I wanted to replace an older super 200 fleece jacket for this one with a hood. This extra large jacket was smaller than my 3-year old large jacket and the fleece was thinner than the old jacket. I returned this hooded jacket.
ProsGreat Value, Comfortable, Performing as Expected
Very warm and not too bulky. I think the hood looks fine up or down. The XS fits me well, not too long even though I am a 5'1"/115lb-er and it's not a petite size. It would be a bit tight with a bulky sweater under, but you won't need one. I first got the ascent fleece, which was actually too warm and too thick, and a little too "constructed", and exchanged it for this one. No one beats LLBeans outerwear!
I have owned this jacket in black for a long time and wear it lots! So I bought the red one too. In it I can more easily been seen when exercising outdoors and it's just the right color and weight for football games. The only thing I would change would be the color of the mesh pockets in the red one. Black mesh would be better than white. The jacket is comfortable in all but the coldest weather because it blocks wind so well. I think those who dislike the fabric texture are expecting this to be like any other soft fleece jacket. It's not, it's a completely different animal in a completely different material! Maybe it would help if L.L. Bean took the word "fleece" out of the title altogether? I'm very pleased with this product and so is my husband. He has a black one too.
