REFRESHINGLY UNFUSSY
When Jackson, Wyoming–based Cloudveil promises a do-it-all mountain soft shell for under $150, the smart money gives it a try. So our Jackson-based tester did everything in it: He biked to work in light rain and snow, boot-packed up Glory Bowl in 20-degree weather with just a lightweight base layer underneath, and then wore it out to a sushi dinner. His conclusion: “It behaved like a second skin.” The key is a stretchy polyester fabric that’s water- and wind-resistant but air-permeable, meaning it allows a little external air conditioning to prevent overheating during highly aerobic activities. 17 oz (M); cloudveil.com
Bonus: It dries faster than soft shells made with Lycra.
Bummer: It’s not as windproof as some other air-permeable jackets.