Outdoor Research Men's Axcess Jacket

Well-Ballanced Light Insulated GTX Jacket
December 19, 2011

For those who appreciate the versatility of a shell jacket without insulation but don't like the the feel of the plain bare-bones inside, this jacket will fit your needs. Unless it's summer I'm always putting something on underneath if I go with an uninsulated shell. The Axcess gives me just enough insulation that the piece can function without doing this all the time--no less on the mountain and no less when I"m hitting the downhill. When I'm doing something higher output I'm not weighed down as I am with the bulkier full-insulated jackets; the insulation is there but it doesn't physically seem like it, yet it keeps you warm. This jacket breathes as well as any GTX shell and the Axcess really doesn't feel like you are carrying around a lot of weight. I own a GTX Pro shell jacket that is very stiff and somewhat less than comfortable. The OR Axcess with GTX Performance is going to feel a bit softer and flexible with great waterproof/breathable characteristics. Plus this jacket isn't short on features as are a lot of Arcteryx "minimalist" shells/jackets. You need pockets and there are plenty of them, especially for backcountry or inbound use. I love zip off hoods and this makes this jacket so much more functional. Zip off the hood and you've got your light to midweight jacket for running around town or the mountain.

Perfect jacket!!
December 12, 2011

highly recommend this jacket. stoic makes some great quality gear and this jacket is really nice. high quality design, fits wells, and really warm ... not too warm though, just enough to only wear a light layer underneath

Just what the doctor ordered
December 05, 2011

This jacket is very ncicely put together .I only saw the video and was concerned about the fit I coudn't be happier it fits like a glove. The cross flow vents are definetly better than pit zips and easier to get to. Its a real value considering you get a powder skirt,plenty of big pockets, helmet compatable hood,Recco, and even a balaclava. I usually just use a shell but the insulation in this jackets seems just about perfect since I have a pretty good layering scheme. I got the True Blue color and I have to say this is a great looking jacket and the material has a very nice feel not at all stiff like some other competitors. This will be replacing a mountain hardware gore tex soft shell and I think outdoor research nailed it with this jacket.

Nice jacket for all conditions
June 21, 2011

Just got the jacket, and upon initial inspection, its a great deal. The gore-tex outer shell isn't overly hard, and it is a quiet jacket. Instead of pit-zips, OR uses a pair of large chest zippers to vent heat for the Axcess, and IMHO this approach is much easier to operate, especially when wearing gloves. Additionally, the two zippers also acts as a secondary entrance point to the 2 large internal pockets - you don't need to open the main center zipper to get to things stored inside anymore, brilliant! One of the selling point of this jacket is the integrated balaclava. This is stored in a pouch inside the jacket to the back, and is connected to the jacket via a zipper when not in use. Its cute, but not overly useful. The hood is not detachable and can be customized for fit, again, nice - but not great. And that's the overall impression of this jacket, for a full Gore-Tex jacket, its reasonably priced, functional, fits well, and have some thoughtful features.

Not bad
February 14, 2011

I bought this Jacket for convenience around town since managing the layering under my OR Mentor can become complicated while going to the store or when I am in a hurry. I really like the internal balaclava which zips out so that it can be washed without having to wash the entire jacket. It feels less breathable than my usual combination of the Mentor with the OR Camber underneath, but in all fairness, the Axcess is less expensive overall and has synthetic insulation. I usually walk briskly when I am outside in the cold, so this jacket is almost always enough where I live; however, if I was to stand still outside at temperatures under 10 degrees Fahrenheit, I would probably be too cold. The plastic piece which holds the front left hood adjustment cord from pulling through the grommet on the hood came undone while I was adjusting the hood. Luckily its design was such that I could reattach it without much effort and in a way that it should not come undone again. If you don't want to spend a lot of money on layering and a good hard shell, you might consider this jacket as it can accommodate a pretty wide variety of conditions.

Great jacket
January 16, 2011

I shopped around and looked at a number of jackets. Could not be happier with this what I got. Warm, waterproof, and with the built in balaclava, it nice to be able to pull it out when needed. I also really like the front zip vents, which is are way more user friendly than the old pit zips. I purchased the black jacket because it was on sale, but I like the brown a lot.

Great jacket
December 05, 2010

Bought this jacket for my son. He loves this jacket.Says it is one of the most versatile jackets found. The fabric keeps him warm and dry without being bulky. The front venting zippers are easier to use than pit zips. Great cross air venting. He especially likes the balaclava that stored in a hidden zipped compartment. Like this jacket so much I bought my other son the same jacket for Christmas. Highly recommended.

Best Ski Shell I have owned!
September 22, 2010

I love this jacket. It is the perfect weight, not too heavy for warmer days and not too light, easy to layer underneath and plenty of venting. Everything you need and nothing you don't!