You have convinced me with your instructional videos to buy tools like the dewey rods before. I found this review very helpful to place an order. Just got to have one of your recommendations. Thank you sir.
Have one, love it, wind proof, water/rain resistant. $83. I am 6'5" 230lbs. Chest is around 52 53. I run the Condor Alpha fleece double XL. And the soft shell is a triple XL. Works great. Only real issue I have is with Condor's webpage. They have different versions of this jacket, yet they don't explain the differences!
Awesome..was looking for a good review on this jacket...I have been considering the regular Tactical Soft Shell until I saw this jacket last month. Had been curious about it ever since.
Mike Mitchell It's a good, cheap jacket so you can use and abuse it with no real out of pocket loss if you damage it. The only downside is the arm zips are open (no mesh layer) and it sits about two sizes too small - I had to go an XXXL to fit lengthwise (6'4/220 lbs athletic build)
Great jacket. Have one myself. I like it because I can toss it on in the fall/spring with just a T-shirt under it and I think it keeps me pretty warm. 45-60 degrees. Anything under 40 Degrees I say a thermal shirt or light fleece like stated keeps you really warm. Love the jacket.
I have the Sierra Hooded Fleece Jacket that is supposed to go under this, though I wear it with an Eotac (now defunct) shell, and it works great. Almost too many pockets between them.
I have the OD green version. Comfy fit, lots of pockets, much less "crinkly" feeling shell than Goretex. The seams and zippers hardly leak in the rain, your butt gets wet from the run-off long before your pits & center line notice any seepage. I also like that this shell rolls up small enough to stuff into my gearslinger without squashing my lunch. Unfortunately about as breathable as a black poly garbage bag. You learn to use the pit zips :) I feel I got my $90 worth.
Well done review John; concise but addressed all the pertinent features. I would only recommend addressing the sizing issue these jackets have been having since Condor released the Summit line. I myself am thinking the size issue was the result of Condor trying to keep it fitting better under PCs\chest rigs & went a bit overboard in the measurements department. Just my two cents; I could easily be wrong. Also, I don't recall if you mentioned it in the review but there is a fleece lined version of this jacket. I just got one in large\foliage for $40 shipped; hope I get some rain\cooler weather to try it out...If it fits that is.
These are a knock off of The Triple Aught Design Stealth Hoodie. Love the design. I have the TAD fleece hoodie and its awesome. It keeps we warm with a t shirt underneath to about 5 degrees.
A good cheaper/nontactical looking alternative is the Freecountry Softshell jacket. They are in the 40-60 buck range and are fantastic, bought mine at Costco i believe but they are on Amazon. It offers water resistance, windproof, and has 4 pockets(two standard, a chest and arm). Just my .02
Great jacket I wish they made this in a version without the velcro patches on the side so you could wear it outside of the range and get more use out of it.
i do wish i would have bought the Coyote brown one, like the one you have John. Black looks like a regular coat, oddly enough it doenst scream MALLNINJA/OPERATOR WANNABE!!!! But its a really DARK black, like Batman in the shadows black, and it picks up every bit of lint, dust and dirt for a hundred feet. keep in mind that they run much smaller than normal jackets. size up at least a size if you're a bigger guy. the Rothco, and Condor jackets like this are the same exact thing, sourced from a chinese manufacturer. and for the love of god, dont let anyone throw them in the washer with hot water, then a dryer. you can kiss the coat goodbye, since it will shrink like a shrinky dink. Air dry it inside out.
Hey John, will you be attending the 2014 SHOT Show? Anything you're particularly interested in seeing? I'm excited to see AI's new offerings. Obviously theres the replacement for the AE series coming, but apparently the AX series will also replaced/updated. I'd love to see you review whatever it is they do announce.
hey man im in Afghanistan and am a medvac pilot it get a little cold whene im up in the air its winter here andits averge temp is 40 degrees should I buy this or not do u thinck it would last
Is this jacket any good for construction work where you would be grinding metal or cutting metal and having metal Sparks would it melt the material on the jacket
+Samuel Torres The Summit Zero is about 30% lighter weight than the regular Summit. So if you want a warmer jacket go for the Summit but if you want a jacket that can be used in warmer temperature you want the Summit Zero.
I don't know of any Condor product that will work in heavy rainfall. For that, I get out the Arc'Teryx shell. Outdoor Research also makes some good rainwear that is a little cheaper than the dead bird stuff.
***** I intend to walk the way to santiago, its 800+ km, no cover from heavy rain at times, so i need something i could really count on. Can you be more specific, like exact model name. Thanks, i appreciate your answer.
Hi John, A gunsmith said it's a good idea to change the extractor on the bolt of my Remington 700 to a Badger Ordnance extractor and there is a 100% chance the Remington extractor will eventually fail. What do you think about that advice...and secondly is it a simple enough job to do myself at home? Having an extremely durable and reliable rifle is most important to me - are there any other mods you'd recommend to accomplish this? Thanks!
Rubbish. I am sure your mechanic would love to get you to replace the motor in your car because it will eventually fail, or your tires....you know they wear out too. I keep a tin of Remington clip extractors in my workbench. I have only had to replace one in a dinked up factory rifle. Most of the time when I run across problems, it's because someone decided to remove them for "maintenance" and put the old one back in. That is a no-no. Installing an M16 extractor requires cutting out a section of the bolt. This negates part of Remington's design against case ruptures.
John, is there law or flag etiquette considerations that address the idea of civilian, non-law enforcement individuals wearing United States Flag patches on the shoulders of these types of jacket.
Two Niner Idk if I'd call it overpriced. The Stealth has more features and is made of better materials. Expensive, yes. But that's the price for an American made product these days. And with TAD, you really get what you pay for
sasquatch4liffee If you can ever find it in stock. That is a big issue with TAD. I've heard that this situation is getting a bit better, but TAD's inventory is still lacking.
It's because they only make a certain number of each item every year. It's not that hard to snag something that they make if you follow their twitter updates
sasquatch4liffee Respectfully, I understand that, but I don't understand a business plan that creates an eBay after-market such as occurred with TAD. ArcTeryx can create as-good-or-better shells/jackets and they don't have this issue. Why should I, as a consumer, have to resort to following a manufacturer's twitter/FB account to determine if they have sufficient stock? This for/against argument re TAD is not new. To me, this practice does not make a good business model. If there is an inability to produce sufficient inventory, a simple review (by a lending institution) of the demand/after-market situation would be enough to obtain a business loan to expand the business. After all, isn't it the aim of a business to make profit? This is simply leaving money on the table. The prime example of this is their Dauntless knife. They sell out in 5 mins and then re-appear on eBay in 10 minutes at double the price. TADs silence on this implies complicity. I have "heard" that since TAD's founder has left the company, this perpetual out-of-stock situation is improving.
You have convinced me with your instructional videos to buy tools like the dewey rods before. I found this review very helpful to place an order. Just got to have one of your recommendations. Thank you sir.
Have one, love it, wind proof, water/rain resistant. $83.
I am 6'5" 230lbs. Chest is around 52 53. I run the Condor Alpha fleece double XL. And the soft shell is a triple XL. Works great.
Only real issue I have is with Condor's webpage. They have different versions of this jacket, yet they don't explain the differences!
Snowing like mad? Good time to review a jacket.
Awesome..was looking for a good review on this jacket...I have been considering the regular Tactical Soft Shell until I saw this jacket last month. Had been curious about it ever since.
Mike Mitchell It's a good, cheap jacket so you can use and abuse it with no real out of pocket loss if you damage it. The only downside is the arm zips are open (no mesh layer) and it sits about two sizes too small - I had to go an XXXL to fit lengthwise (6'4/220 lbs athletic build)
What do u suggest 4 winter wear that's the same as the tactical jacket ur wearing
I picked one up for $60. I am very pleased on the quality of the jacket for the price.
I want an excuse to wear one but it's 74 degrees outside here today in Atlanta.
Very well thought out and organized brief on a popularly demanded product. Thanks.
Great jacket. Have one myself. I like it because I can toss it on in the fall/spring with just a T-shirt under it and I think it keeps me pretty warm. 45-60 degrees. Anything under 40 Degrees I say a thermal shirt or light fleece like stated keeps you really warm. Love the jacket.
Great review. Thanks.
I have the Sierra Hooded Fleece Jacket that is supposed to go under this, though I wear it with an Eotac (now defunct) shell, and it works great. Almost too many pockets between them.
I have the OD green version. Comfy fit, lots of pockets, much less "crinkly" feeling shell than Goretex. The seams and zippers hardly leak in the rain, your butt gets wet from the run-off long before your pits & center line notice any seepage. I also like that this shell rolls up small enough to stuff into my gearslinger without squashing my lunch. Unfortunately about as breathable as a black poly garbage bag. You learn to use the pit zips :) I feel I got my $90 worth.
Well done review John; concise but addressed all the pertinent features. I would only recommend addressing the sizing issue these jackets have been having since Condor released the Summit line. I myself am thinking the size issue was the result of Condor trying to keep it fitting better under PCs\chest rigs & went a bit overboard in the measurements department. Just my two cents; I could easily be wrong. Also, I don't recall if you mentioned it in the review but there is a fleece lined version of this jacket. I just got one in large\foliage for $40 shipped; hope I get some rain\cooler weather to try it out...If it fits that is.
These are a knock off of The Triple Aught Design Stealth Hoodie. Love the design. I have the TAD fleece hoodie and its awesome. It keeps we warm with a t shirt underneath to about 5 degrees.
A good cheaper/nontactical looking alternative is the Freecountry Softshell jacket. They are in the 40-60 buck range and are fantastic, bought mine at Costco i believe but they are on Amazon. It offers water resistance, windproof, and has 4 pockets(two standard, a chest and arm). Just my .02
Condor or Rothco? They seriously look the same, but I feel like something has to be different between the two.
Great jacket I wish they made this in a version without the velcro patches on the side so you could wear it outside of the range and get more use out of it.
i do wish i would have bought the Coyote brown one, like the one you have John. Black looks like a regular coat, oddly enough it doenst scream MALLNINJA/OPERATOR WANNABE!!!! But its a really DARK black, like Batman in the shadows black, and it picks up every bit of lint, dust and dirt for a hundred feet.
keep in mind that they run much smaller than normal jackets. size up at least a size if you're a bigger guy. the Rothco, and Condor jackets like this are the same exact thing, sourced from a chinese manufacturer.
and for the love of god, dont let anyone throw them in the washer with hot water, then a dryer. you can kiss the coat goodbye, since it will shrink like a shrinky dink. Air dry it inside out.
Loved the review. Just subbed. Keep it up
Hey John, will you be attending the 2014 SHOT Show? Anything you're particularly interested in seeing? I'm excited to see AI's new offerings. Obviously theres the replacement for the AE series coming, but apparently the AX series will also replaced/updated. I'd love to see you review whatever it is they do announce.
I'm wondering if the drawstring on the back of the hood gets snagged on branches
Excellent video! Looking for a mild warmth jacket this winter for concealed carry, could you please recommend one thank you kindly. Budget about $130
Great review!
hey man im in Afghanistan and am a medvac pilot it get a little cold whene im up in the air its winter here andits averge temp is 40 degrees should I buy this or not do u thinck it would last
where did you get that hat?
Well done. Should have came here first. Thx mate.
Is this jacket any good for construction work where you would be grinding metal or cutting metal and having metal Sparks would it melt the material on the jacket
It would not be a good choice for grinding metal.
hi, condor summit have two models one is summit zero and the other is just summit soft shell...do you know which are the differences between them?
+Samuel Torres The Summit Zero is about 30% lighter weight than the regular Summit. So if you want a warmer jacket go for the Summit but if you want a jacket that can be used in warmer temperature you want the Summit Zero.
where can I order the flagvelcro? anybody can tell me the measurements? 3x5cm!?
is this the OD or coyote color? good review btw
Coyote
That thing is nice!
If this doesnt work for torrential rains, then what lightweight condor jacket does ?
I don't know of any Condor product that will work in heavy rainfall. For that, I get out the Arc'Teryx shell. Outdoor Research also makes some good rainwear that is a little cheaper than the dead bird stuff.
*****
I intend to walk the way to santiago, its 800+ km, no cover from heavy rain at times, so i need something i could really count on. Can you be more specific, like exact model name. Thanks, i appreciate your answer.
+menemme I use an Arc'Teryx Theta AR when it's really coming down.
*****
thank you john
what's was the temperature by the time you made the video?
Carlos Castrejón I don't recall exactly, but it was likely that it was in the low 30's to high 20's (Fahrenheit).
Why must you insist on making me blow my Christmas budget!
Hi John,
A gunsmith said it's a good idea to change the extractor on the bolt of my Remington 700 to a Badger Ordnance extractor and there is a 100% chance the Remington extractor will eventually fail. What do you think about that advice...and secondly is it a simple enough job to do myself at home? Having an extremely durable and reliable rifle is most important to me - are there any other mods you'd recommend to accomplish this? Thanks!
Rubbish. I am sure your mechanic would love to get you to replace the motor in your car because it will eventually fail, or your tires....you know they wear out too. I keep a tin of Remington clip extractors in my workbench. I have only had to replace one in a dinked up factory rifle. Most of the time when I run across problems, it's because someone decided to remove them for "maintenance" and put the old one back in. That is a no-no. Installing an M16 extractor requires cutting out a section of the bolt. This negates part of Remington's design against case ruptures.
John, is there law or flag etiquette considerations that address the idea of civilian, non-law enforcement individuals wearing United States Flag patches on the shoulders of these types of jacket.
can i use this one in Iraq, or is going to be too hot ?
Bamos acomernos aso.
I
Chinese copy of the TAD Stealth LT.
True but the TAD is way overpriced at nearly $500.
Two Niner Idk if I'd call it overpriced. The Stealth has more features and is made of better materials. Expensive, yes. But that's the price for an American made product these days. And with TAD, you really get what you pay for
sasquatch4liffee If you can ever find it in stock. That is a big issue with TAD. I've heard that this situation is getting a bit better, but TAD's inventory is still lacking.
It's because they only make a certain number of each item every year. It's not that hard to snag something that they make if you follow their twitter updates
sasquatch4liffee Respectfully, I understand that, but I don't understand a business plan that creates an eBay after-market such as occurred with TAD. ArcTeryx can create as-good-or-better shells/jackets and they don't have this issue. Why should I, as a consumer, have to resort to following a manufacturer's twitter/FB account to determine if they have sufficient stock? This for/against argument re TAD is not new. To me, this practice does not make a good business model. If there is an inability to produce sufficient inventory, a simple review (by a lending institution) of the demand/after-market situation would be enough to obtain a business loan to expand the business. After all, isn't it the aim of a business to make profit? This is simply leaving money on the table. The prime example of this is their Dauntless knife. They sell out in 5 mins and then re-appear on eBay in 10 minutes at double the price. TADs silence on this implies complicity. I have "heard" that since TAD's founder has left the company, this perpetual out-of-stock situation is improving.