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Packable, reliable, unbelievably warm, and surprisingly affordable
We spent all winter testing 50+ outer layers in the backcountry. These ones came out on top.
We’ve never encountered a zero-degree puffy this light and packable
Over the course of last season, this touring shell impressed us with a combination of serious weight savings and surprising durability
This lightweight, storm-resistant puffy earned an Editor’s Choice award. Here’s everything you need to know about it.
It will now be known as “high pile,” the company announces
They’re almost never waterproof, and not as warm as other jackets. Why bother?
The best gear for staying comfortable and climbing on North America’s tallest mountain
Choosing the right puffy is challenging. We’re here to help.
We named the Kor the best soft shell of 2019 in our Summer Buyer’s Guide. The jacket is ideal for summit bids, big-wall climbs, and trail runs because it’s incredibly stretchy and breathable while still providing enough protection from wind and chill. Plus, the pockets are high enough to…
The ski jacket has gotten a major makeover, but don’t worry—it still comes with the same retro design and its signature kangaroo front pocket
This jacket received a Gear of the Year award thanks to its smart insulation. Our testers described it as “ultralight down clusters that are pressed into a continuous sheet rather than blown loose into baffles. That means the jacket isn’t perforated by thousands of stitches that allow heat to…
The best part about this shell is a set of zippers from arm to hem that allows it to vent like a poncho. Last winter, we evaluated over 100 men’s and women’s jackets to find the best ones for outdoor sports. While the Hemispheres wasn’t our top choice in…
We named this jacket the best uphill layer in our 2020 Winter Buyer’s Guide. “It’s as comfy as a cotton sweatshirt and treated with an interesting heat-regulating technology called ActiveTemp, made from a non-Newtonian polymer that becomes a liquid when cold, helping to block transmission of warm vapor,” our…
The Micro Puff was our favorite jacket of 2018 because there’s a lot to love about this warm, super-light piece. “The PlumaFill is tacked between sheets of ten-denier nylon fabric in long strands, so it won’t shift and create cold spots,” our tester wrote.
Look cute and keep warm in Stoic’s Sherpa Fleece jacket—now for 40% off the original price. With two hand pockets and a snap button front, this jacket is for brisk outdoor adventures around town or for staying cozy by the fire.
“This light, water-resistant jacket gains extra warmth from a proprietary 100 percent recycled synthetic fill that’s warm like down but retains its loft when wet—perfect for chilly days and mixed precipitation,” we wrote of the men’s version of this jacket in our 2021 Winter Buyer’s Guide. Get the women’s…
Mountain Hardwear’s High Exposure GTX C-Knit Anorak won best breathability in our 2019 Winter Buyer’s Guide ski jackets. “During ski tours in Colorado and Wyoming, we slipped into the High Exposure in the morning and left it on all day, its supple and breathable Gore-Tex C-Knit fabric kept us…
The original Ghost Whisperer is our Gear Guy’s favorite lightweight down jacket. The 800-fill-power down is toasty, and the feather treatment helps it stay dry longer, even in wet environments. If you’re concerned about weight, this is the jacket you want—it weighs less than eight ounces.
This jacket is made with burly, seven-ounce waxed sailcloth and lined with soft polyester. Like fine leather, it will develop a patina that looks better the more you wear it. “You’ll have this jacket for years to come and will wear it so often that the price tag will start…
Packed with premium 850-fill down in the torso and synthetic insulation elsewhere, the Cerium LT is constructed to retain warmth where you need it (around your core) and manage moisture everywhere else. You’ll barely notice it in your pack: it weighs just 9.7 ounces.
These vests, fleeces, shells, and puffies came up just short of print inclusion—but they’re still worth your attention
Outer-layer technology has reached new heights
The Masao is one of our favorite waterproof jackets because it’s both lightweight and packed with features. The pockets in the front are compatible with a harness and your helmet will fit snug under the hood. Plus, there are zippers built into the armpits of this jacket—ideal for dumping…
We gave the Micro Puff jacket a Gear of the Year award when it debuted in 2017. Tester Frederick Reimers described its innovative insulation: “[It’s] tacked between sheets of ten-denier nylon fabric in long strands, so it won’t shift and create cold spots.”…
Looking for the perfect jacket for your next chilly hike? The Women’s Labyrinth Loop Hooded Jacket from Columbia is your new go-to. Lined with their Omni-Heat™ gold thermal-reflective lining and filled with recycled synthetic down insulation, this jacket will keep you toasty all day.
This jacket was the best all-around midlayer in our year-long test. “Although it was designed for ski touring, the Zebru is ideal for any fast-paced winter activity where warmth and breathability are key,” our tester wrote. “This is the layer you put on in the morning, never…
“Multi-climate trips are a breeze with this lightweight jacket, which boasts 40 grams of synthetic insulation and stretchy, DWR-treated ripstop nylon that sheds water and dumps heat,” we wrote in our 2020 Summer Buyer’s Guide. It performs just as well during post-ride beers as it does on the skin…
From light sprinkles to daylong downpours, these shells have you covered
Here it is: the best eco-shell in our Summer Buyer’s Guide jacket test. “The three-layer construction is more durable than its 2.5-layer predecessor,” our testers wrote. “Still, as with Torrentshells of old, it’s breathable (pit zips help), a high collar and brimmed hood seal out showers, and…
The Flight Futurelight is one of our favorite shells for trail runs in any type of weather. “The Futurelight membrane acts like a nano-sieve: it’s permeable to air but not water, so it’s fully weatherproof and remarkably breathable,” wrote tester Martin Fritz Huber in our 2020 Summer…
It has all the comfort and features you’d expect from a high-end performance shell, but at an affordable price
The Stretchdown is a staff favorite. “This puffy is made with a nylon-elastane face fabric that’s super stretchy, so it’s great for increased range of motion for climbing, hiking, and skiing,” said senior gear editor Ariella Gintzler.
Every outdoor situation demands a slightly different layering system, but with these three puffies and three shells, you can pretty much do it all
We featured the Alpiner jacket in our 2020 Summer Buyer’s Guide roundup of the best women’s hiking gear. “The 10.6-ounce hooded Alpiner is our backcountry security blanket,” wrote tester Stephanie Pearson. It’s currently 20 percent off for Outside readers with the code OUTSIDE-STIO-S21.
Designed to handle a variety of snow-filled excursions, the Environ is made with a three-layer, waterproof polyester shell that can take a beating. While the outer is plenty breathable, Stio added pit zips to dump heat for high-output activities, like grueling early-morning skins.
This 800-fill water-resistant parka packs next-level warmth in a sleek package. The Hometown’s mid-thigh length provides a flattering fit while keeping you toasty on frigid outings around town. We especially like the roomy, adjustable hood.
Gear up for summer adventures with these killer deals
Outside staffers get compliments on their Marmot PreCip jackets every time they wear them. The simple, streamlined design works well for urban commutes, epic hikes, and high-speed singletrack descents. Plus, Marmot makes them in solid colors that look good on everybody. You won’t find a more reliable, comfortable shell at…
Barriers for whatever the atmosphere dishes out
One of our editors’ favorite layers to cozy up in after a long day of skiing, the Better Sweater can also be dressed up thanks to the heathered knit face. We also like the zippered pocket on the sleeve, which is handy for keys and cards.
In our 2018 Summer Buyer’s Guide test, the Interstellar blew our crew away with an uncanny mix of weatherproofing, breathability, and stretch. “It feels softer than a soft shell but as waterproof as any hard shell I’ve used,” said one tester. “Not to mention that it’s the…
Contributor Bryan Rogala tested the Cloudburst jacket on hunting trips in New Mexico, but he also loves it for hiking. “The Sitka pieces I wear hunting have been some of the best-performing clothes I’ve ever used in the outdoors, full stop,” he wrote. Read his full review…
The full-zip version of this windbreaker was one of our favorite pieces of peak bagging gear for its compact size and light protection. This half-zip is ideal for day hikes or getting around town, and it won’t blend into the landscape—that’s just fine with us.
We featured the Shakedry in our 2019 Summer Buyer’s Guide. “Sparse but effective, the Shakedry Trail is essentially a waterproof membrane without any additional laminating fabric,” wrote tester Fritz Huber. “That’s why it might be the lightest water- and windproof jacket on the market—a size large weighs…
Whether you’re slinging a chainsaw, loading hay bales, or wielding a torch, durable workwear that fits well allows you to do your job better
This layer was one of our favorite fleeces in our 2021 Winter Buyer’s Guide. “With its chunky wool knit across the front and hood, this snug fleece-sweater hybrid has the hygge feel of something your grandmother made,” wrote senior gear editor Ariella Gintzler. “But it also has…
This toasty 650-fill puffy is one of our go-to layers for winter crag days: the two-way zipper allows you to flare out the hem over a harness for an easy belay. We prefer the Colter for less aerobic outings, but if you’re working up a sweat, it has pit zips…
We gave this lightweight rain jacket a Gear of the Year award in our 2019 Summer Buyer’s Guide. The Bantamweight strikes a perfect balance between being waterproof and breathable, so you stay dry in summer showers and comfortable on strenuous hikes. “The Bantamweight feels like a windbreaker but performs…
The Baxter was the best street/slope crossover puffy in our 2021 Winter Buyer’s Guide. Our tester called this coat “Equal parts stylish, cozy, and technical.” Read our full review here.
The Anchor Line was one of our favorite technical flannels in our 2019 Winter Buyer’s Guide. Our tester liked its “funk-fighting boost courtesy of a merino-nylon blend that wicks moisture as you move and lends a bit more stretch.” The nylon material on the shoulders and sleeves…
This is the midlayer that makes life easier on 20-degree high-alpine backcountry excursions. “The outer fabric on the Proton LT was more wind resistant than many of the other jackets,” we wrote in our review.
When it was first released in 2010, we called the Snowshot “one of the least expensive jackets in our test but also a tester favorite.” The three-in-one design lets you wear a waterproof shell or insulated liner—or both together for really cold weather.
Our former gear editor Ben Fox loves the Transcendent for its uber-warm protection from the elements. “When you’re on a chilly belay or ripping off touring skins on an exposed summit and the wind starts gusting, you’ll be thankful for the Transcendent’s lofty, lightweight 650-fill down insulation, wind-resistant fabric, and…
This shacket is part of our gear editor’s go-to fall outfit. With ripstop nylon on one side and flannel on the other, you can wear it as a classic puffy or an insulated flannel. Our editor said she found it “particularly handy on those fickle fall days when I…
One of our favorite shackets, the United by Blue Snap is stuffed with a blend of bison fiber and recycled polyester, making it warm for its weight and exceptional at quashing odors. Pro tip: The jacket runs small, so we suggest sizing up.
Our writer tested four of the highest-quality down jackets on the market to determine whether they're worth the price
This winter, staying warm and cozy may be more important than ever. Here are a few of our favorite outdoor pieces for doing just that.
This was our favorite hybrid in our men’s midlayer test. “We used this layer for hiking, ice climbing, and alpine skiing and were impressed at how well it cuts the wind and keeps the core warm,” wrote our tester. It’s worth snagging during our…
Whether you're shopping for others or yourself, these sales are the best opportunities to save big on gear this year
We review eight high-tech cold weather endurance jackets to keep you warm and comfortable while running in any conditions.
The Bislett is made from a softshell combo of polyester and nylon that’s water resistant while still exceptionally breathable and soft on the skin. The result is a layer that gives you protection against wind and rain, while adding more warmth than a typical rain shell. The best part? You…
This hoodie is as high-tech as it looks. Packed with quality 850-fill down in the core, the Cerium LT Down has strategically mapped areas with synthetic insulation to resist moisture. You’ll barely notice it in your pack: it weighs just 10.9 ounces.
The Nano Puff is a classic jacket that is super versatile, warm, and looks good with any outfit. Its ripstop shell is built with 100 percent recycled polyester and it’s stuffed with 60-gram Primaloft Gold Eco insulation. Plus, it packs down into its own chest pocket for easy transport.
The Atom LT is a lightly insulated jacket with a highly compressible synthetic fill. The stretchy and uninsulated panels of fleece under the arms make for a less bulky fit and up the comfort factor.
Don’t let this jacket’s name fool you. Your expedition needn’t take you above the Arctic Circle to warrant the nearly full-body insulative wonder that is the Expedition Long—bitter winter dog walks and snowy hikes are squarely in its wheelhouse. And like everything else Fjällräven puts its name on, the Expedition…
Coats for every adventure, from sunny singletrack to frigid summits
Our Gear Guy tested five lightweight soft shells, and the Keele was his favorite. “I was most impressed with how [it] almost completely repelled water during the shower test, leaving very little moisture on the interior after 30 seconds,” he wrote. This is the jacket you should grab for…
We gave this jacket a Gear of the Year award in 2017. “Think of it as a Nano-Air on steroids: a stretchy, waterproof-breathable fabric wraps the synthetic fill, while the interior is made from the same plush liner as the original. Add pit zips and you have…
This coat has earned a permanent spot in my quiver