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- Verified Buyer
Bought this in preparation for an upcoming New Years weeklong trip through a North Carolina AT section. For now, all I can review is the fit and feel of the jacket. I am 5'8" ~175-180 lbs, and wouldn't consider myself "fit" at this point (especially the day after thanksgiving!). I ordered a medium and am quite happy with it. It has enough room beneath to wear a longsleeve base layer and t-shirt, even a fleece if need be, without feeling like everything will be too tight. I LOVE the weight and feel of the jacket itself. I plan on backpacking 90 miles in below and around freezing temperatures, and with a heavy load and that much physical activity, this jacket seems to be a perfect fit with its breathability. It is also far from "puffy" so I will be easily able to layer it with a hardshell or anything else I might need.One more thing, the OR warranty service is apparently top notch, so I'm feeling quite happy about this purchase and will be looking at OR products again down the line.For now, it's four stars. Ask me again come January and I might happily up it to 5 after putting it through the real test.This coat is the perfect marriage of function and comfort. I have many coats for many seasons. I like this one because it is warm even when damp (has a Pertex shell only on the upper surfaces), has a hood and multiple zippered pockets and the fit is generous. The ideal conditions for me: temps between 38 and 50 degrees, light to no winds, mist or light rainfall but not heavy rain, and is easily combined with one or more under layers. It compacts to the size of a softball so is easily packable and easy to put away as the day warms. And, it's Outdoor Research which is one of the best brand of outdoor equipment and clothing I have ever found. Highly recommended.This is my go to jacket for non-winter climbing. It does a great job of keeping me warm when I'm standing around or belaying on chilly days. I've worn it while climbing as well and it has stood up well to rock abrasion and it hasn't restricted my movements any. If it were winter I'd want something heavier but for spring or fall it's great. It compresses really well which is great for those cold mornings when you know you'll be shoving this in your pack later in the day after it warms up. The hood fits over my climbing helmet without issue. I was in the Adirondacks in July and never though I'd need it but brought it anyway because it takes up so little space in my pack and I ended up wearing it every morning. Aside from it being great quality, this has become my favorite jacket because there's no excuse not to bring it with me so I always have it when I need it.I got this jacket mainly based on its low price compared to its main competitors and a good review on Outdoor Gear Lab. I am giving this jacket 3 stars mainly because of the fit. A normally wear a medium and the specs on this say it fits a 40" chest (normal for medium sized stuff). It is way too tight in the chest and under the shoulders for me. It does stretch, but I don't feel comfortable with how tight this is and it doesn't give me much room for a base layer. For reference I'm an athletic 5'8" ~160 lb guy and wear size 38 suit jacket.Besides the fit, the jacket is pretty nice. The hood fits well and is adjustable. It's a lightweight jacket, it kept me pretty warm considering how thin it is, it stretches, the materials seem quality, and a light the ventilation on the sides. I just can't get past the fit, it just isn't right. If you are built more like a marathon runner / stick then this jacket will probably work for you. I returned it and got a Arc'teryx Atom LT Hoody for $30 more and am very happy with my decision.I ordered an XL because I am 5'11" and 195 lbs and wanted to be able layer under it. It fits perfectly for this purpose. I can easily fit a T shirt, mid-weight fleece and a synthetic vest under it. If the weather turns cold, I'll put my rain/wind shell over the top of all these layers. The Cathode has lots of pockets and seems to breath well enough to be worn during high output activities like skinning uphill. Once at the top, the additional layers come out of my pack and the downhill fun begins.This is stupid, but this jacket makes me feel cool. Not cool as in cold, but cool as in "that lady just checked me out and it had 10% to do with the jacket." Other 90% obviously my charm and good looks.The slim fit is something that you don't see a lot of with this type of clothing, and I appreciate the stretchy fabric that runs down the sides of the jacket, which gives you mobility that I haven't seen in other jackets.Also, in terms of heat regulation, this is one of the best I have worn. I overheat very easily, and I haven't experienced that much with this jacket. And of course, in cold weather, this provides enough insulation for me personally.Nice jacket, but fits WAAAAAAAYYY small!! I read the reviews and thought to order a large, but then the size chart put me as a dead match for a medium. ORDER A SIZE UP. YES, A FULL SIZE UP.These jackets are known to perform very well, and mine was really well built and very comfortable.Got this for my son nordic ski team high school practices. It's well made and has just the right amount of insulation for his warm up and cool down sessions. The flex panels are great for the active skiing motions. I have run it through the laundry several times now and has held up well so far. It seems to run pretty slim fit. We're both 5' 8" or so and the mens medium is OK on him (110 lbs) but a little tight under the arms for me (145 lbs)This is the greatest coat i have ever owned. It's the second time I've bought it as the zippers finally went on my old one. Windproof. Lighter weight than a sweater but way warmer. It's my go-to for spring, fall, and camping. I find it has a comfortable range down to about -5 celcius if paired with gloves, hat, and scarf. I've pushed it down to -10 with the above equipment plus a good sweater underneath and snowpants if you are being more active.
