An attractive and warm winter jacket. Very warm, waterproof, and 4 pockets on the outside. Two ways to adjust the hood. This jacket is very warm for its weight (2 lbs), including gore-tex shell. While obviously there are warmer full down coats out there (Feathered Friends), the synthetic insulation here keeps it from being too puffy, the best feature to me. It can be too warm, especially the arms (no pit zips), when the temps hit the 40s or you are being pretty active.
Cons: No pit zips, no second zipper to unzip up from the bottom, hood is non-detachable/stowable.
It is a bit of an indulgence, and for those who don't want to be bothered with wearing layers, whether for sport or non-sport. Aside from its functionality, it looks very good and you can wear it to occasions where no one arrives in layers. A bunch of folks apparently criticized the reviewer who enjoyed it as a city jacket. (Apparently there are still "true believers" who see this brand as some sort of holy grail for technical gear - apparently nothing was accomplished in the outdoors prior to this brand's innovations - read on, I love giving idealists their first dose of cynicism). I don't see why, because for serious backcountry use, one still can't beat the versatility of a three layer system (baselayer, insulation, shell with pit zips), where one can mix and match depending on the conditions. If you are on a budget get a traditional 3 piece system first, and get a hard shell before you get a softshell (over hyped). And if you are going to spend the serious bucks on this thing, make sure you're getting one made in Canada. Arcteryx (now owned by Salomon) has moved much of their production to China. Though their costs have gone down, the price has not dropped on their apparel. It seems that Goretex-XCR models were made in Canada, but since late 2007 most of the jackets are Asian product. And now, unsurprisingly, scores of fake Chinese Arcteryx jackets can be found on ebay. If you want some serious gear that is still painstakingly assembled by hand, then also take look at Hilleberg and Dan McHale.

As most reviews will read, this is an amazing jacket. but most people do not know that most all the spring 2008 and on products are/will be made in china.
arc'teryx was bought out by salomon and outsourced almost all production. i am searching hard for a black 2007 handmade canadian F-SV.
all products that use "new" gore-tex materials I.E(gore-tex pro)are very most likely not northamerican made.

After three years, this jacket has been tested in every possible winter condition and passed with flying colors. It is entirely waterproof, even against a hose. It is warm enough to spend a day and night sleeping out on the streets of New England in February (avoid that if you can).

For Jay Peak, it's the right jacket. For Utah on a very cold day, it's the right jacket. For operating a lift, it's a great jacket. If you are in awesome shape, and don't sweat while skiing/snowboarding this jacket is awesome with a teeshirt underneath it every day, mid-winter. You will be able to ride regardless of conditions.

For everyone else, it's too damn hot!

Seriously. This jacket is for when you are sitting on top of Denali, doing nothing. Kudos to the company for being able to create such a tool, it's truly amazing.

No powderskirt? what's up with that? I think you all really want to buy the Patriot SV, if only it came in black!

This jacket is awesome, keeps me warm during winter. I sometimes have to work outside, sometimes on very cold airfield. I combine this jacket with lighter weight fleece, and I have a perfect solution just standing around all day in 30> degree temp. My only complaint is the lack of hood storage / tie down point, and no pocket inside. I took it for skiing one time, but the hood kept flapping around and annoyed me so much. It's a shame; it's so pricy, very warm, but lacks basic outdoor sport usage.

I was a little hesitant to try the Fission Jacket because of the eye popping price tag. But I gave it a try anyways. What a great jacket!! Those days of layering heavy fleece and water resistant jackets are over. This thing is super warm. I was working in northern Japan (middle of blizzard in open field), but I stayed toasty.
Pros: Super warm, compressive, stylish enough for a night out.
Cons: lack of bicep pocket, single zipper opening, lack of hood fastener
Now I wish they offered black last year!!

Got it several months ago.

the good:
1. warm enough even with just a shirt on this was 24F.
2. gore tex xcr (now pro) is truly water proof!

the bad:
1. sizing is awful or could be the design
2. layering is awful! i got one fleece underneath and i look like i got several jackets underneath.
3. the hood covers the eyes!

overall: will recommend but get a smaller size

Great Jacket, good fit, good quality - but with Gore-Tex and PrimaLoft fill it’s really warm - I think too warm. Problem is that there are no underarm core-vents. It would be a perfect all-around use jacket with this missing item. So it’s a good jacket for really cold days in town, on November soccer game or ice hockey (all as a visitor :-]). But for skiing, winter sport and all other activities it’s too warm.

WOW, this insulated jacket has it all, I live in NYC and when it gets crowded on trains and buses in the winter its pretty hard to move around with a huge puffy coat—my answer was the Fission SV. This monster of a jacket keeps me super warm without all the bulky weight. I'm telling you this is the best jacket that Arcteryx has ever come up with, the pockets are water tight, and the hood provides the heat that your head needs in these cold winter days ahead, fits perfect over an expedition helmet. The two chest-level pockets makes it easy for me to fit my Treo or a candy bar for easy access. Once again, Arcteryx has change the way we feel about cold winters.

I just came back from Skiing in Verbier, and I have to say that this jacket is the best I have ever owned. It was raining down in the village and up at 2500 meters, and the snow was dumping. Out of my five other friends I was the only one who stayed dry as a bone. Whether I was sweating it up in powder runs through the woods or getting rained on.

As a previous NYC reviewer said, this is the perfect cold weather jacket for the city. It is utterly water- and wind-proof, has a padded hood for those wind tunnels in the canyons of tall buildings, and is unbelievably lightweight and not puffy. Excellent pockets and zippers. Looks really good. After years of struggling to find the best winter coat, I think I have found it in the Fission SV.

Awesome jacket! My husband and I both have one. We loved ours so much, we bought one for our friend!
Pretty much eliminates the need for all other jackets! This jacket kept me WARM and DRY in prolonged exposure to snow, sleet, and rain!! I love it!

correction, in 2005 arcteryx was purchased from salomon by amer sport. salomon is not responsible for the outsourcing.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arc%27teryx

this jacket is the best i ever owned super warm and light water proof all you need in a winter coat, i live in nyc so i need somthing for those super windy, freezing cold nights and this jacket is the answer. im happy to own the Fission SV it was worth it by far better than all the others now go out and get one

I like everything about this jacket!

Top notch jacket...