smock (No Hood) .. they are no scrub bashing item of clothing..

I was in at BackpackingLite in Melbourne yesterday (tried on the Montane Slipstream - very nice.) The assistant made the comment that she will wears her wind stopper INSIDE her fleece, the main reason being that her wind stopper is snug fitting and the fleece couldn't be worn inside it. She was adamant that the wind stopping capability is no different this way. It makes me wonder whether this approach - wind stopper inside the fleece - would enable the wind stopper to be safely worn when in scrub - at least, when the temperature allows.

[Maelgwn]

The assistant made the comment that she will wears her wind stopper INSIDE her fleece, the main reason being that her wind stopper is snug fitting and the fleece couldn't be worn inside it. She was adamant that the wind stopping capability is no different this way. It makes me wonder whether this approach - wind stopper inside the fleece - would enable the wind stopper to be safely worn when in scrub - at least, when the temperature allows.

The windstopping ability would be as good/slightly better as if you were not wearing the fleece. If it is genuinly windy, the fleece won't insulate very well.

[Stibb]

Yeah, I wear my rain jacket inside my fleece too. Keeps me dry at least.

[phan_TOM]

and I wear my underpants on the outside of my pants sometimes...

but only when I have my crocs and socks on

[Stibb]

I assume you wear your crocs inside your socks too...