Winter jacket recommendations

[jabberwocky]

I really need a new winter shell. Just wondering what people are running. I bought a showerspass elite jacket back in 2006, and while I love the eVent fabric and the design, the build quality is abysmal.

Looking for something with good ventilation and water resistance, but will work as a shell in colder weather.

Topic

[DismalScientist]

@Greenbelt 35582 wrote:

Handiest budget cold weather item — neck gator. (Minnesota-themed beer stein with fish handle, flags, umbrella, and clothes pins optional.)

It is only optional in the sense that you could have a Wisconsin-themed beer stein.

[DaveK]

@vvill 35583 wrote:

My problem is that if I don’t have wind protection I get too cold too easily, but with it, I sweat easily and then need some breathability. I’ve gone from sweating buckets to teeth chattering within 5 mins when I only wore two layers of technical fabrics under a very light windbreaking vest. My conclusion right now is I need some more merino base layers. I tried one yesterday and it worked marvelously. It was still wet with sweat because my jacket doesn’t vent enough for me, but I wasn’t cold and it dried fast, and it didn’t smell. Merino ain’t cheap though

I have quite a few merino items from Backcountry – they make the Stoic and Cutter lines they sell on their various websites. I usually hike in the Stoic stuff and I have a couple of Cutter baselayers that I use for cycling and snow sports. They are definitely my favorites for baselayers and midlayers. Looking at realcyclist.com I don’t think they make merino baselayers anymore though. The Stoic stuff on backcountry.com is great for hiking and similar, but for aerobic sports it’s not as fitted as I would want.

I do have a couple of Smartwool jerseys, but those aren’t cheap…

[jabberwocky]

@Dirt 35443 wrote:

Endura Venturi II http://www.endurasport.com/Product.aspx?dept_id=122&prod_id=354

Figured I should follow up… my little brothers got me this jacket for xmas, and after missing January with a broken metacarpal bone, I’ve been commuting with it the past few weeks and am very happy with it. The design is just as good as the Showerspass, but I can tell looking at it that its much better constructed.

Thanks for all the recommendations!

[Author]

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