Upside: A high-performance, sophisicated-looking winter action jacket. Downside: Not owning one Rating: ^^^^^ (5 out of 5 peaks) Ideal User: Women who participate in ice-climbing, snow-shoe running, cross-country skiing, and any other winter action sports. One afternoon after a short whitewater paddle down the White Salmon River in southern Washington, I convinced my husband to forgo a movie for a snowshoe run at Mt. Hood, an hour away. Grudgingly, he agreed. By the time we reached the trailhead, the clear skies gave way to a full-blown, wind-whipped snowstorm. It was also now pitch-black, but we had headlamps. And most importantly, I had my new Sophia jacket by Isis, an outdoor clothing company for women. I dragged my husband out onto the trail and we spent a glorious hour trodding through heavy snow. At first, I wasn't quite sure how the Sophia would hold up in the snowstorm, but it performed beyond my expectations. The jacket is made with Duet fabric, a durable, two-way mechanical stretch nylon shell bonded to a soft moisture-wicking polyester lining. Read: a lightweight jacket with unlimited freedom of movement that provided me with complete protection from the wind and snow (if you're ice-climbing, this tough material will withstand encounters with rock and ice). The polyester fleece lining added a light layer of warmth while wicking away the moisture inside. Its Super DWR finish kept the snow off me, and the 3" micro fleece-lined collar kept my neck warm. The seamless shoulders made running (slogging, in this case) with a Camelbak a non-issue. Not only does this baby perform, it also looks great. Its simple, yet sophisticated style complements a woman's shape like no other outdoor jacket I've seen. Inquiring women have literally stopped me in stores. The jacket features a pair of invisible zip, micro-fleece hand warmer pockets as well as a single invisible zip security pocket in the chest area. The Sophia flares out slightly at the bottom and has a draw cord to tighten the jacket around your waist. The designers also included an eye-pleasing zipper flap (behind the zipper - see photo). If are you looking for that perfect winter action jacket, add this to your Christmas wish list. www.isisforwomen.com MSRP: $195 — Reviewed & Written by Natasha Nowakowski, MountainZone.com		CHOOSE U.S.A. Canada Austria France Germany Ireland Italy Spain Sweden Switzerland U. K. ALL ACTIVITIES ------- GORE-TEX garments ------- WINDSTOPPER products ------- GORE-TEX footwear ------- Accessories ------- AIRVANTAGE ALL ACTIVITIES city streets cycling fishing golf hunting motorcycle mtn. sports snowboarding running sailing skiing trek & trail paddle sports
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