This is really a fine-looking jacket. It's a great color (but noticeably more red than it appears in the images above -- check out the photos of the women's Cairn fleece in Sangria, which are much closer to the actual color). The fleece material is slightly stretchy, super-soft and has an outer weave that looks like it won't pill. Construction is top-notch (as you would expect from those Canucks).
What's not to like? Well, the fleece is definitely not windproof. (The flip-side is that breathability is outstanding: when I run outside in the cold I can actually see the steam coming through the jacket!) The product description also mentions an 'internal security pocket', but I couldn't locate such a thing. Perhaps it's just exceptionally well-hidden!
Finally, there are a couple of features that I could happily do without. There's the laminated 'stash pocket' on the left wrist. I can't see what I would want to put in there: anything with any weight to it is really annoying. A credit-card and/or a few bills is the limit. I'd prefer a chest pocket or having the pocket higher on the arm, at least.
Secondly, there's the waist cinch. Like everything else on this jacket, it's beautifully made, with the tails of the drawstring routed through reinforced eyelets into the hand-pockets, so that tightening the waist is just a matter of pulling from inside. Very nice. But again, I don't see why I would ever use the cinch. This is light-to-mediumweight fleece with little wind-resistance. When the weather is frigid and windy, you'd really want to wear a shell on top, in
which case the cinch would be redundant. And if you didn't have a shell, the cinch would make very little difference to your warmth, particularly considering that the jacket already has fairly snug fit, excellent elasticity, and a good long length that extends below waist level, nicely shutting the chilly gusts without any tightening required. Ditching the cinch would make the jacket lighter and cheaper.
But these are minor quibbles: overall this is a superb, well thought-out
garment. I expect to wear it day after day, indoors and out, until my wife
begs me to wear something else!
Sizewise, I'm 5'11" and 160lb, and the medium fit me perfectly. Slightly roomier than a Arc'teryx medium.

I've had this jacket for quite some time now; snagged it on SAC for a killer deal! I wear this jacket everywhere. It looks good when your are out or just lounging with friends. It fits perfectly (I wear Medium and I am 6'2 175) and has stood up very well. It doesn't stop the wind, but it'll keep you warm otherwise. I just wear a hardshell over it (usually just a marmot precip) and I am good to go all winter!

Get it; you don't know what you're missing

Love the material. It is soft, warm, and regulates temperature wonderfully. It also has great fit. Got size L because I planned on using it casually. That worked out perfectly. I am 5'11''. I wear it almost every day. As for improvements, I would put a napoleon pocket on the left side top portion of the jacket.

The Cairn is awesome. Last week we had our first evening where it got down into the 30's and I was super excited to take the jacket for a test drive. It's soft, warm, surprisingly windproof (for a fleece), and the goat logo is beyond pimp.

I'm really impressed with this jacket. It looks good and the small fits me (5'7, 140 lbs) really well.

I've worn it over a t-shirt on a rainy 50 degree day, under a hard shell on a windy 30 degree day, and used it to keep comfortable indoors. It keeps me warm without making me sweat or overheat.

I'm most amazed by how fast it warms me up. It's not wind resistant at all so I had a few chilly moments in the wind. But as soon as the wind stopped I felt the warmth return in half a second.

It's the same feeling when I'm feeling cold and I wear it to warm up. It takes less than a second to feel the warmth crawling into my skin, as if somebody put a warm towel on me.

The inside pockets are big enough to hold a novel(I tried this), but the holes in the bottom of the inside pockets are big enough to let through a set of keys.

You've outdone yourselves. Great product, and the competition should take note. Technical specs rival top end producers. Moves well, great piece of gear. I want more!

I haven't bought a fleece in a long time... the new Polartec materials are really nice. The surface of the Cairn looks classy, not just loopy polyester fibers, with nice contrast stitching. New, its really soft and warm. Nice pockets and good fit. The cuffs seem to bunch up a bit. The bottom hem flares out a little which isn't a problem when layered on top of other fleece and a pair of shell bibs. The medium fit me well at 6'2" and 170lbs. The BC.com price is nice too... I wish the logo was embroidered with something more subdued instead of white on black.

This was my first purchase through this site and so far I'm very pleased. I purchased this to replace a TNF Thermal Pro Denali. Although I have yet to wear it because it is summer where I am, I will provide some tentative feedback:
I like the Cairn's smooth, sweater-like, external weave much more than the "Monkey-fur" exterior of others.
I like the fit and simplicity of the Cairn (although it could use an external chest pocket).
I love the fact that the external hand pockets are stitched on the bottom and open on the top to create the internal pockets (a major drawback on the Denali in my opinion).
While the jacket may seem like a lighter weight fleece, I am not worried it will perform on those single to low double digit degree days that I purchased it for. I own a sweater made of the same type Thermal Pro (same weight as well) that has performed better than any other fleece I have owned! (when worn under a shell)
So I have no worries that when the temps drop the Cairn will perform! Keep up the good work!

pretty short and without pit zips...not a great choice, otherwise ok

This fleece is warm, comfortable, and it looks great. It's also very breathable and will keep you from over-heating. The Cairn was true to size and BC did a great job of getting it to me promptly and in perfect condish. Although this fleece is definitely not windproof standing alone, it's great with an outer shell. Overall good buy.

But I thought I ought to fly the flag. Also, I was checking it out and it was kind of a new fleece. Smoother external weave, but super soft inside. I've been very happy with it and wear it a lot more than I thought I would. But if you want to stop the wind, go with a softshell.

I've only had it a couple days, but it's been a cold couple of days and this is working great. I'm really impressed with the quality, the fit is great, I'm 6'2, just over 200 lbs, I'm usually an XL but I got this in L to wear as an insulating layer under my Arc'teryx and it works out perfect. My warmth factor went through the roof.

Today I was wearing it alone and the wind definitely gets at you without a shell, but if you want a fleece that cuts the wind, get a Polartec Wind Pro or similar. I love the color and the feel of the fabric, outside looks like a thermal but is really quite soft, inside is fleecy, also really comfortable.

As for pockets, the front pockets are cozy, and personally I like the arm pocket, it's pretty much meant for cash, and no one is getting at it without you knowing. I also couldn't find any security pocket, the front pockets make a bit of a second pocket on the inside, but the stitching ends where the zipper ends at the front, leaving a gap at the bottom of this inside pocket. My wallet would stay put, but I can see my keys or cell slipping right through that gap.

Overall it's perfect, I hope it doesn't shrink.

The material is really cool, it's smoother than your typical fleece. I dig it...nice and versatile. The fit could be a little better - it's pretty long on me but I have a short torso. Otherwise great!

love the fleece. it keeps me warm- even when I'm tubing in the great salt lake! I climbed in my deep freezer for two hours...and it did the trick! I actually wanted one in neon glow in the dark orange, so I could wear it during my night time synchronized swimming show. They should make them in smaller sizes so I could buy one for my tea cup armadillo- cause it gets chilly out there!

If you want a very warm and comfortable fleece jacket, this is what you want. From spring skiing to lounging around to running out in cold weather...this is an awesome jacket. Fit is roomy while still having an athletic fit. Backcountry.com can rival any fleece on the market. With a generous price tag and top notch materials..this is a sweet fleece.