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Review on πŸŒͺ️ Columbia Women's Switchback III Jacket: A Perfect Blend of Style and Functionality by Rick Everett

Revainrating 5 out of 5

A+ Waterproof Windbreaker Ultra Packable

For sizing, I have a 36" bust and a 29.5" waist. I bought a small green one in August 2020. I needed a packable sleeve for my hiking bag. Fits perfectly around my waist. A little baggy around the chest, but still very pretty. I feel the sleeves are a bit longer but with velcro it looks nice. In November 2020 I bought a medium moon gray to use on my daily power walks. The color is more lavender than grey. It's slightly larger than small and offers enough space for a thick layer of fleece jacket underneath. Reviews helped me with the purchase so I want to share my experience as I think it would be helpful. I've seen testimonials from people who got wet after wearing a jacket in the rain, so I'm sharing my experience too. While I'm wearing the jacket, the foldable hood opens very easily and rolls back just as easily. in the collar. Our northern New England winter has already started so I was able to test it as a windbreaker. I managed it in 14 degree wind with a thin base layer and a thick fleece under this jacket and was warm enough. I do get a bit overheated halfway through, but opening up the pockets (those are its "vents") and the main zippers really help me stay cool. A warning! Because it retains body heat so well, it also retains moisture! I have a photo of the inside of the jacket after a walk. Needless to say, this is not a Gore-Tex breathable jacket, so that's to be expected. When I tried on the first jacket in the summer, it stuck to my bare skin. So if you live in a warmer climate, this feature can be annoying. pouring rain a few times and coming home dry unless I'm sweating. Rainwater just drips onto the jacket. Since it soaks my sweat inside, I decided to do a shower test to make sure it's waterproof. After showering my arm for about 5 minutes you can see the inside of my sleeve is really dry. This jacket packs very small. There is a double zipper in one of the hand pockets. Turn this pocket inside out and tuck the body of the jacket into the pocket/pouch. The zippers are closed. You can search the web for a video showing this, but it's very easy and quick to do. The packed size is 5 inches x 9 inches wide and is only 2.5 cm thick.

Pros
  • Constant Test Results
Cons
  • Could have chosen a newer style