Gear

I'm thinking of investing in what sounds like the holy grail of soft-shells, the Arcteryx Gamma MX Hoody.

Problem is, there aren't any local Arc'teryx stockists in my neck of the woods, so I'll be ordering "blind" from the web.

The blurb describes the fit as athletic, which means fairly snug I guess. I'm a skinny 6'1", so would generally take a large if the fit is close.

On the other hand, the sizing chart recommends medium for 40" chest/33" waist, so I'm thinking of dropping down a size.

I don't want to get it wrong, as this is a ridiculously expensive piece of kit ...

Can anyone who owns or has tried on this jacket comment on whether the medium is on the large side or vice versa?

The medium's snug on me and I'm a pretty standard, athletic sort of medium albeit with wide shoulders. I'm around five nine and the jacket's quite a short design anyway, so I figure you'll be better off with a large. It's a very fitted, stretchy jacket, so unless you're super skinny, I reckon it'll be okay.

Thanks, Jon ... is the arm length long-ish or normal?

Some of these climbing-style jackets seem to be cut with chimpanzee body-shape in mind :)

That's where I generally have a problem with large size kit, fine in the torso length but the comedy-length sleeves end up getting in the way ...

I am 6'3 and a normal sort of build, and I find the XL a good fairly snug fit. The arms are about the right length, maybe a little short, but then I am probably in the chimpanzee department.

In any event you can always return it for a different size.

I ordered something from Snow and Rock on Tuesday and it arrived today !

I would agree with Jon and go for the large. I've got a small which fits me perfect but i'm about five nine and nine stone (when wet).I've got several arcteryx jackets and they all seem to be cut about the same which helps. I havent noticed any probs with arm length either. You certainly wont be disapointed i've had mine about 16 months and wore it all last winter and also this summer in the alps and it even looks great in the pub. I've washed it a couple of times with natural soap flakes and the water still beads off nicely and so does the baby sick that i'm still getting used to :)

You take your baby climbing? Good call ;-) It's a very nice jacket btw. One of my fave ever bits of test kit.