been looking for a new piece of spring gear, something i can layer, preferably with a hood. earth tones are good.

three contenders so far are:

empire wool boreal shirt


rothco softshell


ua tac softshell



the pros and cons are basically that the boreal shirt is wool and handcrafted. it will probably last forever, but it's more than double the cost of both the others. not entirely sure if wool would be better for winter rather than a springtime layering system.

opinions and suggestions welcome. do you guys have a particular jacket or system that works well for temperate woodlands?

I know nothing about these brands but that has never stopped me from offering an ill-informed opinion <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

I always like wool. It would be good for chilly AMs and PMs. A little heavier than the others (I'd guess) but if you can afford it and if you aren't going for ultralight camping/hiking, as you noted, it will probably last a lifetime.

Spring time or early autumn hunting I favor a wool shirt as an outer layer over 1-2 light under layers.

i agree, the wool might be better when not on the move. good points!

The Rothco is a POS. Had it, ditched it. It's a chinese version of TAD Gear. I ended up splurging for the TAD Gear Ranger Hoodie LT....it is phenomenal. Fits my needs well. Depending on typical temperature's your dealing with, may consider the standard Ranger Hoodie, not the LT. I live in Texas, so the LT simply made sense (LT = Lite).

I agree....Wool is where it's at. But, I like wool for base layers. Icebreaker...love it. Use it often for long hikes, etc.

i did a bit of poking around and while the TAD gear, Acrteryx and Empire offerings are superior quality, i just don't think i can justify spending $200+ on a hoodie. maybe if it was for work...

i read some reviews of the Condor Sierra hoodie and while it's not true polar fleece, it's bound to be better than the cotton hoodies i normally layer. and it's about 4x cheaper. so i may go with that... we'll see what pops up over the weekend.

Ranger Hoodie LT gets another vote. It does command the price of quality, but worth every penny to me.

TAD gear hoodies are great. I've had three for several years now and they really fit and perform well. Sometimes you can get them on close out or find one on an auction site. Outdoor Research makes some really good gear as well. I have a mithrill softshell that's pushing six years now, maybe more and it's still has many years left. That jacket is always in my truck. It has just enough insulation to keep the chill out AND keeps the rain off but breathes really well. If I could have only one jacket that might be it. Also, the first ascent line from Eddie Bauer is legit performance gear. And Eddie Bauer gear can be found steeply discounted during the off season.