Originally Posted by
noglider
@
dwmckee, I looked up your climate and mine. Pittsburgh is a little colder than New York City by averages but these pages don't list standard deviation. Our average low in January is 26ºF, and yours is 21ºF, but we do occasionally have days that go below 20ºF. Do you find that this Arc Teryx jacket is not too hot? I have a squawl jacket rather like the Lands End jacket, and I can't ride in it. No matter what, it gets too hot even when other parts of my body are too cold. I want a jacket that will keep me warm but won't be too hot.
Climate Pittsburgh - Pennsylvania and Weather averages Pittsburgh
Climate New York - New York and Weather averages New York
Another difference is that it appears we get a fair bit more precipitation than you do. I don't know if that changes clothing requirements much.
I do not know if I can accurately answer your question, but I'll give it a shot. I have found that the ArcTery Atom has a very wide temperature comfort range just by zipping and unzipping the jacket, the over jacket or by adjusting the under layer. Really wide range of adjustability, even while you are riding. The side mesh seems to push out sweat really easily, and my only complaint is that the sleeves can get a bit clammy art times, though it does dry out pretty fast too. We have pretty hilly terrain here and you find a 10 - 12 minute heavy climb is immediately followed by a screaming descent which really challenges your wardrobe. I just do this over and over on every ride here. I find this jacket to be the key part (just part) of what I wear when it is between 20 and 45 degrees. Sometimes I have a poly tee shirt underneath and sometimes I have a light but long sleeve layer underneath. (Most common underlayer stuff works pretty well.) Sometimes I have a wind shell over it (Showers Pass Elite right now). Sometimes I use other shells and even occasionally a light insulated outer layer. Outer layer not too critical either as lots of shells seem to work pretty well. As I go from up to down hill I usually just adjust a zipper or two to get comfortable for the next part of my ride. Definitely the outer and inner layers are not as critical as this layer as I state, I have found that a variety of outer and inner layers work well, but this mid layer is the key piece.
I am 5' 11", 200 lbs. and normally would use an XL, but in this jackes a L fit quite well, no excess flap but not uncomfortably snug around the middle either.
I now have my son, wife and brother in law wearing this jacket and they all love it. It is especially versatile even as a casual jacket and I wear mine pretty much daily to and from work, around the house when it is cool, etc. The wide range of temp versatility is great. It is not clammy like fleece (which also seems to only be comfy in a narrow temp range), and I love that the the nylon-lined sleeves slide on and off easily without dragging my under layer up and down all of the time.
Overall a great (but expensive) jacket. Not perfect, but best I have found so far. I am wearing it right now, actually...