What shell would go well over this puffy? im clinbing Mt. Rainier this June so it might be snowing if not drizzling

Trevor, I was up Rainier last July. I wore this jacket with a Marmot ROM as my softshell and Marmot Nano as my hardshell. We never encountered weather that my softshell couldn't handle although we did have drizzle and 1.5" of snow the first night. I always wore my Nano over my ROM but underneath my Ama Dablam. The Nano is an incredible jacket and does fit over the Ama Dablam if need be. The hoods fit nicely but it is a bit snug in the armpits. It will zip up and could be used over if you had to. I can't imagine you climbing in the Ama Dablam except for the very last stretch. We had 40mph winds up top so it was necessary. If you had precip that required a hardshell you'd probably not be using the puffy anyway because you'd be climbing or in your tent. BTW... I'm almost 6'1", 220 lbs, and have a large ROM, XL Nano, and XL Ama Dablam and they all made a perfect layering system along with a power fleece from Marmot as well. All the best on your climb!

trevor - in recent years, companies have been designing shells with different "cut" or "fits" to suit a specific activity or function. if you visit the mountain hardwear or the north face websites, you will notice different shells have different fits. terms like "alpine" or "climbers" or "all mountain" are commonly used . some jackets are designed to fit over several layers ("all mountain"), while a "climber" style fit will accommodate only a base and a light insulated piece. a trim fit is usually sought after in ice/rock climbing to minimize fabric bunching and maximize visibility of hand/foot placement on an alpine route. A roomier cut is usually used in mountaineering. for alpine climbing/mountaineering, a three layer shell is optimal (for lightweight, strength, and breathability). i swear by mountain hardwear, their shells are the best on the market in my opinion. i would take a look at the new M.H. gore-tex pro-shell jacket (Artero - $500) which has a roomier cut (not baggy, but specifically designed to accommodate a layering system) and is super light. a cheaper (and heavier) option would be the M.H. Avelian gore-tex performance shell (two layer, but burly) jacket - $275. even cheaper (and three layer) is the First Ascent BC-200 jacket- $200 (a proprietary 3 layer fabric) that is one of the lightest on the market. arc'teryx and marmot also make very good shells. also, consider the length of the shell, as it should be longer than the rest of your layering pieces. a shell is one item that you DONT want to skimp on. My advice, research a good shell and spend the money on a compromise of weight/durability and updated features. Rainiers wind is gnarly, and you will be happy you spent the money on a good shell. two years ago, i used a M.H. Pinnacle Jacket (2006 model) with the M.H Compressor as an insulated mid-layer and a Pata R1 Fleece and wool base. that was my layering system from paradise to (almost) summit. (sept.)