$179.97 - The North Face Men’s Apex Free Climb Softshell Jacket
Made from Polartec Power Shield and with “welded” seams the Apex softshell jacket from The North Face is a great piece of gear. I don’t own one yet, but the 40% off at Backcountry Outlet is making me think about getting one - even though the price is still about $180.
Like all softshells it’s wind and water resistant, but it’s also lightweight and slightly insulated. Normally I’m a fan of softshells with nothing thicker than the windproof membrane, but those don’t quite cut it when you’re not really moving around in the cold and typically using some type of membrane they also don’t seem to fit much better than the hardshell jackets they’re supposed to replace. The North Face got it right with the Apex, it’s cut trim (I wouldn’t recommend it if your waistline is bigger than your chest measurement) and is REALLY flexible. Not only is the Power Shield fabric great, but the sonic welding on the seams actually fely like they worked - more flexible and lighter than stitching.