Sorry – I missed your post. I use XP so I am not sure how it gets on with Vista, sorry.

Woody – nice but too expensive 🙁

What is the quality of Christopher Ward watches like? They are pretty “inexpensive” (plus I can get a 10% discount)

And to the first questions – my Tag is steel, don’t need any features apart from waterproof, date and a face that really does show up at night (my Tag is readable all night)

Yep, a Blur 4X would be perfect for you and £600 ish seems like a good price.

Amit – Thanks for the write-up. Two questions:

1) Do you think the sleeves on the Sugio Firewall about the same length as on the Phantom?
2) Can the Sugio Firewall be worn without a base layer, like the Phantom?

damitamit – Can you let us know what you think of it when you get it, especially arm length and overall warmth (I am hoping mega long arms and not too warm!)

Don’t know for sure but I don’t see why not. They just glue on. THey seem pretty robust too.

You can get Gore-tex patches online like this:

http://www.nevisport.com/storedetail-2-product_id-461271

I got a black one.

(I did the same to my eVent jacket on its first outing…and then again on its third outing!)

The summary seemed to be something along the lines of – warm and almost waterproof, very fitted arms so can only fit base-layers underneath.

Reading the article, my concern was that it will be too warm. They gave their top recommendation to the Gore Oxygen OS, largely because it is thinner than most softshells and so is more versatile.

Did Cyclesurgery offer any advice on sizing? I am tempted by one of these but am not going to be near a store this week. My issue is sleeve length primarily.

If you don’t want to spend a load of cash get one of these:

SRAM PC971

Another vote for the Blur 4X if you can find one. It would seem to meet all your requirements. I haven’t managed to get many photos of mine but anyway…

gingerflash – thanks. My N2S/Phantom is XL (mainly for the sleeve length – I am 6’3″, skinny with orangutan arms). If I go for the Firewall I think I will risk the XL as I can’t believe I will be an XXL!

Regarding the Stealth, it sounds like it might be too warm for me. I have a fantastic Assos Airblock jacket that I bought a few years ago but have barely used because it is just too warm

I’ll have a look at the Oxygen and Sugoi Firewall.

gingerflash – have you seen a size chart for the Sugio Firewall? I can’t find one online.

If you want another free Firewall try COMODO. If anything it is a bit over-zealous and it can be annoying having to grant permission for access through the firewall (the customised security levels all seem to be “Very Safe” and “Very, Very Safe” or “Off”. But otherwise it seems good (and better than ZoneAlarms that I replaced with it)