Reviews You Can Rely On

REI Shuksan II Review

gearlab tested logo
REI Shuksan II Review
Credit: REI
Price:  $249 List
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
Manufacturer:   REI
By Andy Wellman ⋅ Senior Review Editor  ⋅  Nov 15, 2016
45
OVERALL
SCORE
  • Weather Protection - 35% 3.0
  • Weight - 20% 4.0
  • Mobility and Fit - 20% 5.0
  • Breathability - 15% 6.0
  • Features - 10% 7.0

Our Verdict

The REI Shuksan II is the most affordable jacket in our review and the only one to feature eVent as its waterproof/breathable membrane. We were interested to see how a more budget-conscious item that purports to have the same characteristics as jackets costing over $300.00 more stacked up to the competition. While we are sure that many people will be happy with the performance of this jacket for recreational purposes like camping or around-town use, we must say that it was by far and away the lowest performer in this review, and we wouldn't recommend it to our readers who are looking for a technical garment for alpine or backcountry use.
REASONS TO BUY
Affordable
REI guarantee
Good set of features
REASONS TO AVOID
Heavy
Very bulky and boxy
Short sleeves and hem
Poor hood
Discontinued
As of November 2016, the Shuksan II has been confirmed discontinued.

Our Analysis and Test Results

While the REI Shuksan II claims to be up to the same tasks as the competition, that simply isn't the case. We found a whole range of problems that would make us choose to steer clear of this jacket for real alpine or ice climbing or backcountry skiing use. It is heavy and extremely bulky and baggy in the chest and torso. Additionally, it's not terribly mobile, had super short sleeves and a high hem line (both of which rode up on us), and lots of water leaked in at the hood in our shower test. That said, there were some positives, like the waterproofness of the eVent fabric, the internal pockets and pit zips, and low cost. However, these perks were not enough for us to consider recommending this budget hardshell jacket.

Performance Comparison


rei shuksan ii - the shuksan ii on a snowy powder day near silverton. despite many...
The Shuksan II on a snowy powder day near Silverton. Despite many days out skiing in this jacket for this review, it was our least favorite and not one we would recommend for these types of days.
Credit: Elizabeth Riley

Weather Protection


In our shower test this jacket was unfortunately the worst of the bunch, even worse than the Patagonia M10. While the hood was large enough for use with a helmet, we found that water ran off the edge and poured like a rain gutter straight down the neck. Not only that, but when we exposed the pit zips to the water coming from the shower head, we found that the zippers on the pit zips leaked as well, although this was a minor concern compared to the hood. The other zippers performed just fine. The really short hemline and sleeves didn't give us the kind of protection we wanted either. All of these factors led us to award this jacket just 3 out of 10 points.

rei shuksan ii - this jacket experienced a bit of wetting out after only a few...
This jacket experienced a bit of wetting out after only a few months, but worse, the hood filtered water down off the sides where it then ran down into the neck. The long ends of the pull cords to tighten the hood could be annoying in a strong windstorm, but not in the shower.
Credit: Elizabeth Riley

Weight


At 18.8 ounces for a men's size large, the Shuksan II is only barely lighter than the Mountain Hardwear Torsun. It is equally as bulky and doesn't pack down to a small size for comfortable carrying in the pack.

Mobility & Fit


rei shuksan ii - perhaps our biggest problem with this jacket was the high hemline...
Perhaps our biggest problem with this jacket was the high hemline and the really short sleeves. here you can see the sleeves riding up our arms and the hem coming up past the waist.
Credit: Elizabeth Riley
The hood on this hardshell works OK with a helmet; it grips well and turns adequately, providing unobstructed vision. However, the fit of this jacket was just terrible. The sleeves were much too short and the hem continuously rode up on us, much like the Marmot Nano AS. The fit in the chest and torso was perhaps the baggiest and most spacious of any we tried, similar to the Arc'teryx Theta AR. The material is loud and crinkly, not form fitting, and is not very supple.

rei shuksan ii - while we admit that our head tester is skinny, this jacket was one...
While we admit that our head tester is skinny, this jacket was one of the bulkiest and especially baggiest size larges that we tried. This may be a good option if you are a larger dude, but for us there was simply far too much extra fabric in the equation.
Credit: Elizabeth Riley

Breathability


During our treadmill test, we found that the eVent membrane certainly did breathe and was better than some jackets, but not as good as top performers like the Arc'teryx Alpha FL or Westcomb Shift LT. We noticed the slightest bit of perspiration built up on the inside of the arms, but none around the neck.

This hardshell jacket breathes fairly well and includes pit zips to aid with ventilation.

Features


Features is the one category that we rated the Shuksan II relatively well. We loved its large internal mesh stash pockets for keeping track of gloves, hat, or water bottles. We also liked the fleece lining around the collar of the neck that made for extra comfort. However, we thought the draw cord buckles were sub-par and the Velcro on the wrist enclosures also seemed less than awesome.

rei shuksan ii - we loved the dual large internal stash pockets on this jacket. we...
We loved the dual large internal stash pockets on this jacket. We found them to be great for storing extra pairs of gloves, mittens, or a hat. One could even stick a water bottle in there to keep it warm. We wish more jackets had this feature.
Credit: Elizabeth Riley

rei shuksan ii - this heavy jacket came with a ton of features, including dual...
This heavy jacket came with a ton of features, including dual Napolean style chest pockets that are best accessed by crossing the hand over from the other side. Most jackets only have one of these.
Credit: Elizabeth Riley

Best Applications


We generally recommend hardshell jackets for activities like backcountry skiing, alpine climbing, ice climbing, resort skiing, or even backpacking. Unfortunately, we wouldn't recommend this jacket for any of these activities. As it is the most affordable option here, we could see people being happy with it for things like urban hiking or perhaps watching your kid's football game in a snowstorm. However, for these uses, you will find more affordable options in our rain jacket review. If you're looking for an affordable hardshell for tough winter use, consider the Mountain Hardwear Torsun.

rei shuksan ii - standing atop the couloir and staring down through the hallway...
Standing atop the couloir and staring down through the hallway. Pretty excited to ski this one after a three hour approach.
Credit: Dakota Soifer

Value


The Shuksan II only costs $249.00, making it cheaper than every other jacket we reviewed. However, we think you would probably be better off getting a rain jacket for $140.00, so we don't think this jacket is a very good value.

Conclusion


If the old saying, “You get what you pay for,” is true, then you certainly get the very least weather protection for the very least money with the REI Shuksan II.

rei shuksan ii - couloir skiing on north facing aspects in the san juan mountains of...
Couloir skiing on north facing aspects in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado is a great way to escape from sunnier aspects. Not a bad day at the testing office.
Credit: Dakota Soifer

Other Versions


Women's Shuksan II Jacket - $249.00
  • Women's version

Andy Wellman