Ortovox Merino Windbreaker

Don’t like the plasticky feel of most windshells? This one feels soft thanks to 55-percent merino construction, which also boosts breathability and wicking. “It sucked sweat off my skin, and I never got too hot while hiking hard uphill in 40°F weather,” one tester reports. However, the air permeability means gusts over 20 mph will sneak in. And beware even light precipitation, which soaks through quickly despite a DWR treatment. This shell is also durable, thanks to nylon strands (45 percent) that wrap around each merino wool yarn; it didn’t rip during a season filled with off-trail adventures. A single chest pocket fits an energy bar. Ding: price.