Stoic Welder Hi Softshell Jacket - Men's - 2009 BCS

For real. I finally had to when my wife and I were making caramel, and I got some on the sleeve, and it came right off! The fit is perfect for a SLIM athletic build. I'm 6' 160 lbs and a medium fits me perfect. I can't want to get out in the nastiness with it!

some have said that this jacket is a better replacement-or cheaper substitute for the arc'teryx hercules. I absolutely disagree. Polartec powershield high loft laminates the fleece lining to the softshell material while the fleece lining of this jacket is sewn in-consequntly the fleece bunches up on you and the softshell material can snag easy. the softshell material doesnt feel like it uses a perforated membrane like powershield-The jacket wet out from light snow the first time I used it-i had to take the jacket off and put my Gamma mx-alot thinner jacket but kept me dry. I spilt some food on the sleeve of the jacket and had to rub the sleeves-where the seams are welded togethor-the welding began to come undone. Arc'teryx doesnt weld any main seams because the company has found that welding actually decreases the materials strength. If welding was so great-why doesnt arc'teryx have any completely welded jackets. the articulation is horrible as well-try on any well designed climbing jacket-while you are wearing a climbing helmet you should be able to look all the way up and all the way down without the jacket constricting you-i could not look all the way up or down without unzipping the jacket. Ive never had to do this in a rab, montbell or arc'teryx jacket. and the hand pockets are not accessible while wearing a harness-what the crap is that about! Why have a picture of a guy wearing a helmet if this jacket really doesnt function as a climbing jacket. Overall the jacket is weak. it wets out easy-even in dry utah snow, the fleece is sewn in, not laminated to the shell material, and the welding is subpar-

I had a few reservations about this jacket's performance in the wind and its water-proofing after reading a few of the other reviews. Just got back from Wolf Creek Colorado and the jacket held up marvelously in 20-30 mph gusts. Forecast was 18 degrees with -15 wind chill and I was cozy in my Welder Hi and a base layer from REI. Hood function is fantastic--fit over the helmet when I wanted it, and the drawstrings let me close it up when I wasn't wearing it so it didn't fill up with snow. Didn't notice any problems with waterproofing but the snow wasn't real wet. Collar had plenty of space to come up over my face and shield it on the lift, so I didn't need to wear a gator. Super comfortable, light-weight performance in some pretty chilly conditions. I won't ride with anything else now.

As far as fit, I wear Large in just about everything, (16.5 34/35 shirts, 42 regular Suit Coat) and the Large fits perfectly.

Got this jacket on Steep and Cheap for $99 but was planning on paying much more for it. the best feature is the welder fabric. It is much softer to the touch than softshell fabrics from other brands, but does not seem to be less durable. The fleece inside is also super-soft. The hood does fit over a ski helmet, but it is a pretty tight fit.

President's day weekend at Telluride allowed me to test in a wide variety of conditions, from 40 and sunny to driving wind and snow. Even in crazy wind at the top of the mountain, I was comfortable with just a mid-wight base-layer. But I didn't get overheated at the base either.

Movement is good because of the fabric; the lack of a powder skirt is noticeable; and it does a pretty good job repelling water. I am 5'7" 180 lbs and wear size large in this jacket.

This is an Update from a previous review...

Once the sustained winds hit about 30-35 mph this thing starts leaking wind pretty bad. I really wanted to love the jacket when I had it but I just couldn't convince myself to keep it. It worked great when it was snowing and was great for getting around town when I wasn't playing in the snow. The outer material was tough and stretched adequately. Tough enough to not worry about trees and rocks ripping holes in it during "typical" ski use.

As other reviewers note this jacket is very "athletic" fitting. I could fit a thin baselayer (IB 200g/m2 wool shirt) but I think a medium baselayer would be too constricting. I'm 6' and 180lbs and wore a large. The hood, length, torso and sleeve length was great, it was primarily the sleeve tightness that bothered me.

Jacket is great if your in low wind, above 0 conditions. I wouldn't want to be on an exposed ridgeline and depend on this to keep me warm...

Just picked the jacket up from SAC and so far impressed. The weather has started to cool off and I can hang out on the porch when it is 20 degrees and not worry about getting cold. This jacket appears to be well constructed (haven't truly tested it yet) and is definitely very warm. The pockets are usable and the hood is not obtrusive. The hood doesn't seem big enough to house a helmet, but it is adjustable and comfortable. The velcro closures on the wrists should be enough to keep the majority of snow out. I think that my main parka is going to get lonely this winter... I am also happy that stoic put the pit zips in. The material is breathable, but sometimes those pits just need some air! The put zips are mesh lined so you won't fill your side with snow when you eat it on those warmer days. The jacket seems a little heavy but it does replace 2 layers with 1 for backcountry play so it really isn't too bad.

Bottom line: I'm impressed and I have started recommending Stoic clothing to friends. I have been looking at their other products for something that I like so much I could convince myself I need it.

Definitely better than an Arc'teryx Hercules. I can't see any way to improve this jacket other than removing the sleeve pocket, just because I'm not going to use it.

Perfectly compatible with same-size Norrona hard shells.

I'd been looking for a good coat for months, and originally bought the Marmot Vertical. It wasn't as warm as I'd hoped though and I ended up returning it and getting this one due to all the great reviews.

When it first arrived, I'll admit I felt a little let-down. The material feels very unique... almost cheap. But I just took it skiing up at Sundance this morning, and it was fantastic! I stayed surprisingly warm. (I was only wearing long underwear and a t-shirt underneath.) I was able to move so freely, it was almost like I just had a hoodie on.

Suddenly one of my favortie jackets. I love that the hood is insulated, sheds water very well, and fits perfectly. Im 5'10", 140 and a medium fits really good. On my last snowboarding trip wore this and a merino base layer and was completely content. Long lift ride? Just pull an the insulated hood for a chill free ride. Only complaint is the cinching system for the hood. It comes loose over time but it can easily be remedied with a couple cordlocks.

I picked up this jacket from SAC and couldn't be happier with it. I basically live in this jacket. All my gearhead friends are super jealous. It has a great form fitting cut which is spot on for me(Medium: 5'10" 160lbs). If you need to layer, I would size up. So far I haven't had a need to layer though. It has been breathable enough to wear in the 40s and still warm enough in the 20s with just a t-shirt underneath. We will see how the welder will holds up when it dips into the teens and below. Now my only gripe is with the hood, as it does not fit well over my Giro helmet. But then again it's a Giro. Other then that, I'm very happy with Stoic and hope BC.com continues to add to the line-up.

6' and 190lb the large was way too tight with a t-shirt and polartec layer. Chest is tight and arm holes are way too small, but arms are quite long. I returned the L and ordered an XL hope the arms are not too long. Can't wait because I love the liner. This liner is really unusual for a softshell--after seeing it, I would love a waterproof hard shell with this liner.

This jacket is truly awesome, exactly like all of the other 46 people said. The fleece lining is toasty warm, the soft shell will repel anything short of a thunderstorm, and the gray and orange color combination looks great. You must size up, I'm 6'5", 225 and the XXL fits me like my other XLs. I got mine from geartrade.com for 80% off, I definitely recommend looking there first.

So I found one of these for a great deal, and snatched it up. I would recommend you do the same! I am about 6', 190lbs fairly athletic build, and I usually wear large in most stuff, and even though I probably should have sized up, I went for the large because I got it for so cheap. I also have one of their bombshell insulated jackets in an XL, and I like the fit of the XL better, but I am still able to wear the welder hi very comfortably with no restriction, with little to no layering under it. All of that said, this is one of my favorite jackets I've ever worn. It's pretty water resistant, I mean its great for most snow conditions, but its no rain shell, but then again its not trying to be. It absolutely blocks the wind, and I was wearing it in serious blizzard conditions with just a base layer and a cap 3 mid layer and was more than warm enough, I was playing around in the snow with some friends and nearly worked up a sweat in 0 degree weather, over a foot of fresh powder and wind gusts up to 70mph. So I would say if you aren't sure about the sizing, size up one, or if you like the technical athletic fit just go for it. Either way you need this jacket, its well built, does exactly what it says it will(and then some) and so far has been very durable, overall I love all of my Stoic gear.

Bought this off of SAC. It's probably the best jacket I've owned. Keeps me warm in the 30's with just a t-shirt underneath. Great on the slopes without being too bulky or too warm. Probably the most versatile and comfortable piece of clothing I own.

This jackets is exceptional. Very warm and super soft fleece liner, I have boarded in this jacket 10 times or better and stayed COMPLETELY dry!

A great winter jacket for a variety of different pursuits. It works great to simply wear over a t-shirt and cruise around town but with a couple layers can just as easily be used for very cold weather situations. Water beads off in almost all rain conditions and snow can't touch it. Its windproof like a champ and the hood is great for keeping your face toasty. My one small complaint is that the insulation can be slightly restrictive with certain types of fleece layers. It might simply be that I'm putting too many layers on, but it can feel a little tight especially in the arms. All in all, an awesome everyday winter jacket. The slim fit looks great too.

I just bought the Stoic Luft Insulated Sweater and it's awesome. I also bought the Stoic Welder Insulated Softshell Jacket and it's great too. They are a perfect complement to one another and I was comfortable in 40 degree weather without wind as well as 10 degree weather with wind gusts of up to 20mph.

My old jacket collected body heat and sweat and that created steam within my jacket. Not only did it look gross to take off my jacket but it meant that I wasn’t keeping warm enough. I have not run into this problem with my new Stoic jackets. The Stoic jackets are thinner and more efficient at collecting body heat and dispelling sweat.

Both of my new Stoic jackets look as good as they perform. My friends noticed and complimented me on the Luft jacket looked and also noticed how well made the Welder softshell jacket was. They noticed everything from the heat-sealed/welded seams to the cool design on the jacket. They’re two well crafted, easy to wear, comfy jackets that are as functional and they are comfortable.

So before going any further this is my preliminary review having just received it and not been out on the mountain with it. First impression. . . it will be warm. That threw me off a little, the weight and build of this jacket puts it in the class of an insulated shell. I initially thought the insulation or loft whatever you call it would be minimal and subtle. It's there and it's there to keep you warm. Thankfully the jacket keeps a very low profile. I'm 6'3" 220 athletic, etc. and the XL fits. If it were a shell I would have to size up so I could get some good layers underneath. With the insulation I will have to rethink my layering approach. . . I'm a sweaty beast as soon as I start moving so I'm wondering how I will match up the layers with this on the outside. Hopefully with the insulation I can eliminate an under layer. If I wear a Calipene 3 fleece underneath everything is good except the chest movement and around the arm pits gets constricted.The construction is top notch but it also leaves room for improvement. I really want an interior chest pocket for an MP3 player LIKE EVERY OTHER JACKET IN THE WORLD. . . I believe the tags in fact mention this but alas it is not there. The drawstrings seem like an after thought. . . thin and small and the cords themselves seem very weak / cheap. The zippers also feel like they will be the first thing to go on the jacket. For the price I'm used to the quality and durability of the bigger brands. The drawstring for the waist is weaksauce and does not cinch down to protect. . . which to me was a big downfall as the jacket has no powder skirt.So I'm sort of on the fence for this one, I really want to like it I will just have to put it through some licks and see. I have a gut feeling I will be returning it, but I want to be wrong. Thankfully and as usual BC has a kick arse return policy and I always leave satisfied.Bottom line. . .needs improvements to make it really stand out and worth the money. If it stands up to the pow and breathes enough in the west coast blue bird days then I'll be happy. But again I think it might be too much jacket and the traditional shell and layer system could be what I go back to.

I would also like to see how the fleece holds up to washing and long term use. Something about it just reminds me of those old swim team parkas. Perhaps it would be better with one of those trimmed fleeces and not so much the monkey fur type fleece.

Tried this jacket on today in the large and medium. I am often a Med, but with this was comfy in the Large. Perfect jacket for nearly everything I do under 50 degrees Fahrenheit.

Got this off SteepandCheap and like another user commented on, it is a total steal. When i first put it on the shell didnt feel that well made, but i wore it outside and on a 10 degree day with a cold win, i was comfortably warm. I normally wear a medium but i got a large and it fits perfect

Just got this from SAC yesterday, and took in on a morning lap on Mansfield. Single digits, light wind, and just a thin wool base layer. This jacket rocks--warm, perfect fit (i got a large, 6' 165), slim but room to move. It was great on the uphill, but a little breezy on the downhill. It was around 5 degrees, though.

For just over 100 shipped from SAC, it's likely the best deal I've ever found, and I'm a cheap SOB when it comes to gear. Definately my new go-to jacket for touring and uphill laps. Another reviewer was right, though, on a windy ridge you would probably want another windblocking layer, at least on your chest.

A fitted, no nonsense shell that is very comfortable, great style points, and practical.

I wasn't sure about this coat, and am still testing it to see how I feel. I really need some serious weather to put it to the test. It's pretty good for the water resistance, I needed something here in Central PA that would stand up to our miserable drizzle-freeze-yuck winters.

Don't expect it to perform in a downpour though, it appears that it will stop beading after a while.The overall build quality is very good, I don't see any flaws so far.

One thing that concerns me is the hood adjustments are easy to cinch down, but restoring them is a little bit of a pain because they use these foam stops that the pull-cord is threaded through. You pull and the pressure holds it there, so to 'undo' it you have to move the foam down, hold it and pull the string back to release the tension. At least, (unless I am doing something wrong?), this appears to be the case. No biggie though, just wanted to mention it. I also wish the zippers were top down, not bottom up zips for water reasons, but maybe I'm just being too picky?

Today was 27° F, 79% humidity, with a windchill of 22° F. I was wearing a tee, jeans, knit hat, gloves, hiking boots and my Stoic Welder. I went for a walk (4 mph) and at the end I was heating up a little but not sweating. So it seems to be doing what it is supposed to: Keeping me warm and dry without overheating. [Before I started the walk, I felt warm.]It's a little weird at first because the jacket is so thin (and yes very fitted. I am 5'11" 200 lbs athletic and got a large. I can fit a sweater and tee underneath but I lose some movement in the arms) that it really makes you question if it is going to keep you warm on cold days. The winds have not been violent yet, but on noticeably windy days I cannot feel it penetrate.The jury is still out. I want to see on a day in the 'teens if I can sit out side inactive for a bit and find out if this will keep me warm. Until then, I stand by 4 stars. Minus 1 star because I am just not sure of it yet.

[UPDATE] I have had this in the teen weather, gusty winds and it's amazingly warm. On another occasion I was out standing still for a couple of hours with only a light thermal layer and was getting a chill, I realized I had left the pit zips open. So, my concerns about keeping me warm have been assuaged, but I am not sure I am totally sold on this jacket yet so I'll keep the 4 star rating for now. There is room for improvement as others have mentioned and my new concern is abrasion resistance. I am not entirely worried about a zipper failing because of the lifetime warranty, but I am worried about a snag on a thorn ruining this coat, and with the winters we get here it can be really rainy so I am not sure under what conditions this will keep me dry.[/UPDATE]

I bought this on SAC for $100 and am extremely happy that I did. It's crazy warm for a softshell. It's exactly what i was looking for. I needed something for the day when my old TNF softshell wasn't warm enough and the Stoic Welder Hi is a perfect fit for that. The pitzips, welded seams and hood are nice bonuses. The material is a little different than I'm used to but it feels nice. It's smoother than my other softshell.

I like the longer sleeves and back. I'm 6'0" and 175 lbs and the large fits perfect. I would suggest that if you are borderline between two sizes choose the larger of the two.

I would have a hard time justifying buying this for the $299 msrp but at $99 it's a steal.

Haven't worn it in super-wet conditions but I wore it in temp range of 8-29 skiing at was comfortable throughout thanks to fleece and hood over helmet for cold temps and pit zips for warm. My eVent shell has been demoted to the wettest days only due to it's lack of windproofness compare to this jacket. Also the hood is great under my Smith helmet. Not the usual egghead look. One minor gripe is that the neck material could be more flexible to allow more mobility when hood is over helmet.

I want the gray/carbon to come back with a medium. I bought a small but it was too tight and short.

Another great Stoic product - perfect for the Wasatch weather. This is my third Stoic coat and the fit is great - 6'4" 195 lbs with a 36-37 in wingspan for an XL. The chest doesn't leave you swimming despite the XL size for those of us with orangutan arms and a fit midsection. You won't be disappointed.

I wear this jacket snowboarding at The Canyons on days where it's not too cold. For the really cold days I still fall back on my Foursquare jacket. The insulation on the inside is really soft and nice. The only negative is that the sleeves are really long, to the point of being annoying. I'm 6'0 and 165 lb's and I had to return the medium for a large.

The Welder is the fire sauce. The fleece liner is so comfortable against bare skin that I find myself turning off the heat inside just so I can slip inside the jacket's comfy interior. The jacket stretches if it needs to but the fit is so great it rarely has need. The hand pockets are very warm if you go out with naked hands. The welder and I together laugh at Mother Nature. She has used all her tactics including rain, snow, cold, high winds, sleet, and all of those in combination. I normally get cold fairly quickly in the 0 degree F wind chill days but this jacket won't allow it. Water doesn't bead but I can't complain as I don't get wet and the jacket doesn't seem wet. My one neg is the lack of tune pod compatibility. I have thought about putting a hole behind the breast pocket to run my tune cord but I haven't because my Jacket is still pristine after a couple months of daily action and abuse. I copped the XL and it fits my 6'2" $2.10 frame perfectly. I think I have fairly long arms and the sleeves are the perfect length. They allow me to move around comfortably and don't expose my wrists to the nippy winter gusts. I can even slip my Stoic Insulated Sweater under it comfortably but I haven't really needed to with this jacket’s warmth.

This jacket is fantastic! I'm 5'10, 170, and I opted for a Large, even though regularly I'd wear a medium. The large fits great, not too bulky, but feels like I have room to move. The fleece inside is super warm, and while we haven't had record cold weather this week, I still wear it to walk the dog at night with just a t-shirt (20's or 30's.) Can't wait to test it out in extreme conditions. I mostly wrote this for those of you in between sizes (as I was), I'd size up rather than down.

Just got this jacket off of SAC for a killer deal...definitely pumped about that! The fleece on the inside of the jacket feels like a blanket of sweet nectar soothing my frigidly wind blown skin back to life after a day of rippin' it up. Best part is, the hood is lined with the fleece and it definitely feels awesome! Run a bit slim fitting, but looks slick as hell.

Just got this jacket off of SAC for a killer deal...definitely pumped about that! The fleece on the inside of the jacket feels like a blanket of sweet nectar soothing my frigidly wind blown skin back to life after a day of rippin' it up. Best part is, the hood is lined with the fleece and it definitely feels awesome! Run a bit slim fitting, but looks slick as hell.

I like it

So here's the skinny. I bought this coat the 18th of November (I reviewed it below), had it all set to RMA before the S&C 30 day return. It was sitting in the bag. I was on the fence. I even brought it to the FEDEX place to return it, but something wouldn't let me go. The 17th, the temps dropped down into the teens. My old coat just was not cutting it. So I ripped into that return bag, and have been happy ever since.

Seriously. All I have been wearing is a tee and this coat during the work week. Today was some sledding with the kids (wind chill puts us at 14 F, 87% humidity). I was wearing some thin thermal underwear, jeans, boots, gloves and the Welder. I originally had my hat on but then just went to the Welder hood. I was toasty. My rear was cold but the torso was great. It breathes really well.

The key thing about this coat is it has excellent wind protection. Again, this is an athletic fit. Size up if you think you'll be in the sub-zero's most of the time so you can add a layer. But honestly if you are at all active outside I am beginning to think this coat can handle it.

5 stars (up from 4) because this coat seriously rocks. I am still concerned about abrasion resistance but time will tell on that issue. For the money (especially if you nab it off of S&C) this coat performs really well.

I have not yet field tested this jacket, but for just wearing around and doing some light climbing the jacket is great. The fleece is REALLY high loft and quite warm. The sleeves and torso are long which works well for me and the fit is a touch baggier than I would prefer in a Large (6'1" 185). I'll check in again when the nasty weather rolls around and I get to give this jacket a real test.

this jacket holds up to significantly worse conditions than a softshell should. i'll be comfortable in it down to roughly 30 degrees in just a t-shirt. wind will break through it at around 30-40mph, but really that's about what a softshell should be good for. this thing is more averse to water than a cat with anxiety issues. the only reason i don't give it 5 stars is because the draw strings are too lightweight to really do anything, and the cut of it tends to be a bit to small, i'm 5'10" around 165lbs and a medium fits me with almost no room to spare, i would've gone up to a large had i known this. also the foam locking mechanisms for the hood are a bit strange, but i may swap those out for some spring loaded clamp things.

Having tried some other backcountry.com shells in the past (which the new Stoic label is) you will have to go a size up from what you are used to. I normally go with an XL, I'm 6'2" 235 athletic build with broad shoulders and bigger arms and I would have had no chance in an XL, so I went with the XXL.I got the jacket and like it a lot, very comfortable (the monkey phur-ish lining is very soft), it looks even better in person and generally I like the fit. However, the arms are fairly narrow, minus a star for that. The added fleece lining of the jacket definitely takes the place of the light mid-layer I would wear with just a shell. MAJOR TIP - I was ready to return this jacket b/c with my merino layers the fleece liner was really grabby and killed my range of motion, I just felt stiff. Before I gave up I threw on a smooth polyester wicking layer as the last layer before the jacket. It made all the difference in the world. Its a solid jacket now.I can't speak to the weather resistance yet. The hood will only fit a low profile helmet. I wear a Bern hard hat in an XL, anything bigger won't fit.I will update my review after I get a few sessions in it

The jacket rules. Temperature range is super broad. I couldn't believe it, I'd be comfortable in a doctor's lobby to single digit temps at the Bird. I was hesitant to buy an insulated softshell. It didn't make sense to me. Now after several days riding in it I see why, sweat leaves rapidly and you are left nice and cosey. NOTE: It isn't totally wind proof, to be expected (it's a softshell) but I thought I would mention it to anyone out there in gear land.
I'm 5'9" 150, I ordered a large after trying on the med. I probably could have gotten away with the M, but didn't want to feel like and ice axe guy.

I ordered a bunch of stoic stuff and this is my second favorite, first being the fleece hoody. At 5'6, 130lbs the fit is slim and can only get a few light layers on under it, which is fine by me. The inside of the jacket is AWESOME, very soft and warm, though I think the cirrus lined one is a little warmer. I ordered the gray and orange and didn't like the color. At $240, it's worth it, but little more than I wanted to spend. I'll definitely keep an eye out for a red one on steep and cheap.

This jacket is quite neat! It's not noisy to walk in (no fabric rustle) and the hood is really awesome and lining is very comfy. The only down side I've found is the waist is quite athletic.. I'm a slightly built bloke but the waist is still quite snug, go up a size if you have any natural waist insulation and want to be able to layer without feeling like a stuffed olive.
Pitty the chest pocket doesn't have a headphone access point for the inside, but solid none the less.

Bought this on SAC and was very excited when it arrived. Tried it on and knew it wouldn't work for me. I'm 5'10", 200lbs with an athletic build. I ordered an XL even though the sizing chart says I should be a L. The arm holes and sleeves are too tight unless you are only wearing a t-shirt underneath. The jacket has a nice feel and seems like it would be warm but the zippers and draw cords seem flimsy. Also, it doesn't have a powder skirt or interior pockets. I really wanted to like this especially as an alternative to high priced Arc'Teryx but I quess you get what you pay for. I'm returning it and will stick with my proven brand of choice.

I got this jacket in early November, and thought it'd be perfect for a damp, cool Pacific Northwest winter. I ended up returning it a week after I bought it.I was totally enamored when I got it--the fleece interior is very soft and very warm, while the softshell exterior is tightly woven and very windproof. I wore it with only a t-shirt underneath in 20-degree temperatures and was comfortably warm on a short walk. However, the fit of the jacket is very weird. I'm 6'2, 190 lbs, and normally wear a large in just about every brand. This jacket fits very tight--the sleeves were the perfect length and the body fit closely. However, the softshell material has next to no stretch, which combined with a tight fit in the shoulders and arms made it difficult to extend my arms. If the fabric had any give to it, it'd be comfortable, but as-is, it's like wearing skinny jeans on your arms. Forget about wearing anything other than a t-shirt underneath, which means it's no good as a ski jacket and useless in anything under about 30 degrees. The solution? Get a fleece and a softshell separately. This jacket tries to combine the two into one, which is pretty much a marketing ploy. There's a reason that the idea of layering has been around forever. It works. You'll save some dough and have two versatile pieces instead of a less-useful hybrid.

Seriously love this jacket. Really warm and every time I put that thing on its like going home at Christmas time and getting a hug from that aunt w/ really big boobs....warm and soft! And you know this!!!!

I just bought this jacket and it's amazingly toasty and comfortable. The insulation is a fleece and it's so soft. The feel of the softshell is amazing and it fits my build great. I'm 6'5 225, I ordered a XXL and it fits me perfectly and doesn't swamp me either. Walking around work here at Backcountry you see a lot of these jackets and there's a good reason because this jacket rocks!! If you purchase this jacket it will be the most comfy jacket you will ever own and is definitely worth the money!

this jacket gets wet fast in a wet, sloppy snow. Maybe good in colorado-not for wet snow.

This jacket is soft, warm, and cozy. I would have loved it if it weren't for the athletic cut, which is very snug around the torso (at least around my torso -- ahem, working on it).

Got the Welder Hi yesterday, sent it back today. I am bummed. The jacket looked great, was comfortable in the torso, and well made. The problem is the arms were too tight. I am 6' 230 with a 48" chest. With just a t-shirt on, my arms were very constricted (shoulder down to forearm). No way to wear any kind of base layer should it be real cold outside. People with 48" chests buying an XL probably have good size arms to match. if you are tall or big in the chest with thin arms, this coat would be great.

Had there been more arm room, I would have loved this jacket. The lining was warm and soft. The shell was not stiff, and very quiet. The extra length in the back was perfect.

rather AWESOME. only thing to note is i usually wear a large cause i like a slim fit, but went XL and worked on this guy.

So It's a pretty darn good jacket in tech specs. The XL length is great for my 6'3" 210lb self, but the arms are made for stick figures and the torso is a little baggy. I tried an L first and between it and the XL i think the arm hole diameters are the same (small).

Awesome coat, I am 6'1 150 pounds and the jacket is a perfect fit. Its so warm, and looks great!

I got if off SAC and so far it's been great. The material is so soft inside and out. It feels like another fleece jacket yet waterproof and wind resistant. Definitely recommended.

I was a little on edge concerning a few details of this Jacket. I had wanted the old Backcountry branded welder but never pulled the trigger on it. They changed to Stoic and I had some concerns on how I would fit in the new label. I was also concerned that the liner would make me feel like I was wearing a teenage girls jacket (generally reserved for weekends only). My last reservation was the color choice.

So, the answers are: the fit is exactly like the sizing chart/ old backcountry brand. The liner is warm and doesn't look as outrageous/teeniboper as I fear/suspected from the pictures. The color looks good, not bad.

I haven't been able to really push this thing through the weather gamut but it seems fine so far. I'm recovering from epic backflip fail right now.

Suggestions for improvements: More color choices!! This jacket is very unique with the orange piping. There needs to be more color choices. I also would LOVE a recco sensor. This is the biggest shortfall of the softshell market. Avalanches can happen when wearing a softshell.

I just got it from SAC and first impression is awesome. I was amazed at how soft it is inside and out. I've worn it around the last 2 days and gotten complements everywhere I've gone. However, I'm starting to wonder if I should have gotten the L instead of the M. I'm 5' 11" 165 lbs and it's a fine fit with just a t-shirt on under it, but you can't fit much more under it. Regardless, it's an amazing classy jacket.

This jacket looks great on the site and it looks and feels even better in person. I just got mine and I am very pleased with the quality and feel of the material and construction. I haven't had it out in the elements yet, so I can only hope that it performs as well as it looks. Based on the other Stoic and backcountry.com stuff I have this should be another great jacket. Score another one for backcountry.com.

Wanted to keep this jacket but there is no room for a helmet - maybe a light-weight, low profile, mountaineering helmet. The construction seems excellent and the fit is stug but comfortable allowing good mobility. I am 6 ft 185 lbs and the large seemed to be the right size. Not alot of room to layer but the high loft fleece is very warm and comfortable and probably doesn't necessitate a lot of layers. Love the jacket, wanted to keep it but the with the helmet issue got to send it back - got too many jackets anyway.

Got this off SAC for a killer deal. The first thing I noticed when I tried it on was that it was much thinner and lighter than I had anticipated, but in this case it's a good thing because the insulation is effective enough to make me question my bulkier jackets that don't keep me as warm. The jacket breathes pretty well too, I never feel like I'm overheating in it, it's always just about right. I was biking the other night in 30-something degree weather with just a t-shirt underneath and was perfectly fine. The pit-zips are also very cycling-friendly for when you heat up, great feature.Build quality is great, the fleece is super soft and is in the sleeves and hood as well, I like the TRON neon orange look a lot personally too. I'm 6'1" 165lbs and wear the Large, it fits perfectly. Haven't had a chance to test it out in the rain yet to see how waterproof it is, but will update when that happens.Only a couple minor issues: I wish the hand pockets were lined with the same fleece that the rest of the jacket is lined with, and I feel like the drawstring around the waist area should be a little more substantial. Again, nothing major, just small wishes.I guess another issue is that the jacket and fleece are cozy to the point where I start to fall asleep in it during my morning classes...

Update 1/20/10:

Put it through its first test in the rain...didn't do very well. After about a 10 minute walk in moderate/heavy rain my t-shirt got soaked across my shoulders and the hand pockets were soaked at the bottom. And once water permeates this jacket you're SCREWED...the fleece retains water like nobody's business. I tried to exchange up for the bombshell and was willing to pay the $30 extra for it, but BC wouldn't do it (probably because I got this off SAC). -2 Stars off 5 stars for subpar rain performance, I wouldn't call the jacket "highly water resistant" at all. And I live in California, if California rain can do this jacket in, I can't imagine putting it through rain in other states.

I wrote a review when I bought this jacket last year, and now that its finally getting cold again in the northeast, I'm wearing it again, and just wanted to let anyone who's thinking of buying it know that it's the best gear purchase I've ever made. I was just on SAC and they're sellign some primaloft insulated hoodie for $200, down from $470. Crazy. Buy this instead. This is the most comfortable jacket you'll ever wear. I seriously go out in sub freezing weather wearing nothing under this coat but a t-shirt, and I'm cozy warm. Like tucked under a blanket warm. The seams are welded, and the exterior material is windproof and waterproof. The hood fits comfortably without being excessively baggy, and you don't lose your peripheral vision with it up either. Not many people have it either, so its an original when you're out and see 50 NorthFace coats that all look the same.

100% love it, 5-stars, amazing.