I always get annoyed when I read reviews from people who haven't actually had their gear out in the backcountry yet, and hear I am committing the same crime. I promise to come back and revise this if I change my mind.

I'm not easy to please, jacket-wise. I've been searching for a minimalist softshell (no lining, nothing flashy, not too heavy) for a long time and I think this is the one.

I tried the Mammut Ultimate Hooded Softshell and found it cut too short, with pockets that are too small and in the wrong place, and poor hood fit with poor adjustment. Loved the waist-length pit zips though.

I tried the Rab Fusion, and loved the long cut and the three big chest-level pockets and the hood, but it had no pit zips. I know, it's a softshell, you're not supposed to need pit zips, but I do. I wanted that one to be the one but alas...

I tried a Millet Super Touring I was able to get used and loved everything about it except it also lacked pit zips and I needed a size smaller. I think I could have gotten over the pit zips on that one because it's made of the thin n light powershield. Do they still make stuff out of that? I digress...

So finally I tried this Norrona. It hits every check box: the cut is trim and long (6'2" 180 and the L fits like a glove with room for a layer); the pockets are large and well placed; the hood adjustment is brilliantly executed (one handed loosening!); the cuff tightening is amazing (I never knew I could be impressed by that); pit zips exist. I'm even impressed that the loop to hang it on a hook is on the outside of the jacket so it can dry more easily. Everything about it is well thought out.

This thing is for real. Snow is starting to fall, so I'll be putting it to the test as soon as possible.

** UPDATE 2/9/2012 I just returned from a week at Katahdin playing above tree-line and I could not be happier with the way this jacket performed. I never once noticed my range of motion being constricted. The chest pockets are large enough for one of them to hold my big warm mitts while I don't need them, and placed such that I could still access them while wearing a backpack, harness, and coil of rope over one shoulder. It shed snow perfectly. It breathes very well, like a softshell should. Temps were around 15f, and during high output types of activities I was wearing this with a merino base layer and I was just right. I layered it with a DriClime windshirt above treeline and was happy. When I stopped I put on my puffy. When I got a little toasty I used those pit zips. Just a very well done shell for winter fun.

I wanted a warm insulation layer that I could hike in and that would be nice and toasty in camp or during a lunch break. I find down too stressful to wear, I'm constantly worried about moisture from my sweat or an unexpected shower or what-have-you, so after some research I settled on this jacket.

As an ounce-counter, I find the weight of the jacket to be fantastic. It isn't as warm as I had hoped, but that is more a problem of my own expectations than the product itself. In the end, it works better as an ultralight fleece replacement than as a "puffy" for very cold situations.

If you need something really warm, look elsewhere. But if you want an insulation layer that's great on-trail, still useful wet, and lighter than any fleece, this is exactly what you're looking for.