Well, that聮s an interesting question. Beyond (beyondclothing.com) is an Oregon-based company that makes a range of fleece and soft shell products (as well as some with Primaloft) that are “made to order.” You pick the garment and color, add things such as pockets or hoods, and send in your body dimensions. You then get a custom-made piece and the price really isn聮t unreasonable. Beyond聮s Cold Fusion X soft shell, for example, has a base price of $199. That can hit $300 by the time you聮re finished, but that still compares well with similar products such as the Cloudveil Serendipity ($229; cloudveil.com) or Mammut Laser ($299; mammut.ch).
Beyond Cold Fusion X Jacket
Cold Fusion X JacketAnd the Beyond Cold Fusion X is a great piece. It uses Schoeller WB-400 fabric, a three-layer material that has a tough woven outer, a windproof inner membrane, and a fleece lining. It聮s great for winter activities where you聮re intermittently working hard聴downhill skiing, for instance. And it聮s the kind of soft shell I prefer, versus ones that use a more hard shell-like material. Mountain Hardwear聮s Torch ($260; mountainhardwear.com), for instance, uses a Gore Windstopper shell with a light brushed lining. That makes it more wind- and water-resistant than something like the Cold Fusion X, but it聮s not as warm. In other words, it聮s something you聮d use more like a windshirt rather than a jacket. The Torch is a great piece, but it represents a little bit of a different take on the soft shell.
I聮d certainly take a look at the Serendipity or Laser, as both are high-end pieces that might offer a bit more for the buck. While I think the idea of a custom garment has some appeal, unless you have a really weird body type, I don聮t think the custom fit adds that much. And you end up paying for “custom” features that are simply a matter of course elsewhere. So my advice is to price out what you聮d like from Beyond, and then compare that to some other makers聮 offerings.
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