Tad Gear Stealth Softshell Jacket?

M

Max Thunderstone

Joined
Jul 18, 2004
Messages
202
Overpriced for what it is. You could get an Arc'teryx softshell for about the same, look around on the 'net and you could find one for considerably less. REI, Mountain Hardwear, Marmot, and Arc'Teryx are all brands with proven track records in the field and many satisfied users. But they are not 'tactical', whatever that means, just practical.
 
i agree with rhys, imho all the clothes at TAD are overpriced, some are wayyyy overpriced, i would go to a place like REI or a outdoor store and try something there.

recently got a coat at sams, a bear creek system parka, has an inner and outer shell, so 2 coats in one really, w/a hood (just a hood not a "hoodie" lol) water resistant, very warm and heavy (almost too warm/heavy for texas) and it was like $80. imho the only way the jackets at TAD would be worth the $$ is if the GAVE ya the BM knife.

i would look around some myself......
 
RANT ON

Guys,

I don't own a TAD Softshell. That being said, the TAD Softshell is NOT overpriced for a softshell (compare it to a "regular" coat and you might get sticker shock--ALONG WITH ALL THE MAJOR BRAND SOFTSHELLS)! Arc'teryx softshell for $170 on a regular basis...you let me know where your finding Arc'teryx softshells (size XS and S won't work) with the same features and I'll buy one :rolleyes:

Before coming over here (early to mid summer, so it was still the off-season), I wanted a good softshell that wasn't paper thin (some small amount of insulation versus just being a windbreaker). So I went down to the REI flagship store in Seattle...went through everything they had and ended up spending 250 on a Marmot. Guess what--both sale/clearance and regular price jackets were all going for AT LEAST $140-150. The regular priced softshells are pretty much all from the very high 100s to the 300s (FYI: the REI One Jacket goes for $200...this is the company brand from one of the largest-if not the-largest outdoors stores in the States...economy of scale is on their side on a macro sense and their price is still higher than TAD's normal price of $189--so why are your slamming again?).

This thread has surely already poisoned Max towards a Tad Stealth Jacket. But I tell you what, if the TAD Softshell had been out at the time, I probably would have went with it instead of my Marmot--it is a nice feature packed niche jacket.

Don't believe me on the prices? REI.com is only a click away for a price check.

RANT OFF

You all have a nice day now ;)
Glenmore
 
Well exactly! That is why you resist the urge to make an impulse purchase from the store and you search the internet for the cheapest price available! THus you can get the Arc'teryx or marmot for $140-50, and spend the remainder and get yourself a Prybaby or a headlamp, or ....
 
>>This thread has surely already poisoned Max towards a Tad Stealth Jacket.

No, no. Really. It's all good. I've got a thread like this on a couple different boards, so I get a good cross section of opinions, good or bad. Everyone is always welcome. At the end I'll re-read everything and make a better choice.

>>wanted a good softshell that wasn't paper thin (some small amount of insulation versus just being a windbreaker).

Ditto. This is exactly what I'm after as well. Great Point!

How long should I expect the life to be for a decent softshell?

Question though: I'm not opposed to spending the cash on a high quality item but I find the Arc'teryx line a tad confusing with the Gamma, Sigma Vx, etc..

What model should I look into that just works well in all weather conditions? (As in: Simple, Basic, No frills, Thrills, or Chills.)
 
I have both, Arc'teryx Gamma SV softshell and a TAD Stealth softshell. Other than quality, the jackets don't compare - Both are top quality garments, however, I find myself wearing the TAD shell most of the time. I like the TAD jacket better because of the additional features. I carry my iPod in the front chest pocket and it has a headphone passthrough that allows the wires to neatly rest on the inside of the jacket. The TAD jacket has more pockets and places to put things like a flashlight, pen and keys. I love the arm pocket for carrying small items. The TAD jacket is cut longer then my Arc'teryx plus the high collar on the TAD jacket really keeps the wind off my neck and makes the whole jacket feel warmer. Additionally, the TAD shell has reinforced elbows and thumb holes for keeping your hands warmer.

I don't know why people say it's similar in price to the Arc'teryx. I paid $250 for my Arc'teryx shell. At the time I bought it, there was very little discounting on the web. The TAD jacket has a lot more design elements, material and workmanship involved. I wear the Arc'teryx in the Spring when it not too cold and I want to wear a shorter length jacket. When I want warm and function, it's the TAD shell all the way...

Good luck in your decision,

S.
 
Voodoo´s right. I bought a Softshell last Friday and tried on approx. 20 different jackets (North Face, Marmot, Haglofs, Salewa, Patagonia, Mammut, Jack Wolfskin, Berghaus...). About 2-3 had the right shape and one was perfect. a third of them were XL, all others XXL (note: I´m 1,97m/six foot six inches at 89kg/196lb). At the same time I had two softshells on order from a internet shop which I both have to send back now ´cause I ordered them in XL, what normally is my size for jackets.
What I want to say is that I think it´s a big problem to order clothes on the Inet and You can´t try them.
Comparing with german prices, the TAD stuff is ok. But I don´t like the all black stuff and I prefer softshells with e.g. Cordura on the shoulders and elbows.
 
Crashlander is right on the money. When you are looking at a high performance peice of clothing off the shelf, trying it on before hand is priceless. However, there is another option that friends of mine have had good luck with. I can't speak from personal experience, but everyone I know who has one loves thiers. Check out www.beyondfleece.com. They do custom made fleece peices and soft shells. Their prices are reasonable, and you can add all of the design features that you want. As soon as I need a new jacket, this is were i am going, but i'm 6'8'' (2.05m) and 245lbs ( 111 kilo), so finding something off the shelf is tough.
 
stay away from "in-house brands" in general,
they are always lower qual. & never live up
to the hype.
 
Rhys MacArthur said:
Arc'teryx or marmot for $140-50, and spend the remainder and get yourself a Prybaby or a headlamp, or ....
Click to expand...

...you cannot go wrong w/ either brand, I'd also slip Patagonia in there as well. I love my Arc'Teryx patriot sv jacket, best jacket i've ever had!
 
have you tried the 5.11 soft shell? mine should be in this week to replace the marmot that should get shredded this winter. lots of pockets and such. just a thought.
 
I have the TAD Ranger Hoody and I love it. Great fit, great quality and great features. Really like the dual arm pockets and the Space Pen slot since I always try and carry one of those with me. The hood is also really well done. I think it's worth the money I paid for it and I would buy it again.

Haven't tried the sofshell, but think it would probably be similar.
 
Glad someone posted beyond fleece. I was trying to remember there name. Thye got some very good reviews by some outdoor sites online and it looks like they have come out with a lot of new stuff since then. Anytime I am looking for outdoor type clothing/gear I check www.sierratradingpost.com and often I find what I want at big discounts. Sometimes the sizes are sort of limited but they have a lot of top quality stuff at good prices.

The TAD stuff is getting some good recs though. I always worry about paying for the "tactical" factor when it comes to niche gear.

The high end outdoor stuff is probably well worth it if you are going to trek across patagonia or spend your winter camping in the Yukon but for every day where in cold parts of the country you absolutely don't have to spend 150.00 on a coat or jacket or shell or parka or anorak or whatever.
 
Guys... all the extra pockets on those are working against gravity! Zipper at the top may be easier to get stuff out of them... but its hard to snag something that pushes open a zipper...

:cool:
 
Is there a Jackets for Dummies books that I need to read? I thought I understood, but the more I look at that Beyond Fleece site, the less I do. Stuff like this description confuses me:

http://www.beyondfleece.com/customize/cold_fusion_mens_soft_shell_jacket/

Tell me if I have this stuff right or not.

Hard shell is a jacket with a water resistant outside. Its the thin fabric that goes swoosh swoosh when you walk. So I guess you wear a hard shell when you want to resist precipitation. At first I thought that only a hard shell could give you wind protection, but now I'm reading that others can. Not sure I understand, but ok.

Soft shell is just like hard shell except it doesn't have that outer swooshy fabric. So it shouldn't be as good in rain or snow. However, its probably lighter and more comfortable to move around in.

Now whats a fleece do? I thought that would be the same thing as a soft shell but I guess not. I have a few pullovers and light jackets that I THOUGHT would be considered 'fleeces'. One is made by Izod and is a mixture of rayon and polyester. Another is all polyester. They're certainly comfortable, but I consider them later spring, early fall garments. Certainly not the 'Mt Olympus' warmth that Beyond Fleece is talking about. Recently, I've been wearing one outside because its very large on me and I can fit about 4-5 layers (shirts and sweatshirts) and its only 30 deg out. Not all that cold. My normal winter coat is an M65, but even that needs layering to handle real cold. My issued raincoat with liner worked well in the cold, but its a bit cumbersome...

I guess all my jackets suck and its time to do something about it. :)

Mark
 
Minjin said:
Tell me if I have this stuff right or not.
Click to expand...
Hardshell:nylon outer layer. Can be laminated with a breathable waterproof membrane to keep you dry.
TAD's soft shell: neoprene type material with a thin layer of fleece.
Fleece: imitation fuzz made from polyester to generate a layer of insulation. Material is very porous so it generally does not block the wind. If you want that, see hard shell or soft shell above.

I have the TAD Soft Shell, and the Hard Shell, and planning to order a Hoody. Having gone through many many various shells from North Face, Patagonia and Mountain Hardware, I find the TAD offerings to be better suited for the Urban enviornment.
 
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