Editors' Choice 2008 Green Award: Marmot DriClime Catalyst Jacket
This classic windshirt–a favorite of BACKPACKER testers for 15 years–goes green.
The original DriClime earned one of our first Editors’ Choice Awards in 1993. Then it scored an Editors’ Choice Gold in 2002. By nabbing this year’s Green Award, Marmot is the first company to capture BACKPACKER’s Triple Crown. This classic, time-tested jacket now comes in a version made with 88% recycled fabric, but the soft DriClime liner still wicks sweat, and the nylon shell still blocks wind and slides easily under layers. The jacket packs up small enough to fit into a daypack’s side pocket, so we regularly reach for it on dayhikes and peak-tagging sprints. The stretchy, breathable fabric under the arms increases mobility for trail runs and mountain-bike rides. Amazingly, the Catalyst is actually nine bucks cheaper than the DriClime we reviewed a decade and a half ago. $110; 11 oz. (women’s medium); men’s S-XXL, women’s XS-XL. (888) 357-3262; marmot.com.