Rip 'n Richard

Picked this up as a insulated ski jacket for cold wet days. Pros: It generally fits well (see below); the hood fits over my helmet and is warm; the chin area works well; the shell fabric, while not Proshell grade, seems sturdy enough; the insulation is thick; the terracota color is attractive; pit zips, powder skirt, etc. Cons: the hem is too wide; it could be longer in the torso. It's my first Montbell and the quality seems high for the price - what's up with that?

I felt the warmth right away, as soon as I put it on. Down doesn't leak on the inside like some (more expensive)others. Understated look, more for the strong silent types than the hot doggers. Overall this Ice Man is nice, man.

If you're hung up on specs, this jacket might not be your top choice. But specs don't tell the whole story. I have gone through a few Arcteryx and Patagonia offerings and when I ordered the BA I assumed it was a step down. But I've ended up wearing it almost non-stop. It has a unique style and feel that fit my needs perfectly. This B.A. is an honest ski jacket that doesn't try to be more than it is, which is quite a lot. It's a solid product and great value for money.

I bought these and Arcteryx Micon and I returned the Micon. These were better.

This should be a no-brainer to buy but sizing has always been a problem. The old version was annoyingly small in places, especially the arm holes. The new one is way too big in places. I ordered a large and my wife and I could both fit inside. Question: Who runs the Patagonia sizing department? Patagonia should call the sizing person at Arcteryx and offer to double their salary.

I tried this and it's great except for the sideways zipper and collar. You'd have to be a pencil neck to make it work. For anyone with a normal size neck, the front collar isn't high enough so the zipperless edge ends up cutting you right under the chin. (Just looking at the picture makes me put my hand around my throat for protection!) And the collar is too tight to fit a neckwarmer underneath. The SV is even worse. Why don't they (Arcteryx) just make a normal collar?!! Otherwise terrific of course.

For northern skiers, this is the warmest ski shell midlayer out there. It's also a great stand alone piece. Worth every penny. Buy it before Arcteryx retires it.

The synthetic fills seem to have replaced fleece as a mid-layer for skiers - down, primaloft, coreloft, whatever. I've tried them all and I still find fleece the best. I wore the Atom LT skiing at 15 degrees and I was cold. I switched to a 200 weight fleece jacket that I paid $60 for and warmed right up!!

I've tried several Arcteryx shells for skiing and they're great but there is always one or two product details that bug me - too short (Alpha SV) bad collar (Sidewinder SV) etc. This one has nothing like that, it's all good. The fabric even feels different, not as crinkly. They need a red though.

This is a nice jacket, but I didn't find it as warm as advertised as a midlayer under my shell. I tried one of these and then switched to a midweight fleece on the same day and the fleece felt warmer. Also, the zipper doesn't stay up at the top of the collar. But it's resonably warm, windproof and very light. But I'll stick with my fleece for now
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Somebody needs to point out something about Goretex Pro Shell. They made it very breathable (which is great) but that means it really lets the warm air out. So if you're skiing on a colder day you will need an inner layer that traps warm air - a fleece may not cut it. I use a Patagonia Micropuff jacket.

Warning - this helmet has a distinct rattle when the vents are closed. Drove me nuts. Went to a local ski shop and checked their stock, they all rattled the same. Beautiful helmet otherwise. Returned for a G10 with no rattle.

Love these shirts - both long and short-sleeved versions. They're versatile, light weight but warm, they travel well and they're very durable. Wear 'em to work or play. Looks great too.

This one really impressed me. Patagonia makes great stuff (95% of Arc'teryx quality at 60% of the price) but their sizing and fit are really inconsistent (for me often too tight across the chest and shoulders) and they make a weird neck closure (all the hood loops and rubber clips end up in my mouth when I zip up all the way). This one really works however - it fits great, looks great and feels tough as nails. No pit zips though. Get a Patriot SV for cold days and this one for warmer.

Cloudveil is a great company but they're inconsistent. They make great stuff (RPK, Serendpity, Headwall) and aweful - and this one is on the aweful side. The whole things feels low budget, from the Walmart grade shell fabric (Windstopper?!) to the cheapo cuffs and collar. And the sleeves are too short - a jacket killer for me. Leave this one and get the Enclosure Parka instead.

Compare this to Cloudveil's jacket of the same name and it's no contest. In every way - the shell fabric, the sewing, the down, the cuffs and collar -Patagonia's quality shows. The Cloudveil Down Patrol is just a wannabe - this one really can be worn at Lake Louise in January, and for years and years.

Bought this one with great anticipation but had to return it - I just wasn't warm enough. This is a lesson for any softshell user: if it breathes then it won't be windproof. I went back to a good old fashioned hardshell. Where I live and ski softshells are for spring skiing only.