I have been searching for months for the perfect light, breathable, waterproof rain jacket for an April trip to Hawaii. After trying on 10 different brands and types, I am thrilled to choose the Arcadia II. It is made of a very light, airy outer material, with a light, soft inner mesh. I prefer mesh liners to promote breathing and comfort. I also tried the Arcadia (the original version) but I prefer the fun colors of the Arcadia II (I have Geyser/Siberia).

The cut is flattering and it has a very comfortable fit (i.e. I still look like a woman underneath it while leaving a little room for comfort/layer). I am 5'2", 115 pounds, 34-B, athletic build with a small waist and bigger hips. I typically wear a size XS. The XS fits perfectly (hits just below my hip bones, comfortable in the shoulders, not tight around the chest). The sleeve/hand openings are a bit large, but easily cinch with the Velcro tabs.

The jacket does fit into the pocket for easy packing. I am looking forward to wearing this in Hawaii and using it as a light summer rain jacket. Thanks, Columbia!

I needed a solid jacket to take on a trip to Alaska that would be light, but still keep me warm & dry. This jacket totally fit the bill. I got stuck hiking in a torrential downpour for a couple hours. Yes, hours -- but all of my layers underneath the coat remained completely dry. This is a fantastic investment if you are looking for something light & functional to keep you dry. I've also worn it on some fourteener summit hikes & it worked well in keeping me warm despite high winds.

This rainjacket has been a top performer for me. The jacket I'd used previously for paddling was ill-fitting and made me sweat.... oh, and trapped the sweat to boot.

The Arcadia II affords an unrestricted range of motion, sends sweat from hard-paddling me up and out of my jacket while keeping me completely protected from dripping cold water on either myself or from the sky. The hood is big enough to come up and over a cap (with a ski cap over *that*), which is great in a *true* deluge.

The length is wonderful (about mid-thigh), the sleeves are long enough and the fit is quite flattering. I'm about 5'9" and 155 lbs, the medium was as perfect a medium as I've ever had.

I hadn't purchased a Columbia jacket in years because the one I did buy previously would stick to me like glue on warm humid days. Therefore, I was a bit apprehensive about purchasing a new one. Luckily this one doesn't stick on those sweltering days.

The fit is perfect. I'm 5'3'', 115lbs and the XS fit great on me. It's snug with just the right amount of wiggle room. I think the standard Columbia size chart might be a little off because according to it I should have ordered a size small. That would have been much too big for me.

My only complaints are the velcro closures and the color. The velcro is simply annoying. I haven't owned anything velcro since I was in grade school. Snaps would have been much better in my opinion. Everything is fine now but I fully expect them to get dirty over time and stop functioning properly.

Lastly, the color... I was expecting more of a baby/carolina blue. Instead the color is more of a teal/aqua/baby blue mixed together. It's very bright... I would have gone with another color had I realized that the color on the website wasn't a true representation of the product.

I didn't realize this when I ordered it, but this is a very thin jacket - more like a windbreaker. You can pack it down to a very small size, so it's great for traveling. I am 5'3", 110lbs and the XS fits well. It is tapered nicely around the waist and does not look boxy. I have the Columbia Navy and the white accents on the sides are a nice touch, very flattering. If anything, I would say it's borderline on the long side for me. I like how it fits, but if it was any longer I would have returned it, so it might not be a great fit for more petite women. The sleeve length is perfect because I could tighten the velcro on the sleeve openings slightly to make them hit comfortably at my wrists. Overall, this is a great fall/spring jacket and great quality and style for the price.

I decided to purchase this on sale instead of a north face, simply because I need a cute, lightweight jacket that was actually waterproof and had a decent hood, and northface couldn't meet all of those specifications without wanting to charge me 300 dollars for it.

I am so happy I purchased this jacket!! I got it in black, size large, and I am a girl with a lot of curves and the large was just big enough that I could layer a sweatshirt underneath for extra warmth, still zip it up over my chest, and it remained flattering and fitted to the rest of my body. It's surprisingly light, which makes it perfect for layering, or wearing alone on a warmer day. My fiancé was so impressed with it that he purchased one very like it from the men's department. Definitely worth the purchase, especially at the killer sale price!!

Let me just start by saying I loved this rain jacket. However after just one wash, following the directions on the label, the inner hood of my jacket came completely unstitched at the seams. It is obvious that the fabric was stitched along the edge of the fabric so it came unraveled/unstitched in the wash. Will not buy another.

I bought this jacket, because I was expecting rain, while camping at the high sierras. It rained a lot, and the jacket kept me dry the whole time! I love the Velcro straps on the wrists, and the zippers on the pockets. I had my gloves and my camera inside the pockets, and they stayed dry after an hour of downpour! The jacket is also very comfortable for hiking, very breathable, and definitely worth the price!

Two days after receiving this raincoat (XL Geyser) I went camping. Just when I pulled into a campsite, a downpour began. No time for a tarp. I cooked dinner with just the van's lift gate for shelter as I set up camp. This raincoat performed! Feet and legs got "damp" , but not shoulders, or head. Trustworthy!

I like the soft, lightweight fabric and the beautiful color. It folds up small, but it's not designed to pack into a pocket. It fits nicely into a stuff sack I had. I bought the XL instead of L after reading reviews. It fits fine and has room for a light jacket underneath.

I did research and one reason I chose this was the length. A raincoat should cover your seat!

However, if I were designing a raincoat it would:
1. Absolutely have a two way zipper for convenience in sitting, reaching jeans pockets, etc. WHY in the world have raincoats omitted this feature?
2. Use snaps instead of velcro on the front. I plan to change this myself.
3. Have a detachable hood. This coat is stylish. Sometimes I would like to wear it in a little dressier venue or as a simple windbreaker.
4. Figure out how to secure the sleeve lining so it doesn't push out of the end of the sleeve. I will probably compromise the waterproofness by a small stitch or two under the arm.

I am very pleased with this purchase, and will enjoy keeping dry on hikes in the rain!

I have owned this jacket for 7 months and have been soaked through a few times now. I think if a jacket is waterproof it should be able to withstand being in the rain for more than an hour and a half before completely soaking my clothes underneath. Even being in the rain for 15 minutes causes the jacket to be damp on this inside. Overall a good fit but now I need to buy a new jacket because I need a jacket that is truly waterproof.