This piece is very lightweight, if that's what you want, go for it. My feeling is go light on any base, and use the layers above it for insulation. I stay super dry in this. I have owned several Smart Wool and Icebreaker tops, and this is way better. The flat seams are way more comfortable than I.b. and the cost is lower to boot. I'm between sizes, my shoulders fit in a M, but the sleeves are a tad long for me. 5'9'' 144 lbs. This is my 7th Backcountry/Stoic piece, and I love every one of them.

This is the only piece of ski wear I use everyday. I have 4 skis, 2 boots, and I dont know how many jackets, but they rotate. This goes out with me everyday (well I have more than one, but same style)It never smells, is warmer than poly pro, and dries almost as fast. I love the thumb loops. I have base layers from UA, TNF, SW, and Marmot. This wins hands down.

The only gripe I could produce is it does come up high on the neck. I like that style, but on one jacket, if the base is zipped its tough to zip the jacket all the way. More of a defect in the jacket than it is the base layer. If you don't want something to come high on your neck, look at the crew instead.

Nothing wrong with the jacket, nothing special about it either. The arms are longer, and the fit is looser than a super athletic cut. If you have broad shoulders this jacket is you. My room mate has 42'' shoulders and a 29'' waist. This jacket works great for him.

It is too light for any serious wind, and it has limits on warmth too. I cut mine with a ski edge carrying it in less than 4 days.

Fine for around town, not up to technical wear.

I got this jacket for early/late season physical activity in Summit Co. I have not been disappointed. It breaths very well, and keeps me dry in wet conditions. The fleece lining is softer than other jackets I've had on. The fit is athletic, and it stays put while moving around. The hood accepts my ski helmet, but there isnt a lot of room. Early/late season and nice day jackets don't see the hood up often anyway.

I wear this with an ice breaker base and 100 weight fleece, and never had a problem being too warm on the ski tracks. If i do start to warm up, the pit zips are huge and dump heat right away.

Not the most technical soft shell, but I found it for $70 on a N.W.O.T. deal. I don't depend on soft shells to be super technical, that's why we have hard shells.

I love the style of this fleece. Its my go to fleece for around town fall/early spring. Not technical enough for physical activity, but great looks. I like that the jacket gets new colors every year, so you don't wind up with people wearing the same jacket at the bar (Denali anybody?) It feels very light for a 300 fleece, and the mesh back breaths better than other 300 fleece. On the down side, it doesn't stop wind as well as other brands of similar weight.

Cyrus said it all in his review. He is dead on in the review. I have one Denali, i wear it because it matches my work colors perfectly. While it's not part of the uniform, I get away with it.

This is my cold weather jacket if I'm riding the lift at resorts. I'm a cyclist all summer, so I have very little body mass to keep me warm. I live in Summit Co. so it gets very cold and windy at times. This jacket with an ice breaker base and a 100 weight fleece has never let me feel cold.

I was worried about ripping this jacket (or any puffy) while in the trees. I spend 80% of my time in the trees while riding the lifts. The jacket has survived many scrapes and a few full on crashes into trees with some marks, but no rips or even small holes in the fabric. Much tougher than i expected.

The great thing about this jacket is it's really heavy, but I wouldn't ever dream of taking it to hike/skin. I would overheat very quickly, and it weighs too much. I took it on some slack country around the Basin and Tucker, and I blow up there, can't imagine a full on b.c. with it, but thats not what I got it for.

The color is also great. I got the citron. It is between neon yellow. Not for everybody, but the guys i go out with all have very bright jackets. If we get split up, its easy to find each other. Friends can track us down very easily if we say which lift we will be riding.