Every year, technical shells get lighter, more breathable, and more tricked-out with clever features. This year鈥檚 bunch represent a banner year in all departments: Designers have come up with stellar options in pretty much every corner of the category, whether you want a superlight, waterproof shell or a fully featured, alpine-ready shield. These ten 飞辞尘别苍鈥檚 technical shells impressed testers enough to rise to the top of the pile.

The Winners at a Glance: Hardshells

Best Backup Rain Shell: Salewa Pedroc 2.5L PTX Light Jacket

Best Lightweight Backpacking Shell: Outdoor Vitals Tushar Rain Jacket

Best All-Arounder: Norrona Senja Gore-Tex Active Jacket

Most Comfortable: Columbia Mazama Trail Rain Shell

Most Stylish: Cotopaxi Cielo Rain Trench

Most Bombproof: Maloja TolpeiM

The Winners at a Glance: Softshells

Editor鈥檚 Choice: Crazy Jacket Fly

Best For Trail Running: Montane Featherlite

Most Luxurious Softshell: Mountain Equipment Aerotherm

Best Lined Softshell: Patagonia R1 Cross Strata Hoody

How We Test

Number of Testers: 36

Number of Jackets Tested: 40

Number of Miles Hiked, Biked, and Run: 1,117

Highest Elevation Achieved While Testing: 14,158 feet

Most Consecutive Days of Precipitation: 10 days straight in Anchorage, Alaska

Fastest Wind Weathered: 40 mph in Ram Valley, Alaska

To give this season鈥檚 crop of 40 new hardshells and softshells a workout, we tapped 36 backpackers, trail runners, mountain bikers, hunters, and mountain guides across North and South America. These women spent at least six weeks putting their shells through the paces, from cycling in Jackson, Wyoming to trail running in Vermont鈥檚 Green Mountains to building a cabin in continuous rain in Sitka, Alaska. Testers evaluated key criteria like weatherproofness, breathability, durability, fit, and features, then reported back their hard-won performance details.

Meet Our Lead Testers

Elisabeth Kwak-Hefferan

Missoula, Montana-based Elisabeth Kwak-Hefferan is the 飞辞尘别苍鈥檚 shells category manager for 国产吃瓜黑料. She鈥檚 been testing and reviewing technical jackets for 11 years, a gig that has taken her from Turkey to Ireland to Colombia and many points between.

Becca Stubbs

Becca Stubbs has been one of her tried-and-true testers almost as long, and Stubbs鈥檚 recent move to rainy Sitka, Alaska bodes well for her gear reviewing future.

Annette McGivney

Southwest Colorado-based Annette McGivney has decades of gear testing experience and no fear of hiking during monsoon season.

The Reviews: The Best 奥辞尘别苍鈥檚 Hardshells of 2023

Best Backup Rain Shell: Salewa Pedroc 2.5L PTX Light Jacket ($230)

Weight: 5.3 oz. (w鈥檚 M)
Sizes: XS-XXL
Pros: Superlight and packable, yet breathable
Cons: Small hood, especially with hair in a ponytail; tighter-fitting chest means busty women might need to size up

This shell鈥檚 wispy weight was the first thing to draw our attention. But when our Pacific Northwest tester Ciera Shaver reported off-the-charts breathability, we did a double-take. Many shells in the ultralight, just-in-case category can get swampy, but whether she was hiking in humid, 50-degree weather in Washington鈥檚 San Juan Islands or bike commuting on misty Seattle mornings, 鈥淭his shell kept me dry, but enabled me to still exercise without getting overheated,鈥� said The proprietary 2.5-layer fabric amply fended off precipitation, elastic cuffs kept out drips but were stretchy enough to slide up easily, and the adjustable hem was simple to cinch even while on a bike. While it packs down to tennis ball size, you still get two hand pockets and a full zipper. A few dings: The small, elastic-lined hood doesn鈥檛 reach to the hairline when wearing a ponytail, and though it zips up to just under the nose, doing so makes the hood too tight to wear. The streamlined cut accommodates a light midlayer, but a tighter fit around the shoulders and chest combined with the 12-denier nylon face fabric 鈥渕ade me worried I鈥檇 tear it while biking, though it never did,鈥� Shaver said.

Bottom Line: The Salewa Pedroc is a great pick for active pursuits like trail running, hiking, and cycling. Its weight and packability are ideal for precipitation insurance while backpacking, but it鈥檚 not durable enough for extended or rugged wear.

Best Lightweight Backpacking Shell: Outdoor Vitals Tushar Rain Jacket ($230)

Weight: 7.4 oz. (unisex large)
Sizes: S-XXL
Pros: Lightweight and protective, with body-mapped fabrics to enhance durability and breathability in key zones
Cons: Unisex fit means smaller bodies are out of luck; tight wrists and small hood

If you like your shells light and diminutive鈥攖his one packs down to the size of a small cantaloupe鈥攜et able to handle backpacking in most weather, the Tushar is a worthy contender. The body-mapped construction pairs a more durable, hydrophobic version of Toray鈥檚 Torain 3D membrane on the back and shoulders to prevent pack strap abrasion, with a more breathable, hydrophilic version of the same membrane on the chest and armpits. The result kept sweat manageable when temps were in the 60s and below (breathability suffers in warmer weather, though pit zips help), while also protecting our tester during a downpour in Colorado鈥檚 Canyons of the Ancients National Monument. 鈥淲hen it was raining hard, I appreciated the long sleeves that covered my hands and the long drape that covered my butt,鈥� said tester , 鈥渢hough I wished for some type of visor on the hood to shield my face.鈥� The supple, 20-denier nylon face fabric is quiet, not rustly, a roomy cut allows for layering, and you get one chest pocket big enough for a smartphone. But the elastic-lined hood 鈥渂arely fits over a ball cap鈥� and elastic cuffs 鈥渙ffer no wiggle room, so I couldn鈥檛 pull up the sleeve to look at my watch,鈥� McGivney reported. Fit note: Unisex sizing means women should size down (get a medium if you normally wear 飞辞尘别苍鈥檚 large), and there are no options for 飞辞尘别苍鈥檚 small or extra-small.

Bottom Line: Weight-conscious hikers and backpackers will like the Outdoor Vitals Tushar for mild to moderate weather, but its small hood and moderate breathability aren鈥檛 ideal for extended rainy days.

Best All-Arounder: Norr酶na Senja Gore-Tex Active Jacket ($549)

Weight: 9.7 oz. (w鈥檚 L)
Sizes: XS-L
Pros: Fully featured yet lightweight; highly protective; very breathable
Cons: Pricey; some awkward features

When you don鈥檛 want to compromise on weather protection, breathability, or weight, the Senja lets you have it all. Its three-layer material with a Gore-Tex Active membrane (Gore鈥檚 lightest option) passed the 鈥渟hovel 4,000 pounds of dirt in the heavy rain鈥� trial for tester 鈥淎fter hours of rain, my clothes were perfectly dry.鈥� It performed just as well on a wet, 50-degree hike to Colorado鈥檚 12,979-foot Mt. Toll, keeping sweat down with the help of pit zips and extra vents: one on the back (with mesh) and two zippered side vents. Features are a mixed bag: Some, like a rump-covering hem and helmet-compatible hood with a sturdy brim, drew cheers. But the small wrist pocket and 鈥渂utt pocket that allows you to sit on your phone鈥� felt awkward, and an internal waist strap (meant to make stowing the shell in its own back pocket convenient) poked uncomfortably under a hipbelt. The streamlined cut fit a couple of thinner layers, and the 20-denier nylon face proved durable over several months of testing. Of course, there is one compromise: It costs as much as a cross-country flight.

Bottom Line: The Norr酶na Senja is a great wet-weather shell for those who want features without too much weight.

Most Comfortable: Columbia Mazama Trail Rain Shell ($230)

Weight: 14.1 oz. (w鈥檚 S)
Sizes: XS-XXL
Pros: Excellent wicking and next-to-skin feel
Cons: Bulky

Kiss that muggy feeling goodbye in this uber-comfortable shell. Not only does the honeycomb lining, made from brushed tricot polyester, feel super-cozy, it also works overtime to banish sweat. 鈥淲hen bushwhacking through thick, wet brush over my head in the Quinault Rainforest, I kept the hood up and pit zips closed,鈥� reported tester Kristen Phillips, a field biologist on Washington鈥檚 Olympic Peninsula. 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 feel sweaty at all despite the humid, low-70s temperature.鈥� The raised lining wicked moisture and kept the shell off of her skin. 鈥淓ven in a sleeveless baselayer, I was very dry,鈥� said Phillips. The proprietary 2.5-layer fabric works from the outside in too, of course鈥攊t sheltered her in an hours-long rainforest deluge that completely soaked her softshell pants. The 40-denier nylon face shrugged off scrambles through blackberry and devil鈥檚 club, while the two-way stretchy material provided full mobility. The streamlined cut works best with a thin layer or two underneath, and the longer-cut hem and sleeves are better for taller, long-limbed hikers. You also get a standard set of features: adjustable hood and cuffs, two pockets (ding: the hand pockets sit under a hipbelt), and pit zips. Weight and bulk sit in the middle of the pack.

Bottom Line: Hot-natured hikers and humid-weather explorers, the Columbia Mazama is for you.

Most Stylish: Cotopaxi Cielo Rain Trench ($200)

Weight: 14 oz. (w鈥檚 M)
Sizes: XXS-XXL
Pros: Long cut for extra protection; stretchy; nice price
Cons: Bulky; not very breathable

Maybe your waterproof gear gets the most use when you鈥檙e walking to the subway. Does that mean you need to buy a second jacket for drippy dayhikes? Not with this versatile, trench-cut number, which has the style for everyday use plus the chops for leaving the pavement. The stretchy 2.5-layer fabric (100-percent recycled polyester face) stood up to two days of steady rain and 20-mph winds in Colorado鈥檚 Collegiate Peaks, and the long cut adds warmth and protection without impeding mobility. The fit is spacious: 鈥淲hile backpacking in the Buffalo Creek Wilderness, I comfortably wore the coat with just a t-shirt under it during the day, then added a fleece, vest, and puffy,鈥� said tester 鈥淚 was still able to maneuver to build a fire and retrieve water from a creek.鈥� You get a cinchable hood, waist, and cuffs, plus two huge hand pockets and a freestanding collar for extra wind protection. Tradeoff: Testers steamed up hiking even in 45-degree, windy weather, and there are no pit zips.

Bottom Line: A casual shell that can stretch into wet-weather hikes, the Cotopaxi Cielo isn鈥檛 breathable or packable enough for more than that.

Most Bombproof: Maloja TolpeiM ($599)

Weight: 15.6 oz. (w鈥檚 M)
Sizes: XS-XL
Pros: Burly; breathable; fully featured; four-season
Cons: Heavier; spendy

When your objectives include the windiest, snowiest, highest-elevation destinations, reach for the burliest shell in our test. 鈥淚 got stuck in Puerto Montt, Chile, for a week,鈥� said tester and guide 鈥淚t was raining like crazy with tons of wind, but I was the only one who stayed dry day after day.鈥� Thank the proprietary three-layer fabric, plus storm-ready features like a two-way-adjustable hood (which fits over a helmet), super-high collar, and adjustable cuffs. And though it鈥檚 light and packable enough for summer backpacking鈥攊t smushes to Nalgene size鈥� its 50-percent recycled polyester face also handled shouldering skis on a backcountry tour in the Argentinian Andes. But you don鈥檛 sacrifice breathability: 鈥淚 wore this jacket when bootpacking up couloirs and felt like it was very breathable, and I loved the pit zips,鈥� McNeil reports. More four-season features: four pockets (two chest and two hand) that fit skins or gloves and a medium cut that accommodates winter layers. But all that protection comes at a steep price.

Bottom Line: The Maloja TolpeiM is a shell for heavy-duty backpacking, mountaineering, ski touring, and alpine climbing missions.

The Reviews: The Best 奥辞尘别苍鈥檚 Softshells of 2023

Editor鈥檚 Choice: Crazy Jacket Fly ($220)

Weight: 1.6 oz. (w鈥檚 S)
Sizes: XS-L
笔谤辞蝉:听Class-leading weight and packability; not clammy; excellent wind protection
颁辞苍蝉:听Few features; fragile fabric

It鈥檚 become cliche to describe ultralight windshells as 鈥渂arely there鈥濃�攁nd if we鈥檙e talking weight alone, that鈥檚 fair enough. But in terms of breathability and comfort, you can definitely tell you鈥檙e wearing the average wind jacket. That鈥檚 why the Jacket Fly, from Italian brand Crazy, impressed us. Despite smushing down to baseball size and weighing less than two ballpoint pens (the lightest on the market, as far as we can tell), this shell鈥檚 most laudable quality is how you don鈥檛 notice it when it鈥檚 on鈥攂ut miss it when it鈥檚 not. 鈥淚t鈥檚 the first windshell 滨鈥檝别 found measurably more comfortable and breathable than the ultralight rainshells in my closet,鈥� said tester Ariella Gintzler, who loved it for backpacking in breezy, low-60s conditions in New Mexico鈥檚 Cibola National Forest and sunny, 50-degree runs near Santa Fe. 鈥淎nd the fabric is incredibly soft and stretchy.鈥� An acrylic resin anti-stick coating on the inside also prevents clamminess. None of that means you鈥檒l sacrifice wind protection: 鈥淒uring a blustery bike ride at 8,000 feet, my core stayed extremely warm,鈥� noted Eastern Sierra tester Lara Kaylor. 鈥淚t was like the wind was just whipping around me but not actually cutting through to my skin.鈥� Features are necessarily spare in a jacket this light, but the elastic-lined hood adds welcome warmth, the elastic cuffs stay in place, and the collar is cut wide enough not to rub against your chin when fully zipped. Note: The 7-denier, 鈥渢issue paper鈥� nylon deserves careful treatment, though we didn鈥檛 rip our samples. It all adds up to one more cliche that鈥檚 actually true, said Gintzler: 鈥淭his thing is so light, tiny, and comfortable, there鈥檚 never a reason to leave it at home.鈥�

Bottom Line: The Crazy Jacket Fly is the best, lightest windshell we鈥檝e seen.

Best For Trail Running: Montane Featherlite Windproof Jacket ($109)

Weight: 3.2 oz. (W鈥檚 M)
Sizes: XXS-XL
Pros: Really is featherlight; great breathability; nice price
Cons: Delicate; few features

Do you own a scale specifically for weighing gear? Then this ultralight windshell should make the cut. And even non-ounce-counters will appreciate the comfortable breeze protection this mandarin orange-sized piece provides. 鈥淚 wore this trail running in Salida, Colorado,鈥� reported tester . 鈥淚t was 43 degrees and sunny, so I assumed I鈥檇 have to take it off, but I kept it on for a 90-minute run and never felt hot,鈥� though it effectively blocked mild to moderate winds. At this weight, features are few: a full zipper, chest pocket that fits a smartphone, a hem cinch, and reflective spots on the back. It鈥檚 slightly stretchy, with a trim fit and long sleeves with partially elastic cuffs that stay in place. The 20-denier nylon with a DWR treatment demands TLC, though we didn鈥檛 manage to tear our sample.

Bottom Line: Ultralight trail runners and fastpackers will appreciate this streamlined windshell, especially if they鈥檙e on a budget.

Most Luxurious Softshell: Mountain Equipment Aerotherm ($280)

Weight: 9.5 oz. (w鈥檚 M)
Sizes: XS-XL
Pros: Great weather protection and breathability; full features; comfortable lining
Cons: Expensive for a softshell

This premium softshell does all the things well. Wind protection is dialed, commented tester Miranda Mosis: 鈥淭his has become my go-to for biking to work in Jackson, Wyoming. Temps are in the 40s, wind speed is 20 to 25 mph, and it does a great job of blocking the wind and keeping me warm.鈥� Details like a full-coverage, rollaway hood (it doesn鈥檛 fit a helmet), long-cut sleeves, and effective water resistance to light rain add to the protection factor. As we鈥檇 expect, breathability is excellent, and a soft, micro-waffle polyester lining 鈥渞eally keeps it from sticking to the skin,鈥� Mosis reported. The 20-denier nylon, double-weave fabric stood up to snaggy sagebrush in the Tetons. You also get three spacious pockets, an adjustable hem, and elastic wrists, and the stretchy material fits several layers underneath. And even with those features and durability, it still packs down to honeydew melon size.

Bottom Line: The Aerotherm is the Glenfiddich of this season鈥檚 softshells, with a matching price tag.

Best Lined Softshell: Patagonia R1 Cross Strata Hoody ($189)

Weight: 10.5 oz. (w鈥檚 S)
Sizes: XXS-XXL
Pros: In warm weather, it鈥檚 a midlayer and softshell in one
Cons: Constricting cuffs

Many jackets claim to work as both midlayers and outer layers. This one actually does. As an outer shell, the DWR-coated, 90-percent recycled polyester, 10-percent spandex double-weave fabric provides excellent wind protection. It kept Colorado tester toasty in 30-mph gusts on top of 14,006-foot Huron Peak. 鈥淢y other body parts were chilled, but my core was warm and comfy with just a short-sleeve wool shirt underneath,鈥� she said. And it was breathable enough to wear from windy days in the mid-30s to sunny, 60-degree hikes, though we did have to unzip for venting at the upper end of the range. But the Cross Strata also served as a comfortable midlayer under a hardshell, thanks to a light-yet-cushy, fleecy zigzag pattern on the inside and ample stretchiness. That flexibility makes it a true multitasker. 鈥淚f temps were above 40 degrees, I don鈥檛 think you鈥檇 need anything extra, like a puffy,鈥� said Mino, who took it backpacking in Wyoming鈥檚 Wind River Range. The feature set includes pack-compatible hand pockets, a chest pocket with extra pouch that鈥檚 perfect for sunglasses, and an elasticized hood that fits well over ponytails and ball caps. Cut is slim, with a shorter hem (not ideal for taller people) and frustratingly tight wrist cuffs.

Bottom Line: Truly versatile enough to earn its 鈥渃rosslayer鈥� moniker, the Patagonia R1 Cross Strata will save space in your pack and your gear closet.

How to Buy Shells

Hardshell vs. Softshell

Your first decision: Do you need a fully waterproof jacket, or would you rather have a bit more breathability and a bit less weather protection? If it鈥檚 the former, buy a hardshell; if the latter, a softshell is for you. Though technical hardshells are getting more breathable by the season, their waterproof membranes will still impede body heat from escaping to some degree. Another significant difference between the two is stretch. Softshells traditionally have a lot more flex to them, making them more comfortable to wear, but there are a handful of truly stretchy hardshells on the market these days as well.

What to Look for in a Hardshell

Durability

Think about what activities you鈥檒l be doing most. If you鈥檙e a hardcore mountaineer, you鈥檒l need a durable shell (check the fabric鈥檚 denier; the higher the number, the tougher it is) with high-quality features like a helmet-friendly hood and large pockets.

Weight

These bombproof shells are clutch in mountain weather, but they鈥檙e the heaviest and among the most expensive available. If you鈥檙e a dayhiker or ultralight backpacker (or just live in a dry climate), a much lighter hardshell will save space and weight in your pack.

Feature Set

Climbing? Make sure your shell fits over your helmet, has a harness-compatible hem and pockets, and enough stretch for you to move freely.

Breathability

Breathability is the major X factor in all hardshells. Different people prefer different technologies, but air-permeable membranes (like NeoShell, Outdoor Research鈥檚 AscentShell, and Pertex Shield Air) and the Gore-Tex family of fabrics are all good bets. Pit zips and long side zips or vents allow you to cool down quickly, no matter the membrane.

What to Look for in a Softshell

Softies are further divided into 鈥渞egular鈥� softshells and windshells. Windshells are the lightest of the light, meant to block wind and add a touch of warmth, and ideal for trail running and dayhiking. More traditional softshells weigh a bit more and often have the same features hardshells do, such as hoods, adjustability, and pockets. They usually provide a decent amount of water resistance, but won鈥檛 save you in a downpour.

When it鈥檚 time to upgrade your gear, don鈥檛 let the old stuff go to waste鈥揹onate it for a good cause and divert it from the landfill. our partner, Gear Fix, will repair and resell your stuff for free! Just box up your retired items,听, and send them off. We鈥檒l donate 100 percent of the proceeds to听.

The post The Best 奥辞尘别苍鈥檚 Shells of 2023 appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

Picture Organic Abstral 2.5L ($165)

Most Versatile Hard Shell

If you鈥檙e looking for a solid jacket for most conditions, at less than half the cost of the competition, this is your hard shell. From Appalachian drizzles to Rocky Mountain downpours, the Abstral kept us protected. It offers the full suite of features, including an adjustable hem and cuffs, a helmet-compatible hood, and two zippered hand pockets, and it packs up to the size of a grapefruit in its stow pocket. The catch? The details aren鈥檛 as dialed as they are on more expensive shells. The zippers are finicky, the cuff-adjustment strips are uncomfortably stiff, and the hood struggles to stay up over a ponytail. The 2.5-layer construction kept us comfortable on a rainy run in Montana, but got steamy backpacking on steep stretches of Virginia鈥檚 Appalachian Trail in the sixties. But these are annoyances, not deal-breakers. You get enough stretch to move freely, and the polyester interior feels smooth, not sticky, on bare arms. As for eco cred, the Abstral鈥檚 polyester face fabric is 46 percent recycled, and the DWR is PFC-free. 13.8 oz (men鈥檚 S鈥揦XL) / 10.5 oz (飞辞尘别苍鈥檚 XS鈥揦L)

Goldwin Fast Shell Light ($290)

Most Breathable Hard Shell

Despite what ads tell you, no waterproof shell is completely breathable鈥攂locking water requires some impediments to vapor transfer. The best jackets simply minimize that compromise. The Fast Shell Light does just that with Pertex鈥檚 new, air-permeable Shield Air fabric, which has a membrane made of randomly assorted nanofibers. The fibers crisscross each other, forming tiny pores that allow air to escape directly (unlike membranes that allow only moisture vapor to pass through, like Gore-Tex). It was the most breathable material we tested this year. That, plus the ultralight nylon face and lining fabrics, kept us from overheating, even on tough slogs. 鈥淲hile hiking a ridge in Gatineau Park with my toddler on my back in 40-degree weather, I was happy I could keep the elements off me without getting soggy inside,鈥� said a Canadian tester. Still, we stayed dry in a three-hour downpour at Mont Tremblant National Park, helped by the hem, cuffs, and nonadjustable hood鈥攏ot bad for a jacket that fits inside a coffee mug. Boo: no 飞辞尘别苍鈥檚 version. 5.9 oz (men鈥檚 S鈥揦L)

Mountain Hardwear Stretch Ozonic ($200)

Best All-Around Hard Shell

The Stretch Ozonic lives at the nexus of price, performance, durability, and light weight. Its three-way adjustable hood (not helmet-compatible) amply covers the head and zips over the chin, but is small enough to remain unobtrusive when not in use. You also get a chest pocket big enough for light gloves, plus two mesh-lined hand pockets and a cinchable hem and cuffs, all in a package that smushes down to the size of a large tomato. The 50-denier, 100 percent recycled polyester fabric has a PFC-free DWR and feels soft, not plasticky. One tester appreciated its stretchiness on a scrambly, brushy traverse from Lilian Lake to Ribbon Lake in the Canadian Rockies and found that it held up without a tear. And the 2.5-layer proprietary construction sheltered us from all-day rain on Pennsylvania鈥檚 Bucktail Path and wind-driven drizzle on the shores of Lake Erie. The moderate fit worked well with multiple layers underneath, and the longer cut of the sleeves and hem kept drips out while biking. 11.3 oz (飞辞尘别苍鈥檚 XS鈥揦L) / 10.9 oz (men鈥檚 S鈥揦XL)

Marmot Precip Pro 3L ($150)

Best Value Hard Shell

When the going got tough, this shell kept going, without hurting our wallets. One New Hampshire tester brushed its 75-denier polyester face through poky young evergreens, shouldered an ax, and sawed branches while doing trail work on Mount Moosilauke. 鈥淣o signs of wear at all,鈥� he said. 鈥淚鈥檓 confident wearing it for bushwhacking through thick brush.鈥� Weather protection is equally bombproof. We stayed dry in full-day rains, thanks to an adjustable hood, effective storm flaps over the zippers, and a cinchable hem that turned back cold White Mountain winds. That toughness comes with a breathability tax. Marmot鈥檚 three-layer NanoPro material 鈥渇elt a bit steamy on a drizzly, 60-degree trail run in Massachusetts鈥檚 Middlesex Fells Reservation,鈥� said a tester. Though, pit zips do help. We loved the relaxed fit, which accommodates a puffy underneath, and the plentiful features, including smooth-running zippers, adjustable cuffs, and large chest pockets that swallow gloves. The whole package rolls down to the size of a water bottle. 14 oz (men鈥檚 S鈥揦XL) / 13 oz (飞辞尘别苍鈥檚 XS鈥揦L)

Adidas Terrex Agravic Pro Windweave ($170)

Lightest Soft Shell

This soft shell is about as close as you can get to an invisible wind-blocking force field. The Agravic Pro weighs as much as a couple of string cheeses and packs to tennis-ball size, yet it held its own against gusts up to 30 miles per hour. It was all that one tester needed to keep going comfortably when the wind kicked up halfway through a trail run in the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. The shell鈥檚 woven material combines two different densities of nylon, with a more air-permeable weave on the torso, upper arms, and shoulders. The combo jettisoned our tester鈥檚 body heat on days into the forties, though we felt clammier when temps and humidity climbed. The DWR kept one Sedona, Arizona, mountain biker dry in a 15-minute shower, but we probably wouldn鈥檛 push it beyond that. Adidas somehow managed to cram a few features into 2.7 ounces, too, like a head-hugging hood and asymmetrical (read: no chin rub) half-length chest zipper that鈥檚 great for venting. The lightweight, 10- and 30-denier fabric needs TLC, but it stood up to daypack straps and brushes against pi帽on branches without visible wear. 2.5 oz (飞辞尘别苍鈥檚 XS鈥揦L) / 2.7 oz (men鈥檚 S鈥揦XL)

Rab Windveil Pull-On ($100)

Most Breathable Soft Shell

For highly aerobic days spent trail running, mountain biking, and steep hiking, we reached for this 眉berlight, super-stretchy shell. 鈥淚t prevented me from getting swampy, protected me from the occasional drizzle, and kept the wind bearable on the cooler summit,鈥� reported one tester after a 16-mile, 50-degree hike outside Jackson, Wyoming. Polyester mesh jersey fabric on the upper back, sides, and armpits proved highly effective at moving heat even under backpacks and running vests. That鈥檚 helped by the deep, half-zip front, which has a snap closure that keeps the shell鈥檚 chest panels from flapping around in the breeze when you have it unzipped for ventilation. The Windveil鈥檚 trim, body-hugging cut moved with us and fit best over just a T-shirt or base layer, and it packs down to peach size. Trade-off: there鈥檚 no hood, but you get an inner pocket that fits a smartphone or headlamp, a cinchable hem, and half-elastic cuffs that are cut long over the hands for extra protection against the elements. The 20-denier nylon fabric on the main body keeps weight down, yet we suffered no snags when running on overgrown trails. 4.1 oz (men鈥檚 S鈥揦XL) / 3.5 oz (飞辞尘别苍鈥檚 S鈥揦L)

Montane Krypton Hoodie ($155)

Warmest Soft Shell

Cozy doesn鈥檛 often come to mind when you think of shells, but that鈥檚 exactly what testers said about this extra-comfortable jacket. The polyester-elastane fabric is woven to be smooth on the outside and brushed on the inside, and it kept us warm into the low forties on day hikes, bike rides, belay sessions, and camping trips. 鈥淭he fuzzy lining and warm, fleecy pockets felt so inviting on early-morning hikes,鈥� said a tester. 鈥淎nd the hood was so cozy to pull up while camping in Washington鈥檚 Twanoh State Park.鈥� Trade-off: all that fluff means it鈥檚 heavy, bulky (packing down a little smaller than a football), and not breathable enough for intense exercise. But it鈥檚 perfect for mellow activities in cool or variable weather. The DWR-treated fabric shed drizzle for 45 minutes along Washington鈥檚 Hood Canal and blocked gusts up to 30 miles per hour at Snoqualmie Pass. We particularly liked how the helmet-compatible hood鈥檚 wired brim kept rain out of our eyes. You also get two hand pockets, a chest pocket, and a high collar that seals out breezes. The cut is trim and short, so consider sizing up to wear it with more than a base layer. 15.9 oz (飞辞尘别苍鈥檚 XS鈥揦L) / 18.9 oz (men鈥檚 S鈥揦XL)

Mountain Equipment Firefox ($475)

Best Alpine Hard Shell

Whether we were perched on Liberty Bell in the North Cascades, descending from the Grand Teton in a thunderstorm, or hiking Alaska鈥檚 Eagle Peak in a deluge, we were always glad to have this shell. It proved impenetrable to precipitation, and it struck the ideal balance of mobility, toughness, and packability for above-treeline exploits. The Firefox鈥檚 smart design features shine in the alpine: hand pockets sit above a harness and hipbelt, articulated sleeves and a longer-than-average hem let us reach freely without hiking it up, and the three-way-adjustable hood fits over streamlined helmets. Caveat: the hood was too small for one tester to belay comfortably, and the trim fit works best over a base layer and light midlayer. The 30-denier nylon face shrugged off granite scraping, and the latest Gore-Tex Active membrane (one of Gore鈥檚 lighter, more breathable offerings) plus 11-inch-long pit zips (on the men鈥檚 jacket) give above-average breathability. 鈥淲inds were gusting at 30 miles per hour with temps in the thirties as we left the saddle of the Grand Teton at 9,000 feet,鈥� reported one tester. 鈥淓ven then, this jacket kept me protected and comfortable.鈥� 9.9 oz (飞辞尘别苍鈥檚 8鈥�16) / 11.6 oz (men鈥檚 S鈥揦XL)

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The first ski jacket I ever owned was an anorak, a pullover shell with a three-quarter zip down from the collar and a big kangaroo pocket on the front. I loved it. It was bright and two-toned and captured a specific period of ski fashion that can only be summarized as 鈥渓oud and of questionable taste.鈥� Ah, the early 鈥�90s.听

Anoraks disappeared from the ski fashion landscape at some point later that decade. They were all the rage for a few years, and then suddenly they were gone, replaced by jackets that鈥攇et this鈥攝ipped all the way down. It鈥檚 as if the world collectively decided that anoraks weren鈥檛 the best option for performance. And the world was right. Pulling your shell over your head is a pain in the ass, especially if you鈥檙e wearing a helmet. Ditching one large pocket for several smaller pockets makes sense if you鈥檙e stashing a phone, wallet, a flask, and a burrito. Maybe the advent of the jacket was spurred by our need to carry more stuff. Who knows.

So I was shocked to see anoraks come back into vogue in the past few years. I lost count of the number of park rats and groms wearing the three-quarter-zip outer layer during a recent ski trip to Tahoe. But it鈥檚 not just kids; watch the latest Warren Miller film and you鈥檒l spot . Most major ski brands offer at least one anorak in their lineups this season, and a handful of more freeski-oriented companies carry a few different options. Volcom outfitted the in a pretty sick one this year. Picture Organic Clothing keeps adding more anoraks to its lineup: 鈥淚t鈥檚 an interesting style, because its origin dates back to over a century ago, but we consider the anorak to be modern and young,鈥� says Julien Durant, the brand鈥檚 co-founder. 鈥淲e like the fact that it can be put on like a sweater and that they have a stylish look for apr猫s or winter days around town.鈥�

Some of those new anoraks look a lot like the shell I loved back in the day: loud, built to stand out in a crowd. And I have to admit, I want one. More specifically, I want to wear my old anorak again. It鈥檚 long gone now鈥攄onated or lost in one of my moves across the country.听

Like all nostalgic urges, I鈥檓 not actually yearning for the thing itself; I鈥檓 yearning for the stage of life I was experiencing when I had that thing. Middle-aged men who buy the same convertible Mustang they drove during their senior year of high school don鈥檛 actually want the car itself鈥攖hey want to be prom king again. They want to throw touchdowns and go to the state finals one more time. So do I really want that anorak back, or do I want a piece of my youth back? Sigh.听

For a minute, I convinced myself not to pursue my anorak urges because I don鈥檛 want to be that old guy wearing his high school letter jacket. But I was in Jackson Hole recently, and a friend, who鈥檚 in her forties, raved about her new ($269), and there wasn鈥檛 a nostalgic sentiment in her reasoning. 鈥淚t鈥檚 the kangaroo pocket,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 want a layer without a kangaroo pocket.鈥澨�

There鈥檚 something special about being able to hold hands with yourself inside the warmth of a womb-like front pocket. It鈥檚 comforting. It鈥檚 not just nostalgia driving this resurgence鈥攖here is something to the design.听

has been a pro freeskier for more than 20 years, so he鈥檚 seen a few ski trends come and go. This season, he鈥檚 rocking ($799). I asked him why, and he swears the anorak is a better layer for skiing than a jacket. 鈥淚t has features for skiing I love, like the vent in the front with a long two-way zipper, full pit venting on both sides, and extra length in the back to cover your bum. Try this anorak on a harsh day outside and compare it to a normal jacket, and you will see why I choose it.鈥澨�

He鈥檚 on to something: the fewer seams and zippers there are for water to get through on the front of your jacket, the more likely you are to stay dry. And the anoraks made today are nothing like my shell from the 鈥�90s. I don鈥檛 even think mine was waterproof. The kangaroo pocket didn鈥檛 even zip shut. Its Velcro closures never stuck. But N忙ss insists that today鈥檚 tops are loaded with the best tech. His enthusiasm convinced me to give the ($399) a go. I like the retro two-tone design, the partial-zip front, hood, and kangaroo pocket. It鈥檚 everything I loved about my old one, only this layer has a ripstop Cordura face that鈥檚 windproof, water-resistant, and tough enough to handle tree skiing. The shoulders, cuffs, and lower torso have an extra waterproof layer, so it can handle a snowstorm or series of falls. The whole thing is insulated with Primaloft鈥檚 synthetic Gold Aerogel, which is crazy light and warm. In addition to the kangaroo pocket, you get one for your phone and two on your chest.

After wearing the Lofoten for a week in Tahoe and a few days around my local hills in the southern Appalachians, I鈥檓 convinced that the anorak is back, and it鈥檚 not just my overdeveloped sense of nostalgia. The anorak might be the best of yesterday and today blended into one layer. Is it perfect? No, you still have to pull the thing over your head. But I think the kangaroo pocket tips the scale in its favor.

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When you live in the southern Appalachians, like I do, you have to ignore the weather forecast鈥攖here鈥檚 always rain on the horizon. Afternoon thunderstorms are as ubiquitous as sweet tea down here, so if you let them deter you, you鈥檒l never get anything accomplished. Instead, you should invest in a good rain jacket and go about your adventures. And I do mean invest, because they鈥檝e gotten expensive. If you want something that doesn鈥檛 feel like you鈥檙e wearing a trash bag, you can expect to spend a couple hundred bucks. If you want one with more performance-minded features, then you can add a Benjamin or two to that price tag. Or you could consider 听($149, sizes XS to XXL), which trends toward the budget side of the price spectrum but offers the comfort and details听you鈥檇 expect from a high-end performance shell.

I tested the Stormline for more than two months in the rainforest I call home. I hiked, biked, walked the dog,听and watched my kids鈥� soggy soccer games. I even had my son hose me down in our front yard. What I found was a unicorn鈥攊t听hits the sweet spot of affordability and performance.

What I Like

Thanks to Black Diamond鈥檚 proprietary BD.dry tech, a 2.5-layer face fabric听with听a DWR treatment, the Stormline听has a 10K/10K waterproof/breathability rating (more on that here), which means it can handle moderate rain while remaining听breathable during activities听like hiking, scrambling, or climbing. Its seams are fully taped and the front zipper is waterproof, an asset that听helps prevent听moisture听from creeping into a jacket鈥檚 typical weak points. It weighs just over 11 ounces听(in听a men鈥檚 medium)听and packs into its own pocket, so it鈥檚 easy to stash inside a pack.听There鈥檚 also a carabiner loop in the corner of that pocket so you can hang it from your pack if interior space is limited.

Although the Stormline weighs just a few ounces more than ultralight emergency shells, it听has a suite of features typically found听on more robust听rain jackets:听Velcro adjustable cuffs, a cinch-cord hem, pit zips, and a hood that accommodates a helmet. What stands out, though, is the nylon-elastane build, which gives the Stormline its stretch鈥攋ust enough to keep it from feeling restrictive when you鈥檙e climbing or belaying鈥攃oupled with a slightly textured liner that helps battle that听clammy feeling when you start to sweat.

This听isn鈥檛 the only jacket on the market with all of these goodies. Most high-end models听now incorporate at least a little bit of stretch and a soft听liner. But such听jackets are often twice as expensive as the Stormline. And even with a听higher price, they鈥檙e often missing one or more of the Stormline鈥檚 attributes. Maybe the more expensive alternative won鈥檛 have pit zips, or it won鈥檛 stuff into its own pocket. With this Black Diamond coat,听you get it all at half the price of similar jackets.

What Could Be Improved

The听Stormline doesn鈥檛 have听everything I want in a raincoat.听It has two hand pockets, which is wonderful, but no chest pocket, which drives me crazy because I like to carry my phone close to my听chest if I鈥檓 moving quickly. It鈥檚 also bulkier than most performance听shells, which is slightly听off-putting if you鈥檙e used to a more athletic cut. (However, that听extra room does allow you to layer,听if you鈥檙e dealing with serious weather.) And it鈥檚 not the most breathable raincoat on the market. I found the Stormline to be breathable on casual bike rides around town in a drizzle, or at a hiking pace, but if you鈥檙e trail-running, you鈥檙e going to overtax its breathability. The pit zips help, but they can only do so much.

The Upshot

On one testing day, I pushed听a gravel ride a little harder than I intended while wearing this jacket, and experienced that clammy feeling we all hate. Then again, it isn鈥檛 made for long trail runs听or 鈥淓veresting鈥� on a gravel bike, so maybe I need to manage my expectations of what this shell can and can鈥檛 do. But the Stormline Stretch can do a lot. It鈥檚 ultralight but feature-rich, and priced beneath the competition, making it the ideal shell for my soggy adventures in this region.

Three Other Rain Jackets I Like听

Columbia Titanium OutDry Ex Stretch ($180, sizes X to XXL)

With the , Columbia forgoes a DWR coating for a permanent waterproof exterior听that does a wonderful job at keeping the rain out,听and it will last for years. I dig the style, too鈥攂ut it isn鈥檛 as breathable, light, or packable as the听Stormline Stretch.

Patagonia Torrentshell ($149, sizes XS to XXL)

A traditional three-layer rain jacket, the has a lot of the same details听as the Stormline (adjustable cuffs, a hood, can be听packed听into its own pocket). Bonus: it听has a soft fleece-lined collar and is constructed听from 100 percent听recycled nylon. Yet听it鈥檚 not as stretchy as the Stormline听and weighs a little more.

础谤肠鈥檛别谤测虫 Zeta SL ($300, sizes XS to XXL)听

The 10.9-ounce is built for performance. It uses听Gore-Tex鈥檚 Paclite two-layer waterproof system and has听a soft interior for a great next-to-skin feel. It鈥檚 loaded with features, but it鈥檚 missing pit zips and doesn鈥檛 stuff into its own pocket. Still, it鈥檚 a hell of a rain shell.

The post This Black Diamond Jacket Is a Killer-Value Rain Shell appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

Baffled by the sheer number of technical outer layers on the market? Most fall into one of six categories. Cover them all and you鈥檒l be ready for whatever Mother Nature throws your way.

Hard Shell

The workhorses of the gear closet, hard shells are extremely waterproof but typically let some heat escape. There are three main designs. A three-layer jacket sandwiches a waterproof-breathable membrane between an outer fabric and a lining for maximum protection and durability. A 2.5-layer uses a raised print instead of a lining. And a two-layer opts for a separate mesh liner, sacrificing weight and comfort for cost savings.

Our Pick: The three-layer 础谤肠鈥檛别谤测虫 Beta LT ($399) suits almost every outdoor endeavor, thanks to a Gore-Tex membrane, a protective hood, and pit zips for extra ventilation.

Tech Talk: What鈥檚 that 10,000/10,000 rating on the jacket鈥檚 hang tag? The first number indicates waterproofness, measured in millimeters of liquid (ranging from 5,000 for water-resistant to 20,000 for stormproof). The second denotes vapor permeability, also known as breathability鈥攆rom 5,000 grams for high to 20,000 grams for minimal.

Lightweight Puffy

A thin insulated jacket is key for mild weather, be it alpine summer nights or above-freezing winter days in the desert. Lightweight puffies have less fill and more-delicate fabrics, which makes them soft and packable.

Our Pick: With 1,000-fill down, the Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer UL ($375) delivers maximum warmth at minimal weight.

Tech Talk: Fill power refers to down鈥檚 loft to weight ratio. Take two jackets of the same weight; the one with higher-fill down will be warmer because it offers more insulation per feather. It鈥檚 an indication of down quality, not quantity.

Note: If you know you鈥檒l be standing still for a while, put your puffy on right away rather than waiting until you feel cold. It鈥檒l help keep your body temperature stable and avoid forcing you to work hard to warm back up.

Active Midlayer

Down fill loses its ability to hold in warmth when it gets wet. That makes it a poor choice for sweaty activities. Thankfully, an array of new active insulations excel at managing sweat while keeping you toasty. Most are formed into sheets of gauzy padding (rather than loose plumes that require baffles to stay in place) and offer some stretch for freedom of movement.

Our Pick: The soft, stretchy 颅Patagonia Nano-Air ($249) acts like a dehumidifier during high-颅output cold-weather activities.

Tech Talk: Insulation鈥檚 air permeability is measured in cubic feet per minute. Higher numbers represent better breathability. Windproof fabrics measure one CFM or less.

Heavyweight Puffy

These cold-weather toasters are what you wear if you鈥檙e not generating body heat through movement, like when you鈥檙e lounging in camp or lingering on a chilly summit. Goose or duck down provides the warmest, lightest, most compressible insulation. But because moisture is down鈥檚 kryptonite, synthetic fill can be optimal in rainy climates.

Our Pick: The Rab Neutrino Pro Down ($375) boasts hydrophobic 800-fill down to preserve loft in damp conditions.

Tech Talk: Baffles keep fill from 颅migrating. Stitch-through construction is lighter and cheaper but creates cold spots along the seams. Welded baffles help solve this problem.

Soft Shell

Thicker, stretchier, and more breathable than hard shells, soft shells sacrifice some waterproofness for better moisture management and a suppler feel. They fend off light rain but not sustained downpours, so they鈥檙e better for dry, breezy climes than for soggy rainforest hikes.

Our Pick: The Black Diamond Dawn Patrol ($199) blends nylon, polyester, and elastane into a tough four-way-stretch fabric that blocks gusts while retaining range of motion.

Tech Talk: Denier numbers indicate fiber thickness. High-denier yarns (50 to 90) sacrifice compressibility for durability. Finer, 10- to 20-denier yarns do the opposite.

Note: Unless all-day downpours are expected, you probably don鈥檛 need to bring a hard shell. Many soft shells are sufficiently water-颅resistant to protect against brief showers and offer both wind protection and breathability.

Wind Shell

Tissue-thin nylon windbreakers buffer against squalls and precipitation without totally blocking either. They鈥檙e ideal for short-term weather exposure while trail running or scrambling along a wind-raked ridgeline. Minimal weight and low bulk are key鈥攎ost of the time, this jacket will stay in your pack. But when deployed, it offers 颅comfort-saving protection.

Our Pick: With perforated under颅-arm ventilation and exceptionally 颅breath颅able fabric, the Backcountry Mad Creek ($110) shields while minimizing clamminess when you鈥檙e moving fast.

Tech Talk: Durable water-repellent (DWR) coatings traditionally use long-chain (C8) fluorocarbons to make rain bead up and slide off. Newer, less toxic alternatives use short-chain (C6) finishes or skip fluorocarbons altogether.

The post The Only 6 Jackets Your Gear Closet Needs appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

As a spoiled gear tester, I get to try all the latest technical clothing. But that鈥檚 not the stuff I actually wear most of the time. The items in this article sit听at the intersection between performance and style and are what I鈥檓 wearing around town, on camping trips, and while taking the dogs hiking this fall.听

Woolrich Wool-Blend Flannel Shirt ($77)

滨鈥檝别 ranted about this at length, but flannel is a material, not a pattern. And that material is densely woven, brushed wool. Woolrich doesn鈥檛 make shirts like this in America anymore, but this is still the highest quality, thickest, and most robust real flannel shirt 滨鈥檝别 been able to find anywhere. It鈥檚 scratchy as hell, but it鈥檚 supposed to be. Those raised fibers help wick moisture, and add loft for more warmth.听

How does it fit? I鈥檓 going to discuss fit throughout this article, because it鈥檚 fundamentally important to how clothing looks and performs. For reference, I鈥檓 6鈥�2鈥�, weigh 190 pounds, and have broad shoulders, a 32-inch waist, and a 34-inch inseam. For some reason, most clothes aren鈥檛 cut for bodies like mine. This Woolrich shirt actually fits perfectly, just a full size down from the medium I鈥檓 used to wearing.听

Can you actually wear it outdoors?听The flannel shirt works听great as a soft shell in cool, wet weather, or as a mid-layer in colder, wetter conditions.听

Filson Ultralight Jacket ($195) and Vest ($125)

Filson stuff looks timeless, and is built to last. Those aren鈥檛 things you can say about most puffies. This new Ultralight range from Filson isn鈥檛 just available in muted colors, but also ramps up quality without sacrificing performance or packability. The shell material is a thin-but-strong 1.5-ounce ripstop nylon made by Cordura, while insulation is Primaloft Gold, which has the highest warmth-to-weight and packed size ratio of anything Primaloft makes.听Important: it retains 98 percent of its warmth, even when it鈥檚 wet. So far, so conventional for a nice synthetic puffy, but Filson takes it a step听further by lining the collars and pockets with moleskin, and employing durable metal YKK zippers.听

How does it fit? Thanks to the lack of shoulders, I鈥檓 able to get away with a small vest, but there鈥檚 still a little extra material in the belly. With a size medium jacket, I had to take it to a tailor to have the听bulk taken out of the torso and听the sleeves slimmed down accordingly. The total cost on that was $35. You can and should have puffies tailored to fit you. Doing so makes layering them way easier听and cuts unneeded packed size.听

Can you actually wear it outdoors? Even though they look good, Filson鈥檚 puffies are as technical as any of听the Day-Glo alternatives.听

Fjallraven Sten Jacket ($200)

This Swedish brand鈥檚 G-1000 is made from a waxed polyester-cotton canvas that鈥檚 lighter than the classic waxed cotton materials you鈥檙e likely familiar with, but similarly hard-wearing and breathable. They make a ton of items from it, but this simple zip-up hoodie is one of the most versatile. Compared to nylon soft shells, this thing is going to hold up to鈥攁nd look better with鈥攚ear, and the zippers and stitching are built to match. This jacket has quickly become my go-to in anything but really hard, persistent rain.听

How does it fit? I think the bell curve in Sweden includes a few more athletic bodies than ours does here in America. If you are also in shape, then you can expect Fjallraven鈥檚 stuff to fit as expected, in a flattering manner.听

Can you actually wear it outdoors? G-1000 is a little heavier than flimsy nylon, so you may not want to pack this piece for a thru-hike, but otherwise this is an ideal soft shell for cool, wet weather.听

Fjallraven Keb Trousers ($225)

These pants are perfection. And this year鈥檚 updates make them even better. Dress them up with a wool sweater (or flannel shirt) and wear them around town. Pair them with the Sten jacket above, and you鈥檙e ready to hit the trail.听

How do they fit? The rise is higher than is fashionable in jeans now, meaning you鈥檒l belt them around your waist rather than your hips. They鈥檙e flattering for men and women, but make sure you get the long inseam if you鈥檙e tall.听

Can you actually wear them outdoors? I don鈥檛 think there鈥檚 a better pant for all-round outdoor wear out there.听

North Face Apex Flex Hardshell ($249)

滨鈥檝别 had this piece for about three years, and it鈥檚 in desperate need of having its DWR refreshed, but it鈥檚 still my go-to hardshell when conditions are seriously wet. The innovation here is a three-layer waterproof fabric that鈥檚 soft, thick, and stretchy and wears way more comfortably than the thin, crinkly hardshell you鈥檙e used to.听

How does it fit? Just right. There鈥檚 room to layer, but it still looks good over a T-shirt, and you can buy your normal size.听

Can you actually wear it outdoors? It鈥檚 quite a bit heavier than traditional hard shells, so I wear it around town, on local hikes, and for car camping, but wouldn鈥檛 take it backpacking.听

Trew Weightless Nuyarn Merino T-Shirt ($65)

Pretty much the only T-shirt I wear, I have a Weightless听Nuyarn Merino in every color available. Nuyarn seems to stand up to washing better than other light merino fabrics, and I鈥檓 averaging about two years of sustained use out of these shirts. They work great on their own in warm to hot weather, and are the perfect base layer underneath a sweater, flannel shirt, or fleece once temperatures drop.

How does it fit? The Weightless Nuyarn Merino is true to size, but a little on the short size. The thin material gets a bit clingy, so I have to be careful with which belt and pants I wear them with on camera, or they can make me look like I have a Santa belly.听

Can you actually wear it outdoors? There鈥檚 no better place for this T.听

This item is currently sold out.听

Vasque Clarion 鈥�88 GTX Boots ($160)

A retro 鈥�80s look听in a package that performs as well as any modern alternative. I wear these things every single day. They鈥檙e as light, as stable, and as supportive as my go-to technical boot, the Salomon Quest 4D 3s, but I try to avoid wearing the Vasques in mud so they stay looking clean for around town.听

How do they fit? True to size. But, I use a set of in mine to maximize support.听

Can you actually wear them outdoors? Unlike other retro hikers, you really can, without compromise.听

Filson Short Lined Cruiser Jacket ($350)

I bought one of these in August as an alternative to a denim trucker jacket. It鈥檚 heavy and stiff, as you鈥檇 expect from a 15-ounce waxed canvas paired with a six-ounce liner, but after sleeping in it a couple nights, it鈥檚 broken in just for my body听and will last until the heat death of the universe.听

How does it fit? This is the only Filson jacket or shirt 滨鈥檝别 ever bought that I haven鈥檛 had to get tailored, and I was even able to buy it in my usual size.听

Can you actually wear it outdoors? Cut to hip length for the sake of听fashion, it鈥檚 not the best option for keeping off rain.听But the material is as waterproof as a hard shell听and has听decent breathability. That length also makes it challenging to add layers underneath; it looks best with a T-shirt or a crew neck sweater, nothing more. Still, I鈥檒l wear it for car camping trips in mild weather.听

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The outdoor-gear marketplace is already awash with myriad waterproof-breathable membranes, and Gore-Tex has set the standard for decades. But this winter, the North Face听claimed it had made the most advanced one yet. Dubbed , the new technology will make its way into some 30 different products this fall, from jackets and pants to gloves and single-wall tents. Up until now, the North Face has exclusively used Gore-Tex, and听after the announcement, many people were wondering how well Futurelight would stack up.

Since a preview event in Aspen, Colorado, in late March, 滨鈥檝别 been testing the new material to find out.听

The Tech

Futurelight is a three-layer fabric comprised of a waterproof-breathable membrane sandwiched between a tough external fabric and a soft liner (the typical construction in high-end shells). The membrane is a web of polyester fibers, extruded from 220,000 tiny nozzles and laid in a sheet. The spaces between the fibers are too small for water to penetrate听but large enough for vapor from perspiration to escape. It鈥檚 similar to, if not the same as, the process used to make and 鈥攁lso air-permeable membranes. But it differs from Gore-Tex, which relies on a sheet of polytetraflouroethylene (a plastic similar to polyurethane) that鈥檚 stretched enough to create pores that vapor can pass through. Traditionally, Gore-Tex hasn鈥檛 been as breathable as air-permeable membranes, but it鈥檚 been a little more waterproof.

The North Face can adjust the porosity, hardiness, and stretch of Futurelight by tweaking the density of the fibers, the thickness of the membrane (by laying more or fewer fibers), and the amount of glue used to adhere the fabric鈥檚 layers together. Put simply, the membrane can be fine-tuned to be more breathable or more durable, depending on the garment鈥檚 intended use. One flavor of Futurelight can be created for a superlight, superbreathable trail-running jacket, while another, tougher version can be constructed for snowboarding at the resort. But to be clear, this isn鈥檛 a first鈥擯olartec鈥檚 NeoShell is created in much the same way, and the brand鈥檚 Power Shield Pro is simply a less dense, and therefore more breathable, version of NeoShell. (And while Gore uses a different construction process, it does have a range of membranes that span the spectrum of breathability, from burly Pro to lighter, airier Active.)

One significant difference between Futurelight and Polartec鈥檚 air-permeable membranes is that that the company developed its own breathable, stretchier seam tape, says Scott Mellin, global general manager听of the North Face鈥檚 mountain-sports division. That鈥檚 a bigger deal than it sounds, since seam tape traditionally has limited the breathability and stretch that garments can achieve. More seam tape means better waterproofing, but at the same, it time prevents vapor from escaping through the seams.

In addition, every Futurelight garment will consist of recycled face and backer fabrics鈥攍aminated to the membrane鈥攁nd use a PFC-free chemical waterproof coating.

The Test

In a pair of all-day ski tours, I wore prototypes of the Summit L5 LT jacket and pants听($450 each). Made of one of the lightest and most breathable versions of Futurelight, they鈥檙e intended for high-output activities like ski mountaineering. The fabric is as supple and stretchy as any hard shell 滨鈥檝别 used, thanks in part to how thin the fabric is. The Summit L5 LT pieces were also remarkably light (11.9 ounces for the jacket, 9.1 for the pants), even with a solid feature set鈥攖he jacket, for instance, includes two large pockets, an adjustable, helmet-compatible hood, and cinches at the waist and cuffs. What鈥檚 notable is that the garments lack zippered vents, which many brands use to provide extra breathability. The absence of zippers听reduces weight and improves听fit听but puts pressure on the fabric to deliver breathability.听

In my experience, it did. On the first day in the Elk Mountains outside of Aspen, my group skinned up and skied down powder fields surrounding a 13,000-foot ridge near Snowmass. And on the second day, we made a three-hour ascent of a remote 12,800-foot peak. On both excursions, with the temperature ranging from 25 to 40 degrees, I was able to keep the jacket zipped up, even chuffing uphill, and never sweated through my base layer. To be sure, I could feel the tingle of air leaking in under stiff winds. But it鈥檚 usually easier to layer up to add warmth than it is to strip down to prevent perspiration.

Now, the North Face won鈥檛 release technical performance specs like vapor transmission rates until the fall, when Futurelight products go on sale, and it has requested that journalists don鈥檛 yet use third-party testing. So for now, we can鈥檛 get firm numbers for exactly how the membrane will perform versus the competition.听

But since the March event, the Summit L5 LT has proved to be exceptionally breathable compared to other waterproof outerwear, much more so than any lightweight three-layer Gore-Tex shell 滨鈥檝别 used鈥攍ike the Black Crows Ventus Light听or the jackets. And it鈥檚 even more breathable than other air-permeable NeoShell options, like the Westcomb Apoc jacket.

With that breathability, there鈥檚 the perception that the Summit L5 LT wouldn鈥檛 stave off rain and moisture as well as other waterproof-breathable offerings like Gore-Tex over hours of continuous rain. After intense use, DWR coatings can wear off and moisture can find its way into a听garment. At the preview, water from melting snow beaded right off the fabric. And while sunny weather in Aspen meant I didn鈥檛 have a chance to gauge waterproofing under significant precipitation, the jacket has stayed absolutely dry in my weeks of testing in snowy conditions since the March event. But it still remains to be seen how it handles a full-on deluge.

The Summit L5 LT version of Futurelight is exceptionally thin and requires you to take some care to avoid abrasion or puncturing鈥攖hough the fabric didn鈥檛 look any worse for wear after a couple days of us shouldering skis and bashing through dense timber at the base of our tours.

The Upshot

With remarkable breathability, the Summit L5 LT is an excellent choice for any backcountry kit. It鈥檚 more breathable than most hard shells 滨鈥檝别 tested, and it鈥檚 lighter than any non-seam-taped soft shell 滨鈥檝别 used. The only downside may be durability, which is always a trade-off for light weight. Though the shell and pants have held up fine since that brief tryout in March, we鈥檙e still putting them through the wringer while testing for our 2020 Winter Buyer鈥檚 Guide. And听of course, the North Face has other Futurelight models geared toward more durability.

Look for a more thorough test as we get more time with听Futurelight.

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Marmot Bantamweight ($275)

Too often, the 鈥渂reathable鈥� in waterproof-breathable is an exaggeration. Rare is the jacket that strikes the perfect balance between the two, so you can wear it without clamming up as temperatures and exertion levels rise. Now we have a shell that鈥檚 so light and breathable, you can wear it in the kind of weather that sends sweat geysering out of every pore. Weighing in at just five ounces, the Bantamweight feels like a windbreaker but performs like a hard shell, and it kept testers dry through hours-long deluges. That earned it props in all conditions, but particularly in the sweltering heat and humidity that make most jackets feel stifling. Credit the stretchy 2.5-layer Pertex Shield fabric, which is so gauzy that we initially doubted its durability.

We stand corrected. 鈥淭wo hours of riding in pouring rain and lots of mud, and it never sprung a leak,鈥� said one tester, a mountain biker, who further noted that the Bantamweight showed zero damage after several crashes. The material isn鈥檛 stiff enough to offer much shielding from strong wind. (Through-hikers and climbers who spend 颅extended periods above tree line should consider the 础谤肠鈥檛别谤测虫 Zeta SL on page 50.) But its breathability is excellent: perforations under the arms vent sweat, as do the mesh-lined hand pockets. Cinch cords in the hood and waist seal out weather. 4.9 oz (men鈥檚) / 4.7 oz (飞辞尘别苍鈥檚)

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Mountain Hardwear Kor Preshell ($130)

Best Soft Shell

This jacket dazzles with its subtlety. The Pertex Quantum Air fabric is so stretchy that we forgot we were wearing it鈥攅ven when reaching for overhead holds. And its thinness provided just the right protection from wind and chill. 鈥淚t made layering easy, because I could put it on and leave it on, no matter how hard I was working,鈥� said a tester. That made the Kor indispensable on summit bids, big-wall climbs, and trail runs, when the fabric鈥檚 outstanding breathability kept testers dry. Elastic in the hem and hood seals out gusts, and the hand pockets sit high enough to play nice with a harness. 4.9 oz (men鈥檚) / 4.3 oz (飞辞尘别苍鈥檚)

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础谤肠鈥檛别谤测虫 Zeta SL ($299)

Best Hard Shell

Most of us carry our hard shells more than we wear them. So with the Zeta SL, 础谤肠鈥檛别谤测虫 emphasizes packability. Using Gore-Tex鈥檚 new two-layer Paclite Plus construction, this waterproof jacket has no lining fabric, so it鈥檚 lighter and more compressible than a three-layer shell. That makes it the per颅fect insurance policy for peak bagging and backpacking. Its excellent breathability kept clamminess at bay while we hiked up steep Rocky Mountain passes. And 础谤肠鈥檛别谤测虫鈥檚 inimitably clean styling also looks smart in cities, meriting the Zeta SL a place in any globe-trotter鈥檚 duffel. 10.9 oz (men鈥檚) / 9.5 oz (飞辞尘别苍鈥檚)

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Maloja SielvaM ($265)

Best Insulated Jacket

Chilly summer mornings call for low-profile insulation, and the SielvaM (and men鈥檚 PozM) nails it. Panels of Primaloft Hybrid provide windproof warmth across the chest, neck, and shoulder blades. The rest of the jacket uses recycled Pontetorto fleece with four-way stretch, which allows full freedom of movement when breaking down a tent or scrambling up a shady face. That fleece is supremely breathable; it dumped heat and sweat as fast as we could produce it. Unfortunately, Maloja鈥檚 jacket isn鈥檛 odor thwarting, though the SielvaM鈥檚 good looks had us reaching for it nonetheless. 9.5 oz (men鈥檚) / 11.5 oz (飞辞尘别苍鈥檚)

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Black Diamond Deploy ($159)

Best Wind Shell

Black Diamond claims that the Deploy, at a mere 1.7 ounces, is the world鈥檚 lightest shell. And we鈥檙e inclined to believe it. For this minimalist pullover, the company chose a slick, specially made, ridiculously feathery ripstop nylon. Aside from cinches at the waist and wrists, the only feature is a clementine-size stow pocket in the collar. The Deploy provided the hint of warmth we needed for chilly starts, despite its translucence, and knocked most of the bite out of blustery wind. The DWR coating shed light rain for an hour before wetting out. Never mind a pack鈥攖his is the first jacket you鈥檒l ever stuff into your shorts pocket. 1.7 oz

The North Face North Dome Stretch Wind ($129)

Best Alpine Shell

North Face designers tested ten different fabrics when searching for just the right one to use in the ultimate climbing shell. The winner is a tight weave of nylon and elastane that鈥檚 tough and nearly windproof, but also stretchy and lightweight. The hand pockets stayed out of the way of a climbing harness, gussets in the armpits let the sleeves move with us, and water resistance kept us dry in light rain. It鈥檚 not breathable enough for running, but the details that make it ideal for climbing work just as well for getting to the crag on a bike or on foot. 12 oz (men鈥檚) / 11.2 oz (飞辞尘别苍鈥檚)

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Outdoor Research Apollo ($99)

Best Rain Jacket on a Budget

A legitimate waterproof-breathable shell for $100 is hard to find. One that we鈥檇 actually want when rain is in the forecast? Harder still. But that鈥檚 the Apollo, a 2.5-layer jacket with excellent weather resistance, plenty of features, and a flattering fit. All that and its 70-denier fabric doesn鈥檛 feel like a cheap plastic bag. On a backpacking mission on British Columbia鈥檚 West Coast Trail, the Apollo stood strong through daylong precipitation. To compensate for so-so breathability, we cracked the pit zips and mesh-backed hand pockets. It just got harder to justify spending much on a rain shell. 12 oz (men鈥檚) / 11 oz (飞辞尘别苍鈥檚)

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Bad weather can strike without warning, any place, any time. Whether you鈥檙e looking to stay dry in the city or out in the wild, prepare yourself with one of these jackets.

Lululemon Outpour听($248)

Best For: Office outings.

Cut from a stretchy, waterproof-breathable fabric, proved itself on both rainy Paris walks and long hikes around Mont Blanc. Reflective accents on the hem and nape boost safety in the streets, four pockets provide ample storage, and back and chest vents enable airflow without the bulk of pit zips. 15.7 oz (men鈥檚)

Columbia Outdry EX Reign听($150)

Best For: Everlasting downpours.

Crafted by a team living under Oregon鈥檚 constant drizzle, stays drier longer than any other shell we鈥檝e tested. Its durable waterproof-breathable membrane is placed on the outside rather than behind a face fabric, so the jacket never wets out. Plus, Columbia eschewed environmentally harmful fluorocarbon DWR coatings and added pit zips to prevent steaming up. 13.7 oz (men鈥檚) / 11.8 oz ()

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Ornot Magic Shell听($210)

Best For: Spring training.

The most supple and stretchy incarnation of Polartec鈥檚 waterproof-颅breathable NeoShell to date, doesn鈥檛 crinkle or snap in the wind on bike rides. It forgoes seam tape for better breathability, and a two-way zipper helps dump heat without the jacket lofting like a sail. 7.7 oz (men鈥檚)

Helly Hansen Odin Minimalist 2.0听($220)

Best For: Surprise squalls.

True to its name, stays light with pared-down features: there鈥檚 only one pocket, and the cuffs are elastic instead of Velcro. The 2.5-layer waterproof-breathable body also has fewer seams and thus fewer places for potential leaks. The result is a jacket that disappears in your pack but keeps you perfectly dry when the sky opens up. 5.6 oz (men鈥檚)

Mammut Masao Light HS听($299)

Best For: Climbing hard.

somehow manages to be both lightweight and packed with features. Though this Pertex Shield shell packs down to the size of a Nal颅gene, it has pit zips, generous harness-颅compatible hand pockets, and a helmet-compatible hood. Elastic cuffs and a touch of stretch prevent the Masao from binding up. 8.2 oz (men鈥檚) / 7.2 oz ()

Fj盲llr盲ven Greenland Eco-Shell ($450)

Best For: Urban showers.

Made with three-layer waterproof polyester treated with PFC-free water repellent, avoids wetting out on even the stormiest days. The front snap closures and clean cut look smart on city sidewalks, while two roomy hand pockets can hold everything from credit cards to beanies. 27 oz (men鈥檚) / 25.4 oz ()

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Black Diamond StormLine Stretch听($149)

Best For: Everyday wear.

The four-way stretch on made it feel less like a traditional slicker and more like our favorite soft shell. It wasn鈥檛 the most breathable of the test鈥攚e were much happier wearing it on our commute than a long hike. But it proved itself in the mightiest of storms, keeping us totally dry and, even after a few months of testing, showed no sign of wetting out. 9.9 oz (men鈥檚) / 8.7 oz ()

United by Blue Albright听($128)

Best For: Layering.

Made from 41 percent recycled polyester, expertly sheds water during deluges. It鈥檚 spacious enough for layering over insulation on chilly dawn-patrol missions, with Velcro cuff tabs and hem and hood cinches to snug up the fit. The headphone port in the chest pocket keeps your electronics out of danger. 12.3 oz (men鈥檚) / 11.3 oz ()

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Winter cold and wind call for a serviceable jacket. But picking the right model depends听on the activity you鈥檒l be using it for. For this test, we evaluated more than 100 men鈥檚 and 飞辞尘别苍鈥檚 jackets built for resort riding, backcountry exploration, running, and nordic skiing. The Eddie Bauer BC EverTherm Down was our top choice for all-around use鈥攊t packs warm and lightweight down feathers inside a weather-resistant shell, making it incredibly versatile鈥攂ut we also identified eight听other jackets (reviewed below) that proved their worth in winter conditions.

Our Favorite Winter Jacket

Eddie Bauer BC EverTherm Down Jacket ($499)

Like the old business joke,听鈥淕ood, fast, cheap: pick any two,鈥� winter jackets are traditionally a trade-off between warm, light, and waterproof. Eddie鈥檚 Bauer鈥檚 new checks all three boxes. Its 45 grams of Thindown insulation (more on that later) is very warm, and the 15-denier seam-taped waterproof-breathable shell offers weather protection without bulk. The whole thing weighs just 1.1 pounds. That鈥檚 not a brand-new recipe, but the EverTherm听executes it beautifully.

An important piece of the jacket鈥檚 success is the insulation. Rather than blowing loose feathers into baffles听like most down jackets, Eddie Bauer sandwiched layers of down into sheets, called Thindown, which don鈥檛 need to be sewn in place. This avoids the heat loss that normally occurs through the thousands of stitches on a quilted jacket. The BC EverTherm is just as warm as heavier, bulkier puffies, like the or , but it鈥檚 lighter and more packable.

Another highlight is the face fabric. It鈥檚 on the lighter, thinner end of the spectrum听but听withstood a year鈥檚 worth of lift rides and being yanked out of backpacks.听It鈥檚 also surprisingly breathable: worn over sweat-soaked midlayers, it allowed some moisture to move through, and we didn鈥檛 feel clammy after four laps up the skin track.

Otherwise, Eddie Bauer has kept the feature set relatively light: a long hem in lieu of a powder skirt, three hood adjusters, and five pockets, including an interior mesh pouch big enough to for a hat, gloves, or fat powder skins.

Best Resort Jacket

Picture 奥辞尘别苍鈥檚 Signe ($350, pictured) and 惭别苍鈥檚 Goods ($400)听

Riding lifts lets you get away with wearing heavier, feature-rich jackets, because you鈥檙e not hiking up every hill you descend. Our favorite jacket in this category is Picture鈥檚 (the), which kept us warm听skiing in-bounds for hours on ten-degree days.

The Signe is 2.6 pounds (the Goods is 2.8 pounds), with a corn-based insulation called Synthetic Sorona that鈥檚 strategically placed鈥攐r 鈥渂ody mapped,鈥� in technical terms鈥攊n thick baffles across the back and omitted under the arms for breathability in high-heat zones. The shell fabric is 46 percent recycled polyester and treated with a PFC-free, durable water repellent. (PFCs are often used in DWR treatments, but they鈥檙e bad for the environment and our听health.) The waterproof-breathable membrane is recyclable.

In practice, the Signe kept us dry in heavy snow and handled the temperature swings of stop-and-go skiing. On bitterly cold lift rides, we could warm our noses in the tall听inset collar, which is wide enough to accommodate听a neck gaiter and helmet strap. The generous hood fit over a range of helmet models. Breathability, aided by pit zips, was good enough for a jacket in this category, and we never felt damp or chilled on lifts after high-output power laps in the trees.

Other features we appreciated: stretchy wrist gaiters and a removable听powder skirt, both of which helped seal out snow during an 18-inch powder day. There鈥檚 also a dedicated ski-pass pocket in the sleeve and a leashed goggle cloth in another pocket.

There are plenty of other good jackets in this category. The听 ($599) costs more but weighs less (2.2 pounds) for the same features鈥攁 powder skirt, cuff gaiters, pit zips, and synthetic PrimaLoft insulation. The听 ($650) boasts 800-fill down, weighs just two pounds, and has pit zips, a snow skirt, cuff gaiters, and a ski-pass pocket. Two things things held them听back from becoming top picks: they鈥檙e too warm on anything but the coldest days, and they cost significantly more than the Signe.

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Best Hard-Shell Backcountry Touring Jacket

Black Crows Ventus Light ($550)

When it comes to lightweight gear, you can expect to pay more to get less鈥攁nd that鈥檚 true of the 15-ounce 听(1.3 pounds听in men鈥檚 sizing). Plenty of jackets drop weight by using minimalist construction. But it鈥檚 this jacket鈥檚听mix of features, weight, and durability that makes it extremely practical. Five capacious exterior and interior pockets hold everything from climbing skins to snacks. Adjustments at the chin and the back of the head keep the hood snug around a helmet, so we could look up a steep slope without being blinded by loose fabric or letting in a blast of wind. A patch of fleece prevents听the collar from sandpapering your chin. The pit zips are 21 inches long and use a three-way zipper for maximum adjustability. There鈥檚 no powder skirt, but a band of silicone inside the hem did a good job of keeping out snow as long as we stayed on our feet. (A little did sneak in when we face-planted).

But our favorite feature was the fabric, which successfully walks a fine line the line between durability and weight. The three-layer construction features , which is less breathable but more rugged than other Gore-Tex materials, and a light, stretchy 70-denier face fabric that鈥檚 tough enough to resist punctures but thin enough to breathe. (We only noticed sweat building up during hard, sustained climbs.) Plus the inside of the jacket feels听soft next to the听skin and stays flexible even in ultracold conditions. That鈥檚 not true for jackets (such as the听, $699) that use , which is more durable than C-Knit but becomes stiff and brittle听when the mercury drops.

The听 ($375) gives women a cheaper but heavier alternative to the Ventus Light. It鈥檚 also waterproof, soft, and stretchy听but weighs seven ounces more. The听 and the听 ($430, a collaboration between Backcountry and FlyLow) improve on the Ventus Light鈥檚 breathability by using sweat-dumping . And while both are three ounces lighter, they鈥檙e听also more minimalist, with fewer small听pockets. We preferred Ventus Light鈥檚 feature-rich design.

Best Soft-Shell Backcountry Touring Jacket

Fj盲llr盲ven Keb Touring ($330)

Sometimes you don鈥檛 want to look like you鈥檙e strutting around the Gasherbrum III base camp just to take a ski tour. The听 jacket has an understated, classic peacoat look that鈥檚 as at home stepping out to dinner on a Friday night as it is stepping onto the . A pair of pockets large enough for climbing skins or a small pantry of snacks are placed on the chest, out of the way from your backpack鈥檚 hipbelt. The whole jacket is water-resistant, and a wax waterproof coating on the shoulders and lower back offers additional protection from a听pack鈥檚 wear points, which tend to gather moisture. Zippered vents on the torso make the Keb Touring even more breathable, something our testers liked when they were hammering up boot-packs with their skis strapped to their packs.

Like all good soft shells, this jacket is stretchier, suppler, and more breathable than a hard shell like the Ventus Light, which would leave you sweat soaked if you wore it during vigorous activity. The downside is that soft shells are not fully waterproof. The Keb Touring is not the jacket we鈥檇听reach听for during听an all-day storm, but to fend off flurries on shorter outings, it鈥檚 just right.

Best Cross-Country Skiing and Running Jacket

础谤肠鈥檛别谤测虫 惭别苍鈥檚 Argus (Pictured) and 奥辞尘别苍鈥檚 Gaea ($199)

Running on snowy or icy roads takes a lot of motivation, and having a sweet jacket helped us get out the door all winter. The (the听听is the听飞辞尘别苍鈥檚 version) is the nicest aerobic piece we tested this year. It has a thin layer of very breathable synthetic insulation on the shoulders and chest and听all the way up the tall, zip-up collar, but a stretchy soft-shell material on the back panel kept us听from overheating. We liked the built-in thumb loops and smartphone听pocket, a phone-size听elastic pouch inside the right hand-pocket听with a media port to feed your headphones up inside the jacket. In the back panel, two angled pockets are great for stashing gloves, snacks, or a hat, and they also feature another smartphone pouch (if the hand-pocket unit doesn鈥檛 suit your running style). The Argus is snug听but seemed to fit almost every tester body type, thanks to smart tailoring and a generous amount of stretch.

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Three More Jackets That Stand Out

First Lite Chamberlin Down ($360)

First Lite designed to keep hunters warm while they squat in a 40-degree November drizzle. It鈥檚 stuffed with 300 grams of 800-fill down that鈥檚 blended with a mix of synthetic and carbon fibers, which absorb moisture that would otherwise impair the loft of traditional down insulation. A durable DWR coating and high collar keep you warm even in blowing sleet.

Salewa Sesvenna Polartec Alpha ($225)

exploits the properties of four different fabrics and insulations鈥攚indproof Pertex Quantum on the chest and shoulders;听breathable and stretchy soft shell under the arms and across the back;听Polartec Alpha insulation on the chest, shoulders, and hood;听and Polartec Alpha Direct fleece for breathability on the sides of the torso. The result still moves moisture听on hours-long climbs听but plenty warm and weatherproof for windy ridges. It鈥檒l work best when you can pull out a lightweight shell when the wind really kicks up.

Outdoor Research Hemispheres Jacket ($599)

The main feature of note on is a set of zippers that extend听from the arm to the hem for poncho-style venting, which may appeal to backcountry skiers who don鈥檛 want to stop to drop a layer or who need to vent when the snow is falling too fast to go without a hard shell. The waterproof stretch fabric offers a better range of motion than the Ventus Light, but it鈥檚听also about five ounces heavier.

How We Picked the Best Winter Jackets for Outdoor Sports

Test directors and Frederick Reimers听have been reviewing winter gear and apparel for more than 25 years combined. Reimers听lives in Jackson, Wyoming, where he earns his turns on Teton Pass and plumbs the steeps at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. He鈥檚 also a winter runner, fat biker, and skate skier. Bastone听lives in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. Like Reimers, she divides her time between lift-served skiing and backcountry powder missions听and also logs a few miles each week on her local nordic trails.

For this test, we also recruited a team of seven winter athletes (alpine skiers, nordic skiers, runners, backcountry tourers, and snowshoers) to round out our perspectives. We asked broad-shouldered guys to test the jackets鈥� freedom of movement, and we put 飞辞尘别苍鈥檚 jackets on various body shapes to confirm their fit and performance. We tested insulation on negative-ten-degree听days, evaluated breathability during climbs up Glory Peak on Teton Pass, assessed waterproofness in sleet, and measured sweat-vapor diffusion on skate-skiing sprints.

How Should I Choose a Winter Jacket?

With most manufacturers having access to the best factories, designers, and materials, nearly every jacket you鈥檒l find at a reputable retailer is well-made. So听the primary determining factor is whether the jacket you are considering is suited for the way you鈥檒l use it.

For running or nordic skiing, you鈥檒l want something light and breathable鈥攅ither a thinly insulated piece or a shell to block wind and snow. For resort skiing, an insulated jacket cuts down on constrictive layers and is nice when the ski lift suddenly stops. For backcountry touring, you鈥檒l need something breathable for the way up and something warm for the ski down. If there鈥檚听precipitation, you鈥檒l want both to be at least water-resistant, if not waterproof. And, as always in the backcountry, light makes right.

Of course, every jacket design comes with trade-offs. Wear that pared-down running piece on the skin track听and you might wish you had a hood when a sidewind comes howling over the ridge. That cozy resort jacket may end up soaked with sweat when you ditch your kids to chase your buddies up a boot-pack. Down jackets offer the most warmth for their weight听but will become utterly useless if the snow turns to a downpour and the down feathers clump together, forfeiting their insulating loft. 听

We鈥檇 all love a quiver of jackets dialed to every separate activity, but if that鈥檚 just not in your budget, a hard-shell parka made with a waterproof, breathable fabric is your best purchase. You can always stack insulating layers beneath it on cold days听or make due on sweatier outings with judicious venting. Look for something with a large hood for times when you听wear a helmet, and a loose enough cut for layering, and you can make it work for most any condition.

Speaking of fit, always try a听jacket on before you buy. Every manufacturer has a slightly different cut. European manufacturers tend to make their tops longer and leaner, and mountaineering-oriented companies like 听will have longer sleeves鈥攁 nod to climbers who spend much of their time with their arms overhead. Some companies tailor specific lines in their collection: aerobic pieces will be trimmer, while downhill ski coats will be roomier in the torso for throwing flips in the terrain park, if not just aggressive riding in general.

Insulation

Down provides the best warmth-to-weight ratio of all lofted insulations. Its fill is rated from 400 to 1,000, with higher numbers being loftier and therefore warmer for the weight. But untreated down is useless if it gets wet. Some companies blend down and nondown fibers to help move moisture from the insulation. Others treat it with hydrophobic chemicals. For fail-safe insulation in soggy conditions, look for synthetic insulation by companies like 听and .

Fabric

Waterproof jackets are usually built from two- or three-layer fabrics, which have a waterproof-breathable membrane either adhered to a face fabric and protected by a mesh liner or sandwiched between a face fabric and backer. Three-layer fabrics tend to hold up better over time and are more breathable. Some companies make two-layer shells without the hung liner, like , but those are fragile and intended for fast and light alpine missions.

Both hard shells and soft shells are usually treated with a chemical coating of durable waterproof repellent (DWR) that will shed moisture. Though those coatings lose their efficacy over time, they can be refreshed with a quick rotation through the washer and dryer.

Breathability

A plastic trash bag is totally waterproof, but wear one cross-country skiing and you鈥檒l end up soaked from your own sweat. Most waterproof jackets鈥攆rom shells to insulated resort ski jackets鈥攏ow use a breathable membrane that helps move moisture through the face fabric. But any waterproof membrane is still less breathable than a soft shell. Some hydrid layers, like the Salewa, have water-resistant material on the areas most exposed to precipitation, like the shoulders and hood, and breathable fabric in high-heat areas, like the underarms and back.

Lastly, a word about ventilation: openings on the chest can funnel cool air into the听torso better than pit zips, but many manufacturers avoid them because consumers expect vents in the armpit. Our favorite air-flow features听pull double duty as large, mesh-backed chest pockets.

Features

Resort ski jackets are particularly known for being full featured, with powder skirts to keep out snow, zip-off hoods, wrist gaiters that seal in heat, and goggle wipes tethered to the inside of a pocket. Speaking of pockets, some jackets will come with as many as nine! The trade-off to all that is weight. Mountaineers don鈥檛 want to lug听those zippers up and down peaks. In addition, as a jacket designer once observed: 鈥淭he more times you perforate the shell, the less waterproof a jacket is.鈥�

Durability

As with a jacket鈥檚 bells and whistles, the trade-off to durability is weight. Thicker, heavier fabrics are simply more durable. A good proxy for durability is a fabric鈥檚 denier, which will usually range from 15 or 20, as tends to be found in an ultralightweight down vest, to 80, like in a ski parka鈥檚 face fabric. Higher-denier fabrics can brush up against trees and shoulder听ski edges without issue.

Price

The price of听jackets is determined by the quality of materials and the features it sports, which require additional labor to install. Higher-rated down fills and name-brand waterproof-breathable fabrics will particularly drive up the price of a jacket, though we don鈥檛 always see a large performance difference between material companies. Most are pretty good, but some brands charge a premium based on their reputation for fit, durability, or social consciousness.

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