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THE SELL: A trim soft shell with the weatherproofness of a hard shell. THE TEST: The Zion is built with Polartec's new NeoShell membrane, which is downy in the hand, impervious to the elements, and able to vent moisture so well that pit zips are irrelevant. Skiing Italy's Dolomites in sloppy, sideways-blown snow, we loved the freedom and warmth of the stretchy, fleece-backed fabric. More important, we stayed dry as a thin-crust pizza. And though it's superlight, the Zion still packs three-point tightening on the hood, an upper-arm pass pocket, and an internal media port. Our only wish was a longer hemline or powder skirt to keep out the snow. THE VERDICT: We'd take the Zion anywhere, from slashing through trees to climbing a sandstone tower. 1.4 lbs
Versatility: 4.5
Value: 4
Performance: 4.5
