The Windstopper material seemed perfect and the pockets and zippers were good too....but I tried one of these vests out in both an XL and a L. I'm 6'1" 190 and the XL had too much room leaving lots of space for cold air to get in. The Large was perfect width wise and the arm holes worked as well, but it came down just to my belt line or perhaps almost above it. I'm not expecting a huge drop tail or for the vest to run far below my waist, but this vest is cut too short by about 2-3 inches in the Large.

Fit, function, and durability is second to none. In season I wear it all the time and had to get a second one to rotate once in awhile. Also have an Arc'Teryx and although the quality is there the fit isn't. I am wider at the shoulders than at the hips and have no gut -- in todays world finding the proper fit is hard and this vest fits.

For those that haven't discovered it yet, Mountain Hardwear makes some awesome and very functional windstopper products. The windstopper tech vest is of no exception, as it is lightweight, of great quality, attractive, and above all, warm. A great piece of apparel to have with you when backpacking. My only word of caution is be careful when sizing, as you obviously want the vest to be snug but comfortable enough for the windstopper membrane to do its job. The vest does have elastic cinches around the waist, which helps to keep it snug in addition to an athletic fit. I'm about 5'8" 220 lbs with a stockier build and the XL was a good fit that still allowed a baselayer underneath. In terms of length, this vest doesn't seem to be catered to taller individuals, as some reviewers have pointed out the cut is a bit shorter for them, but if you're in the neighborhood of 5'8" it's perfect.

First of all, my girlfriend keeps telling me "it is a cool vest !" So this is a big plus, because mostly I care how women think about me...
This vest is light weight yet it keeps your core warm. I ride a big motorcycle and I wear this vest underneath my mesh jacket and it does a good job during morning / chilly days ride. I KNOW this is windproof because riding a motorcycle is all about going into wind.
This is also a cool vest to wear when you go out for a casual dinner and such. It is low key and shaped athletically and it fits me perfect because I have a athletic body...^^"

Just the ticket for layering under heavier outer garments or wearing by itself on warmer days. It is the ideal all around vest. I returned this one because it was cut too small for an XL. Be sure to allow for the smaller cut.Even though I am an XL, I re-ordered in 2XL and it fits fine.

my first Mtn Hardware item and I am impressed with the quality. a great 3 season layer.

I love how this vest fits and it is so good at stopping the wind. Throw this over a hoody and your good to go on a cool sunny fall day.
There is a breast pocket and two side pockets which make it great to hold stuff, and they are all zip up pockets too.

Bike in the mid 40s with just a regular long sleeved shirt and this vest on (and glove) and felt comfortable.

Usually size small from pretty much every brand fits me just slightly big. I go through reviews sometimes just to see if someone mentioned the item fits small, and if there's comment like that, the item usually fits me fine, which is the case with this one. So it might fit small/short for you if a small sized item usually fits you fine.

The slim technical fit with the collar folded down makes the vest seems a bit girlie though... and the black microfleece trap/show dust like crazy, but the dust compensate for the slightly girlie look a bit... not that I'm insecure about my own masculinity or anything... really.

This vest is perfect as a layering piece or as outer protection. Not warm, but that was not expected. Very light weight and very usefull for all applications

I just wore this in real strong, cold winds and was fine. I was just walking, so I wasn't generating much heat. It was the vest.

Very impressed with the warmth for such a lightweight, thin vest. Definitely a wind stopper. Since my old vest is a 25 year old puffy down one, I expected to wear a vest as an outer layer, but this is too trip to wear over most sweaters, which is fine because it's a perfect mid layer, and warmer that way. Backcountry's prices can't be beat.

Warm, comfortable, and definately windproof. Great for layering. I am 5'9'' 190lbs and purchased a XL. Fits great

After days in on top of mountains hunting dall's sheep, outside of Denali park in Alaska I knew I needed some kind of windstop material. This was the perfect answer very lite consrution roomy (order 1 size bigger then normal), and so far VERY well made. I like it and gave it 5 stars!

Great vest just cut a bit tighter at the waist then the jacket is. Had to go to one size up

This vest works great for lounging around the house, wearing to the office, and under my MH Windstopper Tech Jacket. However I wear it, it keeps me warm and comfortable, and it looks great, too. My wife thought it a bit on the short side, (I bought a large and I'm 6', 175 lbs.) but I don't see it as a problem. And Backcountry.com had the best price for the size and color I wanted!

Awesome vest.
Great alone or with shell.
Keeps windchill down significantly.
Highly recommend this product.
Thanks.

Mtn. Hardwear makes some of the best quality gear available from a consumer's standpoint. This is of course my personal opinion. The tech vest is a piece of gear that keeps you warm in most any outdoor sport and is comfortable and lightweight. It can be worn into spring after cold winter weather. Usually with just a t-shirt underneath for cooler spring temperatures. In all, the tech vest is a breathable Gore-tex piece that is both functional and looks good.

The only thing I would have changed about this vest is that it be a little longer. I'm 5'11" slim build, and 95% of the time a medium fits me perfectly. This one is a bit short, but once I tighten it, I can slip my shirts underneath it.

It is light, warm, stylish, and nice for times when you don't quite want a jacket, but need something more than a shirt.

I recommend it.

I purchased this vest because I do a lot of winter mountain biking and cross country skiing in northern Michigan, where it's often windy and temps average 10-25 F. Over a long-sleeve synthetic top, this vest is perfect for winter aerobic activities. I'm impressed at how warm it is and enjoy the freedom of a vest compared to a fleece. The material is of high quality and the zippers seem very durable. If the weather is colder or I'm doing something less intensive, this vest works very well underneath a regular fleece jacket. The vest has a snug fit; I'm a 5'9" male with a slim build (~30" waist) and wear the small, but I might consider a medium if I was layering more underneath the vest. The neck zips almost up to the bottom of my ears and can be a little tight at times. Combined with the right clothes, this vest will be wearable year round here in upper Michigan. I recommend this vest to anyone who lives in cold, windy areas and enjoys aerobic activities but doesn't want a full jacket.

This vest is about as good as it gets along the attributes of versatility, warmth, and weight. The trim fit makes it easy to layer with virtually any jacket. A multitude of pockets has made this my ideal travel vest where I keep important stuff close to me.
The only improvement I might suggest is to use a material that has a bit more stretch. When sitting down, the belly portion can be a bit restrictive.

Based on my husband's and son's experience GREAT warmth, light weight and not bulky. True to size, washes well. A definite recommend!

I hate vests, yet I love this one. I use it for winter hiking and jogging, although I'd grab something for warmth if I wasn't moving. It's not that the vest isn't warm - that's just not the principal intent despite the fact that I'm perfectly fine with it while on the move. With its loads of pockets and the fact that it is well made, I really like it. Mountain Hardwear stuff is always good stuff.

Since others have commented on sizing, I thought I'd throw my thoughts into the mix. I ordered a small, and returned it for a medium. I'm 5'8", 145 lbs, with a 38-39 inch chest. Trying on other vests in a store, I determined that I was a Patagonia medium, and a The North Face small. The MH vest fits like the Patagonia - I needed the medium.
Having said that, it's a very well made vest. I used it as a layer under a softshell for the morning spring skiing when the temps are still in the 30's and it's perfect. I used it once as an outer layer around town, but it wasn't much of a test.
Hope this helps someone. It's a wonderful vest.

Great trim fit. Blocks the wind great. NOT a particularly warm insulator if you're inactive, but I use it for active outdoor activities. Worked wonders in 18 degrees with a 30 knot wind. Highly functional, versatile, and well-made like all my other MH items.

I picked up the Tech Vest and love it. I had to return the original size ordered as the sizing chart seemed to be a bit off, but I highly recommend this vest for a second layer or a light barrier for any outdoor sport. I'm always in it.

This Vest is excellent as a base layer for cold weather or just alone over a T-shirt. It's a great piece for anyone’s backcountry gear.

I found the vest to outstanding it is great for layering under a heaver garment. I found the vest to run larger that i was expecting.

Got this as a gift for the father in law. He now hates me much less than before. That should say it all... it's comfy, blocks the hell outta the wind, and makes me a better son in law. Check it.

This is the 3rd one I've owned, I'm rarly without one handy. Quality, windproof yet breaths. Great pockets vs. competition. Layer away or by itself.

Finally replaced a well loved EMS Polartec 200 vest with this gem. I purchased the vest because it was perfect for layering and light enough to mix in with my backpacking system. Although I bought it for outdoor use, I'm constantly wearing it to the office and around town.

Great layering, warm and fits great. Windproof is awesome.

This was a Christmas gift for my husband who has not stopped wearing or raving about this vest since the day he received it. He layers it when he rides his bike or goes running and says that it works great as an insulator/wind breaker.

I purchased this item to use in the spring, fall and on cool summer mornings as a simple vest for some wind protection and to carry a cellphone and perhaps a driver's license/credit cards. I ordered size XXL with some trepidation given other reviews re:fit . It turns out that the vest is cut as a "regular" - not a "slim" and it fits appropriately for everyday wear. Compared to other non-technical XXL jackets, the fit is snug but not so much as to be uncomfortable. The length also is a bit short but not problematically. Having sought out a lightweight technical vest with at least 3 zippered pockets, this is the best combination of functionality and fit that I found. Also, I agree with other reviewers that it is a lint magnet but again not a problem.

Technical vests are under appreciated. This is nice and lightweight, definitely blocks the wind, nice pockets and cinches. Not bulky at all and a nice high collar keep your neck warm. Overall a great piece.

Love this vest - functional for its intended outdoors purchase, but also stylish enough for me to wear it to my white-collar job. Originally purchased for torso warmth while hang gliding, I'm finding that I wear it most frequently in my office environment. In fact, our President wanted the URL to your site so he could get one for himself.

This is the best vest out there. Windproof and lightweight it's a perfect supplement to a Capilene midweight long sleeve on summer backcountry overnights when it get breezy on exposed terrain, and will keep you warm at dusk/sunrise. It's trim fit is designed for the 33% of U.S.A. that's not overweight, and aids in efficient body heat retention and layering under a trim fitting superlight rain jacket. My only complaint is the placement of the hand pockets. The zippers end up under a hip belt. This is a bad thing access-wise and comfort-wise. (See the tech jacket for proper placement of hand pockets.) The Michigan skier in the first review nailed the other use of this vest too- high aerobic activity where you want the nips to stay thawed but need some real estate to evaporate moisture.

I had been given this vest as a present over 2 1/2 years ago and still wear it almost everyday. Windproof, warm, great as a layer underneath a waterproof jacket. Best garment I have ever owned. Hands down!!

Got this for my dad and he loves it. Multiple pockets help him stash everything he needs for hike and it layers under his shell when it gets super cold. All in all, great vest for a good price.

Was very surprised at how warm this vest is given the weight of the material. All seems and zippers are rock solid and the microfleece keeps it looking nice after much abuse.