Gear Review: Sage Quest Insulated Softshell Hoody

[core warmth]

Don’t be swayed by this jacket’s fly-fishing origins. A rubber tab on the chest that keeps forceps handy is the only angler-specific feature on this softshell, which proved ideal for high-output ski tours in cold conditions. The Quest pairs a trim cut with four-way stretch (90 percent nylon, 10 percent spandex) that allows unrestricted ability to reach, bend, and twist. And a layer of 120-gram PrimaLoft (in the core only) delivers low-bulk warmth. A double weave and DWR finish kept one tester dry during a 30-minute deluge; he also wore it while fishing and paddling on chilly spring days on Colorado’s Yampa River, where the Quest’s above-average breathability warded off any trace of clamminess after hours of damp, wet conditions. But two of the five exterior pockets sit beneath a hipbelt (testers experienced no chafing, just frustration with hindered access). $250; 1 lb. 14 oz.; m’s S-XXL; sageflyfish.com