[best warmth-to-weight]
“The shell on this jacket is so light, it’s more like a force field than a piece of fabric,” says a tester who wore the Infinity on a ski-tour in Norway. The 10-denier, water-resistant Quantum GL nylon shell, made by Pertex, is the lightest downproof fabric we’ve tested. It didn’t leak a feather, and because it’s so thin, the 850-fill down lofts up like a helium balloon.
“This jacket disappeared in my pack, but was a godsend when icy wind blew across the glacier,” he says. Considering the warmth, it layers well under a shell, thanks to the wispy-thin Pertex fabric. A down-stuffed hood (no cinch cords, but an elastic edge keeps it in place) and stretchy, snug-fitting cuffs boost insulation. Only wish: an internal water-bottle pocket. $280; 15 oz. (m’s M); m’s XS-XXL, w’s XS-XL; us.rab.uk.com