I bought this as an in-between seasonal jacket. The fit is great, just as one would expect from Arc'Teryx. It fits longer in the back which was another plus for me. It packs down nice and small. There isn't much insulation but it wasn't designed that way. I mainly use it fly fishing, cold morning climbing and I wear it snow shoeing all the time. I wear a base layer and this jacket and I stay warm enough but it still breaths well enough while shoein'. I've worn it in snow storms and medium rains. It takes snow well but a heavy rain soaks the seams pretty quick. This is a perfect jacket when certain specifics are needed. I haven't had any complaints about wind protection. I see no difference between it and a light windbreaker. The lining is comfortable and wears well against skin. Arc'Teryx has always been worth the money.

This is the most expensive fleece I've ever bought, but I'll never need to buy another. It is made to Patagonia's high standards, namely, it will and has taken a beating. It's light and packs down nice and small, making it great for backpacking. It breaths like no other fleece I've worn and yet is remarkably warm. Usually there are trade-offs between features, but this jacket does a great job at covering all the bases. Pit zips would have been nice but don't hinder enough to base not buying it because of that. Really the only other thing I could nit-pick about we be to add a double waist cord/single hand closing system instead of one single cord on the side to cinch the whole bottom. But again, that's a tiny complaint. It does seem a little pricey, but it isn't any more than a The North Face Denali and when compared to a North Face Denali jacket this jacket is a Ferrari and The North Face Denali is a pinto.

This draw has everything you've ever wanted and expected. First off, they are lightweight but the ‘biners are full sized. None of this reduce weight by reducing size. The ‘biners are keylock so they come quickly off your harness without snagging, they clip smoothly into the bolt and clip like a dream. Since they are also wiregates, there is no worry of gate chatter. They are strong, 24kN, 9kN across and a huge 10kN while open! Lastly they are just pretty to look at and you just want to touch and play with them. These give Petzl Spirits a strong competitor as the best draw ever.

I've rented MSR classic snowshoes before and have always liked them. After reading reviews and researching, I decided these were the shoes for me. The big selling point was the taper that allows a more natural walk rather than having to "Frankenstein" it. Even with the 6-inch tails I never hit my shoes like I did before. These are great for the weekend warrior getting out on trails. Even in deep fresh snow they worked well. The binding system is very flexible and adjusts to an array of different shoe styles. I like the option of hiking up in my snowboarding boots and then boarding down. That eliminates the need to carry two pairs of boots. The straps can flap around if not adjusted properly, but I haven't had any problems with them coming undone. I like how they pack down small and are easy on weight. Best of all they made by a company that is known for their superior quality and they are that cool MSR red! You won't be sorry with these shoes.