The jacket needs no improvement it is everything it should be and more. The fleece needs a lining in the sleeves. It is great worn by itself, but in the jacket it bunches up when your put it over a light weight fleece or sweater. A lining similar to the pocket material would make the cobination great.
I've had this Jacket since '06 and worn it in every type of condition imaginable. Never felt a drop of rain when standing in a down pour for nearly an hour. For the past 3 days I wore it in the Great Smoky Mtns in 20-45 degree weather backpacking the Maddron 20 mile loop, and was hit with freezing sleet then melting ice and 4 inches of snow on the ground. The jacket did eventually get wet from the elbow to the wrists after it had been doused the previous 48 hours with no sun to dry it out, not to mention me never taking it off except to sleep. My tent mate's > $200 North Face Rainproof jacket was similarly soaked through due to the conditions. The sun shined on us for 3 hours while making breakfast the last day and I hung it out and it nearly fully dried and was pleasant for the ovr 6 mile hike out. This jacket went thru streams and took some serious abuse. It packs deceptively small for it's thickness and fits well over the LL Bean Down Jacket I brought, kept me toasty and dry. The fleece is great and I wear that more often as the rain jacket can get warm due to it's lack of vents (1 in each hand pocket and one near your heart in the small 'Napolean' pocket). May be a little heavy for serious backpackers but it did surprisingly well for hiking with it on as the snow fell on us for 10 hours during the 'melting phase' of our adventure. The thick material is bombproof and performed magnificently. Still looks like when I bought it 5 years ago. Was $20 more expensive when I bought it on sale way back wnen, the most exp piece of gear I've bought but more than worth it as it is my go-to jacket from now on.
Recently purchased a men's Weather Challenger Jacket in small, because I liked the men's marine blue jacket I had ordered for my husband last Christmas. I wear a women's size small and was afraid the men's small, might be too large, but it fits perfectly with or without a sweater underneath. The best part is the way it zips up to your neck and keeps the cold out. This winter has been crazy cold and I'm as warm as toast. Thanks LLBean.
Flat out love this jacket. Just received my second one as a gift. Fits well and works in all weather except extreme cold. Well made anbd in my opinion better than the Columbia or Northface version.
