Outdoor Research Celestial Jacket - Men's - 2007 BCS

Uh! This think still beads water like yesterday, even after washing with the niwax wash/refresh! OR-Outdoor Research: just bring the pricing into a range to steal market share - and you'll get all the loyalty you deserve!

What can I say? It's totally sweet. Super light, it keeps me dry. The whole poncho thing was a little less than I had hoped: the zips come up about two-thirds to the arms (I had hoped they'd come up the whole way), and they provide adequate ventilation. The length is good - I tried this and the Arcteryx Alpha SL, which I found too short to cover my down vest (bad). This is perfect.

Great fit, great weight, and exceptional at keeping heavy snow, wind, and rain out. It worked well as a shell for everything from touring to on piste skiing. That being said, the Gore Tex PacLite is a LIGHT fabric and will tear easily. It just recently tore for a second time, in a new location though. I honestly don't know what caused it. Strangely enough the tears have been the same size and ' L' shape, maybe a flaw in the way the fabric is manufactured and structured. OR has the lifetime warranty and patched it the first time (which I could have easily done on my own). I'll continue to buy OR gloves and hats, but I'll skip the jacket selection from now on.

Talk about the proverbial emperor's new clothes! This is a very flimsy jacket. I know it's supposed to be space-aged super-light gore-tex and all, but it feels like you are wearing a piece of gift-wrapping paper. Maybe some people like to wear wrapping paper. I know I don't. I feel very foolish for spending this kind of $$ on a very dispensable piece of "gear". I won't pretend that it's a great "everything" jacket like the other reviewers, because it's definitely not. OR has pulled the wrapping paper over their eyes.

I have used both the Zealot and the Celestial. All my squabbles were answered. More pockets, better ventilation, and adjustable wrists. This is the perfect jacket for nearly anything. Again the zipper is a bit tight but loosens and improves with use.