I tried the Tarka in a M and a L, and settled on the L. My jacket size is 40 with a 32” waist. After reading reviews across several media sites, the Tarka seemed like the best combination of protection, weight, comfort and quality. It delivers on all fronts though a few tweaks would make it even better. My favorite feature is the side zipper which allows easy donning/doffing and venting for climbs. However the zipper needs to be used carefully as the fine teeth are prone to jamming. The layered pads are certified but lack the ventilation of more perforated viscoelastic designs so this does sit on the warm side over other brands. The Tarka is a beefier zipper, and more ventilated pad material (like Rheon) away from perfect.