Outdoor Research Aria Down Hooded Jacket - Women's - 2007 BCS

my FAVORITE part about the OR Aria Hoody is that when the $#*% hits the fan outside, I just throw on my shell and I am all set. The Aria has all of the warmth WITHOUT the bulk, so I never feel like I am wearing 2 jackets. It kills it! I own TWO!

I depend upon my Aria Down Jacket as my "go to" light belay jacket for moderately cold days on the ice or rock. It keeps me warm, has ample room for my helmet inside the hood and packs nicely in the small stuff sack that comes with the jacket...I just clip it to my harness on multi-pitch climbs.
This jacket isn't just functional but also fashionable. The cut is flattering and I love wearing out on the town. I get lots of comments on the look of this down jacket.

I wanted a stowable between-season jacket that wouldn't break the bank, that I wouldn't mind getting dirty or beating up on the trail, and I would recommend the Aria if you can find it on substantial sale. The down is quite thin, which is fine for my purpose, and the stitching goes all the way through (it is not off-set stitching) so all the stitched lines are very thin (hold them up to the light and it passes right through) and I'm sure this will result in cold spots. I wish it had off-set stitching, but for the sale price I scored it for, I'm not complaining...too much :) If it had off-set stitching, I'd give this jacket 5 stars. As a layering piece around and above 30 degrees, I'm thinking it should be fine for summer/fall camping. I'm 5'11" and the medium fits me pretty well - it's sized a bit generously to allow for layering underneath, but it is not too baggy. The arms are long enough for me, and the elastic wrists are perfect (I have small wrists, so if you have very large wrists, be careful). I often wish jackets were a bit longer (I have a long torso), and this jacket is no different. If you're of average height though, you'll probably be quite happy.The construction is of good quality all around - the interior pockets are well made with the detail of allowing for headphone pass-through, the main zipper is sturdy, and the stitching is uniform. Do be warned that with the light-colored jackets that have a dark interior color (mine is ice-blue with dark-blue), you will probably see the white down feathers through the thin fabric. It makes the jacket slightly mottled in appearance up close. If you care about that sort of thing, go with a darker color to hide the down. The hood is great - cinches nicely around the face and is sized well. I think the light weight and included small stuff sack will make the jacket perfect for backpacking and also for throwing in a day pack as an emergency layer if the weather turns.
(ps - If you don't need or want a hood, try out the North Face Thunder Jacket or the Backcountry 800 luft. I haven't tried on either of them, but they seemed similar in weight and cut.)

This is my new favorite jacket. It's so light weight you hardly know your wearing it, yet it provides enough warmth to keep you cozy kicking around town or camping. I slept in in while camping and the hood was awesome for keeping my head warm with out sleeping in a hat. It's easy to layer both under and over the jacket with out binding. The colors and cut are feminine as well. Love this jacket!

I am very happy with this jacket. I purchased a medium, I am 5'4 and 110 lbs. It is long enough to cover my back when I sit down. It is warm enough for Ohio winters. It is incredibly light and the material is soft and quite. The inside pockets are nice and deep. There is even one with a zipper and headphone wire hole. The hood stays on pretty well. I took one star off because for the first week or so I was was finding feathers on my clothes. Doesn't happen very often now and I have had it for about a month.

I bought this jacket last spring and love it. It's not for the heart of winter, but it is great for fall and spring.