Backpacker Magazine – September 2009

Gear Review: Millet Super touring Jacket

This all-around soft shell keeps the drizzle on the outside and warmth on the inside, right where it belongs.

by: Shannon Davis

Tags:
• Gear
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• Jacket
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• Soft Shells
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• Rain Gear
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Best Softshell
"I feel like I have superpowers in this jacket," proclaimed one Arizona tester after a winter ascent of 12,633-foot Humphreys Peak, the state's high point. "I was impervious to icy wind and snow." The smooth exterior of the Polartec Power Shield cuts drizzle and wind like a hardshell, while the brushed, fleecy interior keeps your core warm. And a hood boosts protection and warmth on bitter days.

Testers loved the long, articulated sleeves–the jacket's hem didn't rise when we reached high and far, and the simple elastic cuffs sealed securely over gloves and never crept up. "This jacket is tailored for motion," she wrote. Nitpick: The two vertical handwarmer pockets are difficult to access while you're wearing a pack. $325; 1 lb.; men's and women's S-XL; milletusa.com.

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