The inventor of Soft Shell should receive something like a Nobel Prize, but I do admit: Hard Shell Handles Shizzle. Arcteryx workmanship brings tears of joy to the detail-obsessed, and this Jacket is no exception. The look is very good. "Slate" is more green than grey, but is still Da Bomb. While I need neither the Recco Reflector nor the Opti Pocket, I like everything but the collar, which illustrates why most Arcteryx hoods do not stow. With the hood stowed, the collar is tight; it's tough to turn your head, the zipper flap grabs your chin, and you CANNOT layer (at the neck). But pull the hood out, and life is good again. It's a peerless item, which helps explain the price; just be forewarned of the Stowable Hood.

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