Black Diamond Equipment - Men's Stretch Rain Shell - Black - Medium

This jacket is great. It's now going to be my go-to for backpacking on the Appalachian Trail or Rocky Mountains when temps are not low enough to warrant a heavier lined jacket. I took it for a test run this past weekend in the Smokey Mountains, where temps fluctuated between 30 and 61 degrees and steady rainfall feel during long portions of one day in particular. The jacket kept me completely dry. It was also light enough to backpack with it on and one t-shirt underneath. The armpit vents helped kept me from overheating or gathering moisture as I hiked. The material also kept the cold sub-30 degree strong winds from getting to me as well. It was slim enough to not interfere with movement (I hate bulky jackets or clothing), and yet roomy enough to allow for me to add several layers underneath when temps were low. That said, if I would have stayed in the cold for longer periods of time without hiking or doing exercise, I believe I would have started to get cold. For colder temps and comfort, I go with my Columbia Men's Last Tracks Jacket. That jacket has been stellar for me in the single digit to freezing temp, snowy, ice-rain weather. The jacket has velcro on the end of the sleeves which is great at keeping the rain and wind out. It's hood is also very well designed in combination with how far up the zipper goes to create a nice barrier for your head and face. It's got like some sort of plastic wire in the cap of the hood, which I found helpful for keeping rain off my face... it was like the bill of a baseball hat. I like the zippered water proof pockets too. I also appreciated that the branding is low key and is not obnoxious like other brands. The string on the bottom of the jacket is good also, because it can be pulled to cinch the jacket and keep the wind from getting underneath and onto your core. I'm the kind of shopper who will spend a little extra money for a product (especially a useful one) if the product is well made and is of excellent quality. This jacket was worth the $$$ and I'd highly recommend. As far as sizing goes... I'm a fit 6' tall, 170-175 lbs, so I went with a medium. It was an ideal fit for me.

Black Diamond never lets me down