The Teton Soft Shell Jacket is, says Berghaus, 'Designed for the experienced winter mountaineer who demands high performance combined with ultimate versatility'. Because of the integral furry fleece liner, it's a definite cold conditions top
Technical Lowdown
Berghaus uses Gore's Windstopper Soft Shell fabric which is totally windproof, but also nigh on waterproof except for the seams which aren't sealed and will eventually leak in heavy rain.
This version of the fabric uses a sort of short, furry, pile fleece lining - above - to add some insulation for winter use. There's also a DWR treatment on the face to help shrug off rain and drips from melting icefalls and dropping tent inners...
In terms of features, there's nothing particularly radical about the Teton, it has lots of pockets but also, crucially, two big venting pit-zips.
How It Performed
There's noting particularly radical about the Teton, but the short, furry lining - a bit like a short-haired cat pelt adds some welcome warmth for cold conditions making it slightly snugger than an unlined soft shell, though crucially not so warm that it boils you alive once you start moving.
Cut is medium and we had just about enough space to fit a microfleece underneath for colder weather use when needed. We've always found Windstopper works best in cold dry conditions where it's breathes well and is completely windproof. In British conditions we've always found the fabric a little sweaty.
Fortunately Berghaus has taken a leaf out of the Haglöfs book and added big pit-zips which give enough venting to make the fabric more useable in UK conditions. If you get sweaty, open the zips. One minor point is that we'd prefer the zippers reversed so that you have the option of keeping the centre section closed and either end open.
Windstopper, bar the seams is effectively waterproof, making it fine for light rain, though the seams will leak eventually and very protective in snow and wind. Frustratingly, although the high collar - fiddly adjuster hard to use with winter gloves - gives good neck protection, the lack of a hood on the men's version of the Teton, limits protection when things start to get really gnarly.
For some reason, the women's Teton is hooded, which for us anyway, makes it significantly more versatile with no need to add an extra layer if you want to don a hood. For some users that will matter, others will be quite happy to go hoodless. It's a personal choice, but we'd always prefer a hood option. It is supposed to be a shell after all...
Otherwise features are fine, with more than enough pockets and slightly more length than many European and US technical soft shells.
Verdict
Good to see Berghaus embracing pit-zips with this Windstopper Soft Shell and the lightly insulated fabric works well in proper cold winter conditions and, we suspect, would also be spot on for alpine use. The pit-zips make it more useable in the UK and when things get warm on stiff ascents.
The one thing that puts us off, is the lack of a hood, for us that's a deal breaker and reduces the 'ultimate versatility' of the jacket when conditions worsen. The women's version though does have a hood and looks like a better bet.
Buy if you're looking for a warm and protective winter soft shell and don't feel the need for a hood. Unless you're a woman in which case you'll get one.
