Ion windshirt

When it comes to blocking wind the Ion does what it says; it blocks. Unfortunately the wind shirt lacks a waist draw-cord, which allows the wind to enter through the bottom of the shirt. This however, is easily fixable by tucking the shirt into your pants. The shirt is very thin and weights almost nothing allowing it to be compressed to fit into your pocket. This however, raises the question of durability. I have only worn this shirt on one hiking trip and thus can’t comment on its durability or breathability. However Marmot’s DriClime shirt is made of the same fabric and it has gotten great reviews on its performance. Finally, if you’re wearing this shirt when it’s raining, don’t expect to stay dry. Water beads and falls off when it’s drizzling but if you stay in the rain for too long you will get wet.

Positives: Blocks the wind, weights practically nothing, compressible, chest pocket, hood, elastic cuffs, water repellent

Negatives: No waist draw-cord

People expeting the same degree of breathability of the driclime windshirt will be disapointed.

Those looking for an ultralight windshell for high-areobic activities will also be disapointed.

It's a good product which unfortunately fails to be a great product because of it's failure to provide for adequate venting.
I mean what's the point of having a windshirt that breathes only marginally better than a hardshell?

It's great to have a windshirt that allows you to manage the sweat you generate during strenuous activities, prevent losing massive amounts of heat through evaporation and keep layers that you put on top of this windshirt drier. I use my Ion with a light base layer underneath in temperatures down around 20-25F while I stay active. When you stop and layer up, the Ion prevents your sweaty baselayer from wetting your insulative layers.

Great ultralight windshell.