Mountain Standard Terrain N’ Rain Shell

Our take Winter-worthy hardshells can cost north of 500 bucks, so finding a solid performer for half that price can seem too good to be true. No smoke and mirrors here, though: The secret is Mountain Standard’s direct-to-consumer model, which avoids retail markup. Sure, the Terrain N’ Rain skimps on some features a more expensive shell might offer, but it locks out weather on cross-country ski trips and wintry trail runs, and is light enough to wear the rest of the year. This jacket’s premium breathability and mobility come from Polartec NeoShell, a three-layer, air-permeable, stretchy fabric; we skied hard up into the 50s without cooking while wearing it over a baselayer, and its four-way stretch moved with us comfortably. The Terrain N’ Rain isn’t meant for mountaineering or frigid temps—the hood doesn’t accommodate ski helmets, and the cut is too slim to fit over heavyweight puffies—but for aerobic activities in rain, snow, sleet, and high winds, it’s a steal.

The details The jacket features one chest and two hand pockets (a hipbelt will cover the lower portion, but the pockets are still usable), pit zips, and adjustable cuffs, hem, and hood. Testers loved how the hood’s curved sides help preserve peripheral vision, but it lacks side-adjustment toggles for pulling it tight.

Trail cred “I never felt like I was sacrificing fit for price with this jacket,” reports a tester. “It has the anatomical tailoring you’d expect from high-dollar shells—nothing sloppy about it.” mountainstandard.com