Outdoor Research Elusive Windstopper® Jacket - Soft Shell (For Men)

Bought this jacket for my son who wanted a light weight shell that he could use with layers of polertec for skiing. He loves it and says he stays warm.

Pros: Nice, long pit zips Vertical chest pockets are accessible with a pack on Fabric feels durable Looks even better in person than in the picture Could've been a great jacket but weird design elements lead me to returning it. Cons: - Hood is not compatible with a ski helmet - When hood is rolled up in the collar it makes the collar really bulky/stiff. I'd rather a fully removable, softshell hood or no hood at all. - Horizontal chest pockets are weird to unzip, get things in/out of and the flaps covering them are odd. The flaps are fixed on the zipper side, loose by your armpits. If you're wearing a pack the horizontal chest pockets pretty much become useless with gloves on. Outdoor Research, why not have a traditional, vertical chest pocket like all of the other manufacturers?

THis is more of a hard shell rather than a soft shell. Fabric is stiffer than most soft shells - but it wears well. Just don't think of it as a soft shell.

My husband really likes the feel of this. It does need base layers added for freezing temps.

nice snug fitting shell. good value for the price.

Have not tried it in a severe rain yet. Trim fit. Fits well but not sized for heavier underlayers. Not as "soft" as my old soft shell.

Good for wide temperature range.