This is a simply fantastic piece of gear. Not only is it almost magically breathable, weather-resistant, lightweight, and non-restrictive, but it looks great, too. When I go hiking or backpacking in any season but summer, it's pretty much always on. I keep a fleece around for extra warmth if I need it, and a hardshell in case the weather gets really nasty, but they tend to stay in my pack.

However, despite my undying love, there are some caveats to consider before you drop more than three bills on this wonderful, wonderful jacket.

First off, it fits very close. If you're carrying more than a few extra pounds, it's probably not for you. I've got a slightly, uh, "stocky" build (5'10", 165 lbs, 34" waist), and I'm right at the edge of it looking good on me. If you've got a belly, it's going to look ridiculous, sorry.

The close fit also means that layering insulation underneath it can be annoying. Arc'teryx uses a pretty unique cut, that's great for the athletic body type, but also a lot more form-fitting than even other gear manufacturers. Stuff that doesn't fit close is going to bunch up. It's not a fatal flaw, and living with it isn't as bad as you might think, but it's worth considering. You may want to try to find an outdoor retailer near you who at least carries some Arc' products, so you can get an idea of how their stuff fits.

Finally, it's short in the front. Very short - I've got a medium Gamma MX, and a medium American Apparel t-shirt pokes out of the bottom a bit in front. It comes to maybe an inch below my beltline. This is great in terms of keeping maximum freedom for your legs when you're out in the wild, but if you're looking for a casual jacket, it's worth keeping in mind. It does tend to make you look a lot taller (woohoo!) but if you want to wear it with casual clothes you're probably going to need to tuck things in so they don't look ridiculous.

As far as weather resistance is concerned, you should know that, while it's good, it's no Pro Shell hardshell. Wind goes through a little bit, and while I was comfortable yesterday with just a base layer and the jacket in 30 mph steady winds with maybe 50 mph gusts, I wouldn't want to be without something totally windproof in my pack just in case. Similarly, while it's more than capable of shedding light rain and surprisingly comfortable even when things get wet, I wouldn't want to get caught in a downpour without something actually waterproof. This is a supremely breathable and comfortable jacket for 90% of conditions, but you should know about that 10% it can't handle.

Despite all that, though, it's incredible, and amazingly, worth every cent. Buy it; it'll cost you a pretty penny, but it's great nonetheless.

It's the nicest acrylic hat I've ever owned. Super soft, nice and warm, light weight, stands up to the wind pretty well, plenty of stretch so it covers my ears well, good quality construction, and it looks as good as any beanie's ever going to look on me. It's folded over on the inside, so your ears get the hidden headband treatment to keep them toasty. The logo's nice and subdued, which is great compared to the rather in-your-face "HEY, I'M WEARING ARC'TERYX!" of the Bird Head. They make great stuff, but they can buy their own billboards, thanks. Oh, and it's made in Canada, too.

Unfortunately, well, it's still an acrylic beanie. Arc'teryx's strength is in stuff like jackets and pants, where they can work their magic with the cut and fit. Hats don't have quite the same requirements for fit - it just needs to be sorta cone shaped and fit over your head. Lots of other manufacturers make similarly nice stuff for less than full price on this one. If it pops up on sale, go for it; it's a fantastic hat. The price is just a bit high.