If you are looking for the crappiest climbing jacket design ever, go with Sierra Designs PeakBagger. Seriously, are they the first guys ever to come up with the idea of pockets in a climbing jacket? No?? So why on earth are the hand pockets placed exactly, perfectly, ideally right where the harness belt is? And what's the deal with those pockets being "zippered ventilating"?? Like, it got a little hot, let me just open those pockets... Oops, hey, where did all my stuff go? BTW, the zipper on those pockets is from top to bottom, which makes it absolutely impossible to close them when the jacket is tucked underneath the harness. And if you think the chest pocket will work, you are right, it will - as a Pez dispenser. The ingenuous design ensures that the bottom part of the really deep chest pocket gets squeezed by the harness belt too. So the moment you open it, the built-in spring action conveniently throws the contents right in your face. I used the jacket during my trip to Peru this summer. Within a single day, I dropped my radio twice (it miraculously landed on my feet both times) and my camera with a nearly completed roll of film (landed some 700 ft below me according to the topo) - all three times they just slipped out of various pockets. Needless to say, I was rather frustrated - I never dropped a thing from the HellyHansen jacket I used for the previous four years. P.S. If you think this does not matter to you since you are just hiking and don't use a harness, all of the above will apply to you backpack hipbelt.

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HellyHansen (don't remember the model name) - worked great for nearly four years and was going strong when I ruined it while digging a cave for a cold bivy...

I got this jacket specifically for a mountaineering trip in Colorado in March - I wanted it to challenge all those who wrote it off as a 3-season wind jacket. As some of you may know, the Colorado area had its biggest blizzard in 90 years. Well, I was there in my Peak Bagger XV. I want to address 2 criteria - toughness and waterproofness. Regarding toughness - my team encountered extremely heavy bushwhacking - I got caught on more branches than I could count as we navigated the steep gulleys. I also carried a couple of pickets tied to my pack, and despite intermittent jabbing from all sides, this jacket held through as strong as any. So just because the material feels soft and silky (which it does), it doesn't mean that it can't withstand some abuse. Now for waterproofness - I mentioned the blizzard, which poured snow on us for several days straight. Since we were doing some heavy trekking, the snow melted and turned to water as soon as it touched me. I'm glad to say that the Peak Bagger is just as waterproof as advertised - and with great breathability sweat wicking to boot. Overall - highly recommended for all 4 seasons and the roughest of activities.

Customer Service

Well, when I first received it, I exchanged it for a different size. While the exchange went smoothly, the CSR did not treat me to the free shipping offer that was mentioned on the webpage that week. So I could have actually saved money by not calling them.

Have the Peak Bagger XV (has pit zips, more pockets, slightly (barely) heavier) and think it's awesome! This jacket is so light weight & breathable, and it stuffs up small enough to make it perfect for high aerobic activities. Have used this jacket for backpacking, canoeing, snowshoeing -- handled all with ease. Been in heavy rain and sleet with strong winds and had no problems. Wouldn't use it for mountaineering or heavy bushwacking, as the fabric is so light I'm afraid it would rip too easily. For those of us heavy perspirers that only need a wp/b coat in downpours, this is ideal to throw in the pack for security. Highly recommend it as a 3-season or winter aerobic wp/b jacket.

Customer Service

Haven't had to deal with Sierra Designs, but Sierra Trading Post is great on returns or exchanges. Jacket has held up well under heavy use, so hopefully I won't need to find out.

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Arc'teryx, Taiga, MEC, Patagucci, Sierra Designs

Nice jacket. It is very light and packs well. The 3-ply laminate seems to work well- I found this jacket much less clammy than the Marmot PreCip jacket I had earlier. Not to mention it looks great. I did have a few problems with mine, however. The seam taping is starting to bubble in a number of places after only 6 months of use and the DWR finish no longer works. I have read that other people have had problems with their Sierra Designs jacket seam tape bubbling as well.

Customer Service

They will fix it for free, but it will take 6-8 weeks despite living in the same city as the factory! Unfortunately, this is my only rain jacket so I guess I'll have to put up with it until the rain lessens. Lifetime guarantee tho...

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Marmot PreCip

Well, I have been carrying an old Helly hanson coated waterproof jacket with me on all summer climbs for some time now. It gives me the sense that if the skys open I'll be dry on the trip down or if I have to sit and wait it out I can at least stay dry. I bought two of them, they stuff into their own sleeves and weigh I guess less than 16 oz. Of course moisture immidiatly builds up in them and they are reallly for emergencies only. so Now I get a WB just as light, same athletic fit, can put it on and actually hick in it for a while if its cold without to much moisture buildup. I love the fit, simplcity etc. It just feels great. I always try on arcteryx and fantasize, but I actually think this feels better on, and moves with me better. And for 69 dollars what can I say. I have mostly stopped wearing WB or pure WP in the winter as I find soft shell/windshirt/combos work most of the time and I dont like carrying two pounds of frozen goretex. This winter it will be between this and my Patagucci Essenshell, not sure yet, but I I know this is the one for summer peaks wear rain is a constant possibility.

Customer Service

nope

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Kichatna for many years, great big jacket, bomber, Lowe alpine some ceramic, dont like the mesh liner,

I bought this jacket to use as a light rain shell. The hood is nice, though I would add a drawcord at the back of the hood instead of Velcro. I sewed on a nylon face shield as, in my opinion, the hood doesn't protect the face enough in high winds. The hood covers a helmet rather easily, but it binds a tiny bit a the limit of my neck's turn, but this is minimal. The stiff brim is nice, as are the no-hand drawstrings. The fit is good, the simple arms are long, but the velcro cuffs don't close as tightly as I would prefer (I plan to sew more velco on to remedy this). The forearm vents work, and if you really need to cool down you can push your arms through the holes. I would prefer a lighter zipper, though, and double storm flaps. The front zipper works but it sometimes snags on the chin guard. Again, I would prefer double flaps. This jacket has too many pockets (as do 99% of the jackets on the market). I hate putting stuff in pockets as it makes me feel like the Pilsbury doughboy-thats what I have a pack for! The vertical chest pocket is nice, but the handwarmer pockets' `waterproof' zippers don't slide easily-the jacket's biggest disadvantage. Finally the hem drawcord ends in the pockets, so it is hard to adjust. The fabric is light-less insulation and durability, but you can't have everything. It breaths plenty for me, but I believe that staying dry has more to do with how much (and what) you wear. If you wear a soft shell most of the time and want a relatively light waterproof jacket as a backup, check out this jacket, especially if it is on sale. My performance rating takes the fact that it is a cheap shell into account-you cannot compare it to a $500 shell-no can do.

Customer Service

Never tried them.

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REI switchback parka-it sucks!

Just an outstanding piece. Look on the market and you will not be able to find anything that fits into the PeakBaggers'' category. Light, waterproof, breathable, packable. Layer it over fleece in the winter or wear it over a base layer in warmer temps. It''s short length makes it ideal for mtn. biking and trail running.

Excellent light WP/BR (purple?)SD PeakBagger jacket!!
Very pleased with the performance-dayhikes, summer bp's, XCski, mtn. bike, even flyfishing; short length good under waders! The 3 lyr. Genisis membrane seems to almost breath better than my more $$ GTX parkas. Nice feel of material - ripstop, not too stiff, articulated arms, large hood with two adjustments, seam taping and workmanship very decent. Waterproofing?
No problems noted in hard rain to sleet, had mine 2yrs. and DWR still has
H2o beading up like fresh waxed car.
All in all very good for uses when a big
moutaineer oriented GTX parka is to heavy and HOT! but you need to tame the windbite and rain/snow.
Did I mention LIGHT - my size lrg. 16oz!!! Packs into fanny pack.
A few cons but minor:
1. no pit zips - not too much prob. since venting can be had by way of mesh back panel opening and mesh hand pockets. 2. some wonder of the short waist length - ok for intended uses, back area is little longer to cover butt (partially anyway). Great for mtn. bike use!!
Overall, highly recommended item.

Customer Service

None yet, happy to say!

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Moonstone GTX parka (excellent)
Marmot (great stuff)
TNF (junk!! never ever again be taken by this fashion junk :-(