Outdoor Research Trio Jacket - Men's - 2007 BCS

I actually got this well over a year ago, and like it. It's one of those jackets that doesn't have big name materials in it, (Gore, etc.) but makes up for that with a few extra features (removable hood, removable powder skirt, etc.) The outer material is tough; I've scraped it a few times, then looked for a hole or tear, but nothing. There is a sleeve pocket on the left, (you can see it in the picture) but it's just as well it's not listed in the spec's because it's fairly useless. The material used around the sleeve zipper to make it water resistant also makes it difficult to work the zipper; can't do it with one hand. This same material is also used for the pit zips (also not mentioned in the spec's.) Strangely, the sleeve pocket-pouch goes upwards, such that if you open the zipper, stuff would actually fall out! The hand pockets don't use any material to provide water-resistance, they just have a flap that covers the length of the zipper.

After a few months, the loop-thing on the liner sleeve that attaches to the snap on the shell sleeve (so the liner sleeve doesn't come out when you pull your arm out) frayed and broke off. Also, the velcro closures at the wrists were too short to close the cuff fully. Backcountry and their great service would have taken care of these problems, but I figured they would have just sent it off to OR anyway, so I called OR myself and asked them to fix the loop-thing and add a longer length of velcro to close the wrists. Adding the longer velcro was kinda a 'custom request' but OR took care of both issues, no problems, no cost(!) and so well that it looked like it was that way new. This is admittedly not the top of the line jacket, but OR treated me as if it was.

I just got this piece, so I am still waiting for the powder to fly to give it five stars. Lots of great details for a modular jacket, particularly the powder skirt that I have found I can switch between my liner jacket or my shell. It is great hiking in the rain, can't wait to ski with it this winter.

I tried one trio jacket and thought the shell was very good, true to size and good fit. the insulation was lacking any loft. will not work on the moon.