Arc'teryx Sidewinder AR Jacket - Women's - 2009 BCS

After ogling this jacket for close to three years, I finally got it in my grasp last season. (Thanks ODAT!) I absolutely love it and would totally recommend it to everyone I know. The only thing I would change (and hard core gear heads may disagree) is that the area around the face needs a teensy weensy bit of insulation. The flap over the zipper has it, but it stops short and my face gets freezing. (Down with neck gaters!) Other than that - bomb proof.

I hemmed and hawed about spending so much money on a single article of clothing that only covers half of my body, but am very glad I decided to do it. Having found it on sale helped, too.

The Sidewinder has a lot of features I love:
-Stowable hood that fits over your helmet with an easy-to-use-in-gloves cinch for the non-helmet adventures
-Powder-skirt that doesn't feel in the way
-Shorter front length (minimizes bunchiness), longer back length (prevents the refreshing surprise of snow and rain down the back of the pants when bending over, and prevents the jacket from coming up above your pack strap or harness)
-Actually keeps you dry if you're in the rain for 2 days straight. By Day 4 of solid rain I'm a little damp, but I suppose that's part of what the SV model is for.... In every other "waterproof"-breathable shell I've had I'd be soaked by the beginning of Day 2.
-Offset sip at the top is key. It's nice and soft on the flap, too, to avoid the cold-zipper-freezing-to-the-face phenomenon.
-Tapering of the sleeves and detailing of the cuffs does a good job in keeping the wet stuff out.

When picking your size, keep in mind that the fit is a little tighter around the bottom of the jacket, and a little more roomy at the shoulders. I find that this actually works well in minimizing jacket bulk while stil maintaining your ability to move your arms over your head and whatnot when climbing. I'm 6'2" and ~170, so I'm not the average woman, and my size large fits great.

Arc'teryx is stellar for customer support, too, which is a big factor in major purchases I make.

This is sincerely the best jacket I have ever owned. The 3L gortex keeps you dry on even the wettest days. The side zipper makes for the most comfortable nuzzling on the coldest days, I would recommend this to anyone and everyone and if you are considering it give it a shot, I promise you wont regret it!