Review on Columbia Whirlibird Interchange Jacket Medium by Jake Mccallum

I was in dire need of a winter coat and finally settled on the Whirlibird III after trying several models and brands in the store. As usual the price of Revain was way better than retail so I bought it at a great price. I love Columbia clothing and have had several coats and hats over the years. This coat is everything I was looking for and well worth it. Columbia really pays attention to detail with this coat. It sounds a little silly, but everything is exactly where it should be. Buttons, straps, vent pockets and Velcro are where you need them and out of the way. There are just enough pockets for keys, gloves, phone or wallet. There's also extra fleece material around the collar so the zipper doesn't scratch your face when you're all buttoned up. It sounds trivial, but when I put my other (read: cheaper) coat on, I realize how poorly made it was and really appreciate how good and comfortable the Whirlibird is. The zipper also serves for heavy applications. I haven't had any problems with peeling or wearing out of the insulating lining material like other reviewers have had so far. But I don't wear a coat for heavy work outside the home like clearing snow or hiking. I could see the material being an issue if you sweat a lot or wear your coat very heavily in sleet or rain, but I haven't had any issues. Strangely, the hood is very thin. I'm always confused about hoods, I love them but I usually take them off in the middle of winter because they start to bother me and get in the way of a backpack or other hoodie underneath. The hood consists only of a thin shell material and does not let snow or rain through, but does not warm the head particularly well. On cold days you still need a hat. It has an adjustable strap and laces, which is very convenient. I think it's up to you to decide how much you need or need a hood. The only negative thing I have to say is that the coat is a bit tight in the arms and shoulders. Not sure if it's because the lining is in the shell or something, but with a heavy sweater underneath it can be a little restrictive. Shoulder sleeves are very narrow. I bought the large size as I wear large for almost everything else. I didn't want to go up to a very large size and be too baggy. So keep in mind that if you need this coat for a lot of outdoor exercise, it might be worth buying a larger size for more freedom of movement. I can't wait for him to warm up a bit so I can just slip on the cover or lining separately and take full advantage of the versatile 3-in-1 combination. It's a great coat and I'm happy with my purchase.