Triple Aught Design Spectre hardshell

[hop6236]

Anyone own this jacket or have a suggestion for something comparable?
I read the militarymorons review of it and googled the crap out of the thing but I'm a little leary of getting caught 20-30 miles off the road in Appalachia with a jacket that can't handle January.
I'm in VA and plan to use it mostly in the blue ridge/smoky mountains area so.. -15 or so at the worst.

[sabasarge]

I have it, and like most of TAD's stuff, it's excellent. I wear it snowshoeing and camping in similar temps, but obviously it's for keeping the wind and wet out, not for warmth.
I recommend it highly with that in mind.

[hop6236]

You just layer under it like normal? goldbond-polypro-fleece-spectre?

[Hot Mess]

I don't have it either but their gear is solid! Look at their FB page, they are having a sell on a few of their jackets, but I forget which ones.

[sabasarge]

Yep.
For me it's a merino base and mid layer....Ibex most likely, with a TAD Ranger Hoodie that I can take off and stuff in my ruck if I get overheated while snowshoeing.
Take along a good neck gaiter and you're GTG.
The Spectre's a great jacket.

This is my son in one of TAD's Anorak's on one of our camping trips. I don't think they make 'em anymore, but you can't go wrong with their outdoor gear.

[Hot Mess]

They are advertising 20% off right now. I'd jump at it but I have a ummm..."problem" with buying clothes:redface:

[Alex F]

I've been wearing the hell out of my Stealth Reloaded from last year... it's tough as nails and well designed. Definitely wear layers under it though.

The only downside to TAD is the price. I wish they were 25% less or so. Their pricepoint keeps going up every year, too.

[dvpj]

Any chance of an anorak being available?
E-Bay=0, checked that...

[Decon]

Any chance of an anorak being available?
E-Bay=0, checked that...

They haven't had any for awhile and I doubt you find any new ones anywhere. I haven't heard if they are going to make any for 2011. What size and color are you looking for?

[dvpj]

XL, sage/OD, or black
thanks, for asking...

[Horned Toad]

I looked at the TAD gear stuff, when I finally got some coin for the gear, they were sold out. I went with these guys http:// www.ottegear.com/main.php

Their hard shell has to be the best fitting cut out of anything like this I have tried.

[Decon]

XL, sage/OD, or black
thanks, for asking...

Sorry. I have a medium sitting around collecting dust, but that won't help you out.

Good Luck

[hop6236]

Honestly...
Not that great of a jacket. I'm sure it'll keep you dry.
The zippers are tiny, and get stuck every other time I put it on. If I just tried to horse the zipper undone instead of fighting with it gently for 2 or 3 minutes I think I would have broken them. Maybe it's just the jacket that I ordered that gets stuck like this, but I doubt they accidentally put children sized zippers on.
If I'm spending this kind of money I should be looking for an excuse to wear the thing, not fighting for 10 minutes to take it off. I'd pay 200 for the thing, but 400? Nah.

[Hot Mess]

Call them and let them know;)

[Decon]

Honestly...
Not that great of a jacket. I'm sure it'll keep you dry.
The zippers are tiny, and get stuck every other time I put it on. If I just tried to horse the zipper undone instead of fighting with it gently for 2 or 3 minutes I think I would have broken them. Maybe it's just the jacket that I ordered that gets stuck like this, but I doubt they accidentally put children sized zippers on.
If I'm spending this kind of money I should be looking for an excuse to wear the thing, not fighting for 10 minutes to take it off. I'd pay 200 for the thing, but 400? Nah.

All of their zippers require a break-in period, but especially the hard shells. One of the disadvantages of a garment that will keep a hurricane out. That being said, I have had difficulties with their zippers, but never to the extent you described. I'm glad you were able to get your money back. It is a decent amount of money for something your not fully satisfied with.

D

[hop6236]

I don't mean to run them down, TAD has great customer service.
It was too tacticool for me. I wouldn't have worn it unless I could tote it with me on WPS and even then, I wouldn't want to dress up like a cool guy while flying over. So basically the zipper just served as a deciding vote.
I'm probably the only person of the thousands that own a TAD piece to ever have a problem with one.

[Zonk 1/75]

I went with these guys http:// www.ottegear.com/main.php

Their hard shell has to be the best fitting cut out of anything like this I have tried.



Too bad they don't make "adult" sizes.............. :o

[Horned Toad]

Too bad they don't make "adult" sizes.............. :o

They make adult just fine, they must not make "yeti" though:biggrin: