Stoic eVent Stash Shell - Men's - 2009 BCS

Definitely the best feature of this jacket is the breathability. The durability is very good for a jacket of this although don't expect a bomber jacket (come on it weighs 13oz). What brings this down from five stars is that fit, for me at least, could be a little better and I find the hood to be a little tight with a helmet. Also the sleeves are starting to wet out but it's probably my fault for not restoring the DWR. I don't think I would have payed full price for this jacket simply because I think that there is better options out there. Take a look at some of the new Neoshell, DryQ and Active Shell jackets. Great review here http://coldthistle.blogspot.com/2011/10/shells-obvious-questions.html

I usually don't post product reviews, but I bought this jacket a few years ago in blue and I wear it everyday including for skiing, general rain etc .... It's been to europe, worn for long hiking trips, and it's super light and easily packable! The water eVent water proofing is better than any helly hansen, or Goretech jacket I've owned, and it hasn't ripped or had seal peal like on tons of my other shit -- definitely an awesome purchase for the price too!

Size: M
My Dimensions: 5'9, 150lbs, athletic build.

-First off, this jacket weighs 13 ounces, so it feels like almost nothing.
-The hem falls 3-4 inches south of my belt, which is just about perfect for me, and it has elastic lanyard drawstrings (like those on the hood) so you can tighten it up if you need to.
-When I first tried it on I thought the arms were too long, but they've proven to be really nice for hiking in the rain, because I can leave them loose, covering my hands almost entirely (nice for day-long hikes in cold Northwest drizzle), or I can secure the velcro cuffs, which are much longer in this version of the stoic (compared to the Stoic 2.0 bombshell design) and therefore much more versatile: I can fit thick gloves underneath them or snug them tight around my bare wrists. The arms are also very roomy compared to the Stoic 2.0, nicely accomodating a base layer and down jacket, and the material is so lightweight and compressible that you won't even notice the bunching of the excess fabric when worn over a tee-shirt.
-The pockets are well-made and watertight. The small inner pocket for an ipod (or map) is a nice touch as well. The hip pockets seem standard but looking inside the jacket, you'll notice that they extend all the way up to the top of the chest pocket. In these pockets on various trips I have stored: a down jacket, a paperback, a klean kanteen, an msr hyperflow water filter, a loaf of bread...you get the picture. Of course you don't have to use this extra capacity and you won't notice it if you don't.
-On breathability: yes, it breathes, and yes, you have to feel it for yourself to understand just how well it breathes. And it's totally waterproof.
On a three day hike at roughtly 3000-5000 ft elevation, I forgot sunscreen (it was pouring and frigid on the first day) and ended up using this jacket instead. For two days it was 70-80F for most of the day, but I managed to stay relatively cool under the large hood. That may be one reason to consider buying the bright blue version: it will reflect sunlight MUCH more efficiently than the black.
-Last but not least: the hood. The design of this hood, while essentially the same system as the stoic 2.0, is in fact a full upgrade due to a few new design details: 1) Cinch cords on the collar are now on the outside (thank you!). 2) Overall adjustment system is much tighter and more customizable, and does not slip because it uses real lanyards instead of those pieces of foam that were on the old stoics. 3) Brim is stiff but not heavy, and just long enough.
-Durability: have not been able to damage it yet, but it IS thinner than the bombshell material, being a comparable to gore-tex pac-lite in thickness. However, those of you that want a jacket that it both thin, breathable AND super durable might want to check this one out: http://tiny.cc/8vepb

Overall a great jacket... Event material is an obvious no brainer, and the face fabric used by stoic is holding up well to abuse... its definitely not a heavy denier face fabric; so bush whacking and serious abrasion needs should choose a different product, but as a go-to rain/backpacking jacket, it does the job... I have the Stoic Vapor as well (see my review) but I like the Event material better... the 3L Vapor membrane has started to break down from use and packing and is just to breathable for a backpacking jacket (gets cold quick). This jacket weighs less, has multiple pockets, and a better hood. I prefer the forward "3D" arm approach of the Vapor over this one, the arms of the Vapor have a lot less seams (the Event has so many seams and different folds in the arms that you have to find the sweet spot when resting your arms on something flat or the seams bite your elbows/forearms) and the pit zips are nice... now if Stoic would combine the best of both these jackets, I think they would have a worthy competitor to any of the major Name Branded products out there...

Great! Highly packable, highly waterproof, windproof and nice trim fit.
By unzipping all pockets and can ventilate well. I've skied and ran in very wet conditions and it performed amazing.
BUT!! For real this thing is short in the torso. I like its trim, athletic fit but needs to be longer!

I run to work every day in Dutch Harbor Ak. We get 250+ rainy days a year and so I needed a jacket that would be water tight and reasonably breathable. The sale price of this jacket was what made me choose it and overall I am satisfied with my purchase.

Body type: 6’6”, 225. Size purchased, XL

Pros of this Jacket:
-Super light weight, and the fabric is a rip stop nylon so it should be durable inless you abuse it.
-The event fabric is much more breathable than gortex.
-The arms are nice and long which is great for a tall guy like me.
-The pockets are watertight and huge.
-The cut of the jacket is athletic enough to not flap around to much in the wind (which we also get a lot of) but loose enough to slip a fleece under it for warmth.
-The color (pool blue) is light which helps keep it cool even of a sunny day, I didn’t think I would like the color much but it is growing on me.

Cons: There are several things that make this jacket a deal only when on sale, I would never pay full price for this thing.
-The cut of the jacket is a bit short in the body.
-The draw cords are a really flimsy elastic material which I don’t believe will hold up for long and it doesn’t do a great job at cinching things up tight.
-The hood design doesn’t let you put it up and down with the jacket fully zipped up.
-The stitching does seem a bit looser than other jackets, I don’t know it may be an event thing but the stitches show more on this jacket than my other gortex products.
-The Zipper always snags on the interior storm flap halfway up the jacket, it gets a bit annoying sometimes.
-This jacket could use pitzips, not necessarily for the breathability factor; I have never gotten clammy and wet even running in rainy weather, but pitzips do a great job at getting rid of excess body heat to cool you down. A breathable fabric doesn’t do that.
-Color choice, the pool blue is growing on me but it would be nice to have some of the normal options like red, green, blue and orange.

Overall it is a good jacket with a couple of design issues. It finds its niche in-between a tricked out burly mountaineering shell and a light weight trekking rain jacket, good for general hiking and trail running. I would never pay full price for it but on sale for under 200 bucks it is a great bargain that won’t disappoint.

I usually wait a little while before I right reviews, but I couldn't wait with this one. This jacket is great! It is extremely light and packable yet built to last. The eVent fabric is amazing. Say goodbye to Gore-tex. Seriously, this stuff really does breath. I'm super stoked about this jacket. Like others have said, the cut is extremely "athletic" I'm 5'10" 165lb and got the medium. It fits me perfect. I can put a low profile fleece underneath and not feel too cramped. If your planning on putting anything bulkier as a layer I would say buy a size bigger than what you normally would.

I wish it had pit zips. They just provide enough added flexibility to dump heat. This prevents me from having to remove the jacket and put it back on over and over. Otherwise it's good stuff, never had welded seems before. Interested to see how it holds up. There are some nice touches though that i expected for the price- softer fleece back on the neck area, hood cinching for a good fit with or without a helmet etc. I'm not one to buy fancy shells. I like a cheap durable waterproof non-technical stuff. That said, i'm really excited to start using this and seeing how well it actually breaths and stuff.

I wanted to love this jacket but during a hike one of the seams on the sleeves was torn without me noticing. The material is simply not strong enough for demanding activities.
This jacket has a great athletic fit that was loose enough to fit my stoic insulated welder underneath yet was not baggy. I like the long sleeve design because you can hide your hands in the sleeves in a downpoor yet stell use the cuff velcrow if the sleeves get in your way. The amount of pockets are great and their locations well done. I wish that it had core venting but the pockets do function as vents. The bad part about that is if you want to put your hands in your pockets while it is raining water will come in the jacket.
My take: a fairly well designed jacket but the material is simply not strong enough to put up with activities like climbing. It is very packable and light but then again so are the arcteryx alphas and they are durable.

Bought the XL and it fits well - I'm 6' 195lbs. The arms seemed long, but in practice for backcountry skiing they proved to be great. eVent breathes really well for me. This is a light/thin jacket, which was what I was looking for, but unsure how much abuse it would take.

Body type: 5'7", 140 lbs., athletic build
Size purchased: Medium

I usually buy clothing in small, but there was limited availability on the SAC deal, so I got medium. I'm glad I did, however, as I imagine I'll layer it on occasion. I haven't tested it in the rain, though I've brought it to a couple ball games just in case. It's extremely lightweight and very comfortable. The arms are a little long (which seems to be the case with most things I buy), but that's a good thing with rain jackets, particularly given the cuff Velcro.
I intend to use the jacket fly-fishing, Spring skiing, hiking, and for general everyday rainwear. I enjoy it's versatility, as if you get it just a bit large, you can wear it in any season.
A heck of a buy, especially if you can get it on SAC, or some other deal.

I just got the stoic event in the mail today, so I don't have a field-tested review, but I do have a couple things to say:1. They're not kidding about that "dynamic fit." This thing is as snug as it gets in hardshells. I got this to use specifically for summer backpacking, so I'm not disappointed by the fit, but if you want to use this for anything in the cold, you'll definitely want to go up a size. I'm 6'1 and 140 pounds (skinny as hell, I know) and I can barely fit a base-layer and a mh monkeyman underneath it. But if you're not as skinny, there's no chance you will be able to. And the sleeves are rather long, so if you have short arms, don't even bother. The chest length is nice, coming down an inch below my belt-buckle.2. I'm wondering why the seams are taped and not welded. Obviously I knew that before ordering, but I'm still confused...the stoic softshells seem to be really proud of having welded seams, so why not this piece?3. I'm also wondering if the pockets will prove to be waterproof. There is no zipper garage for the hand-pockets, so there may be a chance of a leak there.4. The hood covers my head completely which is much appreciated. It's rather snug though, so I doubt you could fit a ski helmet underneath it. Maybe a climbing one.5. All in all, seems like a good shell. I look forward to being able to use it backpacking this coming summer in the South. It's humid and hot as hell down here, so I'm sure the alleged breathability will be nice. But you can be sure if the waterproofing turns out to be an issue I'm sending it right back.And a question for the experts, while I'm at it: As far as durability goes, has anybody used this shell climbing (ice or regular)? How worried should I be about it on rock or ice.

P.S. I got this off SAC for 1/2 price. It's a nice jacket, but I definitely wouldn't pay 350 for it. I recommend checking SAC for about a week if you really want it, they've had it half off a lot recently.

OK, this review is actually of an earlier Stoic model, but this jacket is the decsendent of mine, so it should be even better now...

After a day of skiing in mixed rain and snow, a group of riders gathered in the parking lot to tell stories, drink beer, and get rained on as we marvelled at the day. We stood drippinng rain from our Arcteryx, North Face, Patagonia, Helly Hansen, and Stoic outer layers as we downed Rainiers. A Burton Global Team member, at Eaglecrest for a day before heading off to Haines for filming, locked onto my bright-blue Stoic; eyes wide, he asked where I got it, what it was made of, how I liked it. I showed him the massive hood, the waterproof zippers, the thoughtful cut of the cuffs--and his eyes only grew wider as he exclaimed: "it's waterPROOF, isn't it?!?" Now that poor guy has to go heli-ski in what he knows are inferior Burton products. Pity the pros who don't get to choose what they wear.

I'm not too sure what the situation with the previous comment is but I live in northern Canada where wind chill is typically -40 and this is my go to jacket. I wear it with a primaloft insulating sweater and have never had an issue with wind getting through. I plan on graduating it to my go to mountaineering jacket this summer. Highly recommended.

This shell is one tough lightweight worker. Really abrasion and water resistant, plus it breathes well. It really has held up well to all the abuse I've put it through. Two things I don't like about it; no pits zips and definite SIZE UP. I originally got a large, but that ended up fitting similar to an athletic medium in the chest and waist. The arms are plenty long in any size. And yes the hood can handle a ski helmet.

Size: L
I'm 6'2" 180lb

Stoic nailed it with this jacket! The eVent material is amazing. I had it zipped up in my home with the hood on for about 20 min getting a feel for it and didn't get stuffy/sweaty inside at all. I also checked out the waterproofing and the eVent repels water better than anything I've seen before. It's an athletic fit, but enough room inside to wear a hoody or some nice base layers when it gets cold. This is my new go to jacket YEAR ROUND. The material looks like a rip-stop material, but luckily I haven't had to test that yet.

I am 5'8" tall but have a huskey build. Weigh 185lbs. I therefore needed to buy the extra large to fit my chest. Problem is the arms are way to long. I just pull them up and use their cinch to tighten the sleves but who is designing these jackets. I have never needed to by XXL in my life.

The eVent material is (so far) great. I've had the jacket for about 3 months now and bought it for skiing on storm days and when it's not that cold. It has proven a nice alternative to my downpatrol. The sleeves are nice and long for someone who always finds sleeves on the short side (6'0" 180). I ordered the Large.

The hood fits nicely over my helmet and zips up tightly around my face and nose to prevent frostbite on those oh so cold traverses. The weight is nice and light.

2 things need to change on this jacket to make it a five star jacket:
1) The jacket needs to be longer overall. Every run I'm constantly pulling it down over my belt as it tends to ride up because it's not long enough. The extra length in the arms was great. Now add a couple more inches to the bottom. Otherwise the jacket fits great
2) Pitzips pitzips pitzips. No matter how breathable a fabric is, NOTHING can equal the venting power of pitzips. A crucial design flaw on an otherwise great jacket.

Rip is the right word. Loved the Stoic Shell until the right hand pocked ripped at the top of the ripper. No hard use just skiing. Also found the arms were really long.

I closely scrutinized the construction of this jacket when it arrived and would give it a 3 to 4 star rating even though I was unable to field test it. Torso and Arm length were great and allowed free movement without loss of coverage. There was ample storage in the voluminous pockets. Unfortunately I am an ex hockey and football player and have a broad chest and wide shoulders so even the XXL was unable to meet my needs. I am disappointed but went with a Marmot Aegis jacket at half the price which if the specs are correct should satisfy my requirements. Finally, I believe at the price for the stoic eVent jacket that others should take a leap and try this product out.

I imagine that the Stoic eVent rain shell would have performed just as it should have but unfortunately the cut was just a little too slim for me, even in size XL which was the largest size available.

I have the black one. I absolutely love it and it does everything well. The stoic line is a little slim fitting in the hip area compared to other brands but I like that about it. I live in the WindyCity and this thing is perfect!

Got this jacket on SAC about a month ago for a very fine deal.
Impressions so far:

Fit:
I am 6'2" 190lb, just as another reviewer said here, and have pretty long arms - so its always been a problem finding jackets with adequate arm length. That being said, the arm length is perfect for me, but I could see it being an issue if you had substantially shorter arms and still went with a Large (layering purposes, etc). For me, its not too "bunchy" around the wrists yet will not ride up the arm if moving around a lot, which is a bonus.

Function:
So far, I have used this jacket in some nasty Seattle downpours and it has been awesome - obviously keeps you dry and is very breathable, so you are not a sweaty mess when taking the jacket off. The hood is nicely adjustable and provides stellar coverage without obstructing peripheral view too much (haven't tried it with a helmet though). I haven't taken it on the mountain yet as I have limited time as a student right now, but I don't feel like layering would really present a problem as I have plenty of room around my waist and torso area, but I am pretty thin overall...and I have worn it with a puffy down vest underneath without any noticeable constriction of movement, etc. That being said, probably not a bad idea to size up if you foresee using it in extreme cold.

This jacket is constructed very well, which is exactly what I would expect from this company based on the other product I own (Backcountry softshell). I am not a climber so can't comment on location of pockets, etc, and I don't foresee using this too much on the mountain with the lack of powder skirt but I see this jacket being really great on backpacking excursions with unpredictable or dynamic weather conditions. Also, as stated before, it really is light and compresses down nicely, so no problems there.

If you are using this jacket for any technical purposes, take this review for what it's worth, since I haven't subjected it to any true wear and tear as of yet, but the material feels very quality. My impression is that it will hold up well.

Looks/style:
Really like the style/fit of this jacket - my only complaint (very minor) is how bright the blue really is in person (really electric/sky blue). I really do like the color overall as it is pretty unique, but it definitely attracts a lot of attention. Obviously not a performance issue, just more of a preference thing. Would be handy if you are prone to getting lost frequently :)

I would definitely order this jacket again since I foresee utilizing it in a variety of conditions in the Seattle area, especially in the North Cascades this upcoming spring and summer.

Keep up the good work Stoic! Really appreciate a company that applies constructive customer/user feedback.

Thanks,
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I have this jacket in size large and color pool. The color is bold and I have gotten many compliments about it. I am 6'2" 175 lbs and athletic build and the large fits me well. My only complaint is that the jacket is pretty short in the torso if you plan to use it skiing. The length is nice when using with a harness though. Long sleeves are a plus and fit me very well. Overall I have found that Stoic gear is generally a very athletic fit with long arms. The hood is large enough to fit over a ski or climbing helmet and can cinch down to shield against the coldest of winds. The big chest pockets are a plus and can fit an entire 1 liter nalgene bottle.

I bought this jacket last may and it still beads well except along the shoulders where a backpack normally sits. I have washed the jacket several times because eVent requires regular washing. Great jacket and a great value if you can find it on sale!

This is my second backcountry brand product and I think I'm done. I got this jacket on sale and was excited to get an event shell for much cheaper than average. But I got what I paid for. This is not a terrible coat, I just don't feel personally it's worth the price tag, even on sale. Here's my beef: 1. the jacket has an odd fit. I wear a medium in every brand (5'11" 160), but this medium looked like I was wearing my girlfriends jacket. Had to send it back to get the large. The torso on the large fit perfect, but then the sleeves were too long (all the way past my fingers) and the waist line was still too short. Bending over left my low back exposed and while hiking with a pack it would ride up way too high. The pockets are ridiculously huge and uneccesarily so. The hood was nice and cinched down well but doing so left the elastic cords dangling long outside the coat (also a problem at the waist line), and this is a personal pet peeve as they always catch on stuff and get in the way. Third, and most important, I got wet. I took this coat to Panama during the rainy season and enjoyed walking around and hiking in some wicked rain storms. The first time both chest seams leaked and my shirt was very damp underneath. The second time the jacket kept riding up and my waist line was soaked after an hour. My girlfriend in her patagonia shell (also from backcountry) was dry both times. Lastly, this coat is ugly. I could deal with this if the coat were cheap and functional, but it's neither, so it's going back. It's a good try, but there is a serious lack of attention to detail, and for a coat that's 200-300 dollars, that's not ok in my book.

As for event, I think the fabric is awesome. I would definitely say it breathes well, still not well enough, and not well enough to forgo pit zips, but it's a solid improvement. But this coat overall misses the mark. If you're sold on event I say spring for a major brand.

just received it so I can't testify yet to performance, but wanted to post on fit to save others return fees like I had. I'm 5'11 165, ie: medium build and thin. I wear a medium in most jackets. This medium was too small, even for an athletic fit. Sent it back and I'm happy with the large. Should go over a few layers, maybe even a puffy with a little compression. I think it could be a bit longer in the torso, but it should suffice. Hood adjustments are a bit weak, not sure how long they'll last, and they have long hanging external cords when pulled in to fit a head without a helmet. Small deal, but one of my pet peeves. The blue is very bright in person, quite feminine. The neon on the black is obnoxious but tolerable for the good deal on the jacket. Not sure why they just raised the price $15 over last week though. More when it get's field tested this weekend.

Well first off, I bought this at steep and cheap, so this jacket is more worthwhile because it was 30-40 bucks cheaper in a size small. I have the luft insulated sweater too and both fit nicely in a size small, I'm 5'7 and ballpark 110 lbs, but a bigger person who's the same height and 150 lbs will not have a problem fitting it, fits true to size.

That said, the jacket isn't bad, it's quirky. I'm a skinny guy, but my arms aren't too long. The arm length on this jacket is longer than I would think necessary but the rest of the fit is pretty athletic for me. This jacket does attract a bit of dust and lint, but not too bad. I've worn it outside on rainy days and its fine. There is no powder skirt and since I bought it late in the season, didn't have much change to go ski/board with it. I've used the jacket while wearing anything from a very puffy mountain hardwear down jacket to just a hoody underneath with no problems. Haven't tried wearing a helmet underneath, but it seems like it will fit. My one concern is that the seam taping doesn't appear to be completely flat and uniform, so it may allow water to enter during heavy rain. So far I haven't noticed that happening, I've been dry during many rainy days without an umbrella. I personally like the black and neon green colors but it may not be for everyone. the zippper pockets are HUGE. You can put 8 envelopes from the mailman, if they are just regular envelopes, into your side pocket no problem. The neck and chin chaffing buffer could also be better, its pretty thin but kinda soft. I would not suggest this item for heavy winter backcountry skiing since I worry a snagged branch will cause it to rip, it should be fine for hiking though, so long as your not running up and down the mountain being chased by bears. It may not do too much to keep the cold away either, so insulation while wearing this piece will be important, I always layer up when I wear this, it is after all, just a shell, no insulation whatsoever.

Closing thoughts: As a rain/hiking jacket and an eventual spring ski/board jacket, it will do just fine. It's not the most durable shell and it does not insulate, so I will not be doing 5 degree packed powder ski/board with it, I'm just scared of hurting it rather than myself lol. A powder skirt would have been nice, but not always required. I have gotten compliments on this piece, because few have heard of Stoic on the east coast and lets admit that the colors attract attention, even the black.

Pro's-nice fit and colors, large hood and huge pockets, totally waterproof so far and good for layering .
Con's-quality concerns, long arm length, neck and chin buffer.

I recieved the jacket in the mail just in time for the rain and it preformed great. I was dry when i got to class. Not sure if it is worth the 350 but when its on sac for 175 i couldnt pass on it. Im 5'9" and the torso is a good length and the sleeves are long which i love.

give me some pit zips and I would love this thing.

6'3" 185 and the XL is good for layering over anything from a tshirt to down jacket. The eVent material is easily the best shell material out there and tougher than I expected - the material across the back of mine stands up to me shoving pickets, ice axes, and trekking poles between my back and pack without even a scratch. The hood works well with a helmet.

It's funny, if its it's guaranteed waterproof, why is it soaking wet after a short downpour?

I've had this jacket about 2 months, I had it brought over to France where I live after reading all the reviews hoping all the hype surrounding the event fabric would be true.

Alas, and like always, after the DWR spray wears off after about 6 weeks of light use, the item is completely not-waterproof. It's a shame because I actually liked this jacket: It's light, it fits me well, and it was waterproof (for a month). Now it's nothing more than some flashy outerwear that I really don't want to rely on.

Ok, this is a good jacket, but not for backpacking. My girlfriend bought it for me thinking I could use it as a "stylish" hardshell. The problem is that the pockets are located too low. If you are backpacking, you would have to unhook your waist strap to get into the pocket. Additionally, the fit is weird because it's not meant for large people. I was a college linebacker and it doesn't fit well for a person my size. Lastly, there are jackets out there that are much lighter that work better for my purpose.

Other than those reasons, it's a decent jacket that's very overpriced. I returned it for something else.

People seem to have two main questions about this jacket, overall fit and sleeve length.

I'm 5' 8", 155 lbs, athletic build, The medium fits me well. The best way to describe the overall fit is "form fitting". There's enough room underneath to fit something like a 200 weight fleece, but probably not anything puffy like down. This jacket does have a narrower waist than most so anyone with a spare tire -- er umm thick waist -- will need to try something else.

The sleeves are long enough to cover my hands, but not so long as to be uncomfortable when cinched around my wrists with the velcro. I'd rather have the sleeves long than short so I can cover my hands if I want to to.

Can't comment on breathability/durability since I just got the jacket.

The eVent material feels different than the usual synthetics in these types of jackets. Hard to describe but it's kind of soft and waxy. It drapes and moves well on my torso.

My overall impression is that this will be an excellent jacket for backpacking. I expect the eVent to be very breathable based on all I've read about it. There are ligher jackets out there but a few more ounces for eVent vs. a PU coating is probably worth it.

I think other reviewers who didn't like this jacket were using it as a ski shell. If you need to put lots of layers underneath this ain't the jacket for you.

I bought the large....way too small & with layering I looked like a sausage. Back she went.

I like this because it is really light, simple and well built. Event breaths better than Gore-Tex. I wish it had pit zips and the pockets were a little higher up so they would not be covered up by the hip belts on my backpack. The hood is well designed, and the pockets can hold a lot of stuff. All-in-all a nice hard shell.

this event material is great performance material, waterproof for all mountain conditions, and extremely breathable. this is the only waterproof breathable material that actually allows air to pass through. This PTFE material is ligtweight, but has little stretch or give.
because this material is light, and will not stretch, the community last year noted that the arms felt a little short. This STOIC version has additional 2 inches of arm length to make sure we had plenty of coverage for the wrists.

After using this jacket for a year now, I must say that I do not believe this jacket is actually windproof. I live in Maine, where it gets pretty cold and windy. When the wind starts blowing, I can easily feel it cut through this jacket. My Arcteryx Theta AR jacket blocks the wind much, much better. Perhaps the properties that make this material far more breathable than the Goretex pro-shell also allows the wind through. I don't know. I've never had a problem with water getting through though.

For me, this jacket works great because I use it mostly as a spring/summer/fall shell when the Arcteryx is too burly and cold wind isn't that much of an issue. But I wouldn't want this jacket as my only shell; I'd freeze in the winter months, regardless of what layers I was wearing underneath.

I really set expectations too high when I got this jacket. I am returning the jacket as I write this but I will give my initial impressions on the jacket. First off, the fit is more like slim athletic than anything. The part where it just didn't work for me is in the hip area. I am 5'5" at 165lbs with an athletic build and I got a Medium. It's just tight and too restrictive for me. Layering a down jacket or fleece would make things worse too! If the jacket would have tapered in towards the waist and THEN flared out in the hip area, it would have been perfect. Getting a Large would maybe have fixed this issue, but sleeve length would have become problem for me.

The material is very thin and feels like it can't stand any prolonged heavy abuse. I would hate to rip up a $350 jacket!

Performance was the only thing I could not evaluate, but I believe that it's fantastic like they claim. If the jacket fit me better and felt more durable I would not hesitate to get this jacket again.