Lightest NeoShell Jacket Ever Goes from Concept to Stores in 90 Days
Vancouver outerwear outfitter Westcomb is pulling a tw0-fer with its new Shift jacket. At 11 ounces it’s the lightest NeoShell jacket on the market, beating the previous champ (Westcomb’s Switch Hoody) by 4 ounces. While impressive, it’s no surprise; in this industry you expect things to get lighter, warmer, waterproof-er, etc.
What you don’t expect is for said gear to go from concept to final product in 90 days. Westcomb came up with the idea in February, tested prototypes in March, confirmed orders in April, and shipped them out on the first of May.
The Shift will be available later this month, and it’s going to run $400. It uses narrower 2-ply seam tape instead of the usual 3-ply to cut weight, and it sports 20 stitches per inch to bolster durability. A Napoleon Dry Pocket keeps your point-and-shoot dry and accessible, and Velcro cuff closures and single-hand adjustable hood and waist keep weather outside the jacket.
It’s a great example of an outfitter seeing a need (for a lightweight NeoShell jacket), then addressing that need posthaste. Can’t wait to see how it works.
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Tags: apparel, backpacking, hiking, jacket, neoshell, outerwear, westcomb
Author: Billy Brown
