I absolutely love my Shift Softshell. I picked one up for last winter, and it's lived through 125+ brutal days on the slopes and in the backcountry and beyond.1) Very warm.It depends on your body's internal heating system, my body doesn't mind cold. The PolarTec PowerShield material keeps the nastiest of winds from punching through. I've personally worn it in nearly 100 mph gusts of wind.I also wear the jacket around casually, it's great anywhere.2) Wrist closuresSorry Charlie. I leave that up to my Hestra gloves, and they do a darned awesome job.3) Lining rocks.Back to that awesome Polartec PowerShield magic, the stuff is awesome in any weather. Here's how I would typically wear the gear day in and day out this winter, even down to -10°:Base Layer: Backcountry.com Merino Shirthttp://www.backcountry.com/store/BCC0104/Backcountry-Merino-Crew-Shirt-Long-Sleeve-Mens.htmlMid Layer [optional]: Thermal long-sleeve shirt (typically 50/50 Cotton/Poly blend)Soft Shell: Backcountry.com Shift Softshell.That's it. Simple as that.Feel free to drop me a line if you have more questions or just post them and I'll be happy to help you out. I understand that returns can be a hassle, hopefully you'll get this and love it just as much as I do.-mmattf [at] bikemonkeyranch.com