**BLACK DIAMOND Men's M Alpine Start Hoody - Lightweight Water-Resistant Hiking Jacket for Outdoor Adventures & Camping**

THE GOOD:1) Very lightweight fabric with a high quality feel.2) A quick vader test (blowing through fabric) suggests a good balance of air permeability and windproofing. This was my main reason for buying, as the CFM is too low on my current windshirts, leading to overheating during aerobic activities.3) Good zips with a quality feel and action.4) Big hood (I have a large head and helmet compatible hoods are the only kind that don't feel restrictive to me).5) In smoke colour (dark grey), the logos and branding throughout are very low key and nearly invisible. Huge bonus for me, because I hate being covered in branding.THE BAD:1) The sleeve openings are way too loose. I'd have to wear a thick midlayer and gloves to get any kind of seal there.2) Front of the neck is uncomfortably tight and restrictive when fully zipped over a baselayer and thin midlayer. My neck is long and pretty average, and I can imagine this would be an even worse problem for guys with thick necks.3) Positioning and stiffness of the chest pocket means that when you move forward even slightly, you get an unsightly bulge on your chest just below your pecs, like something's trying to burst out of your upper chest. I tried ironing this out, but it appears to be inherent to the design; looking around online, I now see this bulge on most fit pics.4) A few loose threads upon arrival. I expect perfection in stitching at this price point.5) A bit too short for my tastes, hitting just above my hips and rising up when I put my arms over my head.6) I bought in my usual size and it fitted overall but has quite a bit of extra material under my armpits; I think this contributes to the chest bulge.CONCLUSION:I ended up returning the Alpine Start for a refund as I couldn't accept the downsides, particularly the problems with the sleeve ends, tight neck and comically bulging chest. I hope in future BD will address these issues, as I am a fan of lightweight softshells and windshirts and I really wanted to love this jacket.