Gear Review: Merrell Charade Puffy Jacket
A synthetic puffy that turns into a neck pillow.
[synthetic puffy]
“This is the type of midweight insulated jacket I use year-round,” says one New England-based tester. “It’s perfect under a shell on winter days, and it’s both light and warm enough for spring and summer camping trips.” Made of synthetic Primaloft Eco insulation (50-percent recycled) and a poly shell fabric, the Charade has a long, hip-covering hem and fleecy, neck-hugging collar.
Bonus: The Charade (and the hooded men’s version, the Guise) packs into a fleece-lined pocket in the jacket’s lumbar area and transforms into a neck pillow—great for red-eye flights and camp.
One gripe: The pockets rest directly under a pack’s hipbelt.
$129; 1 lb.; men’s S-XXL, women’s XS-XXL; merrell.com