This is my second glowing review of this jacket in so many years. It's like having a little house you can go inside when the weather is bad, and look out through your little protected window. It's so good that at times in hellacious weather, you can get this confused sensation about things not feeling real, until a gust of wind puts you on your butt.

For starters, let's talk about the bad: The inside fabric can feel really clammy right against your skin, if you plan on wearing a jacket bareback, go for a packlite or conduit DT laminate. Also, there aren't what one would expect for hand pockets, because that's where your pack's waist belt goes. The fabric is also very stiff when new, and doesn't break in much, so get used to a crinkly sound with the hood up, and a tin-roof over your head when it hails.

The pros? Everything. This thing is body armor against weather. The hood and elbow articulation are probably the biggest stand-out features of this jacket. The hood fits like a baseball cap, and doesn't drip water down your neck when you pull it back.

This jacket performs as it should. It is windproof and yet breathable. Fits very well and looks great also. Cannot go wrong with the tapered seams and goretex pro material. The hood snugs down on a helmet as well as a beanie and does not move.

I've owned a boat load of jackets from TNF and Marmot...and certainly they make quality products, but I've yet to find another jacket that performs as well as the Arcteryx Theta. I'm a big guy 6' 230lbs. The XL fits wonderfully for me, not too tight...a bit bulky in the shoulders but leaves comfortable room for layering with my Patagonia R2 fleece and Icebreaker base layers for extreme cold.

The DWR functions exceptionally well...and if that wears off, the Goretex proshell fabric does the trick with ease. I stay dry as a bone. I've skied, hiked, backpacked and stood in hours of rain at sporting events and never got a drop of water in the jacket. It vents well and looks awesome.

Personally, I like being able to sit down and not get by rear soaked when necessary, because the Theta is made to cover most of your "seat".

It is not the lightest jacket Arcteryx makes, but it is light enough for my taste- and I gladly accept a little extra weight for durability and breathability. My Marmot precip makes me feel clammy in about 10 minutes wearing it no matter what the weather conditions. You will not go wrong purchasing this jacket.

This is the greatest shell I have ever owned. I have taken on the trail, up mountains, all seasons and am constantly impressed by its performance. The price was tough to deal with and after trying out some other jackets, REI eVent jacket (which fit horribly), I decided to bite the bullet and purchase this work horse. I was not disappointed. One word of advice, try the thing on to get the sizing right. I am a large guy, always worn L in every other coat, shirt, softshell, etc. The large in this coat felt sloppy on me so I opted for the medium. Perfect fit! Overall, I have yet to find a better coat.

The best shell any one could ever buy..From 14ers in Colorado to paddle trips in AK, this jacket has survived it all--and for nearly 5 years! As just a plain gore-tex shell, this jacket is capable of anything from spring/summer rain and thunder storms to full on winter mountaineering. The theta always gets shoved into my pack, regardless. Other than fitting me a little bit wide in the shoulders, this is my favorite piece of gear. For winter, i layer it with an ultra-light down puff (which are often fragile/not waterproof) and a layer of merino wool. I prefer that set up to a bulky jacket for winter alpining and ice climbing. Can't go wrong with BC's dankest.

The best shell any one could ever buy..From 14ers in Colorado to paddle trips in AK, this jacket has survived it all--and for nearly 5 years! As just a plain gore-tex shell, this jacket is capable of anything from spring/summer rain and thunder storms to full on winter mountaineering. The theta always gets shoved into my pack, regardless. Other than fitting me a little bit wide in the shoulders, this is my favorite piece of gear. For winter, i layer it with an ultra-light down puff (which are often fragile/not waterproof) and a layer of merino wool. I prefer that set up to a bulky jacket for winter alpining and ice climbing. Can't go wrong with BC's dankest.

I have owned this Jacket for over a year. I have worn it ice climbing, backpacking, kayaking, and for general purpose. I am 6'3" and 235. I normally wear a xxl mostly for sleeve length, but the xl fits great. This is my go to hard shell jacket. I have gone down a few mountains rag doll style and my pants (north face paramount)have taken a beating and been torn up, but this jacket shows now signs of any damage. The pit zips are an esential, I run hot, but can easily control my temp even when wearing a pack. Hood works great with a helmet, ball cap, or nothing at all. Can't say enough about this jacket.

I have worn this jacket for about a month now and it's an amazing jacket! The higher pockets were a little odd at first but it's such a minor issue. My jacekt is made in Canada which is a change this year because the previous year, they were made in China. The quality is there and if you flip it inside out, you can see the attention to quality. You will get the odd glue spots or an uneven stitch (not stitched in a straight line) but these are minor minor issues...i'm just a little anal and notice these things quite easily. With the function, it blocks all wind and is amazing at blocking out water. It's also very breathable and makes me wonder how the eVent jackets compare. I took about a month to research this jacket and many people have suggested this jacket or anything from Arcteryx because you get what you pay for. I look forward to really testing this jacket out in the winter time. I'm 6'1, 195lbs and an athletic build and I fit medium perfectly. I can still put my Hercules underneath or my Montbell UL Parka underneath if it's really cold. Don't worry about the price, in the long run, it's worth it!

I just purchased the Theta AR, and was very dissapointed with the fit. I'm 5'7" 155 lbs. and purchased a medium. The shoulders are huge, comically huge. I took it back and tried a small...same thing. It's the cut of the jacket. I'm not doubting the jackets performance, seems VERY well built, but I want to look "normal" and stay warm and dry. I purchased the Marmot Torre instead...WARNING: just try-on the Theta before you buy!!!