Just another fan of Arcteryx.
Flounder is not surprizingly on-target with his input & layering a non-insulated shell; This stuff is serious nice backcountry clothing.
I've had the Sidewinder for 10 years & I swear by it. They have Great customer service (zipper became a problem, but still got me out of BC) and they replaced it, no questions asked (including color change). Bought it in Whistler, BC, '01, in school bus yellow. 147 days of powder, trees, rain and backcountry later, I brought it back to the good old USA, called em up, shipped it & they replaced jacket! Since then a 1000 of days of skiing, camping, chopping wood, fishing, hurricanes etc. (it's a hardshell)
The day I bought it, I took a long shower in it - no leaks!
Gave it to a Nor East on-mountain friend (his pack with gear was ripped off) & he put 100+ more on-mountain days in it ! Let's see...bought it for around $600 (can) 12 years ago and this thing won't die, not sure if it's as waterproof, but dam, its still a great working jacket and still looks really Cool! I hit it with Scotchguard every now & again.
Yup, the fit, well I'm 5 9" 195lbs of fire-hydrant poportions, in shape yes, type A body - no. In time: The fit is comforming, imho. My Mountain Hardware jacket is awesome & may even look betta for resort stuff, but I'd never feel secure in the backcountry without my Sidewinder. (Had a full side-zip blow out in my Mountain Hardware pants, -25F freeze malfunction, I was cold smoke skiing outside a NE resort & by the time I got back to vehical was cold & pissed, that is, until I put on my Arcteryx Spring pants & began drink'n)
Give me a phat credit card & I'd buy everything they make & probably a backup or two. In the meantime, I'll be scoping out my new Arcteryx. Good luck hunting for your shell !!! You cant go wrong with an Arcteryx (even if you plan mostly no-snow) adventures. Happily worn mine in 50F plus degree weather. Have at least 3-4 base layering systems and your All set :rappel:
Also: Thier Pants are great too, got an older version of the Beta AR pant, also wear these for a lot of differant foul weather adv.