Eddie Bauer Sandstone Shield Hooded Jacket

Weather protection

Waterproof fabric on the hood, shoulders, chest, and upper sleeves make this hybrid last much longer than the typical softshell in wet conditions: “After two hours of steady drizzle on a backcountry navigation course, I was still dry,” one tester says. Thick fabric makes it best suited for cooler weather.

Breathability

Nonwaterproof double-weave softshell panels (a stretchy nylon/poly/Spandex blend) on the sides, upper back, and undersides of the sleeves let body heat escape quickly. “Breathes like an extra set of lungs on steep approaches to a climb,” says a climber who wore it comfortably in the 40s on routes across the Northeast.

Durability

The rugged fabric (panels range from 40 denier to 90 denier) survived weeks of scraping against New England rock faces. “And when a bushwhacking session over lots of downed logs shredded my pants, the jacket showed almost no damage,” a tester says.

Features

The Sandstone comes with all the trimmings: a helmet-friendly, adjustable hood; three pockets; and cinchable cuffs and hem. Ding: The hem drawcord caused the fabric to awkwardly bunch on that side.

Fit

Slim, with room for medium-weight layers.