Montane Endurance Pro

Protection No matter what abuse we threw at it—bushwhacking, ice climbing, hiking in an ice storm, skiing waist-deep powder—this shell protected us like a portable log cabin. The Gore-Tex Pro Shell (Gore’s toughest) of the Montane Endurance Pro emerged unscathed from five months of hard use, thanks to burly, 70-denier nylon fabric on high-wear areas (40-denier fabric covers the rest for better breathability). The price for such durability: a stiff feel and a stiff price tag.

Breathability Though Pro Shell isn’t as breathable as Active Shell, most hard-charging testers found it adequate. “When ski touring in the Wasatch Range, I could really push myself to keep up with my younger partner in gusty, 40mph winds,” says one. “When we’d meet up on the ridge, I’d arrive hardly sweaty.” Bonus: Pit zips are easy to slide with one hand.

Features A four-way adjustable hood fits both climbing and ski helmets, and cinchable cuffs slide easily under gauntlet gloves or over light touring gloves. Drawcords at the waist and hem keep out snow, and an extended seat adds coverage.

Fit Pleated tailoring is designed to expand as you pile on the insulation underneath, but testers griped that they made the jacket feel poofy: “The pleats made the chest puff out, which made it hard to see my feet on ice leads,” one says. m’s S-XXL