hi there everyone. im on the hunt for a new jacket - had a quick look at the test in mbuk this month and was wondering if anybody has any of the "winning" jackets, or any experience with them?

i would ideally like to try on a jacket before i make a purchase but online savings look very tempting. does anybody have any experience/advice on any of the jackets about size? - eg baggy/tight fit, and whether the manufacturers take into account base/fleece layers underneath?

sombrio vapor - looks kind of like what im after but i dont know if i like the green.i see their website only has it in "canteen" colour which looks a bit more like a browny green. one shop had it in black, and another had it in army. wiggle has it cheap at the moment but only large/extra large sizes left. the review says to take a size smaller for a "skinny fit" which means i would maybe be after a medium? id normally be somewhere between a medium or a large at 39'' chest. the somrbio website says a medium is a 48 inch chest which is a bit confusing? it says to check out the kona website for more information - are somrbio connected to kona? i recently bought a kona hoody and found a medium to be best fit - dont know if a medium jacket would fit the same as a medium hoody...

howies 8 miler - is it waterproof enough to use in heavy rain for an afternoon? im a bit confused by the review and also the howies website. it gets an 8 out of 10 for protection.any advice on size? my brother got a howies base layer recently and even in large it feels quite tight (short in the arms).

pace - is pace only available from the pace website? any size recommendations?

im about 6'1 medium/slim build and about a 39'' chest/ 33'' waist

thanks for any advice you may have.

alan

ps wiggles sombrio vapor doesnt seem to have pit zips - is it an old model maybe?

if ur lookin to try it on first, u can buy the howies one, send it back if it doesnt fit and theyll give u a full refund + pay the postage costs. as long as its not in the sale

thanks for that - i went for the sombrio from wiggle - looks like an excellent jacket. if anyone else is researching the size, mbuks comment about taking a size down for a slimmer fit may be good advice... i went for a medium when i would usually go for a large and there is still room for a fleece/jacket underneath.

thanks for the howies comment though