Norrøna /29 Flex2 Full-Zip Hooded Softshell Jacket - Men's - 2011 BCS

Great jacket. It's a casual, non water resistant jacket, but looks great and is nicely finished.

My only problem with it, is the waistband, which is extremely tight! Much tighter (strangely so) than any other jacket I've owned. The jacket is generously long, but it's impossible to pull it below the waist, because the elastic is so tight at the bottom.

Strange choice, but still very wearable and some lovely design touches.

It's hard to find jackets long enough to fit me (6'5"/198) & not make me feel like I'm wearing a tent. The XL fit me perfectly with room for 2-3 layers underneath (43 chest/34 waist).

The material is an interesting weave that, despite being thin, provides surprising warmth & sheds water well (it beads up on the surface in all the storms I've been in). However, I'm guessing that over longer durations, it won't repel wind/water as well as other materials such as event/gore-tex/etc, but this feels much better to the touch.

I've also gotten a ton of compliments on the red color & fit.

Like many of the reviewers below have mentioned, this jacket is a great fit for tall, thin people. I'm 6'4", 160lbs, and this is one of the few jackets I own that fits correctly (I ordered a large).
The arm lengths are perfect, and the torso is cut thin enough. Unlike other jackets, that feel like I'm wearing a sail, or like the reviewer below mentioned, like tent.

My only problem with this product, is that it is made in china. As such, the jacket has severe quality issues. To begin, the Norrona crest on the right chest came miss-sewn. The bottom of the 'N' was sewn closed, it had "|_|" rather than "| |"(It's hard to describe in text only). Furthermore, threads were hanging out on many of the seams, almost as if the sewing machine ran out of thread, and they left the stray end hanging out. Then, when I turned the jacket inside out, it become apparent that they were manufactured for quantity rather than quality. It seriously looks like the sewing technician for the inside was blind. Rather than a nice straight, or even relatively straight, seam, it sways back and forth unevenly across the bottom (Snow Skirt) seam, as well as one of the vertical seams (from left armpit to bottom of jacket). I was very, very disturbed to find these quality issue. I try to avoid products made in china for this reason. I will probably not buy another Norrona product unless the price is greatly, greatly reduced. Spending that much money on a product that lacks any sort of quality is totally unacceptable. I don't think I got a bad egg, as I ordered two of these jackets, and both have similar issues.

I bought two of these jackets, one brown and another red. I think I will probably only keep one, only for the fit. As I said in the beginning, the fit is good, but lacks much needed quality (Definitely the worst quality jacket I own). Very disappointing.....
As a substitute, I would recommend purchasing a Millet instead. I have a number of jackets by this company, and have never had any quality issue with any of their products. The Millet will have a similar cut if you're looking for a jacket for a tall slim person. Although, it seems that backcountry only carries a very limited inventory of Millet products. Although, a word of warning, I have heard rumors that alot of the new Millet gear is also made is china. Most of the jackets I have, by them, are older.

Criticism/Suggestion: I do wish backcountry listed country of origin on all their products.

I just received this jacket, size large. I am 6'tall and weigh 175 lbs. Size large should be my correct size, but it is too tight around chest and waist.
I think the only way I can wear it is to just have a t-shirt on. weird sizing.

The jacket has a very well finished look about it however the biking red is not as bright as it appears in the picture, too bad. I'm 5'6" and 160 lbs so I ordered a medium according to the chart and previous reviewers comments and found the jacket a bit awkward in fit. The sleeves were quite long and the waist was unusually tight and I'm a 30-31 across the waist. The shoulder width was perfect and also across the chest. I'd have kept this jacket if it wasn't for the tight waist. I don't think that it's worth the full price considering that it's practical application is probably part of a good layering system(not that practical as a stand alone garment considering it has minimal wind protection and not a lofty fleece for insulation). Having said that, I believe that for a taller person who likes to wear something stylish for around town, this would be the jacket to buy.

It's my follow-up review on this soft shell (have no idea what happed to firdt review). So here we go, I took it on a trip to Scotland for 2 weeks, mid October.
Pros: Well constructed, comfortable, LONG, or at least longer that most jackets, nice hood.
Cons: Not water resistant at all, got completely soaked within 10 mins in light drizzle, had to turn around during hike and use eVent shell instead, not wind resistant either.
So, bottom line: if you are willing to pay hard earned money for just another polyester hoody, go ahead, otherwise get Backcountry brand or Arcteryx, you won't be cursing and guessing why did you buy it.