Mammut Segnas/Silvretta Advanced

Breathability Most winter-worthy shells feel like overkill in summer, when the burly fabric feels sweltering and snow-specific features seem extraneous. But the Segnas (and women’s Silvretta) proved so light and breathable that our veteran tester continued to wear it after he’d exchanged skis for hiking boots. “It was perfect for a March trip in Utah’s Capitol Reef, where it kept me from steaming up while carrying a 45-pound pack in 55°F weather,” he reports. Pit zips dump any heat and moisture that the fabric alone can’t transport.

Features A removable powder skirt lets you cut an ounce and streamline the fit for hiking mode. The hood accommodates low-profile helmets, but not bulky resort buckets: “It’s scaled for a close fit over a beanie, so it stayed in place perfectly through 30-mph wind,” our tester reports. Packed, it’s softball size. But the two hand pockets collide with wide hipbelts (no problem with narrow belts on some daypacks).

Durability “After a season of daily ski touring, there’s no evidence that it ever left my closet,” says one tester. Bonus: The nylon face fabric and moisture-wicking polyester lining feel non-crinkly even in cold temperatures.
$450; 1 lb. 1 oz. (m’s L); mammut.ch/en