We offer Free Shipping on orders over $50 shipped within the contiguous United States...that's the lower 48 to you and me. If your order is received before 5 PM Eastern Standard Time, we will make every effort to get it out the same day. Make sure to take Free Shipping into account when comparing prices.
Free Shipping (Economy) must be selected inside the shopping cart.
Sorry, but some restrictions do apply:
Good only in the contiguous (lower 48) United States
Excludes freight items (i.e. kayaks, cargo boxes, car racks, some bikes, and some surfboards)
As one of the flagship products of The North Face’s Summit Series line, the Kishtwar Softshell Jacket is the ultimate in bad-weather outerwear, designed specifically for aerobic alpine activity.
Arms-up articulation allows full range of mobility so the Kishtwar won’t ride up as you cling to a cliff face or stretch for the next hold
Polartec PowerShield Pro fabric seals out moisture while allowing breathability for optimal comfort on sweaty ascents
Abrasion resistance means the Kishtwar can outlast the beatings you put it through, making for a loyal season-after-season companion in the backcountry
I own three soft shells and two hard shells, but since I purchased the Kishtwar it's been what I reach for 95% of the time. The fit is incredible, as I'm very much between the sizes (length of large, width of medium) and can wear the medium comfortably with or without my Diez jacket. The material is genuinely as water resistant and breathable as advertised. The slight amount of wind permeability is largely not noticed, although it does feel good when you're really moving. I've worn this jacket snowshoeing and for winter rock climbing in NC. It was ideal for both uses, with the pockets truly above my harness and pack straps, unlike my TNF Cipher WIndstopper that it has largely replaced. My only complaints are with the backer and the hood. The backer can be a little pinchy and itchy until you get used to it. One of my friends and I both noticed this. It's not something you'd notice unless you were wearing it with short sleeves. The hood is not truly helmet compatible. I've tried it with my Petzl Elios helmet, and although it kinda fit, it was uncomfortable and my helmet wasn't properly covered. All of my other shells and soft shells fit perfectly over the hood, although all of them are larges and it might be simply due to sizing... but I doubt it. I love how fitted the hood is when not wearing a helmet. If you look in the attached picture, you'll see how fitted it is, as the interior of it is red and you can't see any red. I've been so fortunate as to see and try on the 2011 model and didn't notice too many differences, although I didn't try the hood with a helmet. There may be a bit more give in the shoulders, but it's not a large difference. All told - try it out. It may replace jackets you previously thought perfect, as it did for me.
Hurricane Irene update: wore this during more than two hours of horizontal rain and 40ish mile winds during Irene, only got wet through the zippers on the pockets and the (stupidly) sewn logos. Why don't more manufacturers just heat transfer their logos on? Despite that, EXTREMELY impressed with the water resistance.
Could someone describe the feel, texture, drape and sound of
Could someone describe the feel, texture, drape and sound of Powershield Pro? One of the features of the Korean membrane Polartec uses in this new fabric was that it was supposed to provide the "aesthetic" qualities that crinkly hardshells so sorely lack.
How similar is it to a woven softshell fabric like Schoeller dynamic? Is it stiffer than regular Powershield (Gamma series, etc.)? Does it crinkle in the cold like Goretex and some Windstoppers? Does it make the shrill hardshell "zip! zip!" when its rubbed together?
Doesn't make the "zip! zip!" sound, although I do like your description. The outside of the membrane is protected by a woven softshell fabric that feels a lot like Schoeller dynamic and is very durable. The inside is a brushed liner that doesn't stick to a fleece or anything, but is comfortable on its own, unlike a regular hardshell. It doesn't crinkle in the cold.
This is an excellently constructed jacket. It blocks wind, and for the most part, water as well. It dries fairly quickly, and breathes almost as well as regular Powershield. Simply put, it's a great shell. Powershield Pro has a hydrostatic head of 3,000mm meaning that it's effectively waterproof, but as TNF doesn't seal the seams, it leaks a little water. I got caught in a freak rainstorm in the White Mountains and it leaked a little bit of water through the seams, getting me even wetter than I already was. I was pretty ticked, but that's not what this Jacket is for. The Kishtwar is the quintessential mountain shell. It's designed to be a super comfortable outer layer that blocks wind, will keep snow and freezing rain out indefinitely, and keep you dry. According to an independent Dynamic MVTR test, it's roughly three times more breathable than Gore Windstopper, which in turn is more breathable than Gore Pro Shell. All in all, the Kishtwar is a really great jacket. My only caveat is I would have loved welded seams, but even without them, it's still an incredible jacket. My size medium weighs 20.7 oz. The greatest praise I can give it is that it's basically the "Swiss Army Knife" of jackets. It beats the pants off of the water resistance of any other softshell, and it kills any hardshell in breathability. If I had to pick one jacket to take on all of my trips, from summer backpacking, to winter mountaineering, this would be it. Not only is it hands down the best jacket I own, but I managed to get it for 50% off, which sweetened a pot that didn't need it in the slightest. For any price, this is an incredible jacket, and I would recommend it to anyone. Powershield Pro is a great fabric, and The North Face turned it into an amazing jacket.
I purchased the Back Kishtwar it does not match this photo there
I purchased the Back Kishtwar it does not match this photo there is an emblem on the shoulder and the part where you grab the zipper to pull it up is red. Anyone else have the black one? I want to make sure I was sent the right jacket. There are no other differentiating tags/marks I can find on the jacket and photos of other models have this red accent.
Got an answer via email and online chat. This picture is incorrect (same photo on North Face Website so that one is incorrect too and not really backcountry's fault). There is red trim on the zipper pulls and inside the hood and inside of the main zipper. Overall it is not much red and is an attractive jacket.
This is by far the most versitile shell on the market. I bought it mostly to use as a breathable ski jacket and was absolutely blown away. The material is super water resistant. I have poured water all over it, wore it in the rain, and the material just sheds it like wax. The only way to get the material damp at all is to rub the water in and still the water does not make it all the way through. The material is also highly breathable. When I wear this jacket I hardly notice its there; no stuffy shell feeling whatsoever. I can ski all day in it and still feel fresh and dry. Although very thin, the material seems quite durable and I have no worries that it will snag or tear easily. Polartec has really bridged the gap beween hardshell protection and softshell breathability with the powershield pro. I guarentee every outdoor company will have a jacket with this new material by next year. The jacket itself is quite minimal, sporting two chest high handpockets that hold a ton and are acessed easily, even when wearing a pack, and one chest pocket. The hood would be a bit tight over a helmet and sports multiple sinch-cords that help lock out nasty wind. The waist also is adjustable via drawcords in the hand pockets. I sized up with my jacket to allow for layering and my marmot zeus jacket fits under it perfectly for sking. This will become your go to jacket for all conditions except pouring rain or a blizzard on Denali. Breathable, amost waterproof, lightwieght, strong, and functional, what more could you ask for in a jacket. North Face has truely led the charge into the new frontier with the Kistwar. Besides, you can't beat the value for under 300 bucks.
I was wondering if you could comment on the size you bought and what you usually wear in TNF. I recently bought the Norrona Narvik Powershield Pro and it's sporting an odd fit for someone with my dimensions (wider chest, and not tall). I may end up replacing it with this if the dimensions are more generous.
Hey man, I'm 5'9" and 155 lbs with a 39" chest and I find that the size medium fits perfectly in length as well as the shoulders. It's fitted so that I can still wear a fleece under it comfortably, I even managed to fit a stoic luft sweater underneath it without discomfort, yet it still fits beautifully as it's own layer. I would caution however, that despite Polartec's attempts to not classify it as such, Powershield pro is waterproof. It's a stretchy material with a laminate, meaning that while it is impressively breathable for a laminated jacket, it won't touch the breathability of regular Powershield, and especially not Powershield 02.
What kind of backing does this jacket have? Is it brushed on
What kind of backing does this jacket have? Is it brushed on the inside like the TNF Sentinel or is it waffle knit or....? also, how does it compare with the Gamma AR or Venta AR?
Worth noting that the Kishtwar *isn't* designed to be the most breathable softshell jacket made. If it were, it'd be a failure! There have been softshells around for years that have it beat on breathability. Power Shield Pro is very breathable for a membrane softshell, and a great compromise between waterproofness and breathability, with a lot more water resistance than you'll get with a stretch woven softshell.
It's also worth noting that a lining doesn't decrease or limit breathability per se. Especially when it comes to membrane fabrics like Gore Tex or Power Shield. The type of lining makes a difference, though. Compare Gore Tex Pro Shell and Paclite- waterproofness is the same, but there's a 10K difference in breathability rating because the Pro Shell has a lining and the Paclite doesn't. Food for though!
There is no brushed lining on this jacket. The Kishtwar is designed to be the most breathable softshell jacket made. A lining would limit breathability.
The Kishtwar Jacket represents what is possible in next generation softshells. This jacket is built from the new Polartec Powershield Pro fabric, The North Face is only one of three brands globally to be using this softshell material. Powershield Pro gives you the weather protection of a hardshell, blocks the wind like Windstopper, and actually breathes. The Kishtwar has a very simple feature set compared to the other two Power Shield Pro jacets on the market (Norrona Narvik Powershield Pro & Eider Power Pro jackets) featuring two large front pockets, one Napolean pocket, sans powder skirt or a backer on the interior of the jacket making it quite light. The two front pockets are ample enough for holding skins. Being from the Summit Series this jacket has a more athletic fit. I am 5'10", 135 lbs and the Medium fits very nicely. If you are looking to layer with this jacket I would size up. The Kishtwar has performed beautifully in a number of mixed winter and spring weather conditions, making it the softshell I am reaching for more often than not. Another aspect of the Kishtwar is the price, this jacket is an amazing value for a top end piece. All in all an outstanding jacket!
This material - power shield pro - purports to possess the best
This material - power shield pro - purports to possess the best of softshell and hardshell: highly breathable, stretchy, and comfortable but with hardcore water and wind proofing.
Does anybody have real world experience with the latter claim? I'm looking for for a single winter shell for the slopes and city, something that will keep me dry and comfortable even in the miserable east coast cold/wet/windy trifecta.
There aren't many real reviews out there about this jacket or the fabric. Sounds fantastic, but hoping to hear some actual feedback. Thanks
If you want a single shell, you're not going to do much better than this. Powershield Pro has a hydrostatic head of around 3000 milimeters, this means that if it's simply raining, the jacket is effectively waterproof. It breathes better than a hardshell, but worse than a true softshell, like regular powershield. It's supposedly 99.8% windproof or something like that, and you can feel a very slight amount of air movement when it's really blowing outside, but it's windproof enough. Keep in mind that it's a shell, and if you want to keep warm, you should layer underneath it.
I have used the Kishtwar to backcountry ski. The Kishtwar blocks the wind and will shed water but there are no thermal properties. The Kishtwar is designed to be used while doing aerobic activities. If you where waiting at a bus stop in cold weather this jacket would not keep you warm.
I love this pairing. The pockets on the kishtwar are high enough to not be obstructed when wearing a pack with a hipbelt, and the zipper pulls are pretty easy to find and use with gloves on. I wish the collar was a bit higher, but I intentionally bought the jacket a bit small as I like a close fit. The hood is far too small to wear over my helmet, so I'd suggest trying that feature out prior to purchasing if that is a feature you consider important.
This jacket fits me the way I want it to, is very comfortable, and doesn't include a ton of features I don't want. It has treated me very well skiing this year and I have every confidence that it will also be great for hiking and backpacking this spring. Good product.
May I ask what you're using this jacket for? I've found that it doesn't fit over my bouldering helmet, which is a converted skateboarding helmet, or a ski helmet; however, it did fit over the basic BD Half Dome Climbing helmet. This jacket is marketed as an alpine climbing jacket, so I think that's what it's designed for. It most definitely didn't fit around a ski helmet either.
I'm looking to get a Power Shield Pro jacket and looking
I'm looking to get a Power Shield Pro jacket and looking at this jacket, the Norrona Narvik Jacket and the Eider Power Pro Soft shell. I'm looking for a warm, softshell that will be very weather resistant for winter snow boarding and hiking. TNF Kishtwar is the lease expensive so I'm trying to figure out why the Eider and Norrona is so much better and if they are worth the increased price.
If you want a warm softshell, this is not it. It is a shell jacket, not an insulated jacket or a hardfleece. If you want powershield pro, but also want a warm jacket, look at the Eider Power Pro, as it has a high loft fleece lining. The Norrona and Eider are not better jackets at all, they are different. The Norrona is heavier than the Kishtwar, and the Eider is heaviest of all. For the least amount of money, you could buy a Kishtwar, and then layer a high loft thermal pro fleece like a TNF Scythe, MHW Monkey Man, or Patagonia R2 HL, and that would give you the most flexible clothing system.
I am generally a sweaty mess in the backcountry so breahability is key. In the past I have aways opted for softshells without a membrane so that it would breathe enough for me. In turn I was suspect of this one but went ahead and tried it. I have been extremely impressed with this jacket and the fabric. Simple functional design and I am stoked on the huge front pockets. It breathes better than anything I have ever worn and seems to provide more than ample weather protection. I wore it for three days backpacking a couple weeks ago, we had snow, rain and sun and this jacket handled it all.
1 Comment Last Comment: August 27, 2011 by: Peter Kaminski
By: Peter Kaminski
August 27, 2011
Hurricane Irene update: wore this during more than two hours of horizontal rain and 40ish mile winds during Irene, only got wet through the zippers on the pockets and the (stupidly) sewn logos. Why don't more manufacturers just heat transfer their logos on? Despite that, EXTREMELY impressed with the water resistance.
Flag
Comment on Peter Kaminski's review >