The Stoic will match heavier "garbage-bag-tex" materials for weatherproofness, but outperforms those same jackets when it comes to weight and breathability. Not enough people buy a shell for the material, and focus too much on looks and the label. Backcountry.com did some thinking when they designed the Stoic, and for a shell weighing in at only 14oz, managed an impressive, functional jacket- but without bells and whistles. If you are choosing an activity where you must carry your shell at points (warmer backcountry days, overnight trips, backpacking, etc) the Stoic is a perfect choice. Buy it one size larger unless you are looking for a strictly summer, snug fit. I'm 6'2 190 and a large fits but is too small with heavy fleece underneath. Also, my climbing helmet fits under the hood- but just.

I am 5'8", 170lb, and have a 40" chest. I bought this in Cayenne Medium. I should have bought a L (even though I never wear L in MHW or Arc'teryx).

My review compares this against previous hard shell jackets I have owned or tried on: Montane Super-fly, MHW Xenon, Arc'teryx Beta AR, Arc'teryx Alpha SV, and Millet Axon Pro.

MATERIAL: This uses the highly acclaimed eVent. Although I did not do field testing with this jacket, just sitting in my room at 26-28C it didn't feel too hot. This is to compare against Gore-Tex jackets in general. However, I want to state that the real test is in the field. Also the purpose of eVent and GTX are different.

There are two types of face fabrics in this jacket. The shoulders are made of a burlier/tightly-woven material similar, albeit is still thin. The torso and the entire arm is made of a thinner face fabric which is the square-grid rip-stop nylon material. The face fabric is pretty thin and am sure it will go through a lot of wear and tear if you have abrasive materials against it (ie - a backpack strap that isn't made of soft materials).

Overall, the material is THIN which will aid in the breathability. That's probably why people are claiming it's much more breathable than other jackets. Being thin means there is less resistance for vapor/moisture to diffuse across.

DESIGN: Jacket contains two hand pockets at the bottom. As many have mentioned, this pocket is useless if you wear a backpack waist strap. I tried it on with my backpack and could not access the pocket at all. I know some people don't like to have chest pockets. So I think an alternative for their future designs is to make the opening for the hand pocket about 3" higher so that you can at least access it from the top. Good depth for those two hand pockets otherwise. You can fit your whole hand plus more.

FIT: This jacket is meant for someone who has a REALLY athletic body. All dimensions are probably 1" smaller than other jackets. For me, the chest was acceptable and I could layer a 200-weight fleece. However, the WAIST is TIGHT. My waist is 32-33" and even with all the cinches loosened, the waist of this jacket was WAY too tight. I don't think you could layer a fleece underneath the jacket just based on the waist. Be warned.

Arms are NOT articulated. It's just straight cut. You'll notice a huge difference compared to the other jackets I am comparing against. If you don't intend on using your arms very much, then maybe it's not a concern for you. But if you do move your arms a lot, you'll appreciate articulated arms a lot more. The material won't touch your skin as much giving you a feeling of freedom. It REALLY does make a difference. However, the intention of this jacket is not for climbers but mainly for skiers.

Also, the torso length is short. It only goes down 1" lower than my belt.

Zippers: All of them are standard YKK water-resistant zippers. Nothing fancy.

Hood: This hood is as simple as you can get. I think it only had side adjusters and NOT the volume adjuster cinches that most jackets have on the back of the hood. The side adjusters are pretty plain/cheap and aren't as easy to operate as some other upper end jackets such as the Arc'teryx Alpha SV ones. The upper end jackets you can easily adjust by just pulling the chord where as this one, you have to play around with it more. As I mentioned, I don't think it has volume adjusters so it probably won't fit as well on your head as other jackets.

Summary: If you're using this for light purpose activities or don't intend on rubbing this against a tree or getting into a brawl with a bear, this jacket is for you. It packs lightly and you won't notice it at the bottom of your backpack. It's also probably great for breatability because it is so thin.

For high-output activities that require you to get into a fight with a bear and rub against tress, this is not for you.

Key points: PROBABLY very breathable because the material is so thin. The waist is TIGHTTTTT! Shoulders are burlier. Hood is simple. Length is slightly shorter than other jackets.

3/5 - Comparing to other jackets I've tried this one is near the bottom.

If this review helps, give me the thumbs up!

Was looking at this on a great sale price and tried it but am disappointed to say the fit was the reason it needed to be returned. This jacket is very narrow in the waist and hem. It's made for someone shaped like a "V". I am an atheltic 26 y.o. and medium in patagonia, arcteryx fits me perfectly but not this one so be careful. Otherwise, the jacket looks great, e-vent awesome, reinforced shoulders, light weight, pockets a bit low for technical athletes that will wear a hip belt, but best deal out there for the price if it fits you.

OK, here you go, I have tested it and writing short report, it should help.
Testing conditions:
Temp 75F
Humidity 46%
Conditions: sunny, clear
Walking speed 3.4 mph
DIstance 4 miles
Terrain: flat
Pack weight: 30 lbs
I did this short hike in completely zipped up jacket with cuffs veclros closed tight. I got wet only on my back, front (where packs buckle was) and minor in armpits. Normally you wouldn't wear jacket in such weather, but I wanted to check how it breaths, and it DOES. Far better than any Gore-Tex, and I've tried Pro-Shell, Paclite, etc.
As far as sizing - go one size up from your normal, it has athletic cut. Upper body fabric is burlier than sleeves/body for backpack usage.

For manufacturers note: pockets on this jacket are on your waist line, whicj means they are completely obstructed with waistbelt of your pack. Might want to move them higher in next model.

Hope this helps.

The jacket would have been an ok fit if I wasn't going to layer under it. However, I was planning on using this for a ski shell. I am 6'2 235", I wear a 46L jacket. The XL was just too tight across the shoulders and back if i reached forward like i would when polling along on skis. I put it on with a smartwool baselayer, smartwool mid weight, and an R2 fleece. I was buying it for a cold weather shell as much of for wet weather.

To put the fit in perspective, I have a BC shift element in an XL (which fits similar to a TNF Apex) that fits well with the layers. The Stoic eVent is a good deal more slim cut than the shift, length was fine.

The only complaints I have is sizing, I liked the slim fit otherwise. The jacket was light weight yet definitely tough enough for skiing in the woods. I liked the cayenne color. I had to return it, but if I could have gotten a XXL in the blue or the Cayenne I'd have been stoked.

Let me start by saying that the only reason that I did not give this jacket 5 stars is because of the sizing issues. I runs way small order a size up. If you don't believe me read the reviews below.

Sizing aside this jacket is awesome. I got it last season and took it from -4 in NY to 40 in Utah and it performed great under all conditions. It really vents well when you start to heat up working to keep you dry and comfortable. I have also worn it in the rain and it sheds water like my lab's coat of fur. BUT don't get fooled by the light weight this jacket will hold up i.e. random branches in the trees did not cause any tears.

Lastly, it is a little pricey but worth the investment.

It is a great light weight high performing jacket. You can really feel it move the moisture away better than any thing I have ever used. Pretty much identical to the Westcomb Specter LT Hooded jacket, they are probably made in the same factory in Canada. Keeps water out like it is supposed to. Only complaint is that it take a bit to much concentration to get it to zip... Other than that Amazing jacket.

This Jacket is awesome. As soon as I showed it to my brother in-law he wanted to spray me with the hose to see how well it worked. The only moisture that got in at all was when he was holding the hose on the jet setting at two inches away directly on the zipper. Other people watching said it looked like a freshly waxed car with how the water just beaded up and rolled off. I also wore it jogging and had no clamminess on the inside. eVent is far superior to Gore-tex and it only gets better with washing. Great product from backcountry.com.

I completely agree with the review written by Buddah. This is a killer jacket and definitely breathes a million times better than my OR GoreTex pro shell. The only thing I'd add to this review is that the waterproofness of it is just as incredible as the breathability. Water is still beading off and it's had ample time to break down. I've worn it with 60+ lb. pacs numerous times and it's working out better than I had expected! Thanks again BackCountry!!!

There is no doubt that this shell works as advertised breathability-wise, and at keeping out the wind and wet.

The fit, however, is funky. The back collar sits pretty high, and the neck is really tight ... there is no way to keep this zipped up fully with the hood down unless your a chinless wonder. The neck is either covering your mouth so tightly that glasses or goggles instantly fog, or you've got everything pushed down below the chin and back of your skull where it bunches up.

Bottom line ... below the neck, I love it. from the neck up, I'm less than thrilled, which is a bummer since I met the designer after the jacket was ordered, but before it was received.

I'm giving 4 stars instead of just 3, because it's a great concept, just needs some refinement on fit.

I do like this coat but it is not what I thought it would be. After some Utah Pow skiing in the Stoic I have some thoughts. First of all, it's way too small. I wear a L and bought an XL in this shell. (i'm 5'11 185) I can barley fit underarmor, a bc.com pullover, and a small insulator. This is a shell, and they should make it so you can insulate under it! This coat was intended for touring and very high output activities, not riding a cold resort all day. I own about 7 bc.com tops and they all have two things in common that drive me crazy, long arms with large openings that always get in the way. Believe it or not, the one product that I would have wanted to have these features, a shell, does not. I find it nearly impossible to pull my sleeves over my gloves while skiing. Also, at full zip, the neck covering is very tight to the face and a tad short. It's hard even to fit your helmet strap. At full zip with the hood over a helmet, it is so tight to my mouth that I can barley breath and there is no room for my exhale to escape so it instantly fogs my googles. The other negative is that the length is short. As for breathability, it's great unless you have layers between the skin and the shell. My layers collect moisture on their outside.

After some shenanigans getting the right size shell shipped to me, I can definitively say I love the Stoic. This is after six months of getting shells and sending them back (just ask the gearheads). After five days of skiing in both the rain and single digit temps here are my initial thoughts.

Okay, yes the sizing is a bit weird. I'm 6'4" 193 (long, lean build) and the Large fit nearly perfect IF AND ONLY if I wanted it as a stand alone shell. Normally I'm a Large, but whatever, I went up a size. With any sort of layers, added in an XL fits me like a frickin' glove. I can wear my base, my R2 fleece and my Cloudveil belay parka (or soft-shell) under this and have plenty of mobility. With a heavier layer (down jacket) the XL fits me fine although the sleeves pull up a little. The length is fine and I'm a pretty lanky guy. The biggest complaint I have about the fit is that the neck/hood doesn't work well with layers/helmet. The neck is a bit tight wearing a second jacket as a layer. Similarly, the hood isn't big enough to accommodate a helmet unless it's low-profile. So, my solution, buy a lower profile helmet and deal with a slightly tight neck when i have to batten down the hatches. Seems simple enough to me.

Secondly, eVent knocks the socks off of Gore-Tex. Being the bigger guy that I am, I also happen to be pretty darn sweaty (understatement of the year). Even skiing in 40 deg, rainy weather I never felt clammy in this shell and I ALWAYS feel clammy, even in a Gore-Tex Pro Shell. This stuff is worth the hype.

Let's put it this way. I sent back my Arcteryx Theta AR back to Backcountry when I tried this thing out. Why? Generally great fit and AMAZING breathability. Is it for you too? Dunno, try it. You can always send it back. Why would you though? At 14 oz, with this kind of durability and breathability you won't find a better shell.

I wear large in pretty much everything, but this jacket's noticeably more snug in the shoulders/chest than other brands (I wear a 43L in a suit jacket). There's no way I could wear even an insulating layer underneath, just a really lightweight base layer.

I'd love to get the XL, even though the sleeves would be marginally too long, but I used a 20% coupon that I won't get in an exchange. Oh well.

I'll echo what has been said earlier.

Compared to the Gore-tex jackets I own from other famous makes, the length is ***tooooo short****

It won't even cover underlayers on the front side. The back side droops down a little more, but still barely acceptable in the back. The front length is a total deal breaker!!

The jacket is also rather snug and won't accept too heavy a layer(s) underneath.

The sleeve length is barely long enough and the sleeve SHOULD BE ***ARTICULATED*** for full range of motion.

I would have liked to have seen pit-zips and an inner pocket for stuff....especially at this price. The wrist closure should also be elasticized with the strap.

The jacket material is a mild weather weight and the material, I believe, is a thin 20 denier weight.......not for heavy duty mountain activities.

The blue color is a royal blue, so keep that in mind.

Had the length (body, sleeve) been competitively longer and with articulated sleeves, I'd give it a 4* rating. With the other imporvements I mentioned, 5*.

At this price, it should be much better!...

I just picked this up at the retail store today and it looks pretty cool. This thing runs way small so go a size larger for sure. The ams are kinda long while it's short on the waist like many BC brand products. I'll check back in after I have it "out" a few times.

I bought this as a (yikes) third shell in my lineup. I have a Arc'teryx Sidewinder SV(burly winter shell) and TNF Triumph (UL 3-season shell). I bought this jacket for 3 reasons: 1) eVent 2) weight 3) minimal design.

The eVent has lived up to the hype I've seen and heard about it. I really think it is the best waterproofing option available. Breaths better than the Go-tex and any PU coating. I also prefer a waterproof fabric over PU coatings which wear off too easily.

The weight is also great. Its not the lightest, but for its weight its the burliest jacket I've seen (MH Cohesion, TNF Venture). I'm happy enough using it on backpacking trips, through the shoulder seasons, and into winter (unless its going to be super icy, where bust out the Sidewinder). It works well when you slap an insulating layer over it at a rest, then rip it off to keep booting up.

The minimal design is good, two hand pockets, one chest pocket, simple velcro on the cuff. Although minimal, BC put a fleece panel on the back of the neck, usually a high wear and break down area. Also a great, trim athletic cut doesn't leave any swimming to be had.

My only beef with the jacket is that the hand pockets run in the area of my pack hipbelt. They aren't completely covered, but not exactly accessible. Not an issue as I don't really use those pockets unless I'm using the jacket around town.

Read the reviews on this one b/c if you are shelling out the money you need to know what you are looking for. As previous reviewers have noted, if you are looking for a light weight shell for backpacking or other outdoor activity, this is the ticket. I already have a lightweight MH shell (already have the epic which is not as nice but for 1/3 the price and the I already own it and it does the job in most all situations I have used it in) of similar weight, so I ended up returning it. Now, if you want an all around shell that rocks, buy this (the size is a little tricky as noted by others, the large fit very well on my 5'9" 185 frame as an athletic fit with a little room for layering). The main reason I ended up returning (aside from a bit of redundancy that I couldn't warrant spending the money on) was because I was looking for a heavier weight fabric. It definitely has a durable weight for a light weight shell, but I wanted something a little heavier to supplement my epic (which is admittedly lighter than this). I ended up in a Gore-Tex Performance for the weight I wanted (and at 1/2 the price on SAC), but if I need to replace my spring/summer/fall shell this is where I am turning next. FYI, I have noticed that the color on BC products tend to be a little lighter than online, so keep that in mind, but still a sharp looking product overall. One other note, I think they could add an inside pocket in the future to improve this one over. Really hated sending this one back, but I just couldn't justify it.

This is probably one of the best peices of equipment I own. It is very lightweight and very breatheable, it feels like nothing while I'm wearing it! I got a medium in tahoe (I'm 5'9 145 lb athletic and it fits perfectly) although the actual color is lighter than the one shown. It is nice though cause it brightens up your day if it's rainy and dull! It syncs up nicely with my backcountry siphon, which is also a medium, but if you want more room, I'd go for a size up in the Stoic... I wore this in a torrential downpour on the AT and this thing kept me as dry as a bone, it was really cool to see the water bead off the jacket like nothing else. The eVent fabric is also another wonder of the world; it kept me comfortable in 70 (maybe 80?) degree humid weather, or atleast as comfortable as you'd expect to be in a longsleeve. It obviously doesn't breathe like you're not wearing anything but it WILL move the sweat off of you and through the jacket. Much better than any gore-tex or anything else on the market!

Just got my Stoic yesterday. Haven't got to use it yet, but I'll comment on the fit. I am 5'-8" 160 lbs. with an athletic build. Smaller waist (31"), wider shoulders, but not huge. I usually wear a small in most things. A North Face size small fits me perfectly, not too tight, not too loose. I ordered 2 jackets, 1 small and 1 medium. I pulled the 1st jacket out of the box and said, "Hmmm, this must be the small." I looked at the tag and saw it was the medium. I tried it on. Ooooooh, it was wicked sweet! The fit was as close to perfect as you could be. I can fit a base layer and a 100-weight fleece underneath without restricting my movements or looking like a roasted 'mallow. With just a t-shirt on, it looked great too, and wasn't excessively baggy. I hate baggy. Everything gets in the way. The arm length was awesome, not too long or short. As for other peeps mentioning the small neck, I had no problems there either. The fabric is much sturdier than I had anticipated. I would feel comfortable with moderate bushwhacking in this without worry. Got the "Tahoe" color, and it rocks. Hope this helps someone out there. If you are unsure about a size, order both and try them on, then send the one back that doesn't fit. It costs a whole 7 bucks and 1 quick trip to UPS to send it back. I think that's worth it to get the right fit. Cheers.

Not as advertized. It's thin and light weight. Not a winter parka. Its length is short. A med. was too short (didn't cover under layers), and a large would have too long of arms. It was too tight in the mid section (stomach). I could not layer under it. It could be a great product with some minor changes. Def. not winter weight. Cayenne is a cool color. Nice jacket, just didn't work for me. Wish it did!

This thing is amazing. Picked up the Blue(looks awesome). Definitely size up one. I am 5'10 200lbs and picked up a large which leaves room for layering but wish i would have sized up to an XL. This thing works just as advertised. Was in breck recently skiing and withstood 60+ mph gusts and and ice storm. worth every penny. Is a bit thin so having a nice soft shell underneath if it is going to be below 25F.

The sizing is a bit off for this jacket. First off, I am a girl. After going through a few women's jackets and being unhappy with the length of many of them, I decided to buy a men's jacket. Usually I am a small, but I decided to buy a medium since I heard these ran small. I can fit 2 layers and either a warm vest or a hoodie under the medium and it fits amazing. I live in the Cascades and anyone who has been up there knows how important it is to stay dry. This is the first jacket I have worn up here that has kept me completely dry in wet weather, but breathes great (keeping me dry again) while I am hiking. If anyone is looking for a jacket that is affordable and great in any condition then I would highly recommend this jacket. It is well worth the money

3.5 stars

As a technical shell, i.e. skiing or high altitude hiking/mountaineering, you're going to want to order one size up. Even then, I'm not even sure it would be long enough. However, if you're just going to use it as a everyday rain jacket or backcountry shell, I'd say you're pretty golden. It's just as light and more breathable than most normal rain jackets. The material is more durable than other reviews have noted, but I'm not sure how long it would stand up to branches when skiing.

All in all, a really nice looking jacket, but if you're going to tear it up or want to layer heavily, I might look somewhere else.

The Stoic is a great deal. I wore the stoic in almost every type of condition last winter and thought it performed well in all. Maybe not as windproof as gore-tex, but close. The e-vent breaths super well on those warmer days and keeps 100% of moisture out on wet ones.

It is cut slim - I typically wear a size small, but went with a medium on this coat and do not regret it. It is a slim fit for sure. My only complaint would be the design of the neck ring/hood. It is really tight around the lower neck, so it is very difficult to stuff a gator down there without feeling suffocated. There is also a pinch point on the main zipper where the neck/hood meets the body of the coat. It is difficult to pull the zip past that point and the pinch compromises the water seal. This needs to be redesigned.

It's a great coat though; it performs, is good looking and a fine deal. the cayenne is the best color too.

Bought one, liked it so much I bought one for my son in law. Prefer this jacket to any of my 4 Arc"Teryx jacket (yes, I am a gear nut!)

Anytime I exert myself, no matter how cold outside, I start to sweat. This jacket with eVent feels like it's sucking the moisture off my skin. And with the deep collar and big hood, a -20F windchill day at Vail was no problem. I stayed dry and warm skiing powder all day for the first time in my life. A powder skirt would be a nice addition but it's not critical. I get a lot of compliments on the bright blue color too.

Okay, first-up, I don't have this jacket. That said, it's eVent®, which makes it lighter and more breatheable than any other non-eVent® jacket in its class. Those of you who do not own gear made of or with eVent® fabrics are missing out: waterproof, windproof and breathes incredibly. I don't understand how it works, but I don't care. It's awesome.

Just picked up the Backcountry.com Stoic eVent Shell and it's great. I have been using this for both touring and early season inbounds skiing in Utah. You hardly notice any heat issues when you are moving and as soon as you stop you can feel the moisture evaporating from your body. You cool down quickly after aerobic output. It allows all of your layers to dry well and works well with a soft shell for layering. I would highly recommend this Jacket. If there is one thing I would like to see added to this jacket it would be an inside chest pocket for an I Pod. This was my first go with eVent and it is definitely as advertised highly waterproof and breaths way better than GoreTex. I got caught in some rain with this jacket and the water just beads up and roles right off. It is a bit of a slim fit. I usually wear a large and went with the XL for added room. I was glad I did.

Tested this great new jacket while backcountry skiing in Big Cottonwood Cyn. It was a warmer day so I went with my merino wool base layer and this STOIC jacket. Perfect combo, I did not overheat as it breathes nicely but when a little wind hit on the ridge it kept me comfortable. Looking forward to using this jacket for mtn biking (rainy or colder days), trail running, or just hiking in the mtns. Very functional piece of gear that will for sure make you happy! Go for it! You will keep this item for years and use it all the time. Peace.

I'd say that the Backcountry Stoic jacket is one of the best backcountry brand products. The Stoic breathes well and is waterproof. I just layer under it to varying degrees and can use this jacket in all conditions. If it's super cold (ie below zero), I just pull my Montbell ultralight down parka out of my pack and throw that on underneath (get one of those too -- an amazing light weight down jacket -- I always have one in the bottom of my pack. Never even realize it's there ... until it suddenly comes in very handy!). If it's warmer I may just wear a merino baselayer underneath the Stoic, or if it's in between I go with a merino tee, a backcountry prime power stretch top, and maybe even a marmot dryclime windshirt. If you have all these things, you are good for any and all conditions... by the way, the chest pocket on the stoic is great for your phone or digital camera.

don't know what the 3 star rating was all about, this jackets is a technical breathable shell, as advertised. BOTTOM LINE: this puppy is like an inoperable brain tumor. it eats away at your pocketbook, allows you to sweat profusely, and eliminates need to worry for further jackets.
sizing runs a bit small: if you wear a shirt size med. go for a Large. trust me.

love this jacket, it is lightweight, packable, but breathable like no other shell material. I like this for backcountry skiing when you get up high, got some wind or weather to contend with, and need that protective layer, and a hood. fits over a soft shell. I am a large, but if I wanted more room for insulation layer, I would go up a size to XL.