As someone who trusted Columbia for reliable winter gear, I was disappointed with the Whirlibird™ V Interchange Jacket during a recent trip to New York City. Despite layering appropriately, I still felt the cold seeping through, especially when the wind picked up. The thermal reflective lining and insulation just didn’t hold up in the kind of chill you expect this jacket to be built for. While the 3 in 1 Interchange system sounds great on paper (it can be worn as a shell, liner, or combined), the overall feel was bulky and awkward. The fit felt boxy and movement was restricted, which is surprising for something marketed toward active winter wear. The most unexpected letdown was the stitching and construction quality. For a Columbia product, I expected a level of durability that simply wasn’t there. Some of the seams looked sloppily done, and the overall finish felt like a step down from what the brand usually delivers. Sure, it has the bells and whistles: underarm vents, adjustable hood, decent pocket space. But none of that really matters if the core job of keeping you warm and feeling well protected isn’t handled. In short, this jacket looked good on paper but didn’t perform when it counted. If you’re expecting serious warmth and high quality construction, you might want to keep looking.
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