Columbia Men's Ascender Ii Softshell Jacket

 (17 customer reviews)

I didn't buy this here but I thought I should share my opinion on this jacket. First of all, the sizing of this jacket is made a little smaller than what most people would think. I normally wear large and I feel very comfortable. I got this jacket large size and it felt very tight in the under arms and shoulder area. I exchanged for a XL and it feels way better...It seems as if there is a huuuuge gap between a Large and a XL....The jacket is warm but you want to wear a hoody inside for the winter.

Update 11/12/11: I'm very glad I exchanged the jacket for a XL. It looks and feels way better. I love the design of this jacket. It really makes you look sharp.

Update: 03/20/12

I lost a bit of weight and the XL is too baggy for me. I purchased this jacket again in a large and it fits perfectly with room for a hoody. I'm 5'9 178lbs. I wish Columbia implement omni heat in this jacket. I think this is the best looking Columbia jacket.

Nice jacket that fits perfectly. The jacket is similar to a much more expensive Blackhawk jacket minus the padding on the elbows and waterpoofing on the seams. BTW the jacket is water resistant as the first day I put it on it started pouring as soon as I stepped outside. The jacket kept the rain beaded up on the outside and it brushed right off when I got under cover. Overall I am happy with this jacket.

It appears it can zip into a shell as a liner; I will try to zip it in my other wet weather tops to see how it works out.

Since a lot of the reviews on this product that I've read just consider the climatic qualities, I wanted to provide feedback on the fit. I'm 5'9", 150 lbs and had trouble deciding between the small and medium. I ordered both, but find the small a more appropriate choice. My concern was that the chest dimensions, based on the sizing chart, seemed better suited for the medium, whereas the other dimensions fit squarely with the small. I wear a 38R suit jacket, have a 31 waist and 33 sleeve length.

However, these are general sizes for all of Columbia's clothing. The actual manufacturer's dimensions per item can vary as it does for this product. The small chest size is closer to 41" and the sleeve length is 34". The medium sleeve is an inch longer and chest closer to 43". Therefore the medium is too bulky on my frame.

The small fits good in the waist and chest, and overall appearance is quite sharp. It's a little snug under the arms, but I prefer a good fit there over...Read more