Review of Mountain Hardwear Link Jacket
By Matt Smith

Barrier fleece are still holding their own in the face of mounting pressure from soft shells. Soft shells come in such a variety of fabrics that once can be found for almost any situatuion, however, standard fleece has two characteristics that soft shells aren't likely duplicate - excellent breathability, and light weight.

The Link is an excellent fleece, with the added protection of Windstopper(TM). It zips into many of the shells currently available from Mountain Hardwear. While in and of itself the Link is a technical jacket, the zip compatability makes it an excellent winter sports jacket. One zip gets you in and out in the lodge, around town, or at base camp. Use the zips separately and the Link becomes an independent, yet integral part of a layering system. At $160, it isn't too expensive to be practical, and at 15 oz. you can take it anywhere.

The Link is very breatheable, and is excellent for use during moderately aerobic activities, particularly on cool fall and spring days. As expected for a technical fleece, range of motion is unrestricted and comfortable.

Summary: If you are looking for a fleece that is almost a soft shell, but not quite as bulky or expensive, the Link is an excellent choice. It makes a great jacket for winter sports in conjunction with one of the many compatible Mountain Hardwear Shells.

For more information contact:
Mountain Hardwear
www.mountainhardwear.com
4911 Central Avenue
Richmond, California 94804
510-559-6700

Matt Smith is the canyoneering specialist at GearReview.com