When I got the jacket I was a little surprised; the insulation felt less substantial (less stiff?) than primaloft one in a jacket I had previously owned. This insulation is definitely warm though. In fact this jacket compressed really well due to the insulation. The insulation does its job on a cold windy day (15F; 25mph gusts is the day I'm referencing) and the windstopper soft-shell cuts the wind at the surface leaving the warmth inside. The soft-shell seems pretty tough. I've dragged the jacket through some underbrush with no rips. The best part about this jacket is how well it is thought out. Pit zips are absolutely crucial to dump extra heat. I don't care how well windstopper breathes....nothing beats pit zips and the heat can build quickly in this jacket if you're pushing yourself. The removable hood is a great idea too just in case the hood doesn't fit inside your shell's hood or you just don't want it there. This jacket makes a great mid layer when things get nasty and it's cold. Overall it is very well thought out. Important size note I am 6'1" 190lbs with an athletic build and I absolutely had to have an XL. I normally wear a large but I have a medium TNF pamir that fits great as a comparison. That is just a heads up.

I live in Tasmania which is a place where you can get four seasons in one day and is often cold and windy. I got this jacket for winter surf trips. Checking the surf can be cold, but once you have been in the freezing waves you need to get your core temperature up. This light weight jacket keeps out the wind and is beautifully warm. If you decide to get this jacket be careful with your sizing. I weigh 70kg and 170cms tall and the medium is a perfect size for me.

The prairie winters get pretty cold where I am, but keeping the wind out makes it so much easier to stay warm. The Windstopper softshell outer helps keep the chill out and the the Windstopper softshell outer combinied with the synthetic insulation keeps the heat in. For normal everyday use around the city this jacket is good for temps down to -20C or so. People are always asking how I can walk around in the bitter cold in such a 'little' jacket while they're all bundled up in their parkas. It also looks nice without appearing overly technical.

For a cold day on the mountain you can remove the hood and wear it as an extra-warm midlayer under a shell. Pit zips are there when you want to cool down between runs. It compresses nicely to fit in a pack if things start to warm up.

I've tried similar jackets like the North Face Redpoint Optimus, but with the added features of Windstopper, pit zips and removable hood this one beats it hands down for only a few dollars more. I would have been happy to pay a little more for PrimaLoft insulation, but otherwise it's all one could ask for in this type of jacket.

Just got the jacket literally 5 minutes ago and it's amazing. I had a windstopper tech jacket and liked it but realized I wanted something warmer. This is it, windstopper softshell plus synthetic insulation does a great job so far (32 degrees F). Fits just like a MH always does, I am 5'9" 170 and athletic build and a medium is perfect. Best jacket on the market for windproof and coldproof, trust me, I have done my research. GET ONE NOW!

At 205 lbs, and 5 feet 10 tall, with 34 inch sleeve length, I found the extra large to fit perfectly for me. Living in the south(north carolina), I didn't need a very heavy jacket, but I need warmth due to a trip to New York. Happened to be record cold weather, 25 deg. at home and 5 deg. in NY. Stood in line early morning for about an hour to go into good morning america,(5 deg f) blistering cold winds, drizzle, so cold the drizzle would freeze on the outside of my coat. I stayed warm and dry.

I needed something not overly bulky or weighty, since I was in and out of stores and shows. Wasn't too bulky or heavy to carry when inside. No complaints about the coat. Light weight, somewhat packable, windstopper worked. Crappy weather, great coat. Gotten plenty of use after the trip as well.

I can't tell you about how it would perform climbing or hiking, but tooling around the city in wet, below freezing weather, I don't think I could have made a better choice.

I have not had this jacket long, and have not had a chance to try it out in the field yet. It is very comfortable and warm. It does indeed stop the wind, and is light, and once it occurred to me that this manufacturer makes jackets to fit the slender V-shaped type individual, I returned my usual sized jacket and bought one size larger, and except for the arms is a perfect fit. The hood is insulated too and is great at keeping warm. Now if only I could find a jacket just as light as this and as insulated AND waterproof too. Like one made with Gortex and windstopper materials. . .