The Dawn Patrol Softshell is a Black Diamond staple, providing durability, breathability, and weather protection in a stretchy, softshell package that’s ideal for long days and banger uphill laps deep in the backcountry.
Constructed from a durable, four-way stretch fabric with a DWR finish, the Dawn Patrol Softshell stands up to year-round use and easily tackles high-output backcountry tours and extended mountain missions with ease. An adjustable helmet-compatible hood, two harness-compatible hand pockets and two skin-compatible internal drop pockets keep you and your need-to-reach essentials covered.
At Black Diamond, we're committed to going deep, whether that's into the mountains, the design process, or the community we love. Our fall/winter collection of equipment and apparel is built for the experience of casting off, and diving into the deep end of adventure.
Overall rating: 4.8 / 5 from 10 reviews.
Review topics: ["fit","size","weather","pockets","material","wear","color","features","feel","stretch","sleeves","jacket","shell","hood","softshell","water"].
"Perfect jacket for a spring trip to Big Sky. From a downpour rain to sleet to a pop up blizzard, this jacket stood strong through the elements. Water beaded up and dripped away leaving me dry and a subject of envy on the chairlift. Material was highly breathable and roomy and stretchy an ouch to accommodate insulating layers. I used the hood and gusseted it tight for a snug fit around my helmet. The chest pocket was the perfect height for my RFID card. The Flax was not as yellow as I thought, but I am happy as I was easily accounted for by my ski buddies. I’m 5’7, 165# and ordered an XL to ensure a loose fit around my curvy hips. Very satisfied with this order. Dawn patrol pants were equally awesome."
"Provides great wind protection with great stretch while hiking and climbing in 45 degree weather. I hate restrictive clothing so this jacket works great for me. I purchased a small (5’4 120 athletic build) and provides plenty of room to layer with a thin fleece/puffy. Haven’t taken it skiing yet but sure it will work great on a warmer day."
"Black Diamond women's jackets are functional and tailored for a nice fit. This softshell easily layers under the Black Diamond Factor Shell jacket when a breathable mid-layer is needed or on it's own on warmer days."
"Does the job. I could have gotten a size smaller, but it's nice to have the room for layers."
"It is stretchy, fits true to size. I also like the color."
"So far I’ve been enjoying this jacket a lot. It’s a great weight for cool weather fall climbing and will definitely be great for ski touring. It’s a stretchy, durable, and breathable fabric and so far shows no sign of wear even though I’ve rubbed against a lot of coarse rock and snagged it on branches. I love that there’s a zippered chest pocket, interior mesh pockets (for skins or other things like gloves, soft water bottle, etc), and a big, helmet compatible hood. The fit is mostly good—mine is a medium, my usual size— although the torso and sleeves are on the shorter side, at least for climbing (the jacket wants to ride up out of a harness). I do have long arms but not a long torso. All in all, recommended!"
"I was psyched to try out my Black Diamond Dawn Patrol Soft Shell in Mammoth Lakes after a decent snowstorm. I was able to do a short tour and hike and I’m really impressed with this jacket. First I love the color and fit. Usually I size up, I’m normally an xs, so I can fit a puffy under my shell but this fits true to size with some stretch. It’s a great jacket for early/late season conditions. It’s pretty light and breathable so even when I started to get warm on the ascent I never felt too hot. I also didn’t feel uncomfortably cold at any point. I fell in some snow on my ascent while touring and I managed to keep pretty dry. The only complaint is I wish the pockets were slightly larger. Maybe it’s user error on my part but shoving skins into the inner jacket pockets was a little bit of a hassle."
"Just received this jacket, and really like the fit and material. I am typically a S but sometimes size up for outer layers - but the S fits me great. Not overly boxy but room to layer with a puffy and not too tight around the hips. The material has excellent stretch and is super comfortable. As someone who typically wears hard shells, I'm excited to have this in rotation to break out for tours."
"I just received my Black Diamond Dawn Patrol Softshell a few days ago! While I haven't had the weather yet to put it through the paces, I have gotten it out in some light rain and wind in chilly, fall temperatures. The material is tightly woven but soft and malleable, and feels very durable. Lighter-weight than a hard shell, the Dawn Patrol also doesnt have pit vents because it is inherently more breathable than a 3L shell. I'm 5'6" and 120lbs with a slim build, and I wear a Small in the Women's version of this jacket. It fits great in the torso, hanging slightly over my butt, with enough room to layer under it, but slim enough to not be too baggy when worn by itself. The sleeves felt a bit long for being a Small and they were definitely spacious. This would easily accommodate a puffy under it, but I often wear vests when I ski-tour so I personally wish the sleeves were a bit slimmer. One of my favorite features of the jacket so far are the pockets, which are harness compatible and hit a bit higher on the waist. It also has a chest pocket that fits my phone with enough room for an extra granola bar or two in there. I bet it could also fit a small soft flask of water if that's your hydration system. Inside the jacket, the waist pockets have drop pockets on the inside which I love to have for quick storage of my skins None of the pockets are beacon-rated. I like wearing mine in my thigh pocket so this doesn't matter to me but is good to know if you prefer chest placement. I also love the hood shape and size. It's helmet compatible, with a draw-cord in the back to cinch it down if you're not wearing a helmet. The Recco strip for the jacket (a passive reflector that helps some rescue operations find you if you're buried in an avalanche) is in the front bill of the hood so it also serves to provide some rigity to keep the hood off of your face when you wear it without a helmet or a hat. The top few inches inside the zipper also have a layer of fleece so it's soft around your face during a storm, making it another one of my favorite features. I'll post an updated review when I've had a chance to put it through the paces. I'm personally excited to see how it performs as a more breathable option than my hardshells during stormy tours. I plan on using this while ski-touring and mountaineering this winter, which I do plenty of as an avalanche and alpinism instructor! I received this product for free in exchange for an honest review."
"I’ve been testing the Black Diamond Women’s Dawn Patrol Softshell, and while I haven’t had the chance to use it in the snow yet, it’s already showing a lot of promise for touring days. The fit is great, I’m 5'8", and the women’s size S fits me really well with room to layer underneath. The material has a nice stretch to it, which makes it super comfortable for active movement like hiking, climbing, or ski touring. The color is exactly what’s shown on the website, which I appreciate. Some thoughtful design features stand out: The hood is generously sized and easily fits over a climbing or ski helmet. The pockets are big enough to carry climbing skins, and they’re positioned high enough to be accessible while wearing a harness or pack waist belt. The high front zipper also makes it more compatible with gear setups. That said, there are a couple of small drawbacks. The cuffs are a bit loose for my taste and maybe they’re designed that way to go over gloves, but I’d prefer a more secure fit. Also, for a jacket intended for ski touring, underarm vent zips would be a useful addition for dumping heat on the uphill. Overall, this feels like a great layer for dry, cold days. It ideal for sunny, windy, or overcast conditions, but probably not something I’d rely on in a wet PNW storm. Black Diamond gave me this free product to try. I received this product for free in exchange for my honest review."
| Size | Chest | Hip | Arm Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| XXS | 31 - 32 in 78.5 - 81 cm | 32.5 - 34 in 87.5 - 91.5 cm | 29.5 in 75 cm |
| XS | 32.5 - 34 in 82.5 - 86.5 cm | 34.5 - 36 in 87.5 - 91.5 cm | 30 in 76 cm |
| S | 34.5 - 36 in 87.5 - 91.5 cm | 36.5 - 38 in 92.5 - 96.5 cm | 30.5 in 77.5 cm |
| M | 36.5 - 38.5 in 92.5 - 98 cm | 38.5 - 40.5 in 97.5 - 103 cm | 31 in 79 cm |
| L | 39 - 41.5 in 99 - 105.5 cm | 41 - 43.5 in 104 - 110.5 cm | 31.5 in 80 cm |
| XL | 42 - 45 in 106.5 - 114 cm | 44 - 47.5 in 111.5 - 120.5 cm | 31.5 in 80 cm |
Designed to fit slim to the body for an athletic, low-profile fit without restricting mobility and accommodating base layers or light midlayers.
A classic universal fit with comfortable ease. May feature slight body shaping, but predominantly straighter fit that will accommodate midlayers more comfortably.
Generous through the body for a casual loose-to-oversized fit without shaping. Designed for comfort, it accommodates heavier mid-layers.
Measure around the chest/bust just under the arms and across the shoulder blades.
Measure from the center back of the neck, across the shoulder, and down the arm to the wrist.
Measure around the widest point of the hips.
Measure around the narrowest part of the waist.
