Super tech, super tough.

By Grant Helgeson Ranked #475 - Men's Technical Shells February 25, 2010

I picked this shell up early this winter, and have been rockin' it almost everyday for the past few months.

Fit: I'm 145 lbs, 5' 10". The medium would be a good alpine climbing fit, but I prefer a larger fit for skiing so I can wear a puffy underneath, and stash skins inside the shell for descending on cold days. So, I went with a a large in the lime.

Durability: As an avalanche forecaster, I spend A LOT of time in my technical clothing. Days filled with snowmobiles tend to be hard on things, and this shell has held up nicely. I have thrashed through many a tight forest, and the shell has yet to see any tears. The waterproof zippers have a nice tight feel to them too.

Design: I like the pocket layout in this shell. There is an interior i-pod pocket that holds my iphone nicely. When at the resort I wire in my earbuds and the phone stays toasty & dry inside the shell. The large outer pocket is the perfect size for my write in the rain field book too. The smaller chest pocket often holds my GPS when I'm in the field.

Functionality: While I have a few other shells in my quiver, none of them have come out since getting the bombshell. It's plenty breathable with the pit zips open for the skin track on nasty days. The arm gaiters are awesome as I tend to wear inside the cuff gloves. It does a great job of keeping snow out when digging pits or even for the occasional fall.

Style: I'm constantly complemented on this jacket. The Lime is a super bright shade that is a photographers dream. For me, bright is right in the backcountry. I want to be as visible as possible when I'm in the mountains. The only downside of the color is that it tends to pick up dirt pretty easily. I found that some shout advanced gel and time in the wash brought the stains right out.

Overall, I'm super psyched on this shell. I have Arc'teryx pieces in my collection, but this one is my favorite. It's stylie, durable & uber functional. Certainly the best bang for the buck out there.

View Details: Stoic Bombshell Jacket - Men's

Helpful Votes: 5 Yes