Carhartt Soft Shell Jackets - Any Good?

[inactive]

So my North Face Windwall is 5 years old next month, and starting to show it's age.
The elbows are getting thin, it is pilling some on the surface (as it's almost a fleece / soft-shell hybrid), and the color is fading. I also have a few runs/pulls that will probably open up into holes before too long.

It's been good, and I have worn it nearly ever day in Fall/Winter/Early Spring since I got it. I certainly got my money's worth. But I am looking to replace it.

I notice Carhartt has entered the soft shell world. Of course, their duck fabric is pretty well-regarded for work wear. I am curious if the soft shells are worthy of the Carhartt name.

http://www.carhartt.com/webapp/wcs/...toreId=10051&catalogId=10101&categoryId=15607

They run around $140, which isn't as high as some of the gear out there (Marmot, Patagonia, North Face, Mountain Hardware, TAD, Arc'teryx). But I don't want to throw down that kind of money if it's only as good as a $50 house brand I could pick up at JC Penney.

Does anyone have any experience?

Thanks!

 

[GlocksInMySocks]

I dont' have much experience with carhartt, but if it' coming down to a soft shell I was going to use outside of everyday wear, It wouldn't choose it

I also steer clear from north face. To me, they seem like they go towards "mountain chic" more and more every year. I also don't usually go with patagonia because I don't want to pay for the environmentalism movement. Arc'teryx is really really expensive...

I personally prefer marmot, I got hooked on their hard shells. Depending on what you need, it should be in your $140 range.

Edit: I say I don't like northface, but my dad has their windwall and that does pretty well. I saw them on sale for under $100 not bad at all. Just not great weight.

Also, you might take a look at the REI brand, they usually have good stuff.

 

[338Shooter]

Hippie style Carhartts, yay...

 

[338Shooter]

I wear one of these just about every day. Worth the money and no hippie vibes.

http://www.carhartt.com/webapp/wcs/...1&productId=122512&langId=-1&categoryId=42620

 

[inactive]

I personally prefer marmot, depending on what you need, it's in your $140 range

My Marmot jacket (which is actually a midweight fleece zipped into their Precip rain shell) has been great for 4 years now. It's been my best jacket, but too warm for me most of the time. Hence wearing holes on my TNF jacket. I know some are critical of TNF, but the Windwall 1 is perhaps their single best product. Well, that and their paramount convertible pants.

Hippy style Carhartts, yay...

Dustin, Hippies need work wear too! Well, some of them actually work...

 

[inactive]

I wear one of these just about every day. Worth the money and no hippie vibes.

http://www.carhartt.com/webapp/wcs/...1&productId=122512&langId=-1&categoryId=42620

How water-resistant would that be? I am guessing not very

 

[TJay74]

I have a Columbia jacket I got on clearence last year at Academy that I like so far.