Reader Reviews

Rating: 4 / 5

Love the fabric. Needs to be full zip, and a double layer hood like the sleeper in this category - the Montane Lightspeed - would make this the top wind shirt on the planet without tipping the scales at more than 4 oz.

Rating: 2 / 5

I bought one of these windshirts and changed the zip to a 3/4 because of lack of venting.After 1 wash in warm water, washing by hand with normal detergent there is no DWR left.The cut is UNISEX, can't they do better than this.There is nothing special about the fabric, it's not even ripstop.It's also expensive considering that it is made in CHINA.CANNOT RECOMMEND THIS ITEM.

Rating: 3 / 5

Tried running with it in medium rain once. Came home clamy on the inside. I think this was due to condensation rather than rain penetration.
The shirt is ok but there are much better out their. It's not worth it at full price.

Rating: 3 / 5

I got my Wisp on closeout. It's fine for low level exertion at cooler temps. (In my case, below 50). It shrugs off light showers, with just a hint of perspiration inside, if you can leave the zip down, otherwise you heat up and condensation occurs on the inner surface.
This is the ripstop nylon fabric with the acrylic coating on the inside. The new polyester fabric is supposed to breathe better. I still use it, as I don't have a lighter windshirt, and it's better than nothing.

Rating: 3 / 5

Also got mine on closeout.
OK in windy cool/chilly over merino base with up to medium exertion. Anything more, it gets clammy on the inside.
On a fair-weathered 4 day test of a homemade silk shirt that failed (err, shredded), my Wisp worn next-to-skin got so clammy (mid 60's) I bailed to a town for a cotton T.
I'm looking into more breathable options.

Rating: 4 / 5

Of course you got clammy in it. The temperature was in the mid 60s. There is no need to wear a windshirt in the mid 60s unless you have a slight drizzle or there is a VERY VERY strong wind blowing. This is a great windshirt when worn properly according to the conditions.

Rating: 1 / 5

Thankfully I bought this on a good deal. I used it for my rain gear in Madagascar, and after about 3 weeks there was no protection left at all. I tested it by wearing a cotton shirt underneath and stepping in the shower and it was perfectly waterproof when I bought it; but that was all gone after little time. If you wanted to buy a new one every 3 weeks just to have the lightest gear than this is for you... I'm assuming that's not the case, so just put your money to something better.

Rating: 4 / 5

I bought this for certain conditions. When it was probably not going to rain, but might be cool with a wind in a higher altitude, like hiking from 6,000 ft. up over and down to 6,500 to camp. It gives me the security I won't get wind chilled in a soft fleece top or a capilene or wool base layer. Also, it well help keep off an unexpected rain, but I don't count on that and didn't buy it for that.

So as a windbreaker and body heat layer it works fine for me, and at the weight with a hood it is good. I cannot wear it next to my skin, tried that and it was cold, also even if it is not clammy it feels like it. But then I did not buy it as a base layer -- for that, depending on conditions, and until I decide on a wool base, I use my Patagonia capilene lightweigh T-shirt, with a long sleeve light or mid-weight over that, and/or depending on conditions a PolarGard high loft "military" fleece pullover with a great zipper for breathability or closing up shop in a wind or colder weather.

So for me the GoLite top is great, and probly its best feature is the hood to keep wind off my head. It is just not quite light enough for what it is to be a 5 yet, and it really isn't quite my final concept of a wind breaker hooded shirt -- but I always carry it in three season weather or winter weather when I don't expect of am sure there is no precip coming.

Rating: 5 / 5

Golite Ether Wind Shirt... This is a full zip, hooded windshirt. Is this some kind of crossover review, spanning enough years that the jacket has totally morphed into something else?

http://www.golite.com/product/productdetail.aspx?p=AM1120&s=1

Well anyways, here's my review. This jacket is great. I don't expect it to repel much rain and it doesn't. I used it for about 1000 miles of the PCT, and it did a great job of keeping me from freezing early in the morning and also protecting me from high winds on various exposed traverses. The cut and quality seemed excellent, even after brushing through various nasty desert plants.

Rating: 4 / 5

People, this is a 4oz. rain/wind shirt. What does one expect to find here? I've owned several different wind shirts over the years and I find this one to be most remarkable. It's soft, very QUIET, very pliable, breathable, wind resistant and water resistant. It comes with a hood and a full zip, stuffs into it's own pocket with a footprint about the size of an energy bar and all at less than 4ozs! Obviously this shirt was designed to be used as an item that can be carried by hikers and trail runners etc. without taking up a great deal of space, [almost NONE in fact]. It is not meant to keep you warm. It is not meant for daily use, however, it most elegantly fulfills it's INTENDED purpose. I would not be without mine.

Rating: 5 / 5

This new model ether had just come out when I purchased my wife and I one. I used mine first on a Caribou Hunt in N.W.T Canada. With temps in the 40's and traveling by boat a fair portion of the time, it worked great as a layer to block the wind. Later, used over a light synthetic base layer, it kept me warm around camp in the morning at 36 as I began my hike. As the morning sun warmed things up I stuffed it into a side pocket of my pack. I'm very pleased with the versatility and temp range that it covers. It is soft, looks nice, fits well, and is a quality garment. It did not withstand a downpouring rain I once subjected it to, but that was not unexpected.

Edited by toomanyarrows on 02/27/2008 15:06:16 MST.

Rating: 5 / 5

I’ve been using a Golite Ether Wind Shirt since Fall 2007 mainly for wind protection and shedding rain/snow from my inner layer of 200 wt fleece. I’ve discovered this winter, when hiking, I can stay toasty warm down to about 25 deg F with these layers. When heating up, the full zipper is great as you can adjust for temperature control. As expected, you must be careful with the pull on the small zipper. I've caught it on the fabric yet the material is durable and no damage was done. The material has a soft feel and its quiet

The Ether easily sheds snow and when wet through my fleece layer stays quite dry. With the Ether you can stay "kinda dry" as apposed to "soaked through" when putting that poncho tarp up quickly in the rain. It has an effective elastic waistband, not adjustable. Also, the hood can be drawn down about the face with adjustable elastic cord.

It’s one of the most versatile pieces of gear that I own.

Rating: 4 / 5

I've had my older model (short zip) for almost two years now, and it had seen a lot of use, not only in the backcountry but in the city as well. It fits well and the material feels good against the skin. I've worn it at the beginning of it's life to shed a light desert rainstorm for around 2 hours, and in a light snow flurry it lasted around 3 before it started to soak through. The only reason I give it a 4 instead of a 5 is because I'm always getting the zipper stuck in the fabric and like others experienced, it suffered a total loss in DWR after only one wash. However it's always in my pack and I wear it a lot of the time in my jeep when I dont have the doors or the roof on

Edited by fairweather8588 on 03/22/2008 01:18:42 MDT.

Rating: 5 / 5

At 3.5 oz, breathable, bug proof, H2O resistent and cumfortable on the skin what more could you ask for? I have had mine for over three years and can't really complain at all. A EASY CHOICE!!!

Rating: 5 / 5

This review is for the full zip hooded version. I've been wearing the Ether for a little over a year now and I've been very happy with its performance and versatility. While its rather delicate DWR treatment doesn't offer much protection from sustained rain, it sheds light precipitation well and it does a super job of blocking wind. The hood fits snugly and stays put even in strong wind, making it ideal for bike riders too. So far I've found the material to be surprisingly durable to the point that I feel fairly confident doing moderate bush whacking in it. Most sharp objects seem to just slide over the smooth surface without harming the fabric. The fit is rather loose on me (size M, 155lbs, 5'10") in both the sleeves and the torso, which unfortunately allows for more ballooning and flapping in strong wind than I'd prefer. The loose fit does allow for lots of layering options though. I can wear both my R2 and Thermawrap under it with no problem. I have experienced some condensation, but it has been minimal and easily avoidable. All in all, a great lightweight jacket to carry, especially if you can find it for less than $50 as I did.