Nice jacket so far. I'm 5'9", 175, and I tried the version without the hood initially, in a Large, and it was really snug.

Sent it back, and picked up an XL with the hood. Overall it fits much better, however its still tight across my back.

And, I'm not sure this jacket will fit real well over all my other layers, say, at the top of a skin when I stop for a bite to eat and I pull out my down/synthetic jacket to keep from freezin. I know this is a "sweater" but I'm gonna give it a try on my next tour. We'll see.

The drawstrings are pretty thin. Almost an after thought.

Finally, it would be nice to have an internal "stuff-sack" type of pocket, or a little stuff sack included.

Still, I'm psyched on the jacket!!

That's right: if you buy this shirt, you'll have a big problem on your hands. After only one or two days in this shirt, you'll realize all of your synthetic tops are lame and stinky. You'll have to find some poor "friend" to give you quiver of tops that can be replaced by this one shirt.

Case in point: I did a ~2 week roadtrip last winter, throughout SW MT, we skied, lots, even played a few games of pond hockey in Paradise Valley. I wore this shirt EVERY SINGLE day, and only at the end of the trip did it start to hold the smallest of odor. After 14 days straight. The shirt is very warm, the wicking action is as legendary as other Smartwool products.

I LOVE this shirt. If there is a single downside, it's that it's a bit warm for really aerobic days. That brings up another problem: you'll end up using all thoose lame mid-weight layers and vest and such even less as well.

I'm 5'9", 175, athletic, and the LARGE is perfect for me. A bit long in the back, but that's great when you bend over- it stays tucked in.

Bottom Line: BUY IT, but be aware of the "problems" you'll inherit.

If you’ve ever dreamed of finding freedom skiing in the backcountry hills, but you don’t have tons of cash ready to burn, the Alpine Trekker may be your ticket to freedom. At ~$180, these things are a ton cheaper than any of the AT bindings on the market. Plus you get to keep your current pair of alpine skis, boots and bindings, and in the backcountry, these are invaluable contributions in your quest for freedom