I need a suggestion on a new down jacket. I am currently living in Poland and last winter was cold and windy. A windy 5 degree to 20 degree day was the norm. I plan to wear the jacket under a Patagonia shell. I want the jacket to have an athletic fit, I am 5' 10", 155lbs, 40inch chest, and 32inch waist. Would a medium be perfect or would a small be a better fit. The jacket will also be used skiing. Any comments on this jacket or better solution would be greatly appreciated.

I am almost the exact same dimensions as you, JJS, and the medium fits great! i also use it under a Patagonia shell, and it fits nicely. if you are only going to use it under a shell though, i would suggest the Rab Infinity, Western Mountaineering Flash, or Montbell Ultralight jackets, they are lighter, and i find that they are more comfortable underneath a shell, especially the Rab Infinity (i have a small and it fits perfectly for layering under a shell). but this jacket functions great by itself, and i am more confident that it can handle more abuse without tearing than some other similar down jackets.

The nice thing about down coats is they compress nicely to fit under a shell, provided your shell offers some breathing room. Advice from a bigger guy, I stand at 6' 2" and 205 and I wear my jackets in L to XL depending on the manufacturer (usually large). A medium should fit you well, just make sure you order a brand that Backcountry can ship outside the US. Otherwise, have it shipped to a friend or family member in the states then they can ship it to you.

Well, this one is currently only available in XXL, so that won't work. If you want a down sweater that will be good for layering, you should check out the Stoic Luft down sweater in a medium (if you don't mind the colors). It performs well and has an active, athletic fit. It is also a higher fill power than this OR one.