Long time lurker on these pages, thought I would finally sign up and post.
Looking for a softshell, have been doing lots of research and finally settled on the Berghaus Baltoro, which got two very good user reviews here. BUT...
it appears that Berghaus has changed the fabric they are using for the jacket (which appears really strange). The reviews on OM, and the old Berghaus website, refer to the jacket using Schoeller softshell fabric (which I want). The new Berghaus website refers to the same jacket now using Gore Windstopper softshell (which I really don't want). Has anyone heard of a company doing this before? I would have thought they would at least change the name of the product when changing something as fundamental as the fabric.
Secondly, I live in the middle of nowhere, so planning on purchasing online. Can anyone recommend a way to ensure that I get one of the old jackets (made with Scholler) rather than a new one?
> Has anyone heard of a company doing this before?
Yes; it happens quite often. The design probably hasn't changed much, but the fabric has. I guess they'd argue that functionally, the fabrics are very similar (and they'd have a point; both a membraned hard shell fleece).
I'd look for discounted stock; if there's a new model, the old one's probably being knocked out at a bargain somewhere. Google may be your friend in this case, or one of the shopping partners on the left. Just make sure you check before you buy.
Hi captain -- Not sure the old Baltoro was made from the membrane-based Schoeller fabric. I thought it was the woven kind, which is a bit less wind and waterproof, but much more breathable and vastly more useful for anything other than going down the pub on a blustery night (as you'll gather, I'm not a fan of membrane-based softshell/fleece products).
But whether or not it was, the reason for the change, of course, is that Gore and its fabrics have a much higher public recognition factor than Schoeller.
There are still a few Schoeller tops around tho -- Mountain Hardwear do one called the Velocity Jacket, which looks quite good.
to be fair, most of my outdoor activities involve going down to the pub on a blustery night but being a long-term backpacker, I only want to be carrying/wearing one jacket. And given that I run hot, breathability is a higher priority for me than 100% windproofness (even in Orkney!)
I had a look at the MH jacket, but as a result of all those nights in the pub, the 'athletic fit' that MH usuallly bestow on their products doesn't really work for me.
I think some of the North Face Apex softshells are woven rather than membrane-based, so they might be worth a look. I use one for work and it's pretty good -- and the cut is fairly generous.
Haven't used it much for walking, cos I prefer a Buffalo pertex and micropile Fell jacket, which is similar to the Rab Vapur Rise stuff but made for people with broader shoulders.
Sorry for the late reply. I have a Schoeller fabric Baltoro from Berghaus for sale. Its on this site in the second hand section. Its Orange, large and has had about 5 days of serious use, so is pretty good knick. If this is of any interest then drop us a line.
Thanks for the heads up, I would be happy if I could fit into a large, but I'll be needing an XL and XXL, particularly given the 'active' cut of the jacket.
> Has anyone heard of a company doing this before?
Yes Berghaus certainly do.
There was a degree of scepticism, when I posted on here last winter that the new version (Version IV) of Berghaus's longrunning Polarplus jacket was not made from Classic Polartec 300 (Polarplus being an older name for this material) but from 200 weight Polartec Wind Pro, a lighter wind resistant material. Despite complete confusion on various web listings, this is what it said on Berghaus's site, so I had checked this out in store and bought one. Its even got Wind Pro embroidered on the sleeve.
And vastly superior to any other fleece I've owned it has been to, fine in moderately strong winds. I finally tested out in the very strong winds in Cornwall four or five weeks ago and it was fine, certainly not windproof but just a surprisingly pleasant mild cooling effect. Everyone else was wearing shell jackets.
I was so impressed that I immediately ordered another when I got home. But a yukky, heavy, not at all windproof Classic 300 fleece arrived, despite the web store listing Wind Pro. I thought at first it was old stock, but the label said Polarplus IV. I checked Berghaus's website and yes the 2008 model of version IV has reverted to Classic 300 - not even a change to version V.
Oh well it seems that if I want a Wind Pro fleece I'll have to buy a RAB or Montane one and push the sleeves 6inches up my short arms. And yes Google shows about 30 web sites supposedly selling a Wind Pro Polarplus fleece, but I've checked with 3 or 4 but no luck whatsoever.
> Hi captain -- Not sure the old Baltoro was made from the membrane-based Schoeller fabric.
The Baltoro was Schoeller WB-400, an acrylate membraned fabric. This fabric itself got re-named to Original Soft Shell, and then back to WB-400 (I think)...
The BH Element was a stretch woven, using their own fabric, and the Musashi Big Wall thing was a version of Schoeller Dryskin Extreme.
As for the reasoning behind the switch; it may be the increased recognition of Gore among punters, but Schoeller have a bit of a reputation for being expensive, and a little difficult to deal with.
I'd look for something in a lighter grade of PowerShield... Or a Patagonia ReadyMix (pure softshell; no insulation).
but being a long-term backpacker, I only want to be carrying/wearing one jacket. And given that I run hot, breathability is a higher priority for me than 100% windproofness (even in Orkney!)
