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The Test: You’re moving constantly in the backcountry, which means your shell spends most of its time in a pack. 1.2 lbs Price $300 Breathability 5 Waterproofness 3 (Patagonia) Patagonia Refugative Bonus: inside pockets swallow gloves and a hat. The best puffy here for high-output activity, it worked for all our winter pursuits, from skiing to hiking.
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Special Forces dry during combat), and wrapped in a cozy face fabric, the Uberlayer sheds snow and moves moisture away from the body. Filled with Polartec Alpha (made to keep U.S. Patagonia pulled it off with the Nano-Air, a breathable insulator that won our Gear of the Year last season. (Outdoor Research) Outdoor Research UberlayerĬompanies have tried for years to make a puffy you put on and keep on, whether you’re at camp or on the hill. The upshot? There are more high-quality jacket options than we ever thought possible. Now, in another leap forward, mad-scientist engineers are using surprising new materials like corn (that’s right, corn) and rain-shedding wool. Waterproof down has gone from pipe dream to commonplace, while new lightweight synthetic insulations keep you warm on the coldest days. The lines that once divided soft and hard shells have blurred so much, they’re all but gone. The race to create the lightest, most breathable-but still bomber-jacket has destroyed longstanding paradigms. There’s been a lot of upheaval in this category recently.