Brooks Essential Run Jacket (For Men)

Great jacket for around town on a spring day.

Great running jacket

I'm very happy with the purchase

This is an attractive and nicely styled jacket. We just bought it, but it looks like it will last a long time. We bought a men's XS for my 5'4" skinny teenager and it fits him well.

Works very well as wind-shell over tech-tee and long-sleeve micro-fleece, down to about 10°F—non uncommon temp for before sunrise winter runs here in Colorado, and that screaming neon yellow is necessary for runs on the road in the dark.

Preferences differ but at 55° and higher, I wear a short- or no-sleeve tech-fabric tee and shorts (also always wear a hat or visor). 45°-55°, long sleeve tee over sleeveless shirt (add thinnest gloves and switch to running knickers that cover knees when approaching 45°). 30°-45°, switch to running tights and a little heavier long-sleeve. At about 28°, cover ears (I use an ear-band) and use a little heavier gloves. 25°-35°, micro-fleece top over long-sleeve tech-tee. Approaching 25°, add a wind-shell vest and hat that covers ears. At 20°-25°, switch to long-sleeve shell like the Brooks jacket. 10°-15°, add wind-pants over tights, and I add a 'lobster-claw' gore-tex shell over gloves (or you could go with heavier gloves). Under 10°? That's what the elliptical in the basement is for! That's all assuming little or no wind

Media pocket on this jacket is redundant, since it's layered under the zippered hand pocket. Hint to manufacturers—don't layer pockets, put them in different places (you don't want to stack the things in your pockets, you want to distribute them). A media pocket works best at breast-pocket level (less bounce than waist-level), and improves reception if you use a Bluetooth headset like I do.

Medium is roomy but OK for me at 5'8" 150 pounds. Small would probably also be OK . Based on fit of the jacket, I ordered the same model vest in Small.