Reviews by User: akerman102352726 (2)

I bought this jacket in Alaska after being unimpressed by the Northface Cypher. It just won Outside Magazine's Gear of the Year award so I figured I might as well try it out. I got it the day before I left for an 11day back pack trip in the Talkeetna mountain range in Alaska. It was a great jacket. I really loved it. It is as warm as a light fleece but nearly windproof as well. It shed some light rain (but it certainly did rain on that trip). I actually barely used my brand new Arcteryx fleece because it was just so comfortable and warm and just generally great. At the same time it was warm it certainly wasn't too warm. I wore it hiking in relatively warm alaskan days (60 degrees and cloudy) and didn't overheat. Even when I did get hot the jacket not once got clammy or even damp to the touch. A great, lightweight layer.

I bought this practically without thinking. It won the gear of the year award from Outside magazine last year so I assumed it would be incredible. I bought it the day before leaving on a 10 day glacier trek in the Wrangell range in Alaska. I really loved the feeling of this jacket, especially the parts made out of windstopper. In the field it breathed great and was a good outerlayer on clear, relatively windy days. I never once got sweaty in this jacket. I did however get wet. The apex fabric just sucks up water and takes a suprisingly long time to dry. This was the deal killer for me. Also it really wasn't windproof enough in stronger breezes. It cut maybe 60% but it really didn't kill the chill.