The Best Soft-Shell Jacket I've Ever Owned! 

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I recently got a Mammut aenergy softshell. Didn't own any softshell before and it's the single piece of clothing I've been using the most since. I agree that it's the most useful for standard weather in the mountains. Even with no wind it cuts out humidity.

Absolutely love Keela. I get issued with it at work. It just works. For what you get from them its cheap as chips. The Genesis waterproof fleece is witchcraft.

I absolutely love my mountain equipment frontier softshell. Especially at £85. 👌

My go to jacket for years has been an old Salomon softshell it's a snowboarding jacket really but it's 10k waterproof and it's great for literally 90% of the weather I go out in

My preferred system for cool to cold and rainy/wet weather is exactly that, more of a system rather than a specific piece of gear. First layer is a fishnet type baselayer. Then a thin, breathable, wicking polyester base layer (with or without grid fleece--depends on how cold). Then a thin, breathable, polypropylene baselayer over that (this along with the fishnet baselayer, are the keys to this system). Then some kind of windshirt that is decently breathable and has a good DWR on it. Preferably a more long lasting one like EPIC (thicker, silicone layer that doesn't wear off easily like most DWR treatments). I've been known to take an overly breathable (preferably polyester) windshirt, and apply my own silicone treatment). This system seems to dry out the fastest and keeps me the warmest while wet. No need for expensive name brands. I've also have made, from scratch, my own waterproof breathable poncho that I use as well. It was made by sewing together two layers of fabric. On the inside is "kite tyvek" (the softer, lighter, and more breathable kind). On the outside, is a crappy silnylon that didn't have a good coating and wasn't that waterproof. To make it more breathable, I folded it a few times, and ran it under my sewing machine with largest needle that wasn't threaded, to puncture holes in it. The two layers of pretty hydrophobic and somewhat breathable materials with very long lasting hydrophobicity, along with the general poncho design, make it all pretty breathable, while minimizing getting wet. Two layers of long lasting hydrophobic but breathable layers is better than most systems out there. That is because the first layer, absorbs some of the initial energy of the rain falling, and then the 2nd inner layer just has to bead up the water that does get through. Most systems use a single, very hydrophobic membrane that is very non breathable. Often the DWR on the first, outer layer, wears off or gets overwhelmed fairly quickly and then it all becomes a sweat box.

I wear a softshell by TrueWerk as a longshoreman in Alaska. I wash it weekly and only with NikWax detergent and wash in waterproof. I have also seam sealed my jacket & bibs ( both a softshell they call T3 material ). They claim it is “highly” water resistant. After what I have done, I say it is waterproof. Even after 3 hours of wind driven rain, I am dry. The material is soaked tho! And if I sat down, the water would push thru. But I personally hate waterproofs because I get too hot and sweaty. I don’t get that problem with the softshell. And every 3 hours we get a brake so my softshells get a chance to dry out a bit. Works for me👍

Great review. Good to see Willow also. Will definitely look into the Keela. Looks exactly what we were looking for. Stay well and keep 'em coming.

I’ve been a huge fan of Keela for years now, their ventile smock is ace. And their stratus hard shell is the best hard shell I’ve ever owned. Cracking review mate 👍🏻

My go to on those kind of days is a paramo enduro fleece with enduro windproof recently wore both about a week ago up scafell pike in 70mph winds and coped very well. Very comfortable system with moderate waterproofing. In full rain days I prefer a full paramo analogy. In terms of keela though I do really rate the genesis fleece had one for years great for similar conditions.

I use the British army softie only payed 20 pound and it's the warmest jacket I ever brought Also got a goretex raf jacket with liner for 15 great gear in the video

Have a (don't laugh) Dare2B soft shell had it years now, no thrills at all but ace, my arcteryx atom is now the go to all day jacket, but will look at the as uk based company Keela

@TheBushcraftPadawan great comprehensive review as usual but it would be great if you could open the jacket and show us the inside. This always seems to get overlooked in reviews and on manufacturers websites and leaves us guessing. Cheers.

Great insights... I've ditched all my jackets for a "2GoSystems" poncho... It's great for rain and protects my pack as well. Its aluminium coating on the inside is very effective thermally and will also double as a bivy bag in a pinch. All I have to do is dress appropriately for whatever season I find myself in. Being made out of spun olefin it's incredibly light but also durable. Have used it now for about a year. Thanks again for a great vid. (I do still carry a "Paradox" windbreaker for around camp, but really, hardly ever use it).

Handy having keela just 25 miles from me. I’d like to find a place to try on there fit. I’m short and broad. I 100% agree with the pit zip on the pack straps. I’m using a revolution race jacket atm. It’s utterly fine for its price tag.

Most of my jackets are 101 inc or Mil-Tec those are by definition helmet compatible as they are derived from military gear. Add that they also have the ventilation zippers they are great for wanderers like me.

To solve some of your issues with this jacket and others, I'd try the paramo enduro windproof jacket

So Craig....what you're saying is "If you don't like the weather, stand still 5 minutes, it'll change😂" Thanks..great video!

Thanks

Have you tried the Keela Pinnacle jacket?

Can you (or other commenters) give advice on sizing? I want to wear a short sleeved lightweight base layer and a long sleeved lightweight mid layer under this jacket. Keela calls it an “ active fit” and I want enough room for these two layers without the jacket being too big. I am 6 ft tall and 175 lbs. Great video and thanks for any tips on sizing. Cheers

Thanks Craig Thinking light weight thru hiking over many days..- would you carry this in addition to a hard shell jacket which is needed for really heavy down pours ....or would you leave it behind...and just use it for shorter or day hikes when you know pretty much what the weather is going to do? In terms of layering, might the soft shell replace a fleece mid layer ? It seems it can double up as a windbreak as well...which is another one over a fleece. 1 Base layer 2 soft shell/ fleece 3 hard-shell / pack lite waterproof

Wot soft shell jacket did you wear before? Sorry you just answered my question in the video 😅

I csnt afford the top named brands so when its belting it down i judt pop on my old army light weight goretex jacket until it stops. Problem is because its dpm camo people get the wrong impression but at least im dry 🤣🤣

What do you think about Arcteryx gamma MX compared with it?

Not sure that is a vent on the side it looks to be placed for getting to side pockets on an inside shirt or something like a warm pocket. Don’t pull both chest zippers at the same time made you look like a sixty’s pinup girl….Have fun stay safe.