I just purchased this coat and it's a real beaut. It's soft and feels luxurious against the skin with it's faux fur lining. I have to disagree with the other reviewer in that this is a shapely coat which pulls in at the waistline just right. However, be aware that it does run a little big, especially in the shoulders and arm length. I did not size down though because I feel I could work with this.

My only complaint is that the storm flap behind the zipper should have been a bit thinner to prevent bulk down the front. Other than this the coat is sweet and I can't wait to wear it on a nice cold day in NYC.

Never in my dreams did I think I would ever buy white color sunglasses, but I needed a pair for an event coming up and BC had these for just $40 so I went for them. I love Oakleys and these glasses are so hot and look so good I cannot wait to wear them. Needless to say they will be worn more often than just this event. I was afraid they'd look too much like goggles and they do but in a more slick urban way. I am thinking of getting them in the black & pink if I can find them at a discount. If you don't have them already get some now!

Another excellent jacket by Arcteryx. The Venta fits the female form very well unlike some other manufacturers who started making women's jacket like the men's with wide shoulders and narrow hips. Arcteryx still keeps the hour glass shape in their women's jackets. I tried my Venta out in 30 degree weather for about half an hour with 2 light layers underneath and it performed well as a wind blocker. If out longer on a day hike I would have worn more though like a fleece jacket and a mid-layer sweater. Although seamed taped I would still recommend a more waterproof jacket like the Scorpion. For performance and fit I give 5 stars but I marked 4 because, like the other reviewer I an tired of seeing 'made in china' on everything without getting the 'made in china' price. Nevertheless I find Arcteryx's jackets to be the best for female fit and I have tried MH, TNF, Marmot, and Columbia and most went back.

This is the best jacket I have ever owned. I've looked for the perfect jacket for a long time during the course of which I have puchased and returned many failures. But the Arcteryx Scorpion is the one. The fit is lovely and true to size. I am a well proportioned girl and I usually have to accept boxy shoulders or tight hips or both. Not everyone has the triangular athletic fit, the hour glass is still around. The softshell material is not so loud and crunchy like many other ski jackets. The jacket runs true to size and I have room to layer both a fairly thick fleece and merino wool sweater and long underwear top, amd still feel comfortable. I gave my Scorpion a test run in the NYC where I walked 4.5 city miles in just mid-weight long underwear under some jeans and a mid-weight Ibex merino wool sweater under my jacket, plus a hat and scarf. It was 25 degrees and bustery - wind chill factor was about 18 degrees. The jacket passed with flying colors, I was not cold at all. I haven't tested it in the rain yet but I'm feeling good that it will pass. The price was steep, I have considered the Scorpion for 2 years now but would not buy because I insisted I could get the same quality and features in a less expensive jacket. But now that I have bit the bullet, closed my eyes and pressed enter when ordering, I have no regrets. Way to go Arcteryx and also BC for having a bit of a sale (I paid $439).

This is my first Osprey pack. I bought the Xenon to replace a 2006 version of the REI Mars pack because it was large enough but not technical enough. The Xenon has everything I need, straps to attach my sleeping pad snug on the bottom and holding points to strap my tent (w/o the poles) on the top, and I love the outside stretch pocket for when I need to take an additional day pack. Because everything can't always fit inside the bag. I am also a big fan of having side access and this one is capable of top, side and bottom access.

I haven't put it to use yet but because I just took my Mars pack out for the first time to Thailand for 3 weeks and found it to be lacking in features, as soon as I returned home I began the search for a replacement and went for the Xenon. Upon receipt I immediately loaded it up with about 40 lbs of gear including strapping on the tent, extra day pack, and sleeping pad, with the sleeping bag in it's pocket and wore it around the house for about a half hour or more and it was very comfortable. I will however, have to get use to the arching back as I normally prefer that my packs be against my back. This feels more secure to me. Other than that I am confident that this pack will be perfect for my next trip to China (or elsewhere if I change my mind). I have not decided on whether or not to do the molding of the Hip belt, I prefer to let the belt naturally mold with use.

I use my bag for the first time this summer on a trip to Thailand so it had a very long flight. It works great, no problems, no damage. What more could I ask for? The material is very tough and I expect it to last a very long time.

I realy like the Arc'Teryx hiking apparel, but this jacket just did not cut it for me. I was looking for a fairly heavy jacket that i would not have to layer and this fit the bill. I also liked the adjustable drawcord at the waist and the light weight. However, I also like pockets and this is where Arc'Teryx fails for me. For the price it just did not completely satisfy me on the features.

These Staghorn pants have a great fit. I have already worn and washed them. They keep their shape well after washing and even drying. They are also very light. I used to avoid The North Face because the fit was never right, but these have changed my mind. Thanks BC

This is my third pair of Mountain Hardwear pants, and the fit and feel has not failed me yet. I love the wide waist band and the internal single bungie string adjustment. These will get a lot of use this winter.