This is a really great jacket. It breathes well, wicks moisture, insulates, sheds all but a sustained downpour, and more... I take it with me whenever the temps are at or below 70 degrees. I use it alone (~60 deg), with a mw capilene top (~45 deg), or with a light 100-wt fleece (~30 deg). It is a close to perfect ultralight shell for every condition except intense rain, but who really does much in intense rain anyway?

There are others just like it, the Marmot DriClime Omni jacket, the Moonstone Profusion jacket, the EMS Windshear jacket, and I think there is one other. Only the Zephur has a ripstop shell fabric (a big plus).

For the 3-season ultralight/lighweight backpacker, you can't go wrong with this, a mw polypro top, and one of those insulated vests (Patagonia Puffball, Marmot Trango, Moonstone Cirrus). For a fouth season, add a fleece. In intense rain, use an umbrella or keep moving and let your body heat dry from the inside (remember the breathability) while SOME precipitation gets through from the outside.

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none, but I picked this over all the ones mentioned above for its ripstop fabric, lighter weight, and encapsil technology - where the fibers are coated, not the jacket itself = better breathability.

This is the sort of garment you don't realise you need until you've actually got one. Probably the most frequently-used item in my outdoor wardrobe, it's a highly windproof, low insulation jacket that bridges the gap on those days when it's too cold for just a base layer, but not cold enough to justify a fleece. In practice, this means most mountain activities where you're not standing still.

The fleecy inner makes it comfortable enough to wear as a base layer, and the smooth outer allows other garments to slip easily on top. The long, slim cut and high zips make it ideal for wearing with a harness. There's a small collar which can be turned up to keep the wind off your neck. It's not waterproof, but then it's a good deal more breathable than shells which are. Its light weight and tiny volume make it easy to pack.

For me, this is an essential item with no direct competitors at present.

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Hey, this is a good addition to your pack. I use the jacket both as an intermediate layer or an outer layer as conditions warrant, from Sierra snowstorms to desert backpacks. The intermediate layer use is over long underwear and maybe a 100 weight fleece shirt, covered with a goretex shell. Zip or unzip everything to regulate heat. I have used this combo in ski mountaineering snowstorms to 20 degrees.

It is very light, very compressible, no frills. The only improvement would be the addition of a hood.