Mountain Hardwear Synchro Ski Jacket - Women's - 2008 BCS

Waterproof softshell. Enough said. That was why I bought it and it performs splendidly in that regard. Hence, two thumbs up. Now down to the nitty-gritty.

Cons:
• The user must be careful with the primary zipper – if you do not fully lock it into the base, it will unzip from the bottom.
• There’s a fantastic place for a season lift ticket. Not so much for a day-pass. It can’t go at the bottom of the primary zipper. And to make it go on any of the other zippers, you have to remove the pull extension. I resigned myself to attaching my lift tickets to the synches at the hem of the jacket. Functional, of course, but it’s a small thing that’s so obvious and so easily fixed.
• The hood does not detach. I’m putting the hood in “pros” as well but I know some people won’t like that it doesn’t detach. Personally, I’m fine with it. But I don’t recommend trying to use the hood if you’re not wearing a helmet. That said, why aren’t you wearing a helmet??
• Gussets do not have a mesh barrier. (Personal peeve. Others prefer this, I know.)

Pros:
• It’s a waterproof softshell. It’s awesome. It has flattering feminine lines. It moves easily and can stand up with the best of shells.
• The hood is perfect to fit over a helmet and the extra support in the brim of the hood is a nice bonus.
• The music player exterior/interior pocket configuration. I was skiing alone and had no clue how much I love riding the ski lift while listening to Chopin and cutting up the snow while listening to the Chili Peppers.
• It’s not bulky. While a gazillion pockets are nice, they do make for a bulky jacket. This jacket does not have that problem. And, truth be told, what more do you really need than your mp3 player, some cash, your locker key, and a trail map?

The bottom line: This jacket does the Mountain Hardwear name proud. It’s a few-frills jacket that performs wonderfully. If you want more than the technical advantages and the organizational basics, then check it out.

Also, did I mention that Backcountry.com rocks? If not, just so you know, Backcountry.com rocks. (Ask me sometime about the single best customer service experience that I’ve ever had.)

The Large is not roomy enough for a 6 foot female. Its too short and not big enough for necessary layering. I would go with the arcteryx if you're looking for some butt coverage.