Customer Reviews Columbia Alpine Action™ Jacket

I'm amazed at some of the reviews for this jacket. It is well made, in regard to stitching and the utility components it includes. The style is nice enough. I only have one issue: This jacket does NOT keep you warm. It's cold! This jacket by itself would only keep me warm in weather that is 50-40 degrees. In cold weather 35 and lower... you can feel the cold coming through the sleeves especially and somewhat in the body. The Columbia webpage shows the guy wearing nothing but a long/short sleeve t-shirt. Is that some kind of base-layer with special heat retention properties? (Not trying to be sarcastic, genuinely inquiring.) I found myself wondering should I be wearing a fleece or down jacket underneath this one? Is this a snowboarding jacket or active wear jacket where I'm supposed to build up a lot of heat before it begins to work? Is there an assumption that I should be using those new-school layering techniques... with some high tech under layers? I'm not giving this a bad review because genuinely i don't know. I grew up the old school way where you wore coats, sweaters and too many layers that made you toasty warm -and sweaty as soon as you started doing anything. I know that is a big no-no. (sweating). In these modern times I guess you're supposed to be slightly cool so that as you move and build up heat you won't sweat. However, for me just a brisk walk about 5-6 blocks in Manhattan during 20-15 degree weather... I was annoyed to feel cold air seeping through the sleeves. Standing still just leaves you... well COLD! I wore a fleece next time, and a down jacket under that the next time... but this had me feeling like I did in the old-school way. Warmer... but stiff from all the extra layers. For all you people who said you're warm in this jacket, please include what you wore beneath, what you were doing and also the temperature. -Shivering out here in the wilds of Northern, NJ.

This jacket seems great and high quality...but its huge and for that reason I can't wear it. If you're tall and have a long body, it might be perfect but for me, 5 ft 5in 135 pounds--Its just too big for me. I am disappointed that it won't fit because it is just too hard to find a great jacket in an XS size.

Pro: +Graphite and Blue looks amazing +Lots of zippers/pockets +Water resistant +Good mobility in the arms Con: -Needs a double zipper design, when sitting it feels like the bottom of the zipper is being stressed which brings into question the long term durability of the jacket. -if your cellphone is in the side pocket it makes it difficult to sit down since it blocks you from bending at the hip. This can also be resolved with a double zipper.

I'm not a big guy, but smalls usually fit me. Even though the size chart indicated an XS would fit me better, they don't seem to make any coats in XS, so I went for a small. It feels VERY big for a small. Front pockets too low, and too big in the chest. I could've gotten over the sleeve length but the other sizing gaffes were too much. Returned. To bad, functionally and quality are great.

When ordering this I had hoped it had a little more insulation than what is shown. This is more like a Fall/Winter Jacket. Warmth not what expected. My sons and Husband decided to keep the jackets because of they liked the colors and great jacket for being light. That's why I gave it a 3 star.

Im 5 foot 8 and weigh 128 pounds, the modern classic fit ran way to large on me, just like a blanket. This is the second year that I can't buy a jacket from columbia because they never think of the slim men. I feel that they assume everyone is 6FT tall and 200 pounds. What about the little men?! I refuse to buy north face but this is just not working out. I'm going to try the titanium line to see if it runs fitted..hopefully that works.

I should have known Columbia clothing seems to run big for me. Order an XL which is what all coats are and it was to big and bulky. Would have tried to exchange it for a large but they were sold out. Really did like the color.

Every time I take the jacket off, it does something to twist the lining of the left sleeve. When I put it back on, the sleeve is closed at the wrist and I have to fight my way through it to reopen it. The right sleeve is perfectly fine.

5'7" 180lbs, 34 waist. Website says "Large" should fit me. When I received and tried it on, its VERY BIG with me wearing a fleece jacket underneath. Ordered a Medium and will try it on before returning the Large jacket.

It is rare that I do not give a 5 star review for any Columbia product. I own several ski/outdoor related pieces of clothing from Columbia. I believe this particular coat, that I received, was not Quality inspected before shipped out. It had several sections on the sleeve and on the front zipper that were not sewn. It was pretty disappointing. I brought it to a tailor and they fixed it up for $20 which was not too bad. Otherwise, I have been very happy with the other items purchased.

Only had this for 3 month and the plastic zipper teeth are breaking off.

Not warm for what it is. When you see it you would expect more warmth

I have been very disappointed with this jacket. It's pretty flimsy, sizing based on the chart was wrong. I had to return to get another size. As for the jacket itself, my arms stay cold. For the life of me, I can't figure out why my arms are not kept warm. My torso stays comfortable enough in the cold, but my arms don't. This jacket is good in 40 or 50 weather but as far as the bitter cold, it simply is not good enough.

It provides sufficient warmth down to about 25 degrees. If it gets colder than that, you will feel it. It's not nearly as warm as a decent down jacket. Also, the fit is very tight so it doesn't leave much room to wear a sweater under it. I have several other Columbia jackets in size Large that fit me just fine but not this one, it's just too tight. It does look nice though and has nice features like the removable hood, plenty of pockets, and the powder skirt is kind of cool. If you only want to look good in the lift lines and don't care about warmth or comfort, this jacket is for you!

I have purchased my regular size M, it was too large for me, then ordered S size, even that its too big for me. I am planning to return both.

This is not black its a deep Navy Blue, plus it was way too big

Item was defective. Elastic band inside jacket tighter on way side than the other. No way to adjust. Returned.

I am a medium (5'9", 150 lbs). When the coat arrived it was way too big - primarily in the arms. When I held my arms straight out, the coat arms extended at least an inch beyond my fingertips. It was as if arms for an XL were sewn onto the medium coat. I think the coat was constructed out of good materials. I was looking forward to skiing in it this winter but there was no way I was wearing it so I returned it. There were no smalls in stock so I don't know how that would have fit. I ended up going with a coat from another brand which fit much better.

Don't bother unless you want to look like a kid in his dad's clothes. Some very unrealistic sizing here. There's no way I'd go outside in this oversize smock, let alone go skiing. I'd probably end up accumulating so much snow inside, I might as well turn into a snowman.

I was supposed to receive the item today, however you haven't even shipped it yet. How can I give a review for an item I haven't received?

The orange is not as picturedit's a dull burnt orange with a textured weaveand the shell is SUPER stiff. It has long inner cuffs on the sleeves that make ventilation and removing coat difficult. And the powder skirt is not detachable so super annoying if that's not something you need regularly. It went back.

It does not work for Minnesota cold. Brought it for my husband, it does not work in snow and cold winds.

If you have any issues with any of bColumbia's products...good luck. They do not answer their phone and there is no chat available. In other words, you are dead in the water!

The jacket itself is nice and the color, seems like it would be an amazing ski coat. The issue with Columbia I noticed is how they do there jacket cuts. The stomach area is huge very oversized. In the new era of clothing there cuts should me more athletic fit and tapered. I think there brand would expand and get more audience.

The jacket is warm and comfortable but the material is very flimsy. I bought it for skiing. I slid out on my right side and the material on the right arm of the jacket split right open causing the insulation to pop out. I had to duct tape it to finish out the week of skiing. I had a North Face jacket I used for more than 10 years of tree skiing without even a pull in the material. I'll be going back to North Face. I have a lot of Columbia gear that I have been very happy with. I am very disappointed with the quality of this jacket.