Arc'teryx Epsilon AR Jacket

Summary

Excellent, highly breathable mid-layer, or cool weather outer! Very water resistant, very abrasion resistant. Comfortable fit

Men's M fits great, 5'10"/160lbs.

This jacket fits very slim, but a medium is perfect for 5'10"/165lbs. I've worn this on top of an 800 fill down jacket, and it's not too tight! The sleeves may be a little long for some, the additional panel by the wrist sits very naturally. The jacket is pretty simple, one waist bungee, two hand pockets, and a flat pocket at the upper left shoulder.

I've never been caught in a downpour with just this coat, however water beads up quite well, still after 2+ years and multiple washings with no treatment. A big plus is the breathability; using this layer between an eVent shell and a base layer is perfect without bulk. I've had it close to soaked with sweat, and it will dry out quickly. The jacket inner has a soft, waffle design that does a good job getting moisture away from your skin. Worn alone, you'll keep warm well into cool weather, but this all really has to do with how well you put together your layering system. 

One of my favorite attributes is just how tough this coat is. After 2+ years of regular wear and many backpacking trips, no rips or tears to report. I fully expect this jacket to be a major component in my system for years to come.

If you know what you are getting this is a great jacket. Excellent quality. My complaint would have to be that it does not fit as I expected. I ordered a small and was expecting a trim atheltic fit. It does have an athletic cut, just not an athletic fit on my body, it fits too loosely. Some of the other Arc'teryx jackets fit more snug in a small.

The good, this jacket has excellent water repellency, moderate wind protection, and superb breathability. However it has no insulating layers, and if you are looking for something to keep you warm when you are not doing aerobic exercise, or something to cut high winds, I would look elsewhere.

Works great for aerobic exercise, with a baselayer in 20-30 degrees. My intended purpose of this jacket was for cycling. It bunches up a bit in the front when bent over, and fits a bit to loose. For most other activities it likely is great.

This jacket suffers from poor fit. I have the spring '06 edition and I cannot believe how terrible it is on my body.

As a piece of hardware, I have not actually tried it on the field. My impressions of its build and details are quite high but there are significant flaws that stop it from being desirable.

Pros:
Beautiful finish (a very matte laminate)
Flat seams
Padded collar with a chin guard
Wrist openings with fabric going around the thumb
Laminated pockets (!)

Cons:
Disgusting fit for a small
Lack of handwarmer pockets
Loosened collar (though it's nice for venting)
No pit-zips

Due to a poor fit, I will not recommend this jacket. Though they state an athletic, cut fit, I found this jacket to be baggy and almost one size too large than stated.

Awesome lightweight jacket. This is the first softshell I have bought and I am hooked. Lightweight, durable, snazzy look. Fits true, I am 5'11" with an athletic build and the large fits perfectly. Endured a heavy, wet snow around 0 in MI and wasn't cold or wet once. I love it, I am now an Arc'teryx buyer for life.