The North Face DNP Jacket

Flexibility The gymnastic moves of climbing and scrambling were no challenge for the DNP: Stretch-woven side panels provided uninhibited mobility for big reaches on the Culp-Bossier route on Colorado’s Hallett Peak. Bonus: The panels also boost breathability in high-sweat areas and reduce bulk under other layers.

Versatility “I took this on 10-mile hikes at 10,000 feet in the Rockies, bushwhacking in Wyoming’s Laramie Range, and when I was going light and fast on the Cirque Traverse in the Wind Rivers,” one tester says. “It was perfect for every situation, and despite endless abrasion, the light, 15-denier ripstop nylon shell fabric didn’t suffer a single nick.” The DWR coating also repelled moderate rain when a 20-minute squall hit unexpectedly on Hallett Peak. PrimaLoft One insulation kept testers cozy in temps down to the low-40s (when worn over just a midweight baselayer), even in damp conditions.
$160; 9 oz. (mfr.); thenorthface.com