After the middle of 2010, combat-tactical division of the Canadian company Arc’teryx has produced a fine and light softshell shirt/jacket LEAF Sphinx Halfshell. Later the shirt Sphinx Halfshell together with the same-name pants became a part of previously manufactured line of LEAF ACL (Armour Compatible Layering). This collection, and it’s easy to guess by its title, comprised clothes that had been designed considering employment of various individual protection systems, as well as various vests, load bearing equipment and the similar.
The primary features of LEAF ACL special-purpose collection, which also included LEAF Gryphon Halfshell jacket, were a new innovative style with regard of active application and use of different types of elastic, waterproof and vapor-proof materials. As distinguished from LEAF Gryphon Halfshell, which may be employed all the year round, LEAF Sphinx Halfshell is a lighter and more breathable version, which is more appropriate for the beginning of autumn, late spring and cold summer weeks.
The shirt structure is predominantly combined of two types of elastic mixed synthetic materials: Tweave Durastretch 520e (91% of nylon and 9% of spandex) and Tweave Durastretch LT 536n (84% of nylon and 16% of spandex). Both softshell materials were coated with water-repelling treatment. The first type of material, which is tighter, was used for production of the collar, shoulder parts and sleeves, while the second one, not so dense fabric, was utilized in the design of the torso part and armpit zones.
Before passing over to the tailoring peculiarities, it is worth mentioning one more type of material, utilized in LEAF Sphinx Halfshell - soft microfleece used for internal upholstering of the collar. It is just this material (or, more specifically, the color of this material) reminding an ordinary undercollar that represents the only drawback of the shirt – dust and sweat are quick enough to spoil the item considerably. But it refers more likely to the negative features of the MultiCam color pattern, because in black and sandy (Crocodile) schemes the manufacturer used black microfleece, and that is definitely more appropriate for combat-field weargear.
In general, the configuration of softshell shirt LEAF Sphinx Halfshell includes a banded collar around 7 cm high, a central fastening up to the middle of the chest with YKK zipper (the fastener is trimmed with a heat-shrinkable cord), seamless shoulder zones, lengthened adjusted sleeves with ventilation openings, as well as low-profiled pockets (23 × 23 cm) on each shoulder and Velcro-panels for attaching necessary identifiers.
The design of the sleeves makes up the basic feature that distinguishes the shirt from other similar items, including ordinary combat shirts. The sleeves are moderately enlarged and free, with profiled elbow areas (there are no reinforcing layers or provisions for inserting protective damping pads) and adjustable cuffs with tight rubber straps and Velcro fasteners.
The sleeves are made with large ventilation openings that are closed with YKK zippers 42 cm long and bidirectional sliders. The sliders are equipped with short cords, which allow easy zipping and unzipping of the vents. Despite the zippers being really long, it doesn’t influence their operational convenience (no chafing or clinging). The only drawback here – the zipper cords in the bottom lower position on the sleeves may cling to the elements of external equipment.
Apart from the above-mentioned peculiarities, the design of the sleeves provides horizontal retention straps almost 4 cm wide. The straps are made of a layer of the main camouflage material and Velcro fasteners. Together with the large ventilation openings, these straps allow rolling up and secure attachment of the sleeves, thus transforming LEAF Sphinx Halfshell into a shirt/jacket with short sleeves.
Unlike LEAF Gryphon Halfshell, where there are provided special pockets for rolled-up sleeves, the sleeves of LEAF Sphinx Halfshell are simply folded up and stowed under the pockets, then retained by straps. All the transformation process is rather primitive, may be performed with merely one hand, and there’s no need to remove gloves or other protective gear. First, you need to pass your arm through the ventilation opening, and then roll up and retain the sleeve.
For the goals of the present review, the softshell shirt LEAF Sphinx Halfshell was ordered in medium size (for the height of 185 cm). The estimated price of the item will make 350 US dollars.
