Happy I bought it -- looking forward to many good ski seasons of use.

By jeanette Ranked #96 - Women's Ski Jackets April 1, 2009

Waterproof softshell. Enough said. That was why I bought it and it performs splendidly in that regard. Hence, two thumbs up. Now down to the nitty-gritty.

Cons:
• The user must be careful with the primary zipper – if you do not fully lock it into the base, it will unzip from the bottom.
• There’s a fantastic place for a season lift ticket. Not so much for a day-pass. It can’t go at the bottom of the primary zipper. And to make it go on any of the other zippers, you have to remove the pull extension. I resigned myself to attaching my lift tickets to the synches at the hem of the jacket. Functional, of course, but it’s a small thing that’s so obvious and so easily fixed.
• The hood does not detach. I’m putting the hood in “pros” as well but I know some people won’t like that it doesn’t detach. Personally, I’m fine with it. But I don’t recommend trying to use the hood if you’re not wearing a helmet. That said, why aren’t you wearing a helmet??
• Gussets do not have a mesh barrier. (Personal peeve. Others prefer this, I know.)

Pros:
• It’s a waterproof softshell. It’s awesome. It has flattering feminine lines. It moves easily and can stand up with the best of shells.
• The hood is perfect to fit over a helmet and the extra support in the brim of the hood is a nice bonus.
• The music player exterior/interior pocket configuration. I was skiing alone and had no clue how much I love riding the ski lift while listening to Chopin and cutting up the snow while listening to the Chili Peppers.
• It’s not bulky. While a gazillion pockets are nice, they do make for a bulky jacket. This jacket does not have that problem. And, truth be told, what more do you really need than your mp3 player, some cash, your locker key, and a trail map?

The bottom line: This jacket does the Mountain Hardwear name proud. It’s a few-frills jacket that performs wonderfully. If you want more than the technical advantages and the organizational basics, then check it out.

Also, did I mention that Backcountry.com rocks? If not, just so you know, Backcountry.com rocks. (Ask me sometime about the single best customer service experience that I’ve ever had.)

View Details: Mountain Hardwear Synchro Ski Jacket - Women's

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