I've worn this piece as my cold weather shell since the beginning of this season in everything from the Portland rain to 50+mph blowing snow up on Mt. Hood and nothing has gotten through, not even close. The softshell portion of the jacket in all the right spots prevents clamminess found with many hard shells. I got mine an extra size big to allow for layering and I'm glad I did. Pockets everywhere you need them, pit zips are well placed and a good length, and the hood is big enough for a helmet. Overall, an excellent purchase and something I plan on wearing holes through, but I'm sure that will take quite a while. The perfect outer layer for any number of winter activities.

This Jacket is very well built and flexible in all the right places. Welded seams inside and out insure this jacket stays waterproof and wind proof under extreme conditions. The pit zips also are huge, which is nice for airing out on the move! I just got back from a week long trip in Moab and Canyonlands and this jacket performed flawlessly! I would however suggest wearing layers underneath it on cold days on the trail.

I bought this jacket, not for snow country or mountain climbing; but for rainy, blustery days in Texas and for hiking overseas. It is light weight, rugged, easy to pack, waterproof, windproof, breaths extremely well, and amazingly warm. My GoLite jackets are great for mid rainy weather, but the Manticore is perfect for nasty weather with temperatures under 50 degrees. Great for layering, but might want to order one size larger.

When my last hardshell died after years of abuse, I was apprehensive to buy a clone of my previous one. I was similarly apprehensive to trust a full softshell as my go-to alpine outer layer. The Manticore represented an optimal compromise, and one that I'm very happy about.
So far nothing has soaked through, not 2 hours of pelting rain nor an entire day of pouring snow in the north cascades. The hybrid construction gives it a feeling of substantialness that I find comforting, while remaining quite light and easily packable. Its softshell qualities make it very breathable, so I rarely remove it once I don it. I like to think of it as kind of like my suit of armor for mountaineering- so far it's deflected everything mother nature has thrown at me, aside from a couple of falling rocks (which while bruising me, didn't harm my manticore in the least).

This Jacket is everything i wanted, i tried out a few other jackets Like the Mountain Hardware Aguilla and the Mountain Hardwear Cohesion, each nice products but not exactly what i wanted in a mountaineering jacket. the Mountain Hardware Manticore really hit the mark for me, great mobility in the jacket, breathes great and is waterproof and windproof, lightweight and can fold up and fit into almost any pocket. i love the thin fleece lining in the coat and the hood, takes the clamy feeling you sometimes get and just makes for a great comfy jacket. i read some reviews for which size to get and im glad i did, i ended up ordering a Large, in my mind im a medium im 5'7" and 155 lbs, but im a layer kind of guy and the large allows me to layer and keep my mobility but also isnt huge without the layers on a perfect fit. good length as well. i have always loved Mountain Hardwear and this jacket keeps the love going for me.

Just a thin shell that's softer and stretchier compared to Gore-Tex shells. The construction is impressive with the taped seams and pit zips. I've used it in serious New England snow conditions and it works flawlessly. Be careful with MH sizing. I am 5-9", 160lbs, 33" waist and bought Medium. The Manticore works fantastic with my MH Link jacket but it's a SNUG fit. When I cross my arms, I get that "pulling" feeling on the shoulders which I like. I didn't buy this jacket for the bitter cold so I don't need anything heavy underneath, but if you want this jacket for every layering condition, you have go up one size to your norm. My new fave winter shell!

This piece appears to be exceptionally well constructed and true to size. My only complaint - and it was significant enough to precipitate a return - is the poorly designed hood. The hood, when not in use, clings to the back of the wearers neck and head... bothersome to say the least. When in use, the hood does offer exceptional protection from adverse weather conditions, but is - in my experience - too small to accommodate a climbing helmet. I like the idea of the hybrid softshell/hardshell, but the issues with the hood are significant enough to render that fact moot. I'm considering the MH Synchro instead, which I have tried on, and have found to be significantly more comfortable and with a more dexterous fit.

I was very leery on getting this jacket at first. I have always been a north face user. I find this product to have a better fit and better uses. I can use this in the freezing cold (layering of course), or in the wind and rain on a spring day. Great ventilation, very durable. Perfect pocket placement. Zipper is durable. Definately well worth the investment!

Put this jacket through some serious abuse on my recent month-long expedition in Alaska. Held up great, though towards the end the softshell areas began to pill a bit, mostly in high wear areas like the underarms and where your harness sits. We had some intense storms, and this jacket proved to be very weatherproof, keeping out snow, rain, and high winds. I would recommend this over much more expensive offerings from Arc'Teryx, The North Face, etc.