"Excellent warm weather softshell" - Review of Arc'teryx Epsilon AR Softshell Jacket - Men's

As one of the more affordable jackets in the Arc'teryx line-up, I wasn't quite sure what to expect with the Epsilon AR. However, after giving it a few trial runs I can assure you I'm not disappointed! First off, the jacket looks stylish. Not only do I wear it for outdoor activities like climbing and trail running, but I love wearing it as a casual piece around town as well. The cut is great. At 6'2", 185 lbs (athletic build), I have found the Large has a slim, active fit. The sleeves are plenty long, but be warned, the bottom hem rises up in the front and barely covers my belt buckle (presumably to stay out of the way of a climbing harness). This is the only gripe I have with the jacket. Overall I do wish it had a bit more length in the front, but I've gotten used to this - just be prepare to have longer shirts hang out the front. The jacket drops down in the back - great for keeping you covered when ripping up the trails on your mountain bike or just when bending over. The material of the jacket is thin and lightweight. If this was the first technical jacket I had ever purchased, I might think the material seemed cheap, but I assure you it is not. The high-tech materials used in this jacket are water resistant, yet highly breathable and are not hard and crinkly like a hardshell rain jacket. While it is surprisingly warm for its weight, I would not recommend this jacket for cold temps. Also, if you wish to layer heavier fleeces under the jacket, I would size up, as the Large I have only allows for a light long-sleeved shirt underneath. The jacket is neither windproof nor waterproof, but it has kept me dry in a light rain and seems to break the wind fairly well while cycling. I have yet to test it in a downpour. Overall, if you're looking for a sweet and stylish Arc'teryx softshell and don't want to shell out $$$ for a high-end model, I highly recommend the Epsilon AR. It's still not cheap, but it lives up to the Arc'teryx name in both quality and performance. If you can find it on sale, it makes the deal even sweeter.
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