Article by Nico Wagner
Stellar Equipment Guide Shell Hybrid Jacket and Pants
Test environment
Tested over two multi-day trips in the Silvretta and Gurgl regions, primarily for ski touring on glacier areas. Conditions included sunny and cloudy weather, mostly warm temperatures and strong winds. The kit saw around 30 hours of use and covered roughly 10,000 vertical meters, from hut approaches to glacier travel and the final climb to the peak.
Specs
Guide Shell Hybrid Jacket - 580 gr in Size Large - 399 EUR
Guide Shell Hybrid Pants - 650 g in Size Large - 299 EUR
Pros
Smart design (tough and long-lasting materials) that provides waterproofing and breathability in key areas.
Generous ventilation zippers on both the jacket and pants for temperature control.
Tailored fit with a lot of stretch for a great feel and unrestricted movement.
Two-way zipper (jacket) allows easy access to your harness
RECCO reflector at brim of hood
Cons
Lacks built-in gaiters on the pants, which may impact snow protection.
Belt is a little bit too elastic
Fit & First Impressions
Both the jacket and pants have an athletic fit, so I sized up to a Large for ski touring and mountaineering. I am 180 cm (5’11”) tall and weigh around 70 kg (154 lbs). The jacket fits perfectly in Large, leaving enough room for an insulating layer underneath.
However, I could have stuck with my usual Medium for the pants, particularly around the hip area. The elastic belt holds up well, but I find it could be a bit tighter for a more secure fit.
Both pieces feel great to wear, with plenty of stretch in key areas, ensuring unrestricted movement. The pants fit well over lightweight ski touring boots like the Atomic Backland, Scarpa F1 or Dynafit TLT.
I tested them with my Backland XTD boots, and while they worked fine, anything bulkier might be a tight fit. The pants don’t include a built-in gaiter, but adding one would be a great improvement in future iterations.
Description & Details
The Guide Shell Hybrid Kit is engineered to balance hardshell weather protection with softshell breathability and stretch. It features Dermizax hardshell fabric (20,000 mm waterproofing, 20,000 g/m²/24h breathability) in high-exposure areas such as the shoulders, knees, and zones prone to snow accumulation, while breathable, stretchable softshell fabric is placed where mobility and airflow are most needed.
For added durability, the inner lower legs are reinforced to withstand contact with ski edges and crampons.
Ventilation is well thought out, with large underarm zippers on the jacket and zippered thigh vents on the pants, allowing for quick temperature regulation.
The zippers function smoothly, and the two generously sized jacket pockets are perfectly placed for easy access while wearing a harness or backpack. The pants also offer ample storage, featuring two smaller pockets and two larger ones, including a dedicated space for an avalanche beacon.
Performance & Conclusion
I’ll admit—I was skeptical at first about the hybrid softshell/hardshell concept in a ski touring kit. Would it really offer the best of both worlds, or would it come with compromises?
After putting the Stellar Guide Shell Hybrid Kit to the test, I can confidently say it works amazingly well.
The biggest challenge with softshells is weather protection, but Stellar has solved this by using body-mapped fabrics — placing hardshell exactly where you need waterproofing, while keeping softshell fabric in areas that benefit from stretch and breathability. This means you get unrestricted movement, incredible ventilation, and reliable weather protection, all in one lightweight kit.
Overheating is rare (even when ascending), thanks to the unmatched breathability of the softshell fabric, and when needed, the huge ventilation zips provide instant airflow.
On colder days, adding an insulating layer underneath keeps you warm without sacrificing mobility.
The strategically placed hardshell panels also make a big difference when bootpacking or scrambling, offering extra protection in high-contact areas.
If you’re a ski tourer looking for a high-performance, breathable and functional kit, I’d totally recommend the Stellar Guide Shell Hybrid Jacket and Pants. The freedom of movement and ventilation will amaze you, and you won’t be sacrificing any essential weather protection.
Comparison
Black Diamond Dawn Patrol Hybrid Jacket (380 EUR) + Black Diamond Dawn Patrol Hybrid Pants (330 EUR): The Stellar Guide Kit offers a more streamlined fit, which feels better optimized for ski touring compared to the slightly baggier Dawn Patrol kit. Ventilation is also superior—thanks to larger vent zippers and better-placed softshell panels, making uphill travel much more comfortable. While both kits provide similar weather protection, the Stellar Guide Kit’s balance of breathability, mobility, and fit makes it in my opinion the better choice for ski touring.
Tester Profile
Nico, 29 years old, Innsbruck (Austria). I started running in 2019 after moving to Vienna. To add some variety to my training for the Vienna City Marathon, I started running on the trails around Kahlenberg. When the pandemic hit and everything was cancelled, I moved to Innsbruck. Since Innsbruck has limited flat terrain, I began trail running in the Nordkette area. I quickly became hooked and mainly trained there, participating in several races between 60-85 kilometers. In the last two years, I've focused more on shorter, faster trail races between 20 and 45 kilometers. In the off-season and winter, besides road running, I spend my time mainly (ski) mountaineering. My 5k PB is 17:30, I've never run any other road races.
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