By Sauerpus from Utah on 4/12/2008

I wanted a shell that was lighter weight than my heavy winter gear, but that was still waterproof and durable enough to withstand harsh environments if needed. I am extremely pleased with this jacket.

While not the most breathable on the market at 15Kg/M2/24Hr, I have yet to feel clammy in it and the shell beads up and sheds water like a duck. Warmth is outstanding in high winds and cold weather by layering underneath, yet without the layers it is light enough to wear in lieu of a fleece during milder, wet weather, especially with the armpit vents. The hood is excellent, giving good peripheral vision and moving with the head without giving the boxed-in feeling that so many hoods give when you try to look around. The collar gives excellent protection to the lower face and neck.

The sleeves feel a bit too long without gloves on, but are perfect with them. Without gloves, cinching down the cuffs over my wrists mitigates the excessive length. Since I am left handed and wear my watch on the right wrist, the watch window doesn't work for me, but it is a good idea and visibility through it is sufficient. All seams are nicely taped without any lifted corners or edges like what I've seen on cheaper jackets.

The .mp3 player pocket is a nice touch, and pockets are intelligently placed throughout the jacket. Pockets are mesh-lined to give better breathability and to reduce weight. The mesh seems strong enough to be durable, but I would be careful not to put anything into the pockets that is sharp or that could snag.

Zippers are coated and waterproof and zipper pulls are large enough to use with gloved hands. The zipper pulls also have very small rubber "spikes" (for lack of a better word) that grip the fingers when manipulating the zippers. This should give good purchase in cold or wet weather to prevent fingers from slipping off of the zipper pulls.

In all, the jacket is exactly what I was looking for and should serve well in the Wind Rivers, Uintahs, Tetons, or Beartooth Range where weather can quickly turn ugly even in the summer. The jacket is light enough at just over 2lbs that it will find a spot in my backpack without too much trouble, yet durable enough that I won't have to nurse every scrape against a tree or rock. I give it 5 out of 5 stars for its intended purpose.

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