Marmot West Rib Parka
Warmest jacket
Jackets help to keep you insulated and dry while on the trail, and ensuring your jacket can hold up in the backcountry is vital. Our gear experts wear jackets through wind, rain, and snow on hiking and backpacking trips to test for durability, waterproofing, comfort and more. Take a closer look at which jackets are up to the task of keeping you covered while you are out on your next backcountry adventure with Backpacker’s expert gear reviews.
Warmest jacket
Wind, rain, snow: No matter the weather, these jackets are ready to help you get outside and hit the trail.
Best protection
Killer deal
Best protection
Best features
Most versatile
Best mobility
Best value
Best for fast-and-light touring
Most breathable
Lightest
Get ready for fall adventures with a deal on this versatile insulating layer
Do-it-all shell
One of our favorite puffies gets a durability upgrade.
These featherweight windshells ensure that the weather doesn’t blow your plans away.
Lightest windshell
Warmest windshell
Most comfortable
Best protection
From eye protection to bibs to energy chews, we reach for these products again and again.
Warmest softshell
Best value softshell
Most breathable windshell
Lightest windshell
Most comfortable
Best protection
Most versatile
Best value
Killer deal
Most breathable
Best features
We thought we had seen every possible way to package down. This coat proved us wrong.
Get boots, jackets, and more on the cheap—but hurry.
Abrasion-resistance, moisture management and natural stretch carries this puffy to a top level.
Editors’ Choice update
This weight-saving shell will keep you dry in any weather.
Versatile shell
Jackets, packs, puffies: Let us be your guide.
This shell ditches PFCs for a weatherproof, eco-friendly coat.
There’s nothing cheap about this shell’s performance.
Fend off moisture both inside and out with this uber-breathable shell.
With a perfect mix of breathability and protection, these shells are reliable trail buddies.
The future is now. These 10 gear picks set new standards in their respective categories.
This shell boasts the perfect balance of breathability and durability for backcountry skiing.
Best value
Best for quick changes
Most breathable
Best value
Eco-friendly
Most versatile
Full-featured
Lightest
Most comfortable
Most versatile
Best ventilation
Best for winter sieges
Loftiest synthetic
Ultrabreathable softshell
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In cool conditions, ditch separate insulation and windshell pieces in favor of this light and warm softshell.
This tough, breathable softshell will carry you from summer alpine hikes to winter ski tours.
You won’t find more comfortable protection for 4 ounces than this ultralight women's windshell.
A fleecy pattern on the inside gives this lightweight softshell a supple feel.
Superior weatherproofing and durability boost the all-purpose performance of this hybrid jacket.
This ultralight hardshell is the lightest three-layer waterproof/breathable shell we’ve seen.
This comfy, ultralight hardshell strikes the perfect balance between weight, features, and comfort.
This bargain hardshell gives you features and performance rarely seen at this price.
This ultralight, stripped-down hardshell will be a hit with the fast-and-light crowd looking for simple, effective weather protection at a sweet price.
This climbing-oriented hardshell has details everyone will love.
Save big on a weight-saving backpacking hardshell.
Breathability, durability, and design combine for year-round protection in this versatile hardshell.
This value hardshell gives you the breathability of shells that cost $100 more.
You can put this insulated jacket on in the morning and wear it all day long.