Stride-Lite Soft Shell Jacket

This is a great choice for people who will be running in the snow this winter. It's warm, comfortable, protects from snow and rain, comes in dark colors, and has a 360 degree strobe light built into the waist. The ulitimate in winter safety. Unfortunately, it is pretty difficult to turn on and off, especially if you are wearing gloves. Also, my hydration systems covered some or all of the safety strobe lights.

Pros

Cons

Comfort

The StrideLite Soft Shell Jacket is very comfortable in fit, though I don't think I could run it it without a long sleeve shirt underneath. It has a high collar, which is great for keeping my neck warm and snow and rain out of my jacket; an adjustable waist; adjustable wrist size, which keeps my sleeves and gloves snow- and rain-free. It also has 3 handy pockets. The inside pocket is perfect for some cash and an ID, though it might be difficult to get your key out of if you will be standing in the cold at the time. The outside pockets can warm gloveless hands or to hold your keys; I tied mine to the bungee cords (that adjust the waist) that are inside the pocket.

Safety

This jacket certainly adds to the feeling of safety. Cars, bikes, etc. can see you from 1/4 mile in good weather. The dark colors this jacket is offered in help you stand out from snowy landscapes and the light helps you stand out from the darkness of the night. All around this is one of the safest products you can have in the winter, especially if you run at night.

Ease Of Use

The jacket is easy to use as far as wearing it is concerned. The zippers are easy to use, even for gloved fingers. The same is true for the wrist adjustments. However, I found it hard to turn the light on without gloves, so I can only imagine how difficult it might be with gloves on. This can easily be fixed by turning the light on before you get out in the cold, but is a little annoying nonetheless.