Columbia Men's Lhotse Mountain II Interchange Jacket

UPDATE 11/04/2015: This will be our 3rd winter in this jacket, and let me tell you, it has been worth EVERY cent. It is still in tip-top condition - no tears, no worn spots, all the zippers and hardware are just as they were when we bought it. At this time of year my son wears just the inner "liner" jacket, but as the temperature dips to our customary below-zero, he will add on the tough, water and wind resistant outer shell. He tells me that it keeps him wonderfully warm, and I will tell you, the Nodak winter wind is no joke. The quality of this jacket is outstanding (I've amended my original 4 stars to 5) I would absolutely buy this again. He's 14 now and I expect a growth spurt over the coming year will prevent us from using it a 4th year, but if it does still fit, it is more than up to the challenge of another winter. Eventually I expect to pass it along to a younger child, it's just in that good of condition. It could easily last another 2-3 winters keeping another child cozy warm.Original review: My son picked out this jacket system at a local sporting-goods retailer. I was going to go back and purchase it but wanted to see if I could get a better deal online.Amazon had the same jacket at $40 less than the retailer. I ordered it and it arrived promptly, and was exactly the same as the one we had tried on.Winter is long and very very cold here in North Dakota, so a great winter coat is a must. We've had LL Bean and Columbia coats in the past, and I would say they are equal in warmth and versatility, the only real differences being styling.The thing I really love about this coat is that it is 3 jackets in 1. The zip-out "liner" is a fully insulated yet not at all bulky warm jacket that can be worn in the fall and during spring "transitional" weather. The outer shell is a well-constructed waterproof rain coat, long enough to cover hips. When used together, it seems like it will be unbeatable for keeping him warm and dry during the coldest months. Sleeves are long enough and adjustable for a snug fit around the wrists. The hood is NOT insulated, it is a rain hood, you're expected to wear a beanie or balaklava with it in the winter.It's a shame they don't have a picture of the interior lining of the inside jacket. Be aware that it uses their patented Omni-Heat (tm) reflective surface, which is covered with shiny silver dots to reflect heat back to the wearer. I see some purchasers were not aware of this and the "flashiness" surprised them. Its part of the technology that makes this jack so warm without being bulky.I will update after our next winter with a thorough review.UPDATE 11-14-2013: I just want to stress how NON-BULKY this jacket is, while still being so warm.

Dang it, I really wanted to like this coat! I own a number of Columbia items and generally like their products. I looked at the features of different Columbia Interchange parkas and decided on the Lhotse Mountain II over some of the less expensive ones because of the Omni-Heat, underarm vents, and lots of pockets. Unfortunately, after ordering both a large and a extra large it seems this jacket just isn't meant for me. I have always bought a coat in size large and never had a problem before. I am 6-1, 215 lbs, and the large was really snug right on the belt line with just the shell while standing and really annoying when bending over, really tight with the liner in it, and ridiculously tight with a Polartec 200 fleece top on underneath. There was no way I could have a knife or multi-tool on my belt while wearing it and be comfortable. I had unsnapped the powder skirt just to make sure that wasn't a factor. Oddly, while I could stand to lose a few pounds, it was not tight in the tummy.So I exchanged it for the XL but then the sleeves were way too long. I tried really hard to make it work and it was OK by tightening the shell's wrists but the liner the liner has no such adjustment so when wearing it alone the sleeves were halfway on my palms which was annoying. I want it to fit right since I expect it to last at least 10 years like my current coat has and still works fine. I just wanted to upgrade to a coat with a better hood, more pockets, and removable liner.So from me it gets 4 stars... 5 for features minus one for what I think is sizing that is a little off.UPDATE: After writing this review I stopped by a store which does not carry the Lhotse but did have the Bugaboo and the Whirlibird. The Whirlibird in a large was even smaller around the waist than the Lhotse and I couldn't get the zipper together without forcefully pulling the two sides together. The Bugaboo, however, fit perfectly in a large size. Obviously Columbia does not make all their jackets to fit the same in a given size.

Man....I am thrilled with this jacket. First off I bought this shipped to my door for $160.00, which is a steal. I already had another Columbia but I no longer had the liner for it and it was not waterproof, so I searched high and low but came back to Columbia. My old jacket was a large tall, so that is what I ordered, and it fits like a dream.I use this for bicycling in the winter here in ND, riding to work and back every day, and although my old jacket was good it does not hold a candle to this jacket. My old jacket was not waterproof, and so as I ride and warm up any falling snow just melted and by the time I got home it was really wet. Let me tell you, this jacket really is waterproof, amazingly so, and that by itself is a big plus. I can use the shell for summer riding in rain, but not having a wet jacket in sub zero temps is a life saver. The liner is great and I used it all the way into the low teens and still was warm. The collar on the liner and shell really cover my neck and with a balaclava and my helmet I should not have to resort to a scarf anymore. The bright red sure increases my visibility too, which would be a plus for many people, as it pops against the white snow.The pit zips work great, allowing me to regulate my temperature. The velcroe around the wrists allow me to get a tight seal to my gloves, but when I get too hot I just loosen them up and allow wind to enter. The air flows through and out the pit zips, and I find that I can really control the temperature well doing this.The only downside is that a seam on the liner was not sewn right and I needed to sew it closed. Not bad though...an easy repair. I did contact Columbia and they would have required the entire jacket and then said that they could not guarantee that I would get the same jacket back. Weird...but I guess that they do not even try to repair it.All in all...I highly recommend this jacket.