Reviews by User: surrational (9)

in my quest for perfection, i end up replacing my shell every year or two. well, the Exum is my best purchase so far. its not only constructed very well, it fits the way a piece of clothing designed for athletic activity should. The North Face always has way too much extra fabric in the body and arms. in general, TNF is trying way too hard to look fashionable. the Exum LOOKS like a technical shell, and comes with the backing details to prove it. all zippers slide very easily (but not too easily as to come undone.) the large hood will accommodate any size helmet, yet cinches down very nicely without one. the hood also moves with your head across a full 180 degree plane (which is something no TNF jacket has ever done.) the only fault i can find so far is with the wire brim on the hood - it works, but should've had a slightly thicker gauge wire (my Eider Commodore had the best hood ever.) the pit zips do not bulk up at all, in fact you can't even feel them, and they have one-way zippers which makes so much more sense to me. i was concerned about the large storm flap on the front zipper, but low-tack Velcro-brand fasteners is used minimally and strategically to keep the flap closed, and it won't get stuck to your glove liners. the Gore-tex Pro is lighter and packs better than XCR, yet doesn't seem flimsy. long story short: if you're looking for a super-minimalist storm-proof shell, this will probably suit your needs. i've been bashing on North Face and for good reason, their quality is going down the crapper (except for their Freedom Pants, they still rock.) see my review for the misnamed Antigravity jacket; the Exum is superior in every way, including weight. Outdoor Research has top quality gear too, definitely check them out.

i bought this jacket and promptly returned it. first off, theres a GLARING design flaw - the small stretch panels in the back are so thin, you can see your finger through them. i dont care if theyre treated with hyvent, theres no way they will be water/windproof. its like only putting screens in 2 windows of your house.. what was north face thinking? its not like they enhance the actual fit of the jacket anyway, and i cant see them holding up to the wear and tear of a pack. the rest of the jacket is just OK.. the pit zippers are more clumsy than usual, the zipper tabs (which there are a lot of) are way too long and look like tassels, the neck opening is absolutely cavernous and doesnt cinch down very well without a helmet... and even though i cant confirm this from use, the rest of the fabric doesnt seem very durable. in fact, it looks and feels more like the material from a pair of really nice womens pants from banana republic. i replaced this with the marmot exum.. its a much better design and fit all around. to top it all off, its 3 ounces lighter than the "antigravity."

i love this jacket. very athletic fit throughout. no extra fabric, yet not restrictive. im 5'6" and 155 lbs, size medium fits perfectly. in comparison with the redpoint, the neoplume is warmer because it fits closer to the body. its not very breathable, but isnt promoted as such. if you ski/ride/climb fairly aggressively, i dont recommend any jacket like this as a midlayer, because it gets too hot. and for an outer layer, i still prefer a softshell for breathability as well as durability. better for casual use, or very light activity. i have only one minor complaint: the tabs on the cuff enclosures are too long and stick out a bit. overall though, very good quality. btw, OR makes awesome gloves and mittens too.

this is my most versatile piece of gear right now. athletic fit, but not so tight that you cant layer a thermal and fleece underneath. perfect length to wear a likewise athletic fitting shell over top. i was perfectly comfortable wearing the gravity with a midweight thermal & midweight fleece in 20 degree & cloudy weather. breathes exceptionally well, even when i did sweat after a hard run (in 45 degrees and sunny), i was always dry by the top of the chairlift. i especially appreciate that there are no pit zips bulking up the fabric under my arms. the whole obsession with pit zips is rather illogical for any shell, but its utterly ridiculous for a highly breathable softshell. if you ever get too hot, just open the biggest vent you got: the front zipper!!

these are super comfy, work just as well with or without a helmet (perfect, gapless fit with the ace freecarve), do not fog and look great too. just a clean, simple design, without any weirdly angled brows or edges. i have a small head (size S helmet to prove it) and they fit my face perfectly. I've tried many other goggles: smith, oakley and bolle, and spy is my overall top pick. they never fog, the strap stays put and they're well made. i had blizzards before this, making this the first time I've ever purchased 2 goggles from the same brand consecutively. i have the persimmon w/silver lens. persimmon works best for me, but my blizzards had the persimmon w/o silver and i felt they were the best tint all around for all light conditions, being sufficient even on bluebird days above treeline. the silver coating takes away some definition in flat light, which i guess is to be expected.

The caber has all the features I look for in a shell: 3-layer construction, full-time hood, core vents (instead of pit zips), NO powder skirt (just bunches up on me anyway) and an athletic fit. The only fault is in the softshell panels. I knew they wouldn't be waterproof but they're not nearly as water resistant as other softshells I’ve had. In fact, I think this shell would be perfect if it wasn't a hybrid. You have the core vents already, why do you need breathable (and unadjustable) softshell panels? It’s redundant. Overall, I do have to say I’m happy and would still recommend it as long as you don’t intend on using it in even a very light drizzle.

the perfect blend of tech and style. plenty of room, but not baggy like all that other poser trash. pair with midweight thermals and a pair of shorts down to about 10 degrees, add layers accordingly when colder than that. the hook and loop waist adjustment keeps my pants on and the snow out, no need for a belt. through freezing rain and sitting in slush, nothing on the inside ever gets wet. and oh yea, they're only $130. i picked up an extra pair just in case some corporate schmuck decides all future lines will have pinstripes or polka dots or whatever those whiny emo kids are wearing these days..

I returned these pants because they fit extremely slim. It's a shame because they're perfect otherwise, they’re constructed very well and had all the features I was looking for (full zips, removable suspenders, membrain fabric, black color, reasonable price). I’m of average build and in shape but by no means bulky at 5'6", 155 lb. They actually fit tight, even with a lightweight thermal layer underneath. I don't have to wear snowboard specific gear, but these really seem to be designed solely with skiers in mind, or super slim guys. Even when I skied I liked a roomier fit.

These looked great, felt comfortable, and they’re supportive. But I had too much room, especially in the mid-foot area. They are either designed for very wide feet or to be worn with very thick socks. I like wearing thinner, more breathable socks particularly when hiking with Gore-Tex in my shoes. Other than that, they seemed very well made for their advertised purpose (day-hiking in wet/muddy conditions) and I wish they fit me better.