Mountain Equipment Dispersion Jacket
Lightest
Our take For high-output missions where breathability was the priority—but where weather protection was never far from our minds—we grabbed this shell. The Dispersion has thin, double-weave nylon softshell sections across the back and down the underside of the arms that vented sweat vapor well, making it our top choice for heart-pounding days of Nordic skiing and trail running. “While ski touring into Colorado’s Continental Divide Cabin in 40°F temps, I never felt damp,” one tester says. Gripe: Moving all that sweat stinkified the shell after one day of hard use.
The Details Waterproof/breathable Gore-Tex C-Knit material everywhere else provided extra weather protection against spitting rain in Alaska’s Talkeetna Mountains. The drop hem covered our rumps, and the Dispersion’s athletic fit allowed for versatile layering. We also like the chin-protecting collar and adjustable, helmet-compatible hood. Cons: The elastic cuffs are tough to fit over heavy gloves, and the drawstring hem is loose enough to let in snow when we crashed.
Trail cred “This jacket withstood a full day of bushwhacking in Alaska’s Chugach State Park—devil’s club and alder brush left no mark,” one tester says.
13.1 oz.; m’s S-XXL, w’s XS-XL