Excellent Form + Function = 5 stars

By catiecoo Ranked #3 - Women's Trail Running Clothing August 23, 2009

Just got the jacket last week and immediately took it out for a test run today. We hiked the Grizzly Peak from the top of the Loveland Pass in Colorado. At 12,000 feet, Loveland Pass is extremely windy though not cold this time of the year. Grizzly Peak is at 13,427, and the trail has many very steep ups and downs which makes the hike a very aerobic exercise. The temperature was around mid-70s today. Although the sun was shining, I immediately felt the wind chill as soon as the hike started. After putting on the Aero, I felt the windy was effectively cut down by the jacket. With only a single short sleeve shirt underneath, the jacket / shirt combination kept me very comfortable. Although the elevation gain and loss was quite a lot on this hike, I didn't sweat a single drop. This is really owing to the breathability of the jacket. It blocks the right amount of wind to make you not feel cold and at the same time letting some through to keep you from sweating. It also has a very functional hood - I had a baseball cap on and the hood effectively covers the cap w/o feeling tight. Not sure about water resistancy yet since it didn't rain on the trip. For sizing, be sure to use Norrona's sizing chart. It's very accurate. Keep in mind that the sleeves are about an inch longer than the US brand jackets, although I didn't mind. So far I am very happy with the jacket and plan to use it as my primary soft shell for 3-season hiking and backpacking trips. I only hope the durability won't be an issue. Oh the apple green color is awesome. Unlike the Patagonia Houdini or the like, this jacket is not semi-translucent, and it looks way better than the pati.

View Details: Norrøna Bitihorn Aero 60 Jacket - Women's

Helpful Votes: 2 Yes | 0 No