Rab Verglas

Our take Bring on the weather: Throughout a variety of nasty conditions and storms, nothing hampered this toaster’s warmth. The Verglas’s face fabric is made of Gore-Tex Infinium with “persistent beading technology.” The waterproof/breathable membrane is located on the outside of the jacket, eliminating the need for DWR (the Verglas isn’t seam-taped, though). It repelled wet snow and graupel during a storm in Alaska’s Talkeetna Mountains, and we remained warm in 20°F temps and wet, blowing snow while setting up camp. The Verglas is filled with 750-fill hydrophobic down (the treatment is standard for most puffies these days), which retains loft even if a bit of moisture gets through. Its high collar, which zips up above the chin, helps keep spindrift out.

The details Hand warmer pockets and a helmet-compatible hood that cinches down neatly on the back and sides make the Verglas a comfy storm shelter. The fit favors tall, thin folks, without being too trim or constricting, and the jacket packs down to the size of a large cantaloupe.

Trail cred “I used the coat as a seat on icy snow and rocks in Alaska’s Chugach Mountains, and it emerged no worse for the wear,” one tester says.

1 lb. 1 oz. (m’s L); m’s S-XXL, w’s S-XL