Im switching from a city with good weather (no use for rain jackets) to a cold and rainy city. A sister got me a columbia titanium jacket thats waterproof, omni tech and has a thing in the left hand to be able to see the watch, and a hoodie that fits perfectly. The problem is that its not warm. What is the use for this jacket? Skiing, snowboarding? Or am i wearing it the wrong way?. Should i use a good fleece with it? So, should i get rid of this jacket and buy a new one, or am i using it wrong? Thanks for your help.
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 If the jacket has minimal insulation then layer it with a warmer mid layer. If the ambient temperature increases or you start generating too much heat, use a cooler mid layer or none at all.
If a waterproof jacket has lots of insulation then it precludes its use in warmer conditions so a waterproof jacket without much insulation, and appropriate under layers, makes for a more versatile garment.
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 a waterproof jacket should keep you dry from rain and enables you to wear it in the rain all year round. an extra layer(s) underneath like a fleece will keep you warm.
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 John, as said above, you have the outer layer of what is classically a three-layer approach (baselayer - midlayer - shell layer). The shell layer is designed to keep the wind and rain of your insulation layer - typically a fleece; various weights of fabric are available from thin microfleece for active use through to 300-weight (300g per square metre) which is pretty cosy. Under that a decent baselayer makes a huge difference as it reduces the risk of getting a chill from dampness against the skin. If you have to hang around in really cold weather, this three-layer approach is often not enough and a fourth 'overlayer' is the best bet. If you live in cold-dry territory, then a down-filled jacket is perfect. If you get a lot of damp weather then a synthetic-filled over layer might be better ; the brand leader is Primaloft (used by many manufacturers) but there are plenty of similar alternatives. John
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I havent tried the jacket in really cold weather. Here are some pics, i think that it is what is called a soft shell: Does it look decent enough? What would you recommend me to wear under it. Thanks a lot for your replies.
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To me it seems to be a hard shell, so the above advice fully applies.
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I agree - that's a hard shell. Omni Tech is Columbia's own waterproof-breathable fabric (PU based I think). The only experience I had of their fabrics wasn't good but it was a lighter shell than this one and I hope you have better luck... (mine wasn't like the one in picture on that link... which is a softshell!) My above advice applies. It would help to know what you hope to do in it? There's no point spending lots of money for a new wardrobe to wear under this if you already have a fleece and non-cotton sports shirt. Even a woolly jumper would be find under this if you're not hoping to do anything very strenuous. If you WANT to go shopping then I suggest heading to a TK Maxx (aka TJ Maxx or Winners in North America if that's where you are) and hunting for a basic 200 weight fleece and a merino wool or synthetic baselayer. You should be spoiled for choice! John
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Luckily, the jacket was on sale, my sis got it for 60 dollars  I intend just to use it just in the city mostly.
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 > Luckily, the jacket was on sale, my sis got it for 60 dollars That explains why I couldn't find it in Columbia's current range: must be old stock. Looks like it's snow sport oriented. As others have said, to be versatile, a waterproof should just be that; waterproof. Anything with fixed insulation lacks versatility. You can choose the warmth of a fleece layer to wear underneath a pure waterproof (to suit the weather and activity), whereas you can't change the warmth of fixed insulation.
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Yeah, seems for snowboarding. It has a hood that fits perfectly (has like a halo in it) and the elbows have some cushion in case you fall.
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Luckily, the jacket was on sale, my sis got it for 60 dollars I intend just to use it just in the city mostly.
In that case, John, I'd suggest you can wear it over more or less anything that fits underneath! The best options will be layers that can insulate well (trap lots of air) but don't have any intrinsic wind proofing. Wool pullovers work perfectly for that kind of usage. Try out different combinations of undershirt & insulation. On thing to remember that is hardly ever mentioned by people selling these things... the layered approach requires a little extra thought to maintain mobility. If you layer up two fabrics that don't slide over one another, it very quickly becomes restrictive and hard to move. A shell layer over the top is fine as it's slippery inside. But if, say, you layer a wool sweater onto a wool baselayer you could easily find it getting hard to move freely. Try to alternate slippery smooth layers with more furry ones. That's why most baselayer is fairly slinky fabric. But for city use, a normal cotton shirt with a wool sweater underneath should be warm enough to freezing point if you're not standind still. John
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