Outdoor Research Men's Transfer Softshell Jacket

April 13, 2012

Purchased this softshell as a bridge between my down thermal jacket and my light fleece for the weather up in the Pacific NW. The quality of the product is what you would expect from OR. Stitching is tight and seams are placed in the proper places to avoid pack obstruction. The material is rugged and so far has withstood a few weeend hikes with packs without any issue. The interior is soft and built for layering but is warm nevertheless with just a baselayer. I would prefer vent zips to cool off without having to take the jacket off but it's something I can manage. With regards to water resistance, it sheds a few light sprinkle challenges from the Seattle weather and after a few uses, I've had to apply a water barrier to maintain the resistance, which is not really a big issue as this is not my primary rain jacket. In terms of fit, I am 5'10" and weigh 165lbs and the medium fit well but the sleeves ran about an inch longer than what I was expecting from my other jackets. Overall, I am extremely pleased with the product and will have no reservations ordering another product from OR.

January 26, 2012

The jacket seems like a great jacket, but it was sized a bit small for me. I'm 5'9" with a 44" chest, normally take a large in all of my jackets, but this fit too tight around the chest for me to be able to fit any layers underneath. An XL would have led to the sleeves being too long. If you have the right dimensions, this jacket seems like a sweet jacket. My boss swears by this jacket and has used it extensively in his mountaineering trips into the Alps.