Arc'teryx  Alpha SV Jacket - Women's

I use this coat for wet, winter activities as an outer layer, as well as all year long. The neck opening is too large for me, and will funnel in air when I am skiing fast. Could not figure out a good adjustion for this, and have to return. Camillia color is a great color, I would call it rasperry, darker than in the picture, dark enough to not show dirt and light enough to be pretty. Someone else will get real lucky, as I don't think there are any left in this color.

I got this jacket after doing an extensive research on women's jackets on-line. I checked forums, I also asked around my mountaineering friends and they all agreed that Arcteryx is the best choice for my kind of lifestyle. I climb a lot and I do a lot of mountaineering in harsh weather. I had North Face and Mountain Hardwear shells before, and while they kept me dry for the first couple of hours, they would start to let the rain in if I was out in the rain long enough. Today I put my new Arcteryx to the test - I went for a long conditioning hike in the rain and when I got to the summit it got really windy. It kept me dry and very comfortable in high winds for the whole time. The only downside is that it's a little loud, but it's totally not an issue for me. It's pricey, but I think it's totally worth it, plus it has a lifetime warranty, which helped me in making the decision. Fits great and I love the fact that it stays in place when I raise my arms. There's plenty of room for base layers (I wore my puffy underneath it). The front packets were a little awkward at first (they are higher then usual and are sewn so you can reach over with your opposite hand), but once I got used to them I started to like the idea. If you are looking for the ultimate jacket to keep you dry and comfortable during those long, rainy, windy climbs/hikes this is a jacket for you.

I bought this jacket for a summer traverse of the Juneau Icefield in 2007, and even after years of such abuse it is still in remarkable condition, and manages to keep me warm and dry every time I break it out. It is the mother of all hard shells. I have been in torrential downpours, and stayed COMPLETELY dry...this is because of Arc'teryx's attention to every little detail, which makes the silly high price worth it. There are velcro closures around the wrists, so that you can cinch the sleeves around your gloves and keep rain from getting in, even while using trekking or ski poles. The hood has a great stiff visor, which allows rain to run off of your hood without getting on your face. The hood also has a great system of cords so that you can adjust it snugly against your head, around a helmet, and under extreme weather conditions you can even cinch it around your face so that only your eyes are exposed. I'm not sure how much more clear I can be that if you want a hard shell that will give you fantastic protection against rain and wind, this is the one. It even has a nice fit, so that even in your full mountaineering regalia, you retain a feminine shape. Of course, because this jacket is intended for wearing with a pack, the only pockets are on the chest, which while voluminous (I can fit my fairly bulky camera in there, as well as snacks, skins, whatever), do not give you somewhere to shove your hands while taking a rest break. Buy this jacket, you'll be so happy you did!