Contributions by telechick (7)

bought it for a solo trip to patagonia. it's lightweight but very clammy and damp inside, especially not good if you have a down sleeping bag. i'm 5'4" and barely fit with my gear inside. it's very narrow at one end. single side door limits how you set it up (if you want your tent somewhat level you may be forced to face the door an undesirable direction). not freestanding. i bought mine on ebay and am going to sell it.

bought these without trying them on in a local store first. thought they'd be fine. they were too big for my (female) face and they're metal and surprisingly heavy. i guess the good thing about them is that the nose pieces are adjustable. the other downside-they're so large and curved that if you place them in their hard case and put them in your purse they take up a huge amount of space-almost as much as a ski goggle. not practical for me. i sent them back and think i'll stick with my overly sporty radar paths for a while until i find the perfect fit.

according to the size chart i am a perfect XS. i am 5'4", 117# and long-waisted. however, these pants were really snug, and really too short! unusual, since i nearly always have to have my pants hemmed. the fabric is a nice weight, and the cut is great, but they were snug in the hips, way too short, and very tight in the thighs. i would go up a size, but this site is out of smalls. thanks anyway!

fyi, read other comments on the pant listed in the "outlet". bought these in a size 2 and they fit like they were custom-made for me (they fit true to the countourwear size chart). they do wrinkle when packed, but the wrinkles disappear when you put them on. these pants are really chic and elegant, and look great with heels for dinner. haven't yet used them for hiking. they seem almost too nice for that use, although the schoeller fabric should hold up well. am buying a second pair in black ASAP.

fyi, read other comments on the pant listed in the "outlet". bought these in a size 2 and they fit like they were custom-made for me (they fit true to the countourwear size chart). they do wrinkle when packed, but the wrinkles disappear when you put them on. these pants are really chic and elegant, and look great with heels for dinner. haven't yet used them for hiking. they seem almost too nice for that use, although the schoeller fabric should hold up well. am buying a second pair in black ASAP.

Bought this just to wear around town, but it works for all my activities. I have it in the black/shark and it fits in well in an urban environment. It’s also my favorite backcountry coat. It’s warmer and more compressible than fleece, lighter than a down coat, water resistant, soft against the skin. It takes up no room in a pack when backcountry skiing or backpacking, and I wear it under my shell when lift skiing. It’s also the perfect travel coat. The pockets zip shut, it works for city or play, and makes a great pillow for the plane.

After going on a backcountry ski trip where the majority of people were wearing softshells, I must say I get cold easily. I am not that warm in the jacket when inactive, and find it doesn't breathe all that well when ski-hiking with a pack on. My friends say it's because of the fabric, that the Schoeller fabrics breathe better. Love the look and fit though. For my purposes a hood would be useful too.

First, French Blue is a gorgeous periwinkle color-you can't tell from the website. I wanted a baffled, lightweight down jacket that looked good, came in a nice color, and was very compressible. It was hard to find, but this is it, with added hood and water-resistance too! This jacket is well-designed. The zipper on the collar is hidden when you zip off the hood. It has useful inner (one mesh, one zip) pockets and hand warmer (lined and zipped) pockets. There’s heavier fabric on wear-areas (shoulders, outer arms). It’s very warm and lightweight. I use it solo and as extra layer while backcountry skiing. It compresses nicely in its stuff sack, and is roomy enough to fit over my hiking clothing/shell if necessary. Slightly longer than the Marmot and Patagonia down jackets I tried (a good thing). My only complaints: VELCRO® on front zipper-flap and hood is black (they could've matched the blue fabric) and the arm length could be a little longer. Overall, the jacket filled all my requirements and I’m very pleased.