Mountain Hardwear Men's Alchemy Jacket

Just what I was looking for.
I recently purchased the Mountain Hardware men's Alchemy Jacket for an upcoming Mount Kilimanjaro climb. It is just what I was looking for in an insulated soft shell. Its light weight, very wind and water resistant and packs easily. The water proof pockets are well positioned for use when carrying a full pack. The sizes run a little small. I am 5' 9" and 165 lbs. (usually a medium) but needed a large to comfortably accommodate several layers underneath. This is a soft shell you will use for years to come.

Great Jacket
I love this jacket but I had to return it due to size and the one that I brought was the last one so I didn't have a choice to pick another size. Alchemy is a nice soft sell jacket with quality marterial, light weight.

Not for casual use
I bought this looking for a multi-purpose softshell because I do some climbing and lots of hiking. But lets face it most of the time I expected to be wearing this jacket to and from work or school. Quality: The jacket is good quality. The fabric seems durable and resistant to abrasion. It also seemed to be very warm, I think even warmer than the mountain hardwear tech jacket. Weight: This jacket is very light and thin and as such would be quite crushable for packing. Fit: The cuffs are not adjustable and are a little thick but I think this is a better design than some of the overly flared unadjustable cuffs I have seen on other softshells. The sleeves are of ample length to prevent them from riding up when reaching but this action does cause the bottom of the jacket to lift a few inches which is frustrating on a cold and windy day That being said this is a waste length jacket with a pretty athletic fit. I am 5'7, 145 with a 30" waist and a medium fit with enough room to wear a thin fleece under it. However, I feel like there is not a lot of shoulder room so it feels tight under the armpit and across the back. For this reason I decided to send the jacket back. I just can't get comfortable in it when it is tight under the arms.

Great investment with versatile uses...
Invested in the alchemy jacket in hopes to find a versatile layer and multi faceted jacket; found to be a creditable purchase. Have worn the alchemy jacket in Wisconsins swift changing weather conditions during personal workout endeavourers and athletic events and have stayed dry and plenty warm. Was worried about sizing from previous reviews but ordered to my usual size anyway. Glad I didnt order a size up as I can comfortably fit a sweatshirt under the medium and may have lost warmth with too much extra space in a size larger. Thought to have been bothered by its fit at first but have seen through wearing it is perfectly designed for active use and mobility. Fit is relative to an athletic/tailored style, only desired change would be a bigger pockets. Overall have been very pleased with the alchemy jacket and wished I had made this purchase sooner. Rather grateful for discounted price opportunity considering a teachers budget. Plus have received numerous complements on its sleek look and functional diversity when worn as a casual everyday jacket.

My Alchemy
This is one awesome soft-shell jacket. I have a small frame weighing in at 135 lb and standing around 5'6" with a 29" waist line and 30" inseam, and this 2010 size small jacket fits me like it was tailored to my body. This jacket has a slim fit with a taper effect from shoulder to the waist line, making me feel like a true athletic to wear it. I believe that this jacket is best for a skinny dude like me, as I would imagine a muscular person might have a problem with the slim fit of it. The sleeves are just perfect for being not too long nor too short. There are so many similar jackets (Gamma MX, etc.) out there that have excessive long sleeves, making them fit uncomfortably around the arms but not this one. The wrists are a little snug with gaiters to seal out the elements but I think they will loosen up a little with some use. The length of the jacket has a "waist line" cut (about 3" below my waist line) with a drop back hem. I usually hate drop back hems but the drop back hem on this jacket is not pronounced at all for some reason so it is cool with me. I have owned a lot of MH jackets but this one is kind of unique, as it does not have the big MH written on the chest area, just a Nut logo, which is great, as I prefer the big letters to be written on the forearm or somewhere not easily seen. Speaking of logos, MH logos are threaded and embroidered with a touch of class, not etched on like some other big name makers that I have seen. The neck even has a cinch cord for neck diameter adjustments. The only thing I would like to have on this jacket are pit zips, as the Gore Windstopper membrane is not very breathable for some high aerobic activities. As for workmanship, it is good but I have seen some end threads sticking out a little in certain areas on the arms, which is not quite acceptable for a $200 jacket. Regardless, it is a 5-star rating for fit and function but I will give it a 4-star rating for workmanship. All in all, this is one of my favorite soft-shell jackets. I have 2 of them in my closet.