B-I-G. That was our first thought passing the waterproof breathable Sierra Designs Rad jacket around. The sleeves hung down past our fingertips, and the whole jacket has a boxy feel about it. That said, it's kind of a comfy boxy. If you've got an ape index that's way up there and are looking for something to cover a long torso and longer arms, or just like to wear your shell over your poofy insulation, a little Rad'll do ya.
The Rad is a burly 1lb 9oz jacket, with big beefy zippers and Sierra Design's nice little personal-massage-device-shaped zipper pulls. The pit zips are generous, as is the pocket selection (five external and four internal!) and size. The low-down handwarmer pockets are truly comfortable to rest your mitts in, and the chest pocket has a nice deep lip on it to prevent things from tumbling out when opened. The two sleeve pockets are big, but somewhat awkwardly located: objects in the inside left bicep pocket tend to settle at the inside of your elbow, and the inside right forearm pocket has the same problem with objects settling against the inside of your wrist. On the bright side all exterior zippers (all five!) are waterproof.
Interior pockets are fabulous. All are a stretchy fine mesh, with the two lower pockets being oversized, easily swallowing quart bottles, and the two uppers smaller. The lower left and upper right are zipped, while the upper left and lower right have an elastic opening for quick access. Got all that? One thing the Rad totally gets right: an oversized chin guard that gives you that warm fuzzy feeling even when the helmet compatible hood is down.Full adjustments include hood (3-way!), waist and hem drawcords and rip-and-stick cuffs. The only thing missing is a powder skirt.
Waterproofness and breathability are excellent, with fully taped and sealed PVC-free seams; and don't forget the monster pit zips if you need them. The zipper flap has velcro squares every five inches that do a nice job of keeping the flap secured, and the main zipper is two-way so you can unzip bottom-up if you need to accomodate a harness. The roomy fit does a great job of giving you room to move, whether you're poling hard in the pow or reaching high with tools. Overall, the Rad is an interesting design at a reasonable price point. If you're a cargo cult type who likes to carry a lot of stuff in your jacket, or if you have the wingspan of Tommy Caldwell, the Rad might be your ticket to ride.