Black Diamond  First Light Stretch Insulated Hoodie - Women's

I've used Black Diamond hiking poles before and have always loved their durability. This jacket was my first foray into Black Diamond clothing. The jacket is a beautiful green color (have gotten many compliments on it so far!). It's so light and soft, yet is very warm. I love that it's packable as well. I got a Medium size and it's true to size with enough room to wear a sweater underneath. I also love that it has the darts on the back so it gives a nice curve and isn't boxy. There's also a neat zipped pocket at the chest for small essentials like keys or cash. Overall, I'm very impressed with this jacket and will be keeping an eye out for more Black Diamond clothing gear to add to my wardrobe.

This fit of this jacket is AMAZING. I think I tried on just about every other synthetic puffy that REI sells and this is THE ONE for anyone with wider shoulders and a narrower waist. HOWEVER - after about 6 months, the fabric has started pilling terribly in the armpit area where arms naturally rub, and lightly where my crossbody strap lays. For the price of this jacket, I should absolutely not be dealing with pilling six months in (and I only wear this jacket a few times a week to run errands, not for any extensive periods of time). I will probably end up returning due to the pilling and hope Black Diamond fixes the issue with next season's models.

To start, this jacket struck me for its functionality. I usually look to men's gear for functionality but struggle with fit, but this jacket has a nice combination of both. From a day out with the family to chilling on the crag or hiking in the backcountry, this jacket can "hang" for the gal on the go. I'm tall (5'11") and layer my outdoor gear, so I usually size up. A medium (my standard size) would fit, but I found the large to be perfect as it had long enough sleeves and I can easily accommodate 2-3 layers beneath if needed. The jacket was tapered and fit well though, so it was not billowy and remained long enough to reach past my hips for full coverage. It has 3 functional pockets that could hold my phone (Amazing! Ladies know the plight of decorative pockets), and it had a decent amount of warmth and water resistance. I wore it out during a few storms ranging from light to medium rain and it held up well, keeping me dry and not soaking up water for at least 15-30 minutes of elemental exposure. I wouldn't sub this for a rain jacket by any stretch, but its initial water resistance was solid. The warmth is better than several other women's jackets I've tried out from comparable brands. BD did right by this design, which was a pleasant surprise for me. This is something I could use both in a day-to-day fashion or while mucking about in the woods. I will continue to wear the jacket in order to find out more of its strengths/limits, but there's only one design flaw currently that I can find. The cinch loop is only on one side (left), so while it adjusts well, if you cinch the jacket down the loop gets very long and is difficult to tuck. As a result, it will snag on items like door handles, bushes, etc.

This jacket is lightweight and soft both on the outside and in the lining, and the pocket linings are warm and soft. It doesn’t feel bulky, yet it keeps me warm on chilly hikes without being overly sweaty (it’s breathable). Although this jacket is fitted, there is good freedom of movement, which is really important to me. I do not like to exercise in tight jackets! The zipper works well and never sticks, and this is often a source of frustration for me with some of my other jackets. It’s got a nice chest pocket for storing things. I wore this on a windy hike and also in light rain, and it performed well in both situations, keeping me warm and dry but not overly hot. I normally prefer black jackets but this green color is nice, especially with the black lining. Since the sleeves are a tad long for me, when I roll them up a bit, the black looks good (I don’t have to roll them up, but I do sometimes).

Finally…a jacket for women with long enough sleeves! I am 5’8” and have always struggled to find jackets with sleeves that don’t leave my forearms/wrists bare and cold when moving/climbing/working. This not only covers my arms well but also is long enough not to creep up in the back. While the color isn’t one I’d normally choose (think lentil green) everything else about it makes up for the shade. It’s a fantastic transition season jacket—breathable, yet cozy even when temps drop into the 30s. I love that there is great mobility and I don’t feel like any part of the jacket is stiff or tight. I can wear a heavy wool sweater underneath (see photo) in the 20s and it felt just as comfortable as wearing only a light layer in 50 degree weather. The pockets are generous and functional, and the hood cinch is a nice feature. It also is very quiet, unlike some of my other jackets—no annoying swishing sound when hiking!

Just purchased this for backpacking trips in the Himalayas and I am super stoked. It is very lightweight and packs down small which is awesome for keeping my pack light and streamlined. At the same time, it does an impressive job keeping you warm considering how small it is. I'm 5'6" and 145 lbs and I got a medium so that I could wear a fleece underneath.

Bought one of these about 6 years ago. Wore it on every trip, and just recently the zipper broke. So I had to buy a new one and I’m still just as happy with it. Super comfy, moves with me. Flattering shape. I also have thicker shoulders from climbing and the xs isn’t too tight. Fits perfect, whereas other companies I have to size up to a S.

I’m 5’9” 150 athletic build. The sleeves and jacket in general are just barely long enough. Warm per weight and a softer lining than I was expecting. So far so good!

Lightweight, warm, compressible mid layer to take everywhere. Fits like it should; not too tight on the lats and sleeves actually are the correct length.

Incredibly light and genuinely stretchy. The ice blue color is lovely. My usual size is M. I surprisingly had to go down to a small: perfect.