"THE FIRST AND LAST JACKET YOU WILL EVER NEED TO BUY!" - Review of Arc'teryx Fission AR Jacket - Men's

The Fission AR is my very first Arc'teryx product and I am EXTREMELY impressed! As a former elite soldier that has had to endure extreme climates all over the world, I only wished the US Army had a jacket that was made exceptionally well like this! I have had jackets from other competitors and the Arc'teryx is hands down the BEST of the Best! When it comes to a great product I have no problem spending extra money knowing that this is an investment to be used as a tool (to keep me dry and warm) and not to be worn as a mere fashion statement. Recently used this jacket in the Himalayas (above 17K ft) with subzero temps and was not sorry that I took it with me. It is lightweight, very easy to compress and pack especially when you are limited to space and weight. The Good: It keeps you TOTALLY dry and warm! The 2 front pockets (with water-tight zippers) are nice and roomy. They keep your hands dry and warm. There is enough room for mobile phone/PDA, keys etc This is an athletic cut jacket. It is made with a great deal of attention to detail with very good quality of the components, craftsmanship and composition. Primaloft filling is a big plus since I think it's easier to maintain and keeps me warmer than only a down filled jacket. The Gore-Tex keeps you dry. Superb look and excellent fitting. I did a lot of research when buying this jacket. I talked to friends who owned other Arc'teryx products and even went to the store to try this and other jackets on. The money spent was so well worth it! You do not need to wear several layers underneath at all in most environments. I usually wear a T-shirt or a regular button down shirt as a base layer with this jacket. The waistband cinches to keep wind and snow out. Truthfully, no other layers are necessary in most normal urban environments. Experiment to test the waterproofness and the wind blocking qualities: I put my arm outside of my truck during a heavy downpour going 65mph approx. I could feel the rain hitting the sleeve but could NOT feel the wind nor the wetness through the jacket. I was amazed and happy that this jacket was a good investment. During my several travels it has kept me dry during several downpours and warm in the subfreezing temps. I love how the jacket is not 'poofy' like a lot of down filled jackets. Plus it compresses very easily. It is very simple to clean and maintain as well. My wife tried out my jacket when we were out hiking and loved it! I ended up buying the Fission SV jacket for her as a surprise gift. The Bad: Only has 2 external pockets. The Desired: My only wish would be if this jacket had 1 or 2 interior pockets that were zip-able or had hook-and-loop closures to keep items like a small camera/iPod/wallet etc... secure. The Bottom Line: All in all, I would highly recommend this jacket for all outdoor activity whether it is in cold or wet environment. HANDS DOWN, THIS IS THE FIRST AND LAST JACKET YOU WILL EVER NEED TO BUY!
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