WARNING: one very important issue -- I had return the Small in favor of a Medium EVEN THOUGH my hips are only 36" *WITH* my fleeces on. The Small fit so snugly that zipping it atop my shell or powder pants would have resembled putting on a pair of jeans in 1986.

After I received the exchange? I couldn't be more happy with a jacket; however, I'm a bunny, so I have no idea how well it would hold up to a serious beating. It doesn't have heavy duty elbows or shoulder patches, so I'ld suggest keeping it on-piste. I'm a Thousand Islands baby, so seeing 0°F warms the very cockles of my icy little heart ... but scares my arthritis. This jacket keeps me delightfully toasty, even when I'm filling my lungs with fresh frigid air. While my neighbors down here in Ohio quake behind their curtains, I'm that freak who gears up in the worst possible weather to STROLL 5 blocks on a REAL milk run ... simply because I CAN.

The jacket has several features not listed in the description. There's a loop for lift-passes just under the hem; the hood is true "helmet-sized", has a velcro goggle lock, and a goggle level draw-cord; BOTH the shell AND the liner have goggle pockets; in addition to the shell's "media" pocket - the liner has an extra zipper pocket inside - perfect place to keep your cell phone battery warm instead of dead; both sets of pit-zips are 2-way; the hem-level draw-cord locks have leashes. The shell is just that: a SHELL -- but it blocks the water and wind just like a SHELL is supposed to. The liner is thick and warm, and all of that microfiber is rose petal soft.

Every jacket is 5-star to SOMEONE. If this sounds like the sort of jacket you need -- get one while you still can! I ADORE mine!

I had the most perfect Cosmos Pink / Zinc Grey Pandora. It was my ditty bag for two years. I never went anywhere without at least throwing it in the trunk of my car, even when I didn't specifically need it on my back. Mine was part purse, part overnight-bag, part briefcase, part tool-box, and part first-aid kit.

It's short height is PERFECT for riding in the rear saddle on most motorcycles, even on a big touring bike that looks more like Cleopatra's limousine than a motorcycle.

Unfortunately, my Pandora was in the trunk of my car when my car was stolen last Fall. I was far more heartbroken over losing gear than my fully insured car! Priority #1 - replace the car. Priority #2 - replace my beloved Pandora.

I hope The North Face will keep this amazing bag in its line-up for a long time to come, because I've never found anything else with enough pockets to keep-organized everything I could possibly need for a day/overnight trip and then some ... in such a TINY package. I'm actually planning to buy ANOTHER one so that I have one for everyday use and one dedicated just for "outdoor activities" ... just as soon as The North Face rolls out a pretty new pink.

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CAUTION: this is *NOT* a good "book bag" for school, because the top of the bag is too narrow to fit your 12-pound hardbound biology book.

Otherwise, grab your TSA-approved 1qt zipper lock bag o'toiletries, lunch, multi-tool, first aid pouch, fresh undies/socks/t-shirt, cell phone charger, journal, mp3 player, emergency contacts, and HIT THE ROAD!

While it's not a back country pack by any definition -- if you're going some place where you can travel light, the Pandora *CAN* be far more than just a "day pack". Makes for a nice skiing/snowboarding pack too!