There is no doubt that this shell works as advertised breathability-wise, and at keeping out the wind and wet.

The fit, however, is funky. The back collar sits pretty high, and the neck is really tight ... there is no way to keep this zipped up fully with the hood down unless you're a chinless wonder. The neck is either covering your mouth so tightly that glasses or goggles instantly fog, or you've got everything pushed down below the chin and back of your skull where it bunches up.

Bottom line ... below the neck, I love it. from the neck up, I'm less than thrilled, which is a bummer since I met the designer after the jacket was ordered, but before it was received.

I'm giving 4 stars instead of just 3, because it's a great concept, just needs some refinement on fit.

After 3 years of skiing in what I didn't previously realize was a poorly fitting boot, this past fall I decided to go to a professional bootfitter in Salt Lake City. After going through about 15 different boots, this was the boot that had the best all-around fit; made even better by the custom orthotics.

But that's not what this review is about.

I've tried a few different boots, both as rentals and owned, and this is by far the best boot that I've ever worn. Unlike the previous reviewer, I don't find that I tire more easily in this boot, despite being significantly stiffer than my old boots; in fact, the stiffness gives me more control, and thus I'm not fighting the boot itself, allowing me to ski longer and harder before I start to fade.

When I worked in bike shops throughout the 1990s, we had saying ... either you ride Sidi, or you WILL ride Sidi. At that time I never met anyone who switched from Sidi to another brand of shoe.

This is especially true of my own experience. I've been riding Sidi since the original Genius model; and currently ride the Sidi Genius 5.5 Mega Mesh. Every time I wear out a pair of shoes, I try various models, and always end up back in a new, upgraded pair of Sidis.

As far as I'm concerned, Sidi can do no wrong.

This softshell has kept me warm and dry whilst working at cyclocross races, snowshoeing and for spring skiing for the past two seasons.

The lack of a powder skirt makes it a bit less than ideal for skiing, but that's not how it was designed or how it's being marketed.

I dig it enough to have bought two ... at full retail.