Jackets

Your jacket is an important component in your layering system and because there are stellar jackets for every situation, let us give you a little direction. A hiking jacket is useful in mild weather, but when you find yourself braving the outdoors in sub-zero temperatures, we suggest a hardy insulation layer or two. Start with a 100 or 200 weight fleece jacket, vest, merino midweight top or even Patagonia Nano Puff Pullover. Next layer a down or synthetic jacket, like the Mountain Hardwear Compressor or Marmot's Ama Dablam. If you find yourself battling more than just the temperature, you will need a shell layer. Soft shell jackets are perfect for high-octane, active adventures where a highly breathable, water resistant barrier is called for in an outdoor jacket. However if the weather turns nasty, you may need a full-fledged rain jacket with Gore Tex, H2No, PreCip, Conduit, HyVent, Membrain, Omi-Tech to keep you dry.