A hybrid softshell combining a highly weather resistant shell material with thin, breathable underarm panels, the OR Enchainment is a specialized piece most conducive to ice climbing and backcountry skiing.
The Enchainment has a hybrid design similar to that of the Marmot ROM - Women's, with a primary material that is weather resistant used in tandem with breathable panels under the arms. The Enchainment's underarm panel is much smaller than on the ROM. It reaches from about 3 inches above the hem, runs underneath the whole arm, and stops about 3 inches from the sleeve cuffs. It also winds thinly across the back of the neck and has small patches on the hood and on the front by the chin. On the ROM, which is a much more breathable jacket overall, these panels form a wider swath under the arms and go all the way down the sleeve and completely around the wrist forming the cuff itself. The Enchainment feels stuffier than many of the other softshells we tested.
This piece has a more hard shell-esque, tightly woven polyester shell material that does an excellent job of repelling rain and snow. The most important seams, such as those along the shoulders and hood, are welded, ensuring that moisture won't creep through the stitching. This jacket provides more weather protection than many of the softshells we tested, even more so than our Editors' Choice, the Arc'teryx Gamma MX Hoody - Women's. The trade off for this weather resistance is that it lacks in breathability.
The Enchainment has the hard, crunchy feel of a hard shell jacket rather than the supple feel we have come to love with softshells. It still moves adequately with the wearer, but doesn't disappear during movement like the Gamma MX.
At under a pound for a size medium (when all the others we tested were a size small) the Enchainment is impressive in its weight savings. The lightweight fabrics keep the jacket slim, and allow for the inclusion of a useful, thick zipper without making the jacket heavy.
The Enchainment can be adapted to fit the wearer in all the right ways: adjustable hem, adjustable hood with a wire brim, and adjustable cuffs. It has the perfect amount of storage: two mesh-lined hand pockets, one exterior chest pocket, and one mesh interior chest pocket. Lastly, our favorite feature is the zipper. It is burly, easy to pull up and down while wearing gloves, and is unlikely to snag or break. Our pet peeve is when manufacturers skimp on zippers and use flimsy versions that come apart after even short usage. Not so on the Enchainment, kudos OR.
The style of the Enchainment is simple and technical. It is available in common yet attractive colors such as red, blue, green, and black. Nothing about it screams for attention, yet it isn't unappealing either.
Since this jacket's forte is protection from the elements, we find that it works best during stop-and-start activities where you exert a lot of energy and heat, and then stand still for a bit, and also are exposed to wet and windy conditions, such as during ice climbing, mountaineering, backcountry skiing and ski mountaineering.
At $219, the Enchainment falls right in the middle of the price field. It is almost half the price of jackets that push the $400 mark, but still more than budget models. At this price, it offers outstanding weather protection and features. We think this piece is a good buy.
