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These are amazing mittens. They're warm enough for standing around camp in sub-zero (F) temperatures wearing just a thin liner underneath. They're also durable so far, meaning I haven't managed to slice them open while using my ice axe yet. I have no idea how waterproof they are, but I can say that at the temperatures I've been using them at, there's no liquid water around anyway. I had to loan them to a friend while climbing Mt. Washington last weekend because his hands were freezing, and he had rave reviews as well. As far as dexterity goes, don't expect much...or anything really. I can hold a shovel fine, and I can grip my ice axe in self-arrest position...with a bit of trouble. But it's worth it if your hands are freezing; you can't have both amazing insulation and amazing dexterity at the same time.

As far as sizing goes, get the size you normally wear in gloves. I have long skinny finger, and I normally wear a large in gloves. I ordered both the large and xl to test, and with just a liner glove underneath (and that's probably all you'll ever need, unless you're going -40), the large fit perfectly while my hand swam in the xl. The insulation inside also compresses a tiny bit with use.

After using this jacket for a year now, I must say that I do not believe this jacket is actually windproof. I live in Maine, where it gets pretty cold and windy. When the wind starts blowing, I can easily feel it cut through this jacket. My Arcteryx Theta AR jacket blocks the wind much, much better. Perhaps the properties that make this material far more breathable than the Goretex pro-shell also allows the wind through. I don't know. I've never had a problem with water getting through though.

For me, this jacket works great because I use it mostly as a spring/summer/fall shell when the Arcteryx is too burly and cold wind isn't that much of an issue. But I wouldn't want this jacket as my only shell; I'd freeze in the winter months, regardless of what layers I was wearing underneath.

I have had this bag for three years now. I love it for summer backpacking, but it's really only a one season bag in the North. I can use in late spring and early fall in the South, but you'd be foolish to expect anything more out of it. It keeps me toasty warm down to 50 at night, but don't expect any more out of it than that.

Still, for a summer trip in Acadia or an early fall trip in the Smokies or the Everglades, why carry a heavier bag if you don't need it? There's no such thing as one bag for every season, so I just hit the extremes with this bag for the heat and a -30 bag for the cold.

I'm 6'1, 140 pounds (yeah, yeah, skinny, I know) and I got the large, because I am buying this shell for use as a winter shell in Maine, and I want to be sure that I can throw everything I'll ever want to underneath it. It is cut roomy to begin with, but I want to be able to fit a baselayer, merino sweater, fleece, and maybe even my montbell ul parka underneath it if I'm ever trapped outside in the -25 windchill that we're so fond of up here. And the added length from the large is nice, it covers my ass quite nicely. When I'm not wearing that disgusting number of layers, the waist and hem cinch cords keep me from looking too ridiculous. And of course, if it's not too cold to only wear one layer, I'll be swapping this out for for my summer shell anyway.

Bottom line: It's cut big, but it's far more likely that you'll need more space under your shell than need less. If you're planning for winter mountaineering, you'll need the extra room.

My arms are usually a tad bit too long for the clothes I wear, but I find myself really wishing this piece had arms an inch shorter. I bought it on SAC for half off, so it wasn't worth paying the shipping for returning. It makes a decent baselayer by itself in cool temperatures, but I won't wear it underneath anything other than a shell, simply because I can't stand the sleeves bunching. Yes, the thumbloops theoretically reduce bunching, but the sleeves are really long, and I usually wear an icebreaker sweater with thumbloops as my second layer, and two thumbloops is just unacceptable. I'm thinking of wetting just the sleeves and throwing it in the dryer to shrink them a bit, so if I do that I'll let you know how that goes... Other than that, back to my old polypro.

I have last year's version of this jacket, but there's really no point reviewing an out of stock product on its own page, especially when this is essentially the exact same thing.
This jacket is great for all the reasons that everyone else has already mentioned, nice warmth to weight, good fit, and nice breathability, but there is one glaring defect that has made me retire my jacket. The non-furry smooth, stretchy parts of the jacket on the bottom cuffs and bottom hem that make the jacket hug your body so nicely when you first buy it will stretch out over time, leaving a huge gap between your base layer and this jacket. As much as I love cold air freezing my lower back, I have had to retire this jacket. This wouldn't be a problem if they had included a draw-string, but there isn't one, so once this jacket stretches the damage is done. And no, I haven't gained any weight or deliberately pulled at the hem, this is just from normal use. I like the jacket a lot, other than that, and I'm looking into a way to create my own drawstring at the bottom because I don't feel like donating this jacket to the salvation army quite yet, but until I can find a fix, this jacket is sitting in the closet. I tried out this year's version in the store, and the stretchy material seemed the exact same, so you can count on your jacket encountering a similar fate. Buy it if you're beguiled by the furriness, but don't expect more than a year out of it.

I just got the stoic event in the mail today, so I don't have a field-tested review, but I do have a couple things to say:1. They're not kidding about that "dynamic fit." This thing is as snug as it gets in hardshells. I got this to use specifically for summer backpacking, so I'm not disappointed by the fit, but if you want to use this for anything in the cold, you'll definitely want to go up a size. I'm 6'1 and 140 pounds (skinny as hell, I know) and I can barely fit a base-layer and a mh monkeyman underneath it. But if you're not as skinny, there's no chance you will be able to. And the sleeves are rather long, so if you have short arms, don't even bother. The chest length is nice, coming down an inch below my belt-buckle.2. I'm wondering why the seams are taped and not welded. Obviously I knew that before ordering, but I'm still confused...the stoic softshells seem to be really proud of having welded seams, so why not this piece?3. I'm also wondering if the pockets will prove to be waterproof. There is no zipper garage for the hand-pockets, so there may be a chance of a leak there.4. The hood covers my head completely which is much appreciated. It's rather snug though, so I doubt you could fit a ski helmet underneath it. Maybe a climbing one.5. All in all, seems like a good shell. I look forward to being able to use it backpacking this coming summer in the South. It's humid and hot as hell down here, so I'm sure the alleged breathability will be nice. But you can be sure if the waterproofing turns out to be an issue I'm sending it right back.And a question for the experts, while I'm at it: As far as durability goes, has anybody used this shell climbing (ice or regular)? How worried should I be about it on rock or ice.

P.S. I got this off SAC for 1/2 price. It's a nice jacket, but I definitely wouldn't pay 350 for it. I recommend checking SAC for about a week if you really want it, they've had it half off a lot recently.