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kalamighty (shadow hills, CA)
best
This is an amazing jacket. we had a rough start: the collar cut into my chin, the elbow pads felt misplaced and limiting, and the number of zippers/ snaps/ velcros just to get the thing closed seemed unnecessary and a nuisance. Thank goodness I let it grow on me. It has become my home-away-from-home. There's plenty of room for a sweater underneath, but I put it on over a light jacket to play in Wisconsin snow for a few hours and felt warm and cozy the whole time. The removable liner is the best, allowing me to still wear the jacket in mild weather. my bike's been in the shop way too long so I haven't done enough riding in it, but from the riding I did I was amazed that no wind got through.
The elbows either broke in nice or I got used to them, because they don't bother me anymore. I can't zip-and-button the thing all the way up because it runs into my chin, but it still gives adequate cover, and I can still secure the storm collar, which is especially awesome and works ok with a helmet. And to close the thing you only really need to do up the main zipper, everything else is optional.
The jacket is slightly too long and flares too much at the hips, but these are forgivable. (if you want to minimize bulk and don't care for layering, you might want to try a size down.) I get complimented on it everywhere I go. This is the A#1 jacket in my opinion, I wouldn't want any other.
