Contributions by Beau H (2)

I bought this jacket a couple of years ago, It was my first Arcteryx jacket. When it showed up I felt like I was tricked into buying a 5$ zip up t shirt from Walmart. Boy was I wrong. It seems so thin and light to give you any kind of protection, but somehow it does. Arcteryx has made some of the most incredible gear on the planet, and in the spring and fall this tiny thin little jacket is all you need. In the winter it is the perfect mid layer for that not so warm water proof shell. I have never been cold in this jacket, and what's amazing is that it also never seems to overheat. Whatever that expensive material Arcteryx uses to build its gear is made of... it works. And it works well.

This truly is an incredible piece of engineering. Arcteryx has a history of creating cutting edge gear, and this jacket does not fall short of amazing. That said... There are a couple of things to keep in mind when buying Arcteryx gear. A novice might look at this jacket and think for the price that it would be a complete outdoor solution. Be aware that this jacket offers almost no warmth. It is designed as a shell, so plan on wearing something warm underneath. It pairs nicely with some of Arcteryx's base and mid layers. I would also recommend NOT wearing any fleece underneath this shell. It has that super space age material Arcteryx uses and it is will cling to fleece more than you tried to hang onto that first love in high school. If you want to stay dry, and do it in style, layer up and wear this jacket as a shell. This jacket may just make everything else seem uncivilized. And you might find yourself spending your kid's college fund to complete your Arcteryx collection. A must buy for anyone who lives in a wet climate, and loves to get outside no matter what the conditions are.