20 Best Lightweight Jacket For Hiking (2023 Updated)

I took this jacket on a weeklong vacation to the East Coast, where it rained every second day. It held up against the elements very well. I never had any issues with water getting in, and it worked great at stopping the cold wind.

I have two other 3 layer GoreTex shell jackets which are much bulkier and heavier. The Minimalist jacket is much lighter and folds up much smaller to fit in a small daypack. I’ve only had the jacket for a few weeks, so I can’t comment on longterm durability.

The lighter material seems like it could be prone to damage on a serious backcountry camping trip. I am 6′ tall and typically wear a Medium. The fit is good, and leaves enough room for some warmer layers underneath.

The chest pocket is a good size and my large smartphone fits nonproblem. Sometimes I find the zippers on the hand pockets a little difficult to close but it’s only a minor issue. I did not use the pit zips on this trip, but they are a great feature which will probably be handy on future hiking & camping trips.

I’ve use the Minimalist jacket many times, but recently had the chance to take it along on a backpacking trip in Utah’s Uinta Mountain Range. We had rain daily, and one day was particularly wet. The Minimalist jacket was perfect for the conditions, and stayed dry throughout.

I bring this jacket along on so many trips. It folds down pretty small, and it still looks brand new after all the places its been. Not as light as some water proof coating products, but the GoreTex really does its job.

Another thing I really like is the hood. It is adjustable for my head, and really goes well if I’m wearing a cap under the hood. It has a clean fit, but the bill of the hat keeps the hood up and the rain off my face.

I think it would work well without a cap, but it’s so good with a cap that I have learned to gear up with a cap when using the hood.

Been out with my nine year old too many times; clouds come around, or night falls, wind picks up; whatever; and we’ve got to head back to the car or go hide in some shelter for a while. No excuses anymore; out comes this thing; and swoosh; instant additional 20 degree protection from the elements.

Me? I feel like a proper parent; because I’m now able to pop this thing out of the backpack. Haha, other parents looking over at me like I’m super dad when I whip this thing out of the pack; kids looking at me like I’m Captain Outdoorsman or something.

Nothing beats the bright eyed full pupil dilation look from a kid either. Highly recommended++ My kid is 55″; and el chunko at 105 pounds; evenly distributed top bottom; arms legs chest waist etc. The size L fits him; with just a little bit of wiggle room when worn over a t-shirt/long sleeve shirt combo.

*add a small “S” clip to the hanging loop – makes it too easy to hang to a tent strap, or inside the camper*.

This is a long-term review of Ferrosi material (and Ferrosi tops) in general, as the piece I’ve had for almost four years is no longer in production. I *really* like how this is so insanely thin, yet is like a brick wall against wind and is stretchy.

It’s resistant to light moisture as long as the DWR is kept up, but even if it’s been a while between DWR refreshes, this stuff dries incredibly fast. It will dry while being worn. Its drying ability must contribute to its ability to manage sweat.

I sweat A LOT while exercising in this and it merely gets damp. It’s so busy drying, it doesn’t get soaked. Let me tell you what I’ve done with my Ferrosi top since mid-2018, and you can decide if this jacket would work for the same: – Running in the cold – Running in light rain/mist – As an outer wind/light snow blocking layer when skinning in light snow and/or moderate winds down to 0ºF (not including wind chill).

Don’t believe me? Trust me, even in those temps you get real hot when skinning uphill. Sweat management is important to not literally freezing when you reach the summit of wherever you’re going, so you end up wearing way, way less than you normally would for those temps.

However, not freezing on the way UP is also very important. This is where the Ferrosi comes in. If it’s windy, or snowing at all, you’ll get either wet from the snow, or freeze from the wind. The Ferrosi keeps the moisture wicking and/or insulating layer from being soaked so it can do its work of pumping your sweat into the surrounding air while keeping you warm; it also keeps the wind from sweeping your preciously small barrier of warm air out of your insulating layer.

– Downhill skiing in temps anywhere from 20ºF and up – Hanging out around a fire on cool spring/fall evenings – Sitting in an airplane for hours (Ferrosi packs smaller than cotton t-shirt material) – Watching movies in theater (remember how chilly those are?) So, yeah.

This material for use as a top is legit. I’m a raving fan.

I?ve been looking at these on and off for a few years now, and a few weeks ago I was about to pull the trigger on one at the OR website when I decided to check Backcountry first. Great idea! They had the color I wanted (Mediterranean/lead) AND it cost less.

I ordered it right away and was waiting for it like I was 7 again and it was 3 days before Christmas. The jacket is absolutely perfect for what I bought it for. I run pretty warm when hiking and snowshoeing in the winter, hardshells are like a sauna and my fleece is really too warm unless it?s below 0F.

I?ve used the Ferrosi in temps ranging from around 0F to 15F so far, with a silkweight synthetic baselayer and midweight Merino shirt. It vents very well, after a pretty strenuous late afternoon snowshoeing trek involving some trail breaking the only places I could feel any sweat were where my pack touched my back and a little under my arms.

Under bluebird skies in 12-15F temps and no wind, breaking trail again, I was actually just a bit too warm with it on and half unzipped. But I was also a bit too warm after I took the jacket off, I had to push my wool shirt sleeves up to my elbows to cut down on the excess sweating in the sun.

My observations on the jacket itself? Melted snow beads up on the fabric and doesn?t get through. The sleeve cuffs stretch enough to fit over the medium gloves I was wearing and don?t let drafts in. The fabric is thin enough that I don?t have to adjust my pole straps, but I?ve been poked and scraped by sticks without getting any holes or tears.

Pockets are good-sized but get covered by my pack waist belt and sternum strap. Gloves or a hat would be OK in the drop-in pockets, but definitely not a water bottle. Sizing seems good in hem and sleeve length, long enough so the sleeves aren?t stretched tight when I use the thumbholes but not so long that they cover my knuckles.

I can bend or sit without the back hem riding up and letting the breeze in. I can?t fit a light down jacket under the Ferrosi but that?s because my sizing is off, not the jacket?s. Now I know why these things get rave reviews.

Definitely one of my best purchases of the past few years, and probably the best clothing purchase in that time. Next up? Ferrosi pants!.

I have allot of jackets by other well known brands but I wanted to give the Microgravity a try due to its innovative fabric. Having been in moderate rain, chilly wind and temps about 10 degrees Celcius, I used an OR Echo zip neck as a base layer only for my evaluations.

Rain: yes this fabric keeps the water out. The DWR is pretty good, so that plays a significant role, but no water leaked through this jacket and made me feel confident it’s gonna keep the rain out completely.

It works. Wind: the fabric feels closer to a softshell (think Arcteryx Gamma SL) than a goretex 2 or 3 layer. It does stop wind, but you can feel cold gusts slightly, which is a tradeoff to its next attribute, breathability.

A slightly heavier mid-layer easily remedies this. Breathability: yup this fabric is VERY breathable. Moderate hiking where I normally feel a sweat coming on in a goretex jacket has the Microgravity allowing moisture transportation at an impressive rate.

This is where this jacket shines. Even though there no pit zips, this is the best breather I have for rainy, clammy hiking outings. Having an OR Echo baselayer in tandem with the Microgravity is an impressive combo as well.

Fit: I found the jacket fits well, true to size, maybe slightly larger than other OR models if anything. The hood is my only criticism, as like some other companies, it’s made to be helmet compatible so there is allot of fabric that needs cinching for non-helmet use.

Can look dorky but some adjustments and it fits/works even with no helmet. Even though the sleeves are long, the velcro cuffs adjust well enough where any extra fabric hasn’t been an issue. I found the zippers to be fine.

Summary: OR found a formidable design in this jacket. The innovation and application are impressive with this design. Considering most users have goretex or pertex for rainwear, the Microgravity with its Ascentshell fabric should be on your list for consideration.

I have to say ya, it’s better. Now make some reasonably priced pants in the same material OR!.

I call jackets like this “garbage bags” — something light, packable, windproof, and mostly waterproof. I always carry a “garbage bag” on every long bike ride regardless of conditions, after the one time I didn’t & was caught 40mi from home in a downpour (& thus wearing a LITERAL garbage bag) By these standards the Helium is probably the best such jacket I have owned.

Like any breathable/waterproof jacket there will be tradeoffs — it isn’t super breathable & wets through in about an hour of good rain. The 2. 5 layer construction puts the membrane next to your skin so it will feel clammy before it actually soaks through.

Wear it over wool or fleece & it will keep you alive, maybe even comfortable. The cut is intended for runners. A little narrow through the torso. When I’m on the bike I wish it had bikey features like offset zipper, shorter in the front, slimmer sleeves, tail pocket, and an easy way to stow the hood (you can do this by tying the hood adjustment cord to the hang loop but that requires taking it off first).

But none of those things is a showstopper for a cheap jacket that’s mostly waterproof & weighs 6oz.

I borrowed my boyfriends helium jacket for one hour to clean out the shed. It got pretty wet through the shoulders, I think spots where his pack has rubbed it with weekend use. He’s only worn it 15-20 times since he bought it that I’m aware of.

The worst part was when I went to undo the zipper, it was caught on the inner chin protector flap and ripping a small tear in the fabric. Did not notice any issues with snagging when I did it up, so by the time I went to take it off it was quite worked in and very difficult to remove.

I was surprised it had already torn through the fabric, usually when zips do this you can at least work it out the first few times until the fabric weakens to the point of tearing. This is the first time it’s happened! Attached is a photo showing how it was caught, and the tear left after I managed to slowly and carefully wiggle it free.

Now I feel bad for borrowing his jacket 😞 be careful with how you zip this jacket, and perhaps OR designers can look to reinforce this area or adjust material thickness here to prevent the snagging in future releases.

Unfortunately, I didn’t realize before I ordered, there is only 1 pocket, and it is a chest pocket. yes it does fit a phone. a bit awkward looking however. and impractical if you’re hiking with a pack of any kind.

There are NO SIDE/HAND pockets!!! Lol. I thought we were past the whole ‘not-giving-ladies-reasonable-pockets’ phase in life lol. ummm so unfortunately. will be returning. I will say other than that is was light weight, a good feel, and fit well.

I wish there were more ‘longline’ type of ‘gortex lightweight’ raincoats available in plus sizes. I have not found many, so this was next best option, although I wish they made raincoats for hiking for greater length.

to cover the butt/upper thighs (so don’t always have to throw on your rainpants on as well) (& with a double zipper design would be nice). but alas no! So, i’m a size 18 in most brands. the 2X fit well, mightve considered a 1X even, depends on how much room you want for layering.

). The dark purple is very pretty and looks good. I did not get a chance to try it out in rain before returning. So. almost. but the pocket thing will probably really bother me, so returning.

I got this in XXL. I have broader shoulders for a woman, and while this jacket could use a smidge more room in the shoulders, I can wear it comfortably. Thus far I’ve only worn it in light rain, and it’s done its job well.

Because I’m 5’5 and I have a short torso, this jacket is full length on me (I actually would have loved it as a crop, but this is great too). I have short arms so the sleeves are a little long on me — I would have appreciated some way of tightening the wrist opening.

Note that the tie around the waist at the bottom needs to be tied or it hangs down awkwardly — it’s useful, but the look isn’t my favourite. CW mention of weight and measurements below. – – – The “what is your weight” section of the Altitude survey doesn’t go high enough for me, so I left it blank.

I haven’t weighed myself in years, but I would estimate that I’m around 250lbs. My waist measures ~41 inches and my hips measure ~52 inches. I guessed that this jacket would work for me because of the crop length, and that’s proven correct in my case.

I ordered a medium size raincoat a month ago for a trip to Iceland (and for rainy days in general). It was great protection against the rain and wind. I ordered a medium (I’m 5’2” 130pounds) and typically find myself in small or medium.

The medium was a bit big but it worked out great because I can easily wear layers without it being too tight. I also read previous comments about people not liking the placements of the zippered pockets.

I actually love them – they’re a bit higher than the norm (think bellybutton level). Color was true to photo (I ordered the tea green and have received multiple compliments). Would recommend!.

This is a decent jacket that worked relatively well as an outer layer for my trip to Iceland. However, when we got caught in a moderate rain during a 3 hr hike, the jacket just couldn’t keep me dry towards the end of the hike.

It held up for the first hour or two, but by the third hour it was pretty damp on the interior. At no point was the rain heavy, it was mostly on and off and light for the first two hours. But the last hour was a steady & moderate rain.

I still love this jacket, though, and it’s great for quick hikes in misty conditions and waterfall visits. But it’s not something I would recommend for a longer rainy hikes.

In the interest of giving an accurate description, let me say that I live in Texas. I found that the reviews from the frozen North tend to be a little generous with cold weather gear as those folks are more used to it.

We had a cold snap that dropped below 20 for a few days. I wore the parka and the bibs working outside for several hours each days with moderate movement. They were toasty warm. I read the reviews about them not being quiet, and I really can’t believe them.

The outer shell is a really soft, fleece like material, that produced not sound I could discern. If I had a complaint, is that they are too soft. I doubt they would survive any encounter with barbed wire.

The insulation is thick and heavy, around the forearms and wrists is bunches significantly. I wore them with boxers and a T-shirt underneath, so no problem. If you are planning to layer underneath, I would say, nothing with sleeves or buy a size bigger.

During the experiment, it was raining softly. I didn’t get wet, but I would not consider that a really assessment of the waterproofing.

This parka has every feature I was looking for in a hunting parka, and more. Here in Mississippi, I can wear just the outer shell for first two months of deer season. Add the liner for the cold in December and January.

It has all the pockets I want: front bellows for carrying stuff, hand warmer pockets behind the bellows, and zip chest pockets for the cell phone. The rear game pocket is great for carrying a light fleece pullover that I can put on if I get cold, or take off and store there if I get too warm.

The two way zipper is needed to keep the jacket from bunching up when sitting in a tree stand. This parka was well designed by someone who understands hunting.

Waterproof shell is loud. Not the outer fabric, but the waterproof layer underneath. It almost squeaks against the outer layer when you move. Not a problem during active rain or wind, but too loud for bow hunting on calm conditions.

I have other coats with waterproof membranes that are more quiet. Pocket layout on outer shell is great. Inner liner coat is good and warm. Liner coat should be nylon on inside of sleeves, its fabric and it is a bit tough to get on compared to nylon.

Decent coat for the price point.

6?1, 200, Medium I purchased the Venture2 for some mountain hiking. This jacket is awesome. There?s enough room for a thermoball jacket and a few other layers underneath. As some have already stated in the reviews, it runs a little big as it?s designed for the purpose of layering.

But even without layers, it still fits nicely since there are drawstrings to adjust the waist. It?s packable, lightweight, has great ventilation under the arms, and looks great. If you?re debating what kind of wind/rain shell to get for your outdoor adventures, this is the one.

Get it!.

The Taupe Green/TNF Black is a great jacket. It’s a replacement for my original Grey/TNF white that has been losing it’s HyVent lining around the neck/hood area. There are some minor differences between the two but they kept the pit-zips which is what I wanted in a rain jacket.

The North Face doesn’t seem to advertise this jacket on their web site anymore so this might be the last of them. I hope not because it is a good jacket.

Love this lightweight rain jacket! Easy to layer, stays dry, and doesn’t make you overly warm! It’s easy to pack and take with you! It’s extremely durable! The only wear I’ve seen on mine after years of use is on the interior! Love this jacket.

I wear a size large in most North Face clothing, but this jacket is VERY large. The arm length is super long. I’ll need to return it and get a proper fitting jacket, it’s like wearing a balloon — no shape or form.

Not sure about its ability to shed water as I need to return it.

This is my second time purchasing this jacket! Material is durable. The jacket is packable, lightweight, great ventilation (pit zips). I have a long torso so it fits me true to size. I am still able to wear my Arcteryx Atom LT Hoody underneath and remain comfortable.

If you’re looking for an outdoor shell THIS IS IT!.

This is my new go to urban parka for our Canadian climate. It is warm when walking our dogs at -18 with layers underneath. With a strong wind I find using a shell over top is my personal preference to reduce wind chill.

The parka is light weight. The first couple of times wearing it while driving I actually had to look and make sure I had put on a coat. It is great for running errands … warm when driving and walking around outside and not over heating while in shops.

The hood fits my head well and when completely zipped up covers my nose nicely without being tight. I am 5’4” 118 Lb with an athletic build. Broad shouldered and slim in the hips. Many coats I need a med.

for my shoulders and the hip area is excessive. The cut of this parka is great for my build and there is room in the hip area but still flattering with my slimmer hips. It runs big. I purchased an XS and have room to layer if needed but it looks and feels nice with just a shirt or sweater under it.

The parka stretches as needed without feeling tight. I find mountain Hardware stretchdown runs big as I also have the stretch down pant in XS. Both these items are very comfortable in any situation I have used them in.

I have used both as second layers for downhill skiing with shell jacket and pant over top. I am really enjoying the versatility this parka offers and the colours are true to the photos. I would purchase this parka again!.

Found this beauty in a columbia outlet. I normally dont go for shorter waisted jackets but it is extremely light weight and shockingly durable. Soft as a feather, it took an absolute beating on a stormy costal vacation.

Im a huge northface fan and would compare it to a slightly more durable than triclimate, took 3 hours of constant PNW ocean coastal rain to soak through the fabric. If you layer underneath sucker feels like a windwall too.

I will say it runs big. I have an XS, but am normally S/M. 5’5 133 with wider hips. I was layering 2 smaller pullover jackets underneath it and never had any mobility issues nor look like a marshmallow.

LADIES THE HOOD ZIPS UP TO OVER THE BRIDGE OF YOUR NOSE! Absolutely amazing for keeping hair dry and not getting wind burn. Such a killer jacket. Wish they had the red one but love my gray/black one!.

I was looking for a down jacket to replace and old Rab jacket I had. This jacket is much lighter weight than I expected. My previous Rab was also 700 fill but this feels like half the weight (and this one is longer).

It is missing details shown on the photos. The jacket I received is so much lighter/less puffy than the website photos. Mine has no hood cinch, the hood on the jacket I received has the same small trim as the sleeve cuffs.

Also mine has no inner pockets. It does keep me warm on my trip to/from work. I like the generous fit and stretch. I can easily sit in the car and drive without having to unzip it from the bottom to get leg movement, and issue with a different parka I own.

The outer fabric is very thin and doesn’t feel like it’ll withstand wear-and-tear but for my intended casual commuter use, it’s ok. I haven’t washed it yet so I can’t speak to the down shifting which other reviewers seem to have.

I needed a waterproof jacket for an upcoming trip. I usually wear a medium and ordered a medium and it fit great. I tested the waterproofness by wearing it in the shower for a good 30 sec with a shirt underneath.

Took off the jacket and the shirt was dry except for the water that got in through the neckline and a bit that seeped through the right chest zipper. Overall worth the money.

I’ve had this same jacket for years and it’s great. Definitely waterproof, not just water resistant. My husband kept wearing mine, even though it didn’t fit. So I bought him his own jacket. Great for hiking.

Keeps you dry but it’s breathable.

I was looking for a good winter jacket that wasn’t too voluminous and I finally found it! It’s nice and warm coat and it’s good against wind and rain. The only downside is that it’s not black. Its more of a washed out black.

I’m overall satisfied with the purchase.

Bought for 15 year old granddaughter for school as needed a waterproof jacket. Very stylish and fits very nice. She is really pleased with it. Warm and wind proof too. A great buy and worth the money

Fantastic jacket. Light weight, completely waterproof. This little jacket is the best I’ve ever brought (and I’ve brought a few!), it is so comfortable, the pockets are lined with a soft fabric and certainly keeps the water out.

Not cheap, but certainly worth every penny and great value for money.

Full disclosure, I received this as a gift about a year ago. This jacket does a lot of things right. The hood is next level and provides full coverage while also staying out of the way while I’m skiing.

My main use case is Nordic skiing and I typically use this jacket as a waxing/waiting over-layer or a primary layer when temps take a dip. The material is stretchy and comfortable. It’s worth mentioning that some reviews have mentioned the fabric not being durable.

I haven’t experienced any issues (despite using it with a pack, which seems to be the bane of this jacket) but also don’t doubt the authenticity of those reviews. It’s also worth mentioning that this jacket holds its own but isn’t terribly warm.

I’ve been ok with that as I tend to run warm (or opt for my down puffy when temps really drop). However if you run cooler this might not cover as wide a range of conditions as it claims to. I also find it hard to justify this jacket given the price (despite not buying it myself) unless you are a specific customer.

If you are looking for a good jacket to keep you warm during the colder months there are solutions that are less expensive or that are more durable/warm for the price. However, if you are looking for a lightweight and synthetic jacket with a well thought out athletic cut and design details (and are willing to accept the durability/quality risk) then this is a strong piece worth considering.

I was not able to test this jacket out while being active in order to experience it’s full magnificence. I did try it on and tested it on a short walk on a cold very windy day (the day the storms came through the midwest and caused a huge tornado in Kentucky).

The jacket was warm, but not warm enough to block out cold winds. I bought it when looking for a breatheable midlayer for winter activities. I wish I could keep this AND the Atom AR since they both have very different purposes.

This would be perfect for all general usage at high output (a walk and downhill skiing are not high output), but at low output all you feel is the breathability without much warmth. A wonderful feel and build and fit on this jacket though! I wish I could have kept it.

I’m 5’9″ and somewhere between 130-160lb and tried a small (it was a big tight) and medium. The latter fit perfectly without looking bulky or baggy.

The dark green color (enigma) is lovely and works well with my athletic clothing as well as casual clothing for walking around town. The fabric is high-quality and very stretchy. The fabric on the sides and under the arm sleeves is the most stretchy and different from the rest of the jacket.

There is a waist cinch, though it is pretty fitted, so I doubt I’ll ever use it. The hood is perfectly shaped so that it doesn’t even need tightening to stay in place. There is an elastic cord around the hood, but the cinch for it is on the back of the neck, not exactly the most convenient place.

When zipped all the way up the hood stays mostly on my head even in gusty winds, so the cinch isn’t essential. Insulated isn’t exactly the best way to describe this hoodie. It does have a lining to it and it will keep you warm in mild weather.

The sleeves are just mesh-lined, hence why in colder weather you might want to have another long sleeve layer underneath (order size up for this). I’ve been wearing it in the mid-50s to upper-60s weather and have been comfortable.

I wouldn’t expect it to keep me warm in any lower temperatures, but add a warmer jacket on top of it and I could see this working well as a base layer. I usually wear a medium in jackets, and this is a very fitted medium.

It is fine to wear over a short-sleeve shirt, but definitely not as comfortable or as flattering if you plan on layering underneath. I recommend ordering a size up if you don’t like the very fitted look.

Luckily, it is very stretchy, as I have more broad shoulders and the longer sleeve cuffs help with longer arms. It’s super lightweight and takes up little space in terms of being able to throw it into a backpack to pull out when the weather changes while hiking.

Overall, it is a comfortable, lightweight, high-quality jacket.

I’ve worn this coat now for the past month in northern Michigan where our temps have ranged from the 40’s down to the negative single digits and have stayed warm! I got it for myself on sale for Christmas.

I had ordered it in Large/Red last year but returned it as the zipper wouldn’t work and it was pretty big on me. This time I ordered Medium/Red and the zipper works fine so far, both ways, it fits nicely, and I love it.

The coat is warm but not a scorcher and so lightweight. I got this one in particular because I needed a very lightweight but warm coat to pack for trips on planes to and from cold locales. It’s perfect for this! Red allows my hubby to spot me when I hike a ways from him, etc.

It’s a nice red, not dull, but not neon either. It’s long enough I can sit on it when I get into the cold car. The pockets are a good size though I wish there were one or two inside the coat. The hood isn’t removable, but I find that’s not a concern at all and has come in handy when we hit the windy spots on mountains.

Even though there aren’t knit cuffs in the arms like I thought I’d need to stay warm and keep breezes out, the existing cuffs taper in and are fine. I do love the diagonal design of the sections of the body as they give a slimming shape to my body – I have wide hips for my body overall.

Did I mention this coat is super lightweight? Ha, can’t say it enough for packing and traveling purposes. It fits nicely into my backpack that I carry on planes – I have to wear it to and from the airports or else freeze! I have not yet washed it and that probably won’t be for a while, but I do remember reading some reviews that spoke about a strange smell after washing; sure hope not! I rated a 4 star for quality as I don’t know yet how high quality it is until I wear it for a while.

I got this a few days ago because I wanted something colorful to replace my ancient Squall parka. I’m writing in Sept. in Minnesota so I can’t say how warm this will be. It seems well made, the colors are gorgeous (I got the verbana colorway) and the fit and way the down channels are sewn are flattering.

I have 2 things to mention, however, that would have made this coat5 stars for me. First, the hood cannot be detached. I suppose if that had been part of the design, the retail price would have been even more expensive.

Second: the hood seems fairly large, and there is no way to adjust it to fit more snugly–no pull cord or even elastic around part of the hood. There is no way the hood would stay up on a windy day, or to manipulate the fit so you could see to the sides, for example.

I have an ultra-light long parka from 32 Degrees and the hood is both detachable (zipper) and there is elastic along the top of the hood so that the fit is more snug and it doesn’t obscure your vision as much.

It isn’t perfect, but for a budget brand, the design is better than the Lands’ End version. The only way to make the hood fit well is to wrap a scarf around the outside of the neck area and that’s not how I prefer to wear my scarves.

I have debated returning this, but I like the length of it and again: what a pretty colorway. Maybe if the LE design team can tweak the hood a bit, I’d award more stars. I do hope it’ll keep me warm to and from work and out on errands this winter.

Good points: – This jacket is exceptionally light weight. – It’s insulated with down and warm enough for driving around / running errands on most Minnesota winter days. – It is 100% nylon both inside and out – the material is soft and slides easily over a sweater or flannel shirt.

– Size 1X is cut very generously (especially in the waist and hips) and easily allows for bulky clothes underneath. – The chevron (V-shaped) quilting is more figure flattering than straight-line / vertical quilting.

Bad points: – The sleeves are rather short and my shirt sleeves poke out from the cuffs. – There is only loose elastic in the cuffs which doesn’t keep out cold air. Many Lands’ End winter jackets have an inner knit cuff – that would improve this item a lot.

– I got this in Deep Sea Navy with a bright blue lining in the hood and jacket interior. Although I like the bright blue better than the rather boring navy, sticking to one color – like the solid Black and solid Limelight versions – would make it easier to match this jacket with a scarf and hat.

I recommend this jacket but not at full price – if I didn’t get it at a really good sale price, I would not have bought it.

This is a really nice jacket. I would consider this a mid-weight windbreaker that is similar to another black one I have. I find I can wear these pretty much through every season, even in winter unless it’s bitterly cold out but the fabric is substantial that it protects from wind & water, thus, with a long sleeve shirt, sweater or hoodie, AND, that I’m warm blooded anyway, it’s great for cold days as I often find a winter coat too warm if going in/out to the grocery, etc.

It’s almost too warm for summers in the midwest but that’s ok. I do find that Columbia women though do run small so I always have to go into the plus size, usually a 2X for non-restricting comfort even though I’m typically a XXL misses.

The 2X fits perfect with room for a sweater or hoodie.

I ordered a medium size and noticed right away that it runs a little big, especially the sleeves. This is OK if you’re wearing a thick sweater underneath. Maybe the fit is purposely roomy to allow air to circulate? I tested the jacket to see if it’s really waterproof, and so far it is.

Time will tell if, wash after wash, the waterproof finish will last. I really like the Deep Marine color and the jacket seems well-made. Fit is not the best for my taste, but I guess I’ll get used to it.

Overall, this seems like a decent rain jacket.

I haven’t actually worn the jacket yet, but I do like the color and style. Bought 2 colors because I couldn’t decide. I am planning a trip to Italy in the fall and wanted a nice looking jacket that could protect against light rain if needed.

I originally ordered a size up as recommended. I ended up trying to return/exhange because they were too big. I am 5’9″ and weight approx 160. The large is just fine. I had ordered XL. They no longer had a size L in the turquoise blue so I am just keeping the XL.

A little bigger than I wanted but I can make it work since I am taller than average. I don’t think these run small. Wish I would have just ordered L based on the size charts.

The description did not say it is however it does not make it better if you were thinking about bomber warm jacket. Insulation is stuffed in pockets with stitches going thru. I`m still keeping it because I have a good TNF box-walled down vest and another lighter stitch-thru hoodless Marmot jacket.

This will work for me actually perfectly better than the one bomber-warm piece because it gives better layering management option. Also you may run into a scenario when you need to share a piece with someone.

Otherwise it is very lightweight about 1 lb, well made and comfortable (I had one size up from my T-shirt), covers the butt which I prefer, and packs very small. The chest is slightly over larger in volume (for me in the case of layering it is a good thing).

The outside fabric is thin and it doesn’t look like it could take much abuse (don`t get hooked while squeezing between airplane seats).

I finally got this 900 fill jacket and tried using it in the backcountry during winter in Yosemite! The jacket is so comfortable, lightweight, and warm. I wouldn’t use it together with my insulation jacket + base layer, and vest since it was too warm when hiking.

This would be a perfect fit for a second layer for cold temperatures in high elevations. At one time of the trip, the weather had a mix of rain and snow, so I had to put a hard shell over the jacket.

It worked perfectly! Although it could look too puffy and looks like a belay layer. It’s worth it. Perfect for the backcountry because of its weight. It amazingly provides warmth when you need it and, most of all, its durability! Follow strict washing protocol and get a down jacket detergent to retain its glory! I highly recommend this jacket if you will be hiking in high elevations.

Bought a few months ago for a trip to Iceland and a hike on the Long Trail in VT. In Iceland we stood in and under several waterfalls, and on the trail walked through torrential rain on for hours on multiple occasions.

The material does wet through when you are in pouring rain for hours, but in lighter conditions it holds up super well and keeps me dry. I don’t know of a raincoat that would hold up better, honestly, given the weather we were up against, and this shell dried super quickly.

Pit zips and pockets were a must for me, and this jacket accommodates. Will be wearing this for years!.

I’ve used this in the advertised temperature range and can safely say that it is accurate with proper layering principles (Base Layer, Fleece, then the Down Jacket and a hard shell over depending on the conditions).

5 degrees Celsius is very cozy when standing or sitting at camp with just a base layer underneath, at negative 5 degrees Celsius you’ll be warm if you’re active while wearing it and are keeping your body fueled.

I personally do a few on the spot sprints or jumping jacks, and drink a a nice coffee and then I’m happy sitting still around 0 degrees Celsius. Anybody with real trekking experience should understand this, don’t rate the product poorly if you don’t understand its intended usage! This is a five-star product for me, and after using more expensive inferior equipment, paying triple for “brand name” jackets seems silly.

Just eat one less cheeseburger and you can save your money, be healthier and have a great piece of kit. I bought it with low expectations and have been pleasantly surprised. Only criticism would be the lack of a cinch on the hood, which isn’t a big deal for me, and it took a long time for stock in my size to become available in my country, otherwise I would have bought one sooner.

I’m 185cm tall, 75kg average, and I sized up and bought this in XL to be cautious, which is a perfect fit. If I bought the large, it would have been too tight, so definitely size up. Other nice features are the length of the jacket and the sleeves.

You can cinch it around your waist or just under your butt, and the sleeves are just long enough that you can pull your hands into them if need be. It’s a nice form fitting jacket for me without dead air when I’m layered up, and I have no complaints – my fellow hikers all want one now XD!.

I bought this jacket for backpacking. I’ve given it 5 stars because of the value. If it had cost $340 instead of $40, I’d give it 4 stars. It’s turned out to be a fantastic jacket with very minor flaws, and I think it’s a great deal when stacked up against the other down jacket options out there.

I usually wear an XL in everything, and for anything Decathlon I get a size larger, so I purchased the XXL and it fits me quite perfectly. My dimensions: chest – 48. 5″, shoulders – 56″ Weight of the jacket in XXL: 12.

3 oz The good: The jacket is warm, and it has 4 oz of 800 fill down, which is a bit more than similar backpacking jackets which will usually have around ~3. 5oz in the size that fits me. The material is soft and feels good against my skin.

One feature I really like that I wasn’t expecting is that the sleeves have an elastic cuff that’s recessed about 2″ deep within the sleeve, so that the actual cuff of the sleeve always is in the right place.

I’ve never seen this on any other jacket and I really like it. Also, the baffles rise slightly towards the middle, which is a look I like more compared to the plain horizontal baffles on most other jackets.

The bad: The zipper feels a little grittier than a top quality zipper, and it snags sometimes on the jacket fabric. This in no way impacts the usage of the jacket, and isn’t a big deal to me, especially given the price.

Also, the 15 denier material used in the shell is heavier than the 7-10D you see in other jackets, so yes, if I wanted to spend an extra $300, I could shave ~4 oz off the weight of the jacket. My backpacking kit is currently not at the point where my only options to save weight cost $75 /oz, so I chose to focus on other places to optimize.

Overall, I think this is just a fantastically good deal, and I already really love this jacket!.

This is an excellent jacket! It has the same fill power (800) but greater fill weight than both the Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer and Phantom jackets (not parka), both of which retail for about $350! It is just about the same weight and shell is similarly nylon.

I have had this jacket for two winters and love it. It is my go-to jacket for all winter sports, and in the summer and fall it compresses easily to throw in my backpack and use with my lightweight sleeping back on cold Sierra nights.

I have the yellow (not keen on other color options or Decathlon’s color options for women’s products in general but love the yellow of this jacket) and absolutely love the color and fit (athletic). I bought a small originally but found it was a bit too big so returned for an xs.

For reference, I’m 5’3″, 125 lbs, 34″ chest. My only complaints are that cleaning takes a bit of extra effort (have to hand scrub the sleeves to get clean, washing machine alone doesn’t cut it), I don’t think the down is water-resistant, and there is no chest pocket for keys and things, which is especially useful for winter-sport use since other pockets need to be kept open for hand warming.

The positives: – It is super warm. I took it for a 1 hour walk, at 1 degree F wind chill yesterday, and was toasty warm. – It wasn’t one of my purchase objectives, but the jacket is super light weight.

– The jacket zipper comes up high enough to cover one’s chin and mouth, if that necessary. – The zipper teeth are larger then those used by some other manufactures, and likely will more durable and more functional.

– The design of the jacket and the zippers is such that one should never experience fabric getting locked into the zipper. – The design of the jacket is such that the two drawstrings are nearly invisible.

The tails of the hood strings are held by loops inside of the jacket instead of just flopping around on the outside! – The breast pocket is larger than necessary for the largest cell phone, and easily accommodated my 6.

5″ X 2. 25″ cell, with room to spare. – I believe that it is unlisted, but there is a large, deep interior pocket on the left side. – The Pertex Quantum fabric has a beautiful, slick, smooth feel. The Cons: – I purchased the Crimson color, which was beautiful on my monitor, but which turned out to be a noticeably darker than illustrated on the Web.

It is still a nice copper-brown color, but not what I expected. I compared my garment to the LLBean web image on both my computer monitor and my Panasonic TV, each of which still have the factory color setting.

Both monitors produce the same color. – Due to the color shift mentioned above, the orange zippers make a much greater contrast to the fabric than it did on the web image. For me, the result is a look that is less elegant than it might otherwise be if the zipper color were a closer match to the fabric.

I highly recommend this jacket because it’s very warm, very light, fits great, and is obviously well-made. My experience with down jackets dates back 30 years ago, when “big and puffy” was the norm. thus my surprise when seeing the smallish LL Bean bag holding this jacket on my front porch.

I thought they’d sent the wrong item. But as soon as I put it on, I could feel my own body heat immediately start radiating inward. I got this to wear on my daily walks, and for cold autumn/winter football games, so I wanted something that was not only warm, but also light and packable, and this fits the bill perfectly.

I have broad shoulders and chest, and a relatively narrow waist; I can fit a light layer under it (but really haven’t needed to yet), while tightening the waist of the jacket to seal in the heat. I had to take the jacket off after a half mile of walking on a 50 degree evening – I was too hot.

But when the temp is in the teens up to 40, it’s perfect. This jacket is significantly warmer than a heavyweight fleece jacket I have, but is just as light. The zipper is of good quality. The collar comes up high enough without being obtrusive.

Pockets are perfectly adequate, being deep enough to hold a large pair of gloves without worrying they’ll fall out. I can see how I might not want to wear this as an outer layer if scrambling through thickets or rough rocky situations (for fear the outer material might tear), that’s not my typical use, so no worries for me.

In that situation I’d wear something thin and tough to protect against really rough surfaces.

My wife made fun of me for the exhaustive research and multiple purchases I made before settling on this 850 Ultralight Hooded Jacket. I started off with the hope of finding a great insulated and hooded winter jacket for under $150.

In the end, I chose this one on sale for just that. In between, I tried the LL Bean Down Hooded Jacket, Recreational Equipment Inc Stratocloud, Outdoor Research Transcendent and OR Coldfront. Size proved to be an issue because I’m between a Med and a Large.

The Bean Down Hooded Jacket was too snug in a Med and I hated the tight-fitting, fleece arms that pulled on your shirt. The two ORs were good quality but a little snug and lacked some important features.

It came down to the Stratocloud vs the 850. I liked the Stratocloud for the warmth, the higher denier shoulders and sleeves, and multi-adjustment hood, but the 600 loft insulation was a little too puffy and bulky.

The 850 had the higher-grade insulation, a better zipper, deeper pockets, and better cuffs. I bought both a Med and a Large, and ended up keeping the Large because it gave me extra room for layering underneath.

It’s slightly bigger than I’d like, but I will live with it due to all the other advantages. One suggestion for LL Bean is to add a back adjustment on the hood to prevent the sides and bill from impeding visibility.

Overall, I’m very pleased with the purchase. Thanks LL Bean!.

I’ve been a huge fan of Patagonia since the 90s. The quality of their products is second to none, which is why I can justify paying the high price tag. When you buy Patagonia gear, you know that you will have it for many years.

I actually own two of these Torrentshell jackets, one in black and one in classic navy. No other rain jacket will keep you as dry as the Torrentshell. I have worn mine in the heaviest downpours and it has kept my entire upper body bone dry.

They are also great at blocking out the wind. We live in Maine and I’ve worn mine in Acadia National Park, where the ocean winds can be VERY strong. This jacket performed amazingly well in that environment.

I frequently wear it while walking/running with our four Golden Retrievers in the rain as well as on hikes. My husband also has two of these jackets (classic navy and metric orange) and he never stops raving about them.

If you are looking for a solid rain jacket that will keep you dry, looks great, and is of excellent quality, this should be your go-to. If you are new to the Patagonia brand and are hesitant because of the price, don’t be.

Patagonia offers a lifetime warranty and their products LAST. I mean, they REALLY last. This will be the only rain jacket that you’ll ever need. My mother still has the same Patagonia jacket that she bought 15 years ago and it’s still going strong!.

We’ve all been there. With more storm protection you get a jacket you just can’t hike in because it weighs so much and feels like you’re wearing seal skin. If you’re willing to compromise on storm protection for weight you also give up durability.

This jacket strikes that balance perfectly. The new lining bumping up to three layer protection from 2. 5 REALLY increases the durability without adding weight. Plus it still feels light and soft to the touch.

Other jackets at this price point just felt rubbery to me when shopping. After three hikes getting caught in storms (last one with a little freezing rain!), I was VERY happy with this purchase. However, the best part of this jacket far and away is the hood.

It’s the absolute best on any jacket in this price range. It’s frames your face perfectly while still giving you a good brim to keep the rain out of your eyes. And the the adjustment pulls are great.

I like that they’re positioned below your neck at the top of your clavicle so you’re not having to reach under the hood and under your chin to find them. And they’re self adjusting, but stay put. It is the most comfortable hood on a rain jacket I have ever owned.

I thought I’d address a couple of criticisms I saw in other reviews. First, the “crinkly” sound. That REALLY gets better with use. That’s a hallmark of high end outdoors gear; you can’t judge it right off the rack.

It’s designed to be broken in a little bit. Most highly durable products are like that and Patagonia is no exception. The fit. There have been criticisms that this is “only made for skinny people;” that’s not true.

Yes, it is not fun to feel like something is tighter around your midsection than you would like when you’re carrying a little extra weight, but that’s what you want in a rain jacket. If a rain jacket is too loose around your middle, all you’re doing is creating extra space for water to pool and sneak in.

Plus it will bunch on your low back. That makes it much more uncomfortable with a pack and you’re just creating more space inside for humid air to get in and soak the inside of your jacket. The fit is absolutely perfect on this jacket, it’s not too small and that’s good! I absolutely love this jacket!.

I purchased this jacket to serve as a lightweight weather-proof shell for multiple activities/multiple season use. This is my first Torrentshell, so I can’t compare it to previous versions, however I have had numerous rain shells by other manufacturers.

This shell doesn’t have a ton of extra features, but it is very well designed and well constructed. The material is (so far) quite durable, though it is a bit noisy as you move. It certainly cuts the wind (I live in a very windy part of the Rocky Mountain west) and has so far done a great job as an outer layer in the snow.

I haven’t had it in a full rain situation yet. I have used it as a ski shell on warmer days (when it is colder, I use a heavier 3-layer Gore-Tex shell with a Primaloft mid-layer), used it fly fishing, and worn casually around town/to work.

So far it is very versatile, has enough room to layer under (but not too roomy for my build; I have broad shoulders and a little on the heavy side), and works very well. I do wish it had a single chest pocket in addition to the hand pockets, and that the pit zip openings were slightly longer (4 stars instead of 5).

But those were not deal breakers for me. I look forward to using it this summer hiking and fly fishing. So far I am very pleased with it!.

I bought this jacket as a direct replacement for a similar Mammut product. The new jacket cuff is of an inferior design having sleeves that are too long and too tight, resulting in them having to be pulled up before they fit correctly.

The cuff design is so poor that the internal tack stitching has given way , requiring me to make a repair. The hem stitching is of a similar design. The pockets are so shallow that you have to clench a fist to get the hand fully into the pocket.

My previous jacket had a folded cuff properly sewn in, and taped hem seams giving a robust finish. The pockets were deep enough to swallow a full hand. I chose to pay a premium in price believing Mammut was a quality designer and manufacturer.

The item was twice the price of your competitors. Poor design, inferior manufacturing and exorbitant price. I shall never buy a Mammut product again. Goodbye Mammut, hello Northface.

I had a performance hoodie for years that I just adored and wore everywhere and it finally gave out. This hoodie/jacket from Mammut was the closest thing I could find as a replacement. What I love: solid/sturdy construction, flattering fit and true to size, thumb holes, ponytail hole, stretchy/breathable material, well placed pockets, light/moderate warmth, and I like the color (I prefer dark or neutral colors as not to attract insects outdoors, especially the stinging variety).

The only things this one does not have that I liked in my last hoodie/jacket was reflective detailing which is pretty important to me and maybe some styling (color?) as so much of what I’m finding is so solid (my last one had blue/white space dye type fabric mixed in and was so easy to wear with just about everything.

Hard to explain. ). The draw cords on the zippers can come undone easily so use caution with them. They can be put back on but it did take a while and I had to get creative. The stripes are actually part of the fabric, alternating thin/thick and can get a little accordion-like.

Overall I am super happy with this article of clothing and I hope it lasts as long as my last one! Use: casual, climbing, hiking, running, rowing, gym – It is working well in all areas! 5’4’’ 110 lb 32D – XS was a perfect fit.

I love this stretch hoodie. It works great as a mid layer or as alight layer over a shirt on warmer days. It breathes incredibly well and rubbed fleece on the inside (as opposed to grid fabric) allows for movement of air from front to back.

The minimalist pockets are just big enough to be functional without being bulky. I am 5’8”, 175lb, and the medium is a perfect fit. The stretch fabric stays in place and doesn’t hike up like similar products.

The fitted hood fits great under a helmet or a beanie on colder days.