Too bad they left hand pockets out of this jacket. Especially since the weight is around 14 oz anyway.

Konrad, I hear ya, but I am more concerned about having the hand pockets while at camp. I use hiking poles when I am hiking as well, so that doesn't bother me. But when I get to camp and need to throw this shell on to say, block wind or just to warm up a little, then it is a problem. Also, just because a little rain happens to fall doesn't mean I always have to run and grab shelter, at least not when I am carrying a rain jacket. I also tend to use some of my hiking stuff when I am not hiking. I wear my rain jackets around home or town also, so that makes it pretty annoying not to have hand pockets then too. But I completely understand everyone has different needs and I am cool with that. However, IMO if this jacket is as breathable as they say pit zips should be an afterthought, so building in some hand pockets with mesh backings seems to be a smarter, more useable design.

Stick, if its 90 degrees out and raining, why are you hiking with a jacket on? You're better not wearing a jacket and getting wet, and than drying off in minutes once the rain stops. 90 degrees is crazy hot. Also, I prefer not having handpockets, because I use trekking poles. My hands never go inside my pockets because they are attached to the poles. Even if I wasn't using poles, I wouldn't want hand pockets on my rainwear. If it's raining, the trail is wet and slippery. You wouldn't want to hike with your hands in your pockets, because if you were to take a fall, whats to stop a full on face plant? Seriously, wet hands is the least of my concerns when the weather is foul.

Nice answer Ben, thanks for stopping by! I like the fact that the sleeves are just a little longer to because I agree, I hate it when the sleeves want to ride up to my elbows! But regardless, I would still love to see this jacket with some hand pockets (not hand zips like I accidentally said in my initial post...doh) At 14 oz though, I would not consider this jacket ultralight. Lots of other hard shells out there are in the same weight range, while others are even lighter, and some with pit zips and hand pockets. Saying that, I wonder how much extra weight would have been added to throw in some mesh lined hand pockets...If this jacket breathes as well as it is stated to, and had pit zips, hand pockets and this sweet price attached to it, this thing would have been a clear winner for me! But, that's me... Giving the claims on the superior breath-ability of this jacket though, I would love to see for myself how it does, just hard for me to pull the trigger without hand pockets. I have another hard shell which does not have hand pockets and I am not too fond of it...regardless of how well it fits and breathes (which is great so far). I will look forward to the videos demonstrating the incredible waterproofness with air permeability of this jacket. Who knows...

maybe they could use mesh pockets to keep the breathability. Although a jacket with a single pocket is still quite useful when backpacking,

Hand pockets limit breathability. I'm not sure if that was their reasoning, but only exposed fabric really breathes on a rain jacket, and so everything you add to the jacket limits how much moisture the jacket can move away from your body.

This initial Vaporshell Jacket was designed as ultralight rain protection - just what you need in a rain shell, nothing you don't. These design calls were made in order to build a rain shell that offers the outstanding waterproof protection and breathability of this Vaporshell Jacket with a great fit while weighing a scant 14oz - all at a price of 129! As evidenced in this very thread, there are varying opinions on the need to include pit-zips. We chose to err on the side of breathability in this case - in normal conditions, you probably won't ever need them because the fabric is just that breathable. The air permeability of the fabric also aids significantly in cooling and preventing build up of moisture vapor inside the shell. Look for some video uploads demonstrating this incredible waterproofness with air permeability very shortly. The sleeves were deliberately built a little longer to compensate for a fabric without stretch. Few things we can't stand worse than sleeves that ride half way up your forearm when "down in it."

All good points, but the sleeves are long enough that they should cover your hands, right? On a similar note, as a photographer I'd love to see some fatty chest pockets on this jacket (or any jacket) that I can stuff camera and lenses into when the weather gets foul.

That is a good point, but I have found that I prefer pit zips regardless of the claimed breathability...when it is 90 F+ and hiking with a pack on, ain't no material gonna keep me dry...personal preference though I guess. But come on, gotta have hand zips...what am I supposed to do with my hands...stick them in my pants pocket...or just hold them out to get soaked... I cannot understand why some leave hand pockets out...I guess it is just more personal preference too...

If its so breathable, why the pit zips?