Gear

Hi,

 I'm after a winter high quality softshell and like the look of these two but I can't find much info out about the winthorpe other than the north face site, has anyone come across it yet and which one is better?

Thanks

Paul

Well from the features I assume you're thinking very much skiing in conditions where it won't rain hard rather than general UK winter use so will assume you know what you're getting cf the fabric technology on these things.

(For me, it might be rational for the first use but objectively pretty horrible for the second.).

One thing which might well make the decision very simple is that Haglofs and TNF really don't seem to make their stuff for the same sorts of body shape. It'd be a marked surprise if they both fit you as well.

Guess it could be rational to decide you trusted windstopper fractionally more than the own brand thing in the TNF jacket. Dunno.

If you want a very slightly off beat option perhaps worth considering Norrona's powershield pro Narvik jacket. Not seen one, and unless EB take them in this winter, likely no native UK stockist which would certainly be a problem.

But the fabric does seem promising on paper (do a search for mentions about it here on OM) and the features you seem to be after are there.

I'd guess the lack of a snow skirt/one of those odd looking ski pass pockets on the arms. Not usually an issue for the UK of course, but seemingly is here

If you can't fault a windstopper garment you're perhaps not trying hard enough

Bedouin wrote (see)

Paul, Why aren't you considering the Arc'teryx Venta SV. I've had this jacket for over a year and really can't fault it. Bedouin

Yes it is very pretty and very likely beautifully made.

One thing I have realised though - what does the Jaw jacket do that their Couloir doesn't? Well leaking at the seams, but I can't see that as a benefit Jaw likely a bit cheaper but the breathability will be very similar and the Couloir would presumably do rather better service in UK winters than the jaw.

(They're both basically membrane waterproofs at heart. Essentially Windstopper annoys me so much as its just not a soft shell technology by any sane definition of the term.). 

Haglofs have actually seemingly put up a very shiny new website now with all these things on - Jaw, Couloir.