2015 Editors' Choice: Outdoor Research Deviator Hoody

photo: Andrew Bydlon

photo: Andrew Bydlon

Regardless of the temps or conditions—from chilly 30°F hikes at 11,000 feet in the John Muir Wilderness to cool camp evenings in the 50s in Death Valley to frigid Vermont ski days—the Deviator emerged as the layer everyone wanted to wear, both as a stand-alone and as part of a layering system. In fact, over the course of nearly a week, our gear editor threatened to harm anyone who tried to take it from her. And even after a no-shower week in the backcountry, she wore it on the plane home without eliciting dirty looks or scrunched noses from her neighbors. Perforated Polartec Alpha insulation lines the front of the core and provides a touch of insulation and max breathability during exertion, while a soft, wicking polyester liner and gridded Polartec High Efficiency fleece make the jacket sweatshirt-comfy. The cut is trim but not clingy, and the fabrics are stretchy and thin, so they never limited our movement during class 3 scrambles. The snug-fitting hood slips nicely under a helmet, and the whole thing scrunches down to grapefruit size. Our only gripe: We wish the hand pockets had zippers. But we’re willing to overlook that—and accept the price—for a jacket that gets near-constant wear in a huge array of conditions.