First the good. This jacket is very well built. It is very quiet for a rain jacket. Now the bad, which I informed Sitka of via email around a month ago. The brushed face absorbs and wicks water. Which is fine and expected, except this outer fabric curves around the cuff and up into the sleeve (approx. 1.5 inches). Water will naturally drain toward the sleeve via gravity if your arms are downward. In steady rain, a significant amount of water "curls" around the cuff and wicks (capillary action, I suppose) up into the inside of the jacket. When this inner cuff area touches a mid or base layer, then the water continues wicking into these fabrics. Last December I was on stand in a medium rain for a few hours,and when I was done I was wet to my arm pits in my inner layers. I had my cuffs tight and over waterproof gloves and my hands on my lap or doing normal "tree stand things" the whole time. So, I wasn't holding a loose sleeve to the sky tempting fate. This evening, I wanted to test this garment again. I put on gray long underwear (tops and bottoms) on and a pair of waterproof and this jacket on. I then stood in the shower (weird, I know but I have a STEM background and was bored) for 10 minutes. Nothing leaked and the inner cuff remained dry. While in the shower, I kept my hands down mostly and if I raised them then I was careful not to allow water into the sleeves or any other openings. Then I hung it on a plastic hanger to dry. The water draining down the sleeve under gravity wicked right up the cuff. I checked 20 minutes later and the inner cuff was now very wet and even some of the gray interior fabric farther up the sleeve was now damp. This can be solved by placing a totally impermeable layer in the cuff that stops wicking at that location into the jacket. I invite Sitka to try my experiment or to explain how this has happened multiple times with such a predictable, physical explanation backing it up.

Nice and quiet and obviously 100% rain and wind proof. Fits true to size - I'm 6'3" 190 lbs and a large is perfect. Hood could use a bigger brim and would be nice if it had wire on the inside so that you could bend and shape it. A bigger brim would allow you to wear the hood but also keep it loose so you can hear better. I don't wear the hood even in the rain as it's too tight and you can't listen. Sleeves from elbows down are incredibly tight and make it very hard to layer without things riding up. Sleeve ends have velcro but are so narrow that you have to work incredibly hard to actually get them over a glove.

Found a great deal on this jacket and couldn't pass it up. I tried to find reviews before the purchase but just bit the bullet and went for it. Overall a outstanding jacket, its been utilized in the rough North Dakota winds but have been lacking in the rain test. Would recommend only that you wear a long sleeve with it because the seem on the inside of the arm will annoy you when wearing it. The stitch seems to have a irritating feel and could be a problem of a buyer. I tried two different stores and multiple jackets and sizes but all resulted the same. like I said In the beginning great jacket just wish they had it In marsh.

So, I just received the new version of the downpour jacket and tried it on. I must say, it is impressive. I like the quality and feel of the jacket. Like everything about it. And, the XXL fits me very well and should easily be able to fit over bulk clothes in colder temps...I am 6-2/220 lbs. Now, I do write this without trying it on in actual rain/downpour. Once I do test the jacket in wet weather, I will come back and update this review