Fast and Light
In a word: dense. That’s the best way to describe this thin but surprisingly tough and weatherproof jacket. Because its fabric is much more tightly woven than most soft shells’, it was, according to one tester, “way more windproof and burly than I would have thought.” Even testers who found the cut too trim to comfortably layer over thicker midlayers, and those who bemoaned the dearth of pockets (there’s just one small one on the chest), still gave it a soundly positive endorsement. The reason? Its combination of packability and protection made it a dependable layer on just about every light-and-fast mission. Not digging the M.C. Escher print? It’s also available in solid colors. 11.5 oz;
Wind/Water Resistance: 3.9
Breathability: 4.2