I've heard some people use a driducks as windshirt because they breathe so well, of course they are fragile (more so than most windshirts) so not the greatest for constant use.

When you're armchair hiking and eLearning about windshirts in the context of UL hiking, the idea doesn't seem that appealing. It's just more weight to accomplish something you've already accomplished (blocking the wind).

A wind shirt appears to be a lot like a rain jacket. They are both wind proof shell layers, but the wind shirt isn't waterproof, so why carry an extra windproof shell just because it's more breathable than your rain shell? Surely the rain shell will do?

When you're actually go hiking and try both, perspective can change a lot. What you'll find is that you end up wearing the windshirt a lot more than you ever wore your rain jacket. While a rain jacket can suffice in this role, a windshirt excels and becomes worth its minimal weight (ie. 3-5oz) because of the increase in performance. When it's chilly my wind shirt can stay on all day, and if I used a rain jacket in this capacity I may wind up considerable more damp after a number of hours, or I might have to reduce my pace a bit to keep humidity in check.

A lot of this depends on where you hike. In any area, you absolutely can get by with just a rain jacket but you might find a 3oz windshirt keeps you more comfortable all day. Some people in non-rainy areas just bring wind shirts. Here in the PNW, I'm almost always going to still bring my rain coat, but unless it's a SUL race my windshirt is coming too. I live in this thing.

Plus you can you sneak it into the 'worn gear' category on your gear list so it doesn't boost your base weight ;)

Edited by dandydan on 01/19/2012 17:27:27 MST.

@Robert,

I take both a windshirt and a rain shell(usually a rain cape)
I can't say for sure, but I suspect the Driducks wouldn't make a good windshirt as it doesn't breath enough.

I often wear my windshirt under a rain shell. I find that I feel drier for some reason. I suspect the windshirt helps to redirect much of the condensed moisture away from my inner layers.

I do find that I wear the windshirt alone in rain more than my rain shell. I only put the rain shell on if the rain is heavy and my inner layers are getting too saturated or if it I am really cold.

100% what Dan said.

I will admit that a windshirt isn't a necessity and the Driducks would be better for dirtbag(budget) hiking.

But eventually a windshirt should be an item to look for and can be found used for as low as $30 US.

Ok, I don't know if you were all working with Keith, but you convinced me and I just picked up his First Ascent Sirocco windshirt off Gear Swap :). I am looking forward to adding it to my system.
Thanks!

Edited by bplnole on 01/19/2012 18:11:04 MST.

Hey, Ty Ty, I hike in the Southern Appalachians, and love me a good wind shirt. I have a Patagonia Houdini (pricey - wait for a sale) and an LL Bean wind shirt (really!) that I love because it's a Tall size so the arms fit well. Got that one for less than $20 at an LL Bean outlet.

A useful wind shirt weighs about 3 ounces, breathes exceptionally well, and is wearable in all sorts of climate conditions. I wear mine over a light wool base layer in cool or cold conditions. Love it.

"Ditch your fleece, use a wind shirt. 100% better while on the move."

What about while stopped at camp, will the wind shirt provide as much insulation as a fleece assuming the fleece is not the outer layer?

What are some of the cheapest wind shirts? That golite one seems like a good deal, 50% off but still its 40 bucks for a piece of thin polyester.

would not replace an insulating layer ... ie fleece, down, synth ... etc in camp

the key to windshirt is the breathability .... find the most breathable possible or its basically a waste ... or go cheap enough that yr laughing ...

A windshirt saves your shell from being used when its cool but dry. That means your shell will last longer. A windshirt is about 15%-35% the cost of a very breathable shell and its core function is not noticeably impacted by wear. On a long trip, when at the times it is actually raining sufficiently hard you start using your shell for what its good for having kept it from damage and dirt letting the windshirt take the abuse.

Over a 5-10 year period, the windshirt will pay for itself many times over.

A windshirt evens-out the feeling of temperature during a variable wind-speed situation which is common in hilly areas. Imagine turning a corner wind hits you and you're cold and 2 mins later out of the wind and then hot, etc. Means less bothered by the variable conditions.

A windshirt turns a fleece into a non-waterproof coat by preventing the wind from ripping through the fleece.

A windshirt saves you $ by allowing variable weight insulation to be bought to follow the seasons, and layer the one windshirt over.

A windshirt can be an emergency extra layer if your shell is damaged as it reduced how much water gets to whatever is the damage in the shell. Combined with my first point above means the windshirt extends a shell's usefulness.

A windshirt can afford a degree of water resistance, blunting, deflecting slowing and so if you don't actually have a waterproof, but a water-resistant something,it will extend how long you can handle before soaked+cold.

One of my most used pieces of kit is a windproof vest, quite tight on the torso as it doesn't need the room to allow for shoulder as you rotate arms so it add "just enough" insulation to the core. My next most common is a windshirt jacket with somewhat baggy sleeves to pull/roll up. I can combine these to then pinch the baggy jacket with the tight vest.


To also balance the pro-windshirt, it will not come with any insulation by itself, if you put it over bare skin as its thin fabric it will conduct cold air temperature, but over a long-sleeve zip-neck baselayer it turns the baselayer into a fleece type insulation when no wind.

I much prefer the zipped jacket type. I have hooded one but thehood is barely used, if I were buying from scratch I'd go for a hoodless jacket.

I visit UK about twice a year and my fave windshirt is Montane, usually about $50 or less.

I live/hike/bike in the northern California coastal area and temperatures and windspeeds vary about 40F through a few hours and I carry the windshirt in afternoon and wear it as wind picks up, I know its not going to rain for a few weeks/months. Whilst not waterproof its sufficient for me to walk or bike through cold damp fog too.