This awesome jacket by Backcountry.com is a dream come true. Just what I was looking for, but without the high price tag and overloaded design features. The styling is sleek, it fits and flatters a woman, and it's warm and windblocking too. Backcountry got it just right with this one. The grey details create nice accent lines without losing the look of basic black. I love the little pocket on the left sleeve - put your license and credit card in the pocket and GO! Thanks Backcountry! Can't wait to see what you do next. . .

I just got the Shift today and am already incredibly impressed with it. It's comfortable, it looks amazing, and has stood up perfectly to the windy conditions that I tested it in. The inside is soft, the shell is thick but movable. I would definitely recommend it; yes, it's a logo jacket, but one that stands up to the logo.

Bought this for my wife as an early Christmas present. I was impressed by the product that I received in the mail. The quality is excellent, the style and color are great, and the fit is exactly what she wanted. The only negative I have found with the jacket is that there is a little too much fabric under the arms, which causes the jacket to bunch a little in that area. Overall I would give the product two thumbs up and recommend it to anyone in the market for a softshell. There is no need to spend the money buying a North Face or Arcteryx when you can buy this. I have all three and the quality is no different between them.

I purchased this jacket in Oct 07 and it has performed wonderfully, even at 60+ mph on a motorcycle in 35-40 deg F temps. Very windproof, excellent water resistance, comfortable albeit at times a bit warm for coastal hiking in N. California (that's my fault, I'm just learning how to best use the jacket in the climate here). The cut is excellent, I love the drawstring at the hem (a must), and the pockets are perfect - interior and exterior. People often ask me what the goat is all about, so it is good advertising. All in all - great features, and excellent construction/materials/design.
I guessed at my size and ordered a Med - it works (I'm 5'7" and tend to be a size 6/8) - just long enough in the arms and jacket hem comes over the hips to keep out the drafts, with room for layering underneath.

I'm pear-shaped, so it's tough to find a fitted jacket that is big enough in the hips but isn't huge in the top. This jacket fits perfectly! I'm 5'6", 145 pounds and I ordered the size Large. The bodice is fitted, but still has room for several light layers underneath. The length of the arms is perfect...the sleeve falls at the meaty part of my thumb. To top it all off, the jacket is mid-weight, wind-resistant, water-resistant and perfect for those days in the 40's. I highly recommend it!

The fit is excellent, the material is very durable but still comfortable, and you can use it year round. I defiantly recommend this jacket to everyone! It just has a lot of different purposes and works for everything. Defiantly worth the money!

Having worked in outdoors apparel I know good gear when I wear it - this jacket rocks - excellent fit, stylish design and functional for a wide range of activities in New Zealand's varied and fast changing conditions. I use it for night riding in the hills and forests on my mountain bike, hiking in the mountains, road riding on the peninsular and it also looks snazzy at the pub or coffee shop. I am 5 foot 10 inches tall and the it fit nicely through my torso and my arms - I would definitely recommend this jacket as a good buy. Hells bells - I paid US$70 just to ship it down here to New Zealand, it must be good!

I loved this jacket. It was more flexible than the North Face Apex jackets, it was a flattering fit, and the material felt very durable... but the sangria red turned out to be a rusty, orangish red. The difference between the pic online and the actual color was significant. I didn't like the rusty color so I returned the jacket. But I am still considering getting the black version. Wonderful jacket! I wished they made it in other colors.

This jacket is the best softshell i have ever had. It has the protection of a winter jacket but breathes so it is versatile for all seasons. One of the things that is best about this jacket is the feminine cut. I did not want a big baggy jacket but one that was nice enough that i could wear around town in the winter. I get many compliments on it. Get this jacket!

I have the black one. It has a thin fleece lining. Very cozy soft shell, very functional and good looking. It's been cold, so I wear a wind shell over it. I am looking forward to spring so I can show it off more.

I spent tons of time researching different brands of softshells and sorting through all the different (and high) prices when I stumbled on this jacket in the outlet. I wanted something to cut the constant wind of New Mexico's springtime, and this does the trick well. I have skied in it twice, and with a high-loft fleece underneath it is warmer and more windproof than the ski jacket I had been wearing. The added pockets inside the hand pockets are great...I'll put my car key in there when I am climbing or skiing and not worry about losing it when I pull something else out of the pocket. Overall I am really happy that I didn't pay a ton more for a big name jacket because this one is just as good!

Nice softshell... but weird fit. Slender through the torso area, and LARGE through the shoulders and upper arms.

Despite the fit, I kept it, and though I don't wear it out on the town, I do wear it for winter running (as a top layer) or skiing in frigid conditions (as a mid layer).

Got this for my wife for christmas in black, and she loves it. Excellent construction and she found it to be surprisingly warm. This looks sharp on (very feminine fit with accent colors) for her size, but if you are on the tall side it might be a little short. Great overall jacket.

This jacket really cuts the wind. It has a very flattering fit. Nice warm lining. Exceptional quality of materials...some softshells are thin...this is substantial yet easy to move in. In fact, I was in a gear shop recently and walked up to a jacket that was EXACTLY like my Shift...hmmm...it was an Arc'Terryx. From what I was told it was made by the same factory. Now why would you pay more if you could get the same quality jacket for this price? It was definitely the find of the season for me. Go for it.

It is a perfect fit for me - fitted through the torso, yet it still fits great over my thickest midlayer. The arms are exactly the right length (I prefer mine on the long side). It feels very warm but is also very lightweight, and it seems perfectly appropriate for backcountry/x-country skiing as well as running in cold weather. It makes me wistful for snow...

I was very excited about this jacket but the fit is just not doing it for me.

The shoulder/chest area is a bit boxy (I know they're trying to be feminine and give it some shape, but the material is too stiff to form to your actual shape, so -- for me, anyway -- it ends up just getting it wrong). The upper arms are very wide and taper dramatically toward the wrists, which just contributes to the boxiness in the upper part of your torso area.

Wish I could have tried it on before I bought it. It deals with wind decently, though it's a bit short (I'm sort of tall -- 5'8" -- so maybe it was not intended for me).

All in all, the jacket looks/feels like it was built for a short, slightly plump middle-aged person. I'm sure it's great for many people, just not me.

This a very good jacket.
I have worn it with 1 layer under skiing a bluebird powday at Alta; 2 layers under skiing icy east coast stuff, and it was perfect. Warm, light weight, dry and *of course* stylish! Let's get a brown one for next season!?
Thanks!

I don't climb, but thought this type of jacket would be good for walking and gardening in the Northwest rain. The rainy season only just started, so I can't speak to the durability of the waterproofing yet. But as you'd expect when brand new, it kept me dry and comfortable on a wet walk the other day. The stretch in the fabric will be helpful when I'm wearing it in the garden. The pocket configuration is really well thought out - the arm pocket is perfect for lip balm. The rest of my waterproof ensemble includes Go Lite softshell Paradox pants, and a nice wide-brim Tilley hat to keep off the rain. On the feet are boots in the garden, and waterproof Brooks Adrenalines on the rainy walks. I think all that stuff is available here :)

This jacket is exactly what I was looking for. In the San Francisco Bay Area we don't usually get freezing temps, but we do get some damp, chilly winters. Trying to find something that is warm enough for the cool windy days and will keep the damp air on the outside, but doesn't cause you to overheat inside...it can be a challenge. This jacket keeps me warm and dry without being too warm for a mildly cool day. It's not smothering in times of exertion and it's great for just knocking about. I'd highly recommend it for the types of conditions we have here. It's very comfortable, moves with me without chafing. As for fit, my other jackets (softshell and otherwise) are all smalls, and I tried small in this first. It fit, but I like to wear sweaters and layers in the winter, and decided a medium would allow for more comfort with heavier clothing. You might consider that, depending on your planned use for the jacket. Best shopping experience in years!

Love the athletic fit, the pockets, the look. The fit in the torso is great. A minor issue: the sleeves are a bit too long (I'm 5'2" so I'm used to this somewhat). A more irritating issue is that the collar is too tall--I feel like I'm wearing a neck brace when I zip it up fully. That said, I'd buy it again.

I love this jacket! The womens jacket is tapered at the waste for a flattering, feminine look. The material is soft and cozy on the inside against your skin, yet the outside layer is firm and durable, without being abrasive or noisy. This material combination has the added benefit of making it hang off the shoulders the way a custom tailored jacket will. This is not a frumpy jacket. You can wear it hiking as easily as you wear it to a dinner party. If you have the body of a teenage boy (all shoulders and arms, small breasts) you will love how feminine this jacket makes you look. As a final touch, it is very difficult to find womens clothing with arms long enough to fit me. This jacket has ample arm length. All in all, I was extremely pleased when I tried it on for the first time, and knew it was a keeper.

My shift softshell has a generous fit around the chest, which works for me,the arms are a bit on the long side. Great fabric. This jacket is comfortable and easy to move around in. I highly recommend this jacket!

This is a terrific jacket, it is exactly as described in the product review. The material is abrasive resistant but not stiff. It allows for full range of movement and its warm. It is also good as a liner under a shell. I do SAR and this is just what I was looking for.

Best ever, I recommend this for all.

When I placed my order, I was hesitant about the size. I am a large C cup. The medium fit perfectly. It's surprisingly feminine and curve-hugging and very comfortable. It is wind-resistant and breathes well. I've received many compliments on it.
Lisa
South Jordan, Utah

I bought this jacket as an XS for my fiance. She is 5'6" & petite but the I thought an XS would be fine. It was quite large in the shoulders and a little big in the chest but every other aspect fit well. Obviously a high quality jacket. Wish she could keep it.

For the price, this is a surprisingly high quality jacket. Its thick enough for fall and spring hiking, and looks great. I was happy to finally find a softshell that is fitted in the body *and* is still long enough in the arms to cover my wrists.

Great product. The jacket runs a little small, so I suggest buying one size up. It is very stylish, and is cut to fit and accentuate perfectly. The jacket is waterproof and very warm. The only reason I didn't rate this product perfectly is because it runs small and short. I had to exchange the product the first time. However, the customer service was wonderful, quick and helpful.

I was planning a trip to Ouray, CO to do some ice climbing and needed a soft shell. I decided to try out the Shift Softshell. The stretch and flexibility of the fabric was perfect for ease of movement while climbing. Also very durable. I accidentally stepped on it with my crampons and it didn't even leave a mark. The shell is water resistant and it easily repelled water from the dripping ice. The interior lining made it really comfortable. Since I tend to get cold, I decided to wear my down vest underneath the jacket. Because of the elasticity of the jacket, it easily zipped up over the bulkiness of my vest and I was still able to move freely. Plus it looks great. The form fitting cut is flattering and made it a great jacket to just wear around town. All in all, I was very impressed with this jacket and I had a great weekend of climbing.

This is a really cool jacket. I get lots of compliments on it. It's also extremely comfortable.