Very interesting! I have Ingstads with NNNBC and really like them. I am mildly interested in trying “skimo” and other ways of doing longer, more challenging tours. But I am not interested in chasing steep descents, so waxable nordic skis with AT bindings seems like a great solution. I’ll follow thi...

Very interesting! I have Ingstads with NNNBC and really like them. I am mildly interested in trying “skimo” and other ways of doing longer, more challenging tours. But I am not interested in chasing steep descents, so waxable nordic skis with AT bindings seems like a great solution. I’ll follow this...

I think one thing all this discussion illustrates is that a lot of this comes down to the person and the conditions. On one end, you could have someone who runs cold, is skiing in a dry climate, and skis at a moderate pace. On the other end of the spectrum, you could have someone who runs hot, is s...

The OP stated this in the first sentence of the opening post: ".......... if anybody recommends a good, breathable, very packable soft shell for backcountry XCD skiing". In the second sentence he makes this comment: ".......... not breathable enough, too heavy, way too bulky to be worth bringing on...

For learning, I would go with the one that is cheaper and available. You may not need skins if you’re just leaning because you probably won’t be venturing up anything that steep. But when you need them the integrated systems summarized by wabene are better. That said, Black Diamond does still make a...

Yes, that’s my objective. I plan to buy the most stylish, trendy thing I can find. You wouldn't be alone in that endeavor. Just to close the loop on that frog tog jacket, it’s basically a hefty garbage bag with reportedly no durability. It’s cheap, but you get what you pay for. I could see using it...

Went down to Neptune, local gear shop, and grabbed a Rab Borealis. Seems like it should breathe OK. I’ll give a try and see if it adds anything to my layering mix. It certainly packs down much more than my other soft shells. When I was in college I had a good ol’ LL Bean anorak, basically a tough wi...

Thanks. it’s cheap but I cannot imagine when I would use this over the very packable gore-Tex shell I already have (which had full length pit zips). Well, it will definitely breathe better than anything mentioned, keep you dry from falling snow, and block some wind. But if you want an overpriced na...

I’d like one that is very light, very packable, VERY breathable, preferably with a hood, and with some ability to keep me dry when it’s snowing. That sounds like a windbreaker, not a soft-shell. I really like the Patagonia Houdini for skiing. With a long-sleeve shirt, it works well around -10°C. Th...

I use a soft shell hooded jacket by Mountain Equipment. 'Mission Softshell Jacket' https://www.mountain-equipment.co.uk/collections/mens-soft-shell/products/mission-jacket I also have two ME Mission jackets. They are great for below 0’ C. Technically, the Mission jacket is double weave woven synthe...