Men's Softshell Jacket Awards For 2013 Announced by OutdoorGearLab.com

CHEYENNE, Wyo. - May 3, 2013 - PRLog -- OutdoorGearLab.com reported the conclusions of its 2013 Editor's Choice awards for men's softshell jackets today. Eighteen top of the line softshell jackets were evaluated in extended side-by side reviewing. They were evaluated in the following areas: breathability, wind resistance, water resistance, weight, features, versatility and style.

The reviewing involved a couple of years of skiing, ice climbing, mountaineering, rock climbing, showshoeing, and hiking in White Mountains, New Hampshire, Red Rocks, Nevada, the Sierra's, Mt. Whitney, Bishop, Ca and also along the California coastline. View the entire review here:http://www.outdoorgearlab.com/Softshell-Jacket-Reviews.

The winners:
Arcteryx Venta MX Hoody http://www.outdoorgearlab.com/Softshell-Jacket-Reviews/Arcteryx-Venta-MX-Hoody Winner of the Editor's Choice award for 2013. As reported by Gear Editor; Max Neale, "The Venta MX is the ultimate cold weather climbing and skiing softshell. It balances breathability with a 100% windproof and highly water resistant Windstopper membrane that keeps you warm when the temperature drops and the wind picks up. Two large crossover chest pockets are harness and backpack compatible and the massive hood is actually comfortable when worn over a helmet! The Venta MX has a near perfect blend of features, weather protection, warmth, and breathability that make it a versatile softshell for ice and alpine climbing, skiing, and other cold weather winter activities."

Patagonia Simple Guide Hoody http://www.outdoorgearlab.com/Softshell-Jacket-Reviews/Pa... Winner of the Best Buy award for 2013. This award is given to a product that balances a high score in our tests and a reasonable price. Gear Editor, Simrell states‚ "The Simple Guide Hoody is exactly that. This basic and affordable shell performs well in a variety of conditions and applications and costs less than $150. The all-recycled polyester and spandex blended fabric does a good job balancing wind resistance and breathability and it is comfortable enough for aerobic activities that require a wide range of motion, like ice and alpine climbing. When we tested the Simple Guide side-by-side with other softshells it was one third of the price of, we were shocked at how well this jacket performed."

Marmot Leadville http://www.outdoorgearlab.com/Softshell-Jacket-Reviews/Ma... and Beyond Clothing Cold Fusion Shock http://www.outdoorgearlab.com/Softshell-Jacket-Reviews/Be... Winners of the Top Pick award for 2013. This award goes to a product that is featured for its warmth and durability. According to Gear Editor Simrell ."The Leadville is made for high output aerobic activities in dry and cold conditions. Marmot uses a skillful combination of Gore Windstopper for the front, back, and arms, and a lighter, more stretchy, breathable material runs from the sides up the underside of the arms and behind to the scapula. The result is a free flowing, unrestricted, and flexible layer perfect for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and cold weather running.
Also a Top Pick winner; Beyond Clothing’s Cold Fusion Shock. Simrell explains how, "The Shock is perfectly fitting, highly mobile softshell with custom fit and features. Enter your measurements online, choose a color and the features you want and four weeks later you’ll have a top performing jacket made just for you. The custom tailored concept is luxurious and the results are top-notch. The Cold Fusion Shock is our second highest rated softshell because it’s comfortable while doing anything from ice climbing to cold weather Nordic skiing. Stretchy, warm, and breathable, it provides an ideal barrier between you and cold windy weather and if the jacket doesn’t fit perfect, Beyond Clothing will take it back and make it right.

OutdoorGearLab LLC, headquartered in Cheyenne, Wyoming, is dedicated to creating the world's best outdoor gear reviews. The company website is a free resource for people who love the outdoors and participate in activities such as hiking, climbing, backpacking, and camping. The company performs side-by-side reviews of outdoor gear and publishes the findings in comparative reviews. Each product is scored across a range of weighted areas, competing products are ranked, and awards are given to the best performing products.

Media Contact: Chris McNamara - 307.509.0188 - outdoorgearlabpr@gmail.com