REI Taku Jacket - Women's

Comments about REI Taku Jacket - Women's:

I wore this jacket over other layers on a research expedition up to the Canadian Arctic. I bought it a size larger in order to comfortably fit a few layers underneath. It was a superb jacket, protecting me from the cold winds and snow. One day when our snowmobile tipped over into a puddle, my collaborator was soaked, but this jacket kept me dry. I use it in everyday life when it's raining and will definitely take it with me to the Arctic the next time around.

Comments about REI Taku Jacket - Women's:

I decided to give my new jacket a real test by wearing it to clean out the flooded storm drains in my street during Hurricane Ike. It kept me dry and comfortable for 45 minutes in 60 mph winds and a major downpour. I was impressed.

Comments about REI Taku Jacket - Women's:

This is a great little jacket! At 5'2", I was hoping to find this in a petite size. However, the adjustable cuff sleeves that also have elastic mean that it fits ok. The sleeves are only a little long in the Medium size I bought (I almost got the Large, but the sleeves were WAY too long).

In the teal color (official color name: santorini), the lighter colored areas are the 4-way stretch fabric. This is a great thing! It stretches enough to zip up over my bulky fleece jacket, but isn't too tight. And it's also not too bulky when I wear the jacket with just a t-shirt.

So far it's been as wind-proof and water-proof as advertised. I was a little unsure about how the stretch fabric would work, but it is as wind and water proof as the rest of it.
It's helpful though that they have the stronger more durable non-stretch fabric on the parts that get the most direct rain (shoulders, top of hood, arms).

The mobility/movement of this jacket is really nice. I truly can move my arms all around and the jacket stays put and doesn't ride up.

The vents are good and because of where they're placed, I can get to them easily even with my pack on. This also means though that you have to be careful about what you're zipping/unzipping because the vent zippers are rather close to the pocket zippers.

Comments about REI Taku Jacket - Women's:

This jacket replaced my beloved REI Groove jacket I used for just about everything. I was bummed that it didn't have the comfy fleece lining that my Groove jacket had so I knew my layering would change but who cares! Seriously. The Taku blows the Groove out of the water. It is way more water/wind resistant, can be adjusted in the hood for a better fit, the cuffs of the sleeves are much better with the velcro option, the mesh is good, it's much much lighter and packs down smaller, the peripheral vision is better, the stretch is not limiting, and I really like the vents.

I use this for: hiking, camping, boating, climbing, snowboarding (great outter layer), chillin' inbetween surf sessions, and all around every day use.

I have worn the Taku in heavy rain storms, heavy snow storms, winds exceeding 30 MPH and not been disappointed whatsoever. My Groove jacket was no where near as good in the wind or rain...even when it was brand new. Keep in mind I loved the REI Groove jacket and was very happy with it when I had it. I was reluctant to trade it in but I'm glad I did.

I'm looking forward to many adventures with this jacket...and surprisingly enough...I thought I'd miss the Groove but all I can think of is how much the Taku dominates over it.

By the way...(not that I really want to admit this but) it took me a little bit of time to get used to the pockets. Thankfully REI put some nifty zipper pulls on the pockets and not on the vents so you can feel the difference (as long as you are not wearing gloves). I got used to it fairly quickly but it totally made me laugh when I thought I was putting something in my pocket and it fell promptly to the ground. I instantly realized that I had unzipped the vent instead of the pocket. I wouldn't change it though as I've found the vents are very usefull for accessing the pockets of whatever you wear underneath the jacket. Another plus!

Service and delivery comments:

I cannot even begin to say how happy I am with REI's return policy and customer service.

My beloved REI Groove jacket had a faulty zipper...kept blowing out in the center once you zipped it up and then...good luck getting that zipper unstuck. Got some good years of use out of it and it was my favorite jacket for just about everything outdoors...and even chillin' in town.

I used REI's online customer service and they helped me choose a replacement jacket. He was dead on when he told me that the Taku would make me happy. He even mentioned that it would differ in some ways (such as no comfy fleece lining on the Taku that I enjoyed on the Groove) but that the positives would outweigh it. He was right.

I went to our local REI, shared the online conversation with an REI employee, and he had no problems with the return. When I told him I was not wanting to trade out my jacket and that I was hoping for a repair he offered to send it to their repair person but said that they might not be able to repair the taped/thermal zipper and that it might not be water/wind tight like it was before. He let me choose what to do so I hoped for the best and chose to trade out my REI Groove jacket for the Taku.

I am very happy with my new Taku...thanks to the great customer service online and locally. Thank you.

Comments about REI Taku Jacket - Women's:

I wear this jacket almost every day and every were. One plus it makes a good bar jacket because it does not absorb the smoke odor. On every adventure I have gone on from canyoneering to going to the grocery store(yes that is an adventure with me) this coat has done its job.

After owning this coat for a month I got hooked by some barbed wire out in the field on my back and freaked out but when I got home I took off my jacket and no tears or rips. Very Impressive!

Only draw back is that when you get those really cold days you REALLY have to layer underneath otherwise you will get cold. Oh and I wish it had a pocket on the inside.

Comments about REI Taku Jacket - Women's:

This jacket has a great fit and is super cute. I've worn it all over the place and gotten many compliments. However, it isn't as waterproof as I expected. Living in the Northwest makes moisture protection a must, and a sales assistant assured me this jacket would do the trick. In short: it definitely doesn't. Water soaks right through it, and it doesn't dry very quickly.

This jacket is great as long as you aren't relying on it to keep you dry. It's best for wind protection and very light rain. GREAT for layering because it keeps a feminine shape despite bulky layers.

Comments about REI Taku Jacket - Women's:

I love this jacket! I've had mine for over a year and use it daily during the winter and on windy trips. It blocks even the worst rain and wind, and I've had my fair share of bad weather to hike in. My only complaint is that for a petite (5'0) woman, the jacket can feel a little bulky and baggy on my frame. For average - tall women this wouldn't be a problem.

Comments about REI Taku Jacket - Women's:

I purchased this jacket for my wife a year ago and it delivered as advertised. She stayed dry during all our adventures and the jacket was light and packable enough to always take along. She especially liked the fit of the jacket. It has a nice contoured fit unlike a lot of other, more bulky shells but could still be used with a mid-weight fleece. The reason for the 3 star rating is that on a recent trip to the North Shore here in Minnesota she took a mild spill and scraped it across some granite. We thought nothing of it but later noticed the soft shell material in the arm had abraded off in several areas. High durability is something I demand in my equipment. So, I'd say it's a good jacket for general use or on the slopes, but it does have to be babied a bit. I don't think I would recomend this to a friend because I think a more durable jacket could be found for a few more dollars.

Comments about REI Taku Jacket - Women's:

When 80 of us went to Israel in March 2007, none of us had a clue about the weather. At the top of the Golan Heights, it snowed! Everyone was freezing, EXCEPT ME! I had my REI Taku jacket over some lightweight layers of clothing. I stayed warm and dry and had a blast! I thank God for the REI Taku jacket.

Comments about REI Taku Jacket - Women's:

Taken Biking - Did the job with the wind and just kept pit zips open. In drisly rain- stayed dry. It's light weight, not the lightest but enough for most stuff.
Use as everyday shell, Hiking, Cubcamp, Camping, Outdoor events, hiking some more, everyday around town, biking... wev'e not goten out as much as normal this year.
It seem that it would be great for backpacking and sailing as well. Mild rec. kayaking maybe- have a nice Kaykaying jacket but it can get too hot when the its sunny where as this has the pit zips, but I would think water would run up the sleeves- maybe not. Excited to try in for skiing come winter, perticularly cross-country. It has a nice feminine fit. Really nice to show the world I have a waste after 4 kidos. Oh and its quiet- many of the newer faberics are quiet but the strech is great and it really is quiter that the average. Have the Taku hat too and its great.

Not-So-Greats
I tend to get cold easyly and this has been a cool wet summer in AK - purchased some light weight gloves to keep in the pockets at all times as there is no warming up hands in the pockets for me because the mesh pocket lets the wind in. -Makes it better for warmer weather I'm sure. I keep acitentally opening the pit zip instead of the poctet in a hurry. I'm not wild about the teal green (seems a bit 80's) but it is a happy color green and I can't take one more black jacket. I love that it fits so well and around the waist is so flattering, but it does not cover any of your butt so its not safe to sit on somthing wet.

Oh and I where the XS at 5'4" - fits nicly