Rab Vapour-Rise Lite Tour Softshell Jacket - Men's - 2010 BCS

Bought one in red, liked it so much, but a second one in blue.
What makes it are the pit zips. Great for back country, snowshoeing, hiking and trekking. The inner thin fleece adds just enough warmth and extra wicking. Have worn in high winds and snow ... no adverse effects. The hood is unique in the it has a foam brim so it is easy to shape. It fits grat over a beanie ... not sure about a helmet.
Since the company is British ... it has a euro fit ... so I ordered a xl. I normally wear a med in marmot and lrg in north face ... go figure.
If you can get one ... grab it

Let me say that this jacket surprised me! It is a very well thought out piece. Walked around a local lake around 2am for a test. Was windy and somewhere in the low 30's. Good wind resistance, water repelling was awesome(ran arm under a faucet). Obviously got cold quick but had only a cotton long sleeve under. Would be perfect for cooler summer alpine stuff. This jacket has AWESOME venting options, huge pit zips and chest pockets unzip to vent as well(although don't have a clue on breath-ability, didn't want to sweat it up if I was going to send it back). The hood was average as it had one of those vertical velcro adjusts. on the back, instead of the cinching kind. REALLY wanted to keep this jacket as it fit perfect for an athletic style, however as with most Euro lines it was tight in the shoulders and somewhat in the armpits.6'3 185. To make sizing issues worse this jacket sports the non-stretch version of Pertex. If it was a stretch jacket, probably would have kept it. Again would be a GREAT cooler-mild summer alpine jacket, if your willing to size up and don't mind non-stretch. I like the close fitting stuff so I didn't want to size up just for the shoulders. If Rab could fix this weird sizing for wider shoulders I would be a costumer for life! Hope this helps!

This jacket does is exactly what the name says. It breathes incredibly well. It does have pit zips. Blocks the wind and sheds moisture really well. I will agree with the other review on the fit. Little tight in the shoulders. No strectch. I sized up to a large. The jacket has a great storm hood and nice face coverage. Great dual chest pockets. Rab designed this jacket for Ski touring/mountaineering. The Red color is pretty cool, has blackish grey on the sides. Looking foward to getting out into the backcountry with this jacket. You cant go wrong with the price

Ordered this after reading the other reviews thinking that it would work nicely for me since I am rather slim and needing a medium-duty softshell. I am 6'1 175lbs. I was very surprised when I tried on the large and it was very snug. I usually have the opposite problem - I need a large or XL for sleeve length, but I need a medium for torso size. Well, this thing fit tighter than most mediums of other brands. Other reviewers are correct, the arm holes are uniquely small and seem a bit uncomfortable on the arm pits.
I don't agree with the other reviewer regarding features and durability. I was surprised at how thin the material felt, and I just can't see it standing up to a few brushes with trees while skiing (which is why I bought it). I can't comment on breathability or water repelling ability since I returned it.

I think it's an ok jacket, and appropriate for the price. It's certainly not anything special.

Very nice jacket, especially for the money. This jacket is pretty much full featured with pit zips, helmet compatable hood, and two large chest pockets. It's super breathable for long tours, but also very warm when stopped for short periods of time. I use this jacket mostly for backcountry skiing. I have three rab jackets and i feel as though they fit pretty true to size (definitely smaller than patagonia) I'm 6'3, 165 and i have two rab jackets in medium for climbing, but this one i got in large as to not be too tight in the chest when wearing a light insulation piece and a beacon under it.