A great shell and a reasonable value!!

By Albert Burnham Ranked #339 - Men's Technical Shells December 8, 2008

A week after I got this shell I went for a walk around town in the pouring rain for an hour and a half just to see if I could get wet. I can now say from personal experience that the 100% waterproof guarantee is no joke. I have worn it around town and into the backcountry in very wet conditions and have never had any moisture come through this shell.
The first thing that impressed me though was the quality of construction, the welded seams and the laser cut fabric edges make this shell look like a tank. It is light enough to take backpacking but it still has enough toughness to it to inspire confidence while you are bushwhacking through thick pine or clambering around on exposed rocky areas. This toughness is due to the 70d outer shell fabric that makes this lighter but equal in toughness to the thicker three layer Gore-tex shells. Most three layer shells use two 30-40d nylon shells with a layer of Gore-tex, this one uses one layer 0f 70d and a Gore-tex layer, which means a lot of durability and a great weight reduction.
The fabric is also very wind proof and breathable. After one hike I noticed that there was a dried layer of salt on the back panel from where the sweat had been let out but the salt content in the sweat could not get through the Gore-tex membrane. This just showed how well this shell lets out the moisture; I have never felt clammy in this jacket.
The fit of this shell is also a plus. The sleeves are long (a good thing for me since I am tall and I can never find a shell that fits my wingspan right) and articulated which gives you a full range of motion and keeps all of those warm layers you cram under them dry. There is nothing worse than having water seep up the sleeves of a fleece or down layer because the sleeves on your shell weren’t long enough.
This shell also has waist level pockets. I know that most jackets put the pockets at chest level so that you can still use them with a hip belt around your waist but I just don’t like that design concept. It is nice to be able to rest your hands in normally placed pockets, heck if your hands are cold while you have a pack or harness on, wear gloves!
The hood on this thing works great as well. I was worried because it is huge and without a helmet on it slides down over your eyes but if you putt the draw string in the back it cinches down to fit almost as well as your favorite baseball style cap. The big stiff brim on this thing also does a great job at keeping the snow and water out of your eyes and there is enough fabric around the neck that the hood turns with your head so you never get your view obstructed when you look to the side.
It has three truly waterproof pockets outside. One chest and two hand. They are enough to carry what you need; I have never been a fan of jackets with a bunch of needless pockets. It also has a water bottle pocket inside that will fit a 32 oz. Nalgene.
The jacket is cut just loose enough to fit a couple of warm layers under it without being overly bulky and it is lust long enough to reach a couple of inches below your waist line (if you get it sized right).
As with anything fit is important so make sure you at least try out a similar Mountain Hardware performance cut piece before you buy this one off line.
Overall it is a well designed shell that is cut nicely and tough enough for years of back country and front country use. I have no qualms in highly recommending this product to anyone who is interested in a quality shell.

View Details: Mountain Hardwear Xenon Jacket - Men's

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