WARMER THAN IT LOOKS
When warmth matters most, grab the G50. On a late-fall backpacking trip in New Mexico’s Pecos Wilderness, with temperatures plummeting into the single digits, one tester (who had forgotten his puffy) simply battened down the G50 and said, “I’m fine.” The surprising warmth-to-weight is due to heat-trapping details like a high-loft, fleecelike lining, neck cinch, and gasketlike cuffs. In a snowstorm that same weekend, the G50’s waterproof Conduit shell easily shed wet flakes and moderate winds. 18 oz (L); mountainhardwear.com
Bonus: We loved the inside stash pocket for essential items like a cell phone or snacks.
Bummer: When scrambling, our lankiest testers (six feet plus) found the cut a touch short in the torso and arms.