What's the real word with this jacket? Everyone seems all over the place with it. Has anyone used it during a snowstorm skiing? Is it any good when temps are below 30 F?

Softshells made with Gore Windstopper have a reputation for being more resistant to wind and weather than other softshell fabrics while still maintaining a higher level of breathability than traditional hardshells. The Venta SV is not as insulatied as some other softshells though, so it would require more layers underneath than some softshells, depending on the conditions, of course. It has a light fleece interior, but nothing like the Arc'teryx Hercules. It will do much better on a windy ridge than the Hercules, though, and it is sized more closely to one of Arc'teryx's hardshells than to their softshells like the trim fitting Gamma MX. And because the seams are fully taped it will handle wet conditions better than many other softshells. Softshell fabrics generally handle wet weather alright as long as you're not just standing in the rain, but most cannot be seam taped.And, by the way, when they say a jacket is helmet compatible they usually mean for CLIMBING helmets, and NOT ski helmets. It's not surprising that it did not fit over randy's Giro - it was never meant to. I would think putting it on over a ski helmet would just turn it into a giant wind scoop on the descent.