Just ordered this jacket so I have no personal experience yet. But I've read enough personal and magazine reviews to know it is likely an awesome piece of gear. Just wanted you all to know that Altrec is selling it for a song and a dance right now. Man, what a sale they're having right now! Much thanks to all of you for your reviews on various items. It really helps someone who is totally new to backpacking to have input from "seasoned veterans".

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I'm a rookie backpacker in the making...so my experience is nil and my opinions currently worthless. (This will change after I've paid my dues and racked up some miles!)

Jeff, "plantoutdoors.com" seems to be nonexistent. help.

I though long and hard about whether I could justify the cost of this jacket ($425), but I took the plunge and have not regretted it. I spoke with the manufacturer severla times, and they really know their stuff. The jacket is the best one on the market (Arc'Teryx is, anyway). Long enough so my bottom doesn't get soaked when i sit down. The hood is great, totally adjustable. The zippers are the neatest invention in years - weight saving and clean - no flaps to get hung up. Same goes for the pit zips - plenty long enough and no velcro to accidentally close up the opening once you get it open. The collar is high enough to stand up past the chin (great in the wind). I especially like the little pocket on the left sleeve, upper half. Great for snack bars or a folded map. Easy access with a pack on. This is, without a doubt, the best manufacturer of 3 layer goretex jackets on the market (trust me, I looked at them all).

Customer Service

I liked these guys a lot. Plus the products are made in North America (Canada). I do think the cost is way high - but here, you DO get what you pay for. I'd sacrifice and save up for this quality gear again.

Great Jacket. The cut is great - extra space in the shoulder to allow for free movement of the arms, while hugging your body around the waist to allow for use with a harness. The water-proof zippers are a great feature. I have had the jacket for almost a year now and have had no problems with them leaking. However, sometimes when the fabric is bent, it appears like they may leak. Time may tell on this issue. The hood is great. Large enough for a helmet, and adjustable in all the right spots to make it efficient. The only problem I have with the jacket is that I wish it had a double zipper on the front, so when you are wearing a harness you can open the bottom of the jacket to allow for unhindered attachement to your harness. As is it now, the jacket will extend over your harness attachement point. However, this is a pretty minor issue in comparison for all of the other great feature of the jacket. It is expensive, but if you are in the market of jackets in this price range, serious consideration should be given the the Arc'Teryx.

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TNF Mountainlight Jacket

Finally, a jacket that fits. Perhaps a first in women's apparel. This shell fulfills every claim made by the company and still has the highest comfort level I have experienced in a shell of this kind.

At a petite 5'4" it is the only jacket I have found that fits everywhere -- the sleeves are neither to long nor too short, the hood is large enough that I can wear a ponytail and still get protection from the pouring rain, the body of the jacket is form fitting but not restrictive, and the armholes are big enough to accommodate bulky sweaters or multiple layers. It appears that this company actually went out and measured real women wearing winter clothes.

The waterproof zippers are a great feature. They really do keep the rain and wind out, and they save on bulk and weight. It is comfortable to wear with a pack, nothing poking you in the back. It's great for skiing, these pit zips are big enough to make a difference, and the cuffs and flaps don't collect a lot of snow on long runs. I can even use is on warmer nights because the ventilation is superb. This jacket has everything is needs and nothing it doesn't. No gizmos that sound cool but end up being useless. With all of these great features, it is also a great looking coat -- brains and beauty together at last.

It's very simple, this jacket has all the same features as the
other lightweight goretext jackets, but it is the only one that
has them all done right. As a matter of fact, almost none of
the features are done right on the other top-line jackets. The
pitzips are long enough to matter, the hood actually covers
enough to matter, the hood is also big enough to wear a helmet,
even the feature I don't care about, which is the ability to roll up
the hood into your collar is made so you can fit the hood in it
without making it a masters thesis.

And besides all that, it isn't made in China.

Just wanted everyone to know that plantoutdoors.com have this jacket for 299.97.

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None

I wasn't going to bother submitting a review, as the other reviews are accurate and complete, but I love this jacket so much that I had to pipe in. It is by far the best designed, best constructed piece of clothing I have ever owned. It's waterproofness is absolutely wonderful, and it breathes better than just about anything else out there. The pit-zips are very long - letting you breath when you need to. I have worn the jacket in a variety of conditions: sailing in light winds and gale force winds, snowshoeing in subzero temps, snowboarding in good weather and pouring rain. It has never let me down. In fact, one day in Tahoe in a driving rain when everyone else was completely soaked to the bone in their fancy North Face shells and parkas, I was happily dry and ready for more runs. The price might seem hard to justify at first, but because the jacket is so versatile and well made, I think of it as about the same price as the 2-3 jackets I won't need to buy now.

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Various North Face and Marmot shells

I only looked at this jacket after reading reviews here... they aren't all that easy to find in stores! I must say, this is the best fitting jacket that I have ever owned. Good length in the arms, and a bit of extra room in the shoulders - I am just thrilled w/ the fit! I haven't been in any major downpirs yet, so I can't comment on the waterproofness, but the quality is terrific. The only down side is the cost... It is very tough to find a discount, and $425 is a rediculous price. I'm going to give it five stars for value even though I think it costs too much, just because it is, in my mind, superior to other jackset with similar MSRPs (but the others can easily be found at a much greater discount). Stocky folks probably won't enjoy the fit too well.
If you are interested in this coat, and need/want a bright color (Molten/Red), you should look into picking one up now - I understand that it is going to be more of a 'wine' color next season.

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TNF Mountain Light, TNF Middle Triple

I had purchased one North Face Mountain Light jacket and two Mountain Guide jackets over the years. My brother purchased an Arcteryx Theta LT over a year ago. A few months later, I bought the last of my North Face jackets. I noticed about a month ago that my brother's Theta LT was still beading rainwater nicely. My North Face was absorbing water, albeit not soaking through. I decided to shop around for an Arc'teryx. I found one for 25% off at Mountainhideout.com. I'm glad I got one that was one size larger than I normally wear. This one fits nicely. It's lighter than my old North Face Mountain Guide jacket despite the larger overall surface area. The stowable hood is a boon. No more equipment snags when you don't have the hood on your head.