GoLite Momentum Jacket

Less is more, and the backcountry’s most frugal gear maker has delivered, well, less. The GoLite Momentum takes the confusing genre of soft shells, shakes it out like a funky smelling pack, and dishes up a simple, functional jacket for all but the foulest weather.

GoLite, purveyors of the minimalist backpacking ethos, have sewn together a bantamweight shell that dispenses with fripperies without sacrificing performance. We had this out snowshoeing in the depths of Vermont’s frigid winter, as well as on speedy spring commutes. We’ve fallen in love with the piece; it leaves nary a bead of sweat on your engine-room core. That certainly gels with the GoLite claim that the Momentum is 98 percent breathable.
Panels of wind-beating Polartec Power Shield armor the outer, while a soft, comforting inner microfleece lining completes the wafer-thin picture. The 13-ounce Momentum stretches in all the right places for a range of aerobic exertion, whether you’re making a lightning-fast ascent of Virginia’s Old Rag, bombing down some Fruita singletrack, or just need something sleek to sport as you’re puttering around base camp. Welded zips and pockets seal out persistent precipitation. The shell’s lung-like credentials are boosted by two big mesh-lined chest pockets that exhale as well as stow goodies.
The quest for the ultralight grail has probably lost this shell one pocket that’d be nice to have around for a small digicam or MP3 player, but the biggest gripe is the price: $250. But in a world where quantity overcomes quality at near every turn, this aesthetic soft shell convinces that there is a place for quality workmanship without the bells-and-whistles overkill. $250; www.golite.com