[polecatjoe]

Last weekend I was out spending birthday gift certificates (how personal and thoughtful ), and on impulse bought a jacket made of this material. I don't know much about the fabric, but it sounds good. My intention is to use it as a top layer for X-C, snowshoeing, or cold-weather hikes when it isn't pouring rain but might encounter a shower or two. Anyone have any experience with this stuff? How did it perform- pros and cons?

[chucku]

This is a very tough, highly breathable, but not very waterproof fabric. I've had a pair of shorty gaiters made from it without the 3xdry treatment and have been very happy with them. They have stood up well and even when they wet through, they have kept my boots dry. I recently bought a Cloudveil Serendipity jacket at MEC in Vancouver ($180 Canadian) primarily for skiing and snowshoeing. Haven't used it for those purposes yet but it has kept me very comfortable in some pretty miserable conditions on soccer sidelines (with fleece underneath). Although the jacket will wet out in sustained rain, the fleece beneath remained dry.

[polecatjoe]

Thanks for the info, chucku! I've been trying the jacket out and it seems to perform as you describe. Seems like it will work about perfect for my intended purpose.

[polecatjoe]

Update- I have now used the jacket in everything short of a monsoon and have found it to be . The outer layer gets wet, but inside is nice and dry.