Mountain Hardwear Super Chockstone Softshell Jacket

Mountain Hardwear's Super Chockstone Softshell Jacket: A Hard-Knock Gem

Excerpts from the Scramble Review (full review here):

An outstandingly versatile climbing, scrambling and hiking softshell, the Super Chockstone Softshell Jacket by Mountain Hardwear is a thoughtfully designed and elegantly simple, breathable, weather resistant, tough, active outer layer that's going to take all the hard knocks, so you don't have to.

The Super Chockstone features two zipped, harness / pack compatible, voluminous side pockets which will easily hold multiple OS maps (if necessary), hats, gloves and much more.

The single hem cinch works well and doesn't slip or loosen. There's a slim stitched elasticated seam about 5 inches above the hem that runs across the front face, just below the two side pockets which, in conjunction with the hem cinch, secures the jacket to ones lower hip / backside, preventing it from riding up when reaching above ones head. Such details hint at the jacket's target customer: the climber.

The lightweight and stretchy, air-permeable Chockstone Double Weave fabric provides a great degree of movement when climbing, and also allows the jacket to accommodate other layers, including insulated jackets when necessary.

As Scramble says in the conclusion to their review (see the full review here):

"In terms of wear and tear, we've thrown cacti, volcanoes, granite, thistles, thorns, barbed wire, slate, scree ... well pretty much everything at it, and after a wash it still looks almost new. So, yes, it's tough as nails, and just what you'd want from a mountain soft shell. Comfortable, light, tough, breathable, highly functional and not bad looking to boot. The Super Chockstone Jacket is Scramble's top pick in the Lightweight Softshell Jacket category."

Mountain Hardwear's Description & Feature List

A highly technical wind and weather resistant jacket for climbing, hiking, and scrambling, the Super Chockstone™ Jacket excels above and below the treeline. It's durable enough to graze the rock face, yet remarkably breathable to prevent overheating. With a precise, active fit for enhanced mobility, it can still layer over a fleece layer when the weather turns. UPF 50 for protection from harsh sunlight in thinner air.


Materials

Fabric Body: Chockstone™ Doubleweave Softshell (91% Nylon, 9% Elastane)

Measurements

•     Center Back Length: 28 in / 71 cm
•     Apparel Fit: Active
•     Weight: 377g / 13.3 oz  (Large)

Features

• A versatile softshell jacket with windproof protection
• Abrasion-resistant, air-permeable, lightweight 4 way stretch fabric
• DWR finish keeps water away
• UPF 50 fabric blocks out harmful UV rays at altitude
• Single zippered chest pocket securely holds keys, ID, and other valuables
• Pocket is placed on right chest, while pockets on our parkas and shells are on left chest, to avoid bulk
• Two extra large handwarmer pockets are harness- and pack-compatible
• Elastic on cuffs seals in warmth, blocks out wind
• Center-front VISLON® zipper adjusts easily
• Mock-style collar for extra warmth around the neck
• Alpine Fit

Sizing / Measuring

Mountain Hardwear tend to size a little large. Scramble's editor is a size 42" chest and is wearing a Medium (see photos for a visual sizing guide). We'd suggest a Medium is ideal for size 40" to 42" and Large is ideal for 43" to 45".

Mountain Hardwear's Sizing:

Medium: 39" - 41"
Large: 42" - 45"

We'd say:

Medium: 39" (looser) - 42" (fitted)
Large:  42" (looser) - 45" (fitted)