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Posted: 9/13/2014 10:05:11 AM EDT
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Ive got 3 of these on my wishlist. I need a new one, but not sure which to get.
I read a lot of good and bad about all 3. I'm leaning towards the condor. They'll all in mu sub-$80 budget, too. Any experience with any of these? Rothco: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004Z1VUEU/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=6H482Z7YQPQT&coliid=I3HRFF4T56EIW3&psc=1]http://]http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004Z1VUEU/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=6H482Z7YQPQT&coliid=I3HRFF4T56EIW3&psc=1 Condor: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005ZHPEI6/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_S_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=6H482Z7YQPQT&coliid=I2ES1HLVOI5V59&psc=1 Truspec http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009LQ1GFC/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_S_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=6H482Z7YQPQT&coliid=I1CYY6DSFC9F4S&psc=1 |
| I have the Condor love it except I wish the hood was removable/stow able( never mind I see this one doesn't have a hood). Somewhat decent in light rain but don't expect to stay dry in a good downpour, plenty of pocket room and really like how the tail is slightly longer but unable to tell in the picture if this one is. Here is the one I have http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B005XZY24M/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1410618908&sr=8-1&pi=SX200_QL40 |
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I have both the Condor Summit and Rothco Spec Ops. I compared them in this thread
Delta Outdoorsman has a good price on the Condor Summit: Delta Outdoorsman Edit: realized you were talking about different jackets. 
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| What are you looking for? A causal jacket or an outdoors jacket? For causal I think they look silly with the Velcro and the sizing is a little weird compared to the TAD. For an outdoors jacket I think you are better off getting a surplus AOR or Multicam jacket. |
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Quoted:
What are you looking for? A causal jacket or an outdoors jacket? For causal I think they look silly with the Velcro and the sizing is a little weird compared to the TAD. For an outdoors jacket I think you are better off getting a surplus AOR or Multicam jacket. something i can wear whenever and/or use when at the range/training. i like to be out in all types of weather. i hate heavy coats so i am eyeing these. |
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Slight thread hijack, but for those of you who removed the velcro panels on the sleeves, are the holes noticeable? I removed the velcro patches on a TAD fleece and the holes weren't noticeable, but I figure a soft-shell material might make it a bit more obvious?
I used to have a Condor Phantom and it was great for the money. The build quality couldn't compared to my TAD Stealth, but for the price, you really can't complain. |
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I like my 24/7 I wore it a lot last winter but it hasn't gotten worn much since. None of my jackets have. Winter is coming thought and I wore it yesterday. Still like it.
Comfortable, tight fit, warm when you want and cool when you open the pockets due to the mesh that lets the heat out. I've worn it down to 25 degrees and it was GTG. I wish the neck was a little tighter on it but I'm between sizes and went with the larger size. A scarf/shemagh under it fixes that though. I really like the length in the sleeves and the large pockets. Extremely comfortable for me. YMMV |
| +1 for the Condor. Had mine for 2 years, still going strong. Main zipper has always been just slightly wonky, but nothing to complain about on an $80 jacket with that much functionality. Materials and stitching has held up through a decent amount of use. Taken it hiking, range shooting, overseas traveling, and just regular wear. |
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Quoted:
i have a 99%er budget, not a 1%er. arc's are well out of my price range unless it's a knock-off. trying to stay sub-$80, or sub $100 tops Quoted:
Quoted:
Arc'teryx or TAD. i have a 99%er budget, not a 1%er. arc's are well out of my price range unless it's a knock-off. trying to stay sub-$80, or sub $100 tops The Condor is a knock-off of the TAD. I have the TAD I got without the silly Velcro as a casual jacket. It's a great jacket. Looks like a cool motorcycle riding jacket. However slap some Velcro on it and it is not built for outdoor use IMO. Not because of quality, just because of the material. You say you don't want a heavy jacket, however I will tell you the TAD is a heavy, non-compressible jacket. Which is why I would not recommend it as a "fighting jacket". The TAD Stealth is also not 100% waterproof. Like I said, it's best used as a casual jacket. The Condor being a knockoff of the TAD, I don't see that perspective getting any better. As RTUtah said, the Arcteryx really is the way to go for a "fighting" or outdoors jacket. Maybe the TAD Stealth LT would be a good option too, but the Stealth is just too heavy. My advice would again to look on ebay and pickup a surplus Multicam jacket or one of those new AOR2 jackets. They are both around the $100 mark |
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+1 Arc'teryx
But since that's not what the OP is looking for.... The Condor and Rothco are virtually the same Jacket. I did not like the fit of the Condor that I bought a couple of years back and sold it. It's not a bad jacket it just wasn't for me. Quoted:
Arc. 
Quoted:
Quoted:
Arc'teryx or TAD. Arc.
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No expert I mostly go by what I read but one school of thought is that soft shells aren't a good buy; instead, get layers to go underneath a hard shell. You can get surplus Gore-Tex hard shells (ECWCS) for under $100 (tops and bottoms, all in) if you shop around eBay. You can get them in woodland or digital camo. Then you can layer whatever you want beneath the hard shell. This is outdoor/hiking/bushcraft advice. If you're just looking for something fashionable or casual, ignore me. As for Arc-Teryx, I'd rather spend the hundreds of dollars I save on a new rifle kit or something.
Edit: I see you want something for utility. In that case I definitely recommend surplus ECWCS hard shells. I've only made about 5 surplus purchases from eBay but so far, the vendors' assessments of item condition have been quite conservative. I always buy from highly-rated vendors though, 95%+ positive, with lots of ratings. Everything I've bought in "very good" or better condition has been "like new" IMO. Some stuff, I can't find the wear until I break out the loupe. |
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Quoted:
No expert I mostly go by what I read but one school of thought is that soft shells aren't a good buy; instead, get layers to go underneath a hard shell. You can get surplus Gore-Tex hard shells (ECWCS) for under $100 (tops and bottoms, all in) if you shop around eBay. You can get them in woodland or digital camo. Then you can layer whatever you want beneath the hard shell. This is outdoor/hiking/bushcraft advice. If you're just looking for something fashionable or casual, ignore me. As for Arc-Teryx, I'd rather spend the hundreds of dollars I save on a new rifle kit or something. Edit: I see you want something for utility. In that case I definitely recommend surplus ECWCS hard shells. I've only made about 5 surplus purchases from eBay but so far, the vendors' assessments of item condition have been quite conservative. I always buy from highly-rated vendors though, 95%+ positive, with lots of ratings. Everything I've bought in "very good" or better condition has been "like new" IMO. Some stuff, I can't find the wear until I break out the loupe. I don't agree with this. I have both and the soft shell gets worn way more. Probably 20 to 1. Extreme weather: hardshell. Everything else: soft shell. Sorry it's just way more comfortable and I find that ECWCS is overkill most of the time. |
| This thread got me looking and rothco has a woodland softshell I think I'm going to get for hunting, I know it's not the newest coolest camo I have just always liked it and it blends in well here and it's half the price of the condor multicam. Isn't rothco made in the U.S. as well? |
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Sovaprepper, Rothco has a lousy reputation for quality. I hear "it fell apart" a lot. Caveat emptor.
Quoted:I don't agree with this. I have both and the soft shell gets worn way more. Probably 20 to 1. Extreme weather: hardshell. Everything else: soft shell.
Sorry it's just way more comfortable and I find that ECWCS is overkill most of the time. No need to apologize for disagreeing with me. That's what these discussions are for. I do think that for the money, a surplus hard shell makes more sense. It's way more versatile. But a Condor soft shell does make it a different conversation; gear in the Arc'teryx price range makes it a no-brainer IMO. There's always the "price is no object" aspect to these conversations, but then I always find it less than persuasive because price is always a concern. Nobody has infinite resources and money spent in one place can't be spent in another. But there's no arguing with personal preference. GG |
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Interesting stuff. I'm leaning towards the condor. (but read below) i'd rather have a soft shell with a layer or 2 underneath that I can add or remove as needed then be saddled with a heavy coat.
I'm always hot and hate hate hate heavy coats. Give me a thermal and a soft shell and I'm gravy. I purchased a Walmart brand soft shell a few years back for like $30. Amazingly it was well made and in general kept me warm. I've since lost so much weight it swims on me. It he Walmart by me has them for sale again - $29. The Xl fits me perfect and it doesn't scream tactical Timmy. I'll probably save the extra $50-60 and get the Walmart one. |
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as for the fleece lined soft shells. I have a few north face ones and a few generic ones. They are pretty much all the same minus the DWR that you can update yourself. If you don't want the tactical ones I have no idea why someone would pay more for a "tactical" one and remove the velcro when you can by a wally world/sams club, costco one for $20-30.
I just got a Massif elements in multicam with velcro and love it. It is fire resistant too I also got a North face apex in OD that I love and I have an underarmor tactical one with no lining that I love in the warmer temps. Ok I have way to many softshells
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