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This is a great soft shell but it depends how you want to use it. If you're using your soft shell for more athletic pursuits, the Talus may be too warm. I just use it as a knock-around jacket and it's great in cool/cold weather. Supple, quiet fabric with a comfortable brushed interior. If you're interested in more detail about the Talus, I've just posted a detailed review on my blog, patagoniacommunity.blogspot.com

This is the classic. It's the iconic Patagonia piece that the company will make, presumably, as long as we both shall live. It is a comfortable piece of home that will never go out of style. Other "high fashion" companies have copied it and charged ridiculous prices (saw one for $185 that was a dead-ringer for the original) but Patagonia's remains the classic. Very warm, very comfortable and something that stays in use year after year. PatagoniaCommunity.blogspot.com

I have this in black and it's a winner. It's comfortable, non-itchy, and smooth when putting other layers over it. It's form-fitting and does shrink if put in the dryer. I've used it alone under my down jacket for cold weather. I've also gone running in it and it wicks moisture well and dries very quickly. It breathes well and just does what it's supposed to do. With that said, you can usually find it on sale at REI at the end of the winter season so personally I wouldn't shell out the full $55 for it. PatagoniaCommunity.blogspot.com

I really like the jacket's style and the fact that it's made from recycled scraps. A couple of downers though--the fit and the feel. The fit is not a "regular fit" as Patagonia says it is. It is much more of a "slim fit." I'm on the average to slim side and this thing is hugging my body. Usually Patagonia garments fit me perfectly but this one is very snug. Second, the feel of the fabric is, for lack of a better term, itchy. The jacket has a higher neck which means that it extends past my shirt collar when I zip it up and it's not the softest wool out there. Those two things make me rate it at 3 out of 5 stars.

This is a simple rain shell and the buyer should know that he won't get much more. It does the job, but the features that technical jackets offer are noticeably absent on the Eco Rain Shell. No pit-zips (and the jacket does heat up quite quickly), shallow hand-warmer pockets, and no stretch. The last one is particularly bothersome as the jacket is cut quite slim and Patagonia sizes usually fit me perfectly. A thin underlayer will work, but not much more beyond that. I like the removable hood and the simple styling. But if you're looking for feature upon feature, look elsewhere. By the way, I know color preference is very subjective, but the North Sea color is a really nice blue-grey neutral color, in my humble opinion (though I opted for the black). I'll be posting an in-depth review on my blog sometime soon. http://patagoniacommunity.blogspot.com/

This is a good, basic beanie that kept me warm in snowy conditions. The interior fleece headband is comfortable and I didn't really have to think about the hat once I put it on. Acrylic is not the most long-wearing fabric and I would prefer natural fibers versus fake, but this is still a nice warm hat.

This vest is my go-to choice for outerwear when it's chilly out. It's light, durable, and the pockets ALWAYS warm my hands quickly thanks to the fleece/tricot liner. Other thoughtful touches are the tricot-lined collar, the interior pocket that is zippered, a front zipper that is designed to never snag the fabric (and indeed, it never does), and a stuff sack. In weather that dips into the 30s and 40s, I'm comfortable with this vest and a long sleeve shirt or two underneath.

As for sizing, I've found consistency to be a bit of an issue. I usually fit a small perfectly in Patagonia stuff, but the first small I got in this vest was a bit smaller than I would have liked. I later got a second one from the fall 2007 collection and it was slightly larger and fit perfectly.

At $145, it's steep like most other Patagonia products. There are probably comparable vests for $15-$45 dollars cheaper that will be serviceable. But one of the main things that made me get this vest is Patagonia's dedication to quality and durability. I'm confident this vest will hold up for years and years. I have more information about Patagonia products on my blog, http://patagoniacommunity.blogspot.com/

This is a great hat that is warmer than your average synthetic beanie. It's thick and has nice volume to it. Mine pilled slightly after a couple of years of mild use, but the Synchilla fabric does a nice job of resisting heavy pilling. Steep at $28 but it is a quality product.

This is a warm and fuzzy pullover that does the job. I experienced a little bit of pilling after a couple of washes, but it still performed well. It heats you up quick so if you're in a cool weather environment, it should handle it. The elasticized cuffs are great and help to keep the cold air out. PatagoniaCommunity.blogspot.com

I really like this vest for cool, but not so cold weather. If you're looking for something that will handle cold, go with the classic Patagonia Down Vest (though it's usually $145). This one is a no-nonsense synthetic vest that slips on easily. However I had an issue with the cut/size of the jacket. Generally I fit a Patagonia small perfectly. This one seemed to be cut shorter so that I was probably in between a small and medium which was a bummer. Overall, this is a good piece.

I would not have paid full price but I got it at basically half price. For that amount, it's a fantastic deal. Pretty rigid fabric, but the so-called "magic seams" (stitchless) keep the jacket from being bulky. It is definitely a snug fit. I have probably a narrower neck than some and the jacket fits just right in that area. I like the close fit. If you want to layer something thick underneath, it probably wouldn't be so comfortable. I plan to use it for bike commuting so it's going to be perfect--breathable but warm. The inside has a nice suede-like feel. Arms are a tad long but not noticeably so. Front of the jacket is shorter than back and works fine for me.

Nice, lightweight vest. Patagonia quality is consistent. Thoughtfully made (zipper doesn't snag on storm flap, ergonomic zipper-pulls, etc.) My only complaint is warmth. It is a lightweight vest, provides lightweight warmth, and is great for that purpose. Usually I'm a perfect small in Patagonia stuff. Because this vest has unisex sizing, the small is slightly more snug than perfect, but I also tried the medium and it was too big.