Holiday Gift Guide 2010: Under $150
Stay connected, warm and well fed, with these staple gift ideas.
Jacket Reviews
Jacket Reviews
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.
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.
Gear Review: Sherpa Thamel Hard Shell Jacket
Light on the wallet and on the back...and perfect for hunting salamanders.
Holiday Gift Guide 2010: Patagonia Nano Puff Pullover
A perennial favorite of BACKPACKER editors, the Nano Puff is a no-brainer layer that your gift-ee will use 12 months a year.
Holiday Gift Guide 2010: Marmot Aegis Jacket
This 14-ounce shell is equally at home on the trail or around town, thanks to its reliable weatherproofing, performance features, and plush niceties.
Fall/Winter Gear Guide 2010: Hardshells
Repel rain, cold, and snow with these hardshell jackets.
Fall/Winter Gear Guide 2010: Softshells
Find a jacket that's suited for highly active, cold-weather activities.
Gear Review: Columbia Carabineer II /Frosty Forest Parka
Cool-weather enthusiasts–skiers, snowboarders, snowshoers, & winter hikers–will love this jacket.
Gear Review: Helly Hansen Verglas Pants
Softshell pants that are waterproof, breathable, and abrasion resistant.
Gear Review: Outdoor Research TrailBreaker Pants
Breathable softshell pants for skiers that log logs of vertical.
Gear Review: Merrell Raven/Falconry Tri-Therm Jacket
A three-in-one jacket system...that works.
Gear Review: Patagonia R1 Full-Zip Jacket
This lightweight fleece jacket has been a long-time tester favorite.
Gear Review: REI Antifreeze/Davos Jacket
-20°? No problem for this bargain heater.
Gear Review: Patagonia Nano Puff Hoody
A super warm jacket that compresses down to softball size.
Gear Review: Columbia Heat Elite Jacket
Columbia's "Omni-Heat" increases insulation by 20 percent over standard fill.
Gear Review: The North Face Redpoint Vest
A core-warming affordable, functional vest.
Gear Review: Montbell ThermaWrap BC Jacket
A versatile jacket that blends in anywhere.
Gear Review: Mountain Hardware Gravitor/Sooka Jacket
A waterproof ski jacket that's warm as well.
Gear Review: Canada Goose HyBridge Jacket
A hybrid softshell/puffy jacket.
Gear Review: Rab Infinity Jacket
A water resistant, down-filled force field.
Gear Review: Westcomb Skeena Hoody
A weather-resistant shell that's as warm as a sweater.
Gear Review: Marmot Up Track Jacket
This wind resistant yet breathable softshell is great for layering.
Gear Review: Salomon XT Wings II Softshell Jacket
An ultralight softshell that wicks.
Gear Review: Rab Exodus Jacket
A midweight softshell that's multiseason.
Gear Review: The North Face Kishtwar Jacket
This softshell provides maximum breathability and weather protection.
Gear Review: Helly Hansen EkoLab Rapide
This eco-friendly jacket is everything you'd expect from a midweight softshell.
Gear Review: Columbia Turn-'N-Go Softshell Jacket
A bargain softshell that's cozy and great for aerobic activities.
Gear Review: Westcomb Cruiser Jacket
One pound of all-purpose protection
Gear Review: The North Face Lockoff Jacket
A good looking jacket with plenty of storm protection.
Gear Review: Sierra Designs Mantra Fusion Jacket
A versatile ski shell at a great price
Gear Review: Rab Kinetic Rain Jacket
An ultralight hardshell jacket for under $150.
Gear Review: Mountain Hardware Axial/Emporia Jacket
A versatile hardshell that's lightweight and breathable.
Gear Review: Mammut Adrenaline Jacket
Reinforced shoulders and three-layer Gore-Tex Pro Shell fabric make this jacket super tough.
Gear Review: First Ascent BC-200 Jacket
An all-conditions jacket that's under $200.
Budget Apparel Guide: $100 Rainshells
Our testers endured a year's worth of wet, cold conditions to find six lightweight jackets that will keep your body dry and your wallet plump.
Budget Apparel Guide: Apparel – Insulation
From mild autumn evenings to winter's deep freeze, here's how to stay warm for less.
Gear Bargain Hunting: Fleece
Check out Kristin Hostetter's author page.
Gear Review: Sierra Designs Toaster Jacket
A bargain waterproof insulated shell that is Rainier worthy.
Gear Review: Merrell Charade Puffy Jacket
A synthetic puffy that turns into a neck pillow.
Gear Review: Sierra Designs Isotope Nano Rain Jacket
The lightest jacket in our under-$100 test.
Gear Review: Columbia Hail Tech Rain Jacket
A cold-weather rain jacket that's $90.
Gear Review: Helly Hansen Vancouver Rain Jacket
A $100 jacket which doesn't skimp on features.
Gear Review: Outdoor Research Rampart Rain Jacket
Ventilation on this jacket is top-notch.
Gear Review: MontBell Thunder Pass Rain Jacket
The most bomber shell in our test.
Gear Review: Marmot PreCip Rain Jacket
There's nothing this bargain rain shell can't do.
Gear Guide 2010: Essentials A to Z
Having the right boots, packs, bags, and tents is never enough. Here, a roundup of all the other "essential" pieces of gear you'll want in the great outdoors.
Gear Review: McNett Tenacious Tape
Repair any fabric with this super sticky tape.
Toughest Gear: Patagonia Regulator Series
Fleece sturdy enough to satisfy an Argonaut.
Toughest Gear: Ibex Icefall Jacket
This stretch-nylon softshell jacket is one of the most-worn garments in our gear closet.
Toughest Gear: Feathered Friends Helios Jacket
This Feathered Friends puffy jacket stays fatter than a StayPuff marshmallow.
Toughest Gear: Arc'teryx Alpha SV Jacket
This Arc'teryx Alpha SV Jacket is overkill when you need it.
Toughest Gear: Mountain Hardwear Transition Jacket
The toughest, most versatile windshirt around.
Gear Review: Millet 350
This lightweight shell is mountain ready.
Gear Review: White Sierra Tempest Tek Jacket
Total rain protection at a happy, happy price.
Gear Review: Merrel Norgate
A do-it-all rainshell with a roomy cut.
Gear Review: Patagonia Down Sweater
A sweet, packable puffy with big warmth
Gear Review: Marmot Eigerwand Jacket
This synthetic-filled puffy stays warm even in wet, sloppy snow.
Gear Review: Sierra Designs Flex Down Jacket
This stretchy-baffled down jacket traps mega heat for serious warmth.
Gear Review: Patagonia Simple Guide Jacket
A streamlined softshell that packs up small and cuts the wind
Gear Review: Mountain Hardware Boys' Epic
An affordable kids' rain jacket that can handle serious weather
Gear Review: Nikwax Down Proof
Boost the performance of your down gear
Gear Review: Smartwool Arm Warmers
Transform your shortsleeve tee to long with these cozy add-ons.
Gear Review: Patagonia M10 Jacket
At 10.5 ounces, this jacket worked as a windshell in the Swiss Alps and and handled rain and wind in New England and the Rockies.
Editors' Choice 2008 Green Award: Marmot DriClime Catalyst Jacket
This classic windshirt–a favorite of BACKPACKER testers for 15 years–goes green.
Editors' Choice 2008: Rab Latok Alpine Jacket and Westcomb Specter LT Hoody
Unparalleled breathability and clean, lightweight designs distinguish the year's top shells.
Gear Review: Wild Things Superlight Alpinist Jacket
Forget the frills: This shell provides superior breathability with lightweight, all-season protection
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Gear Chick Holiday Gift Picks: Dayhikers
These essentials will make your dayhiker the envy of everyone else around the tree.
Fall/Winter Gear Guide: Softshells
Whether you're skiing, snowshoeing, running, or hiking this winter, grab one of these softshells.
Fall/Winter Gear Guide: Hardshells
These six hardshell jackets will keep you covered in any weather.
Fall/Winter Gear Guide 09: Insulating Jackets
Stay cozy in all temps with these puffy jackets.
Gear Review: Sierra Designs BTU Parka
This shell-puffy combo comes with a shorter fit for climbers.
Gear Review: Rab Ascent Jacket
The super warm Rab jacket has an excellent warmth-to-weight ratio.
Gear Review: Mountain Hardwear Synchronicity Jacket
Mount Hardwear combines a puffy with a shell in their Synchronicity jacket.
Gear Review: MontBell Permafrost Light Ultralight Jacket
This featherweight MontBell jacket is perfect for moderate winter temps.
Gear Review: Cloudveil Endless Down Jacket
This 700-fill down jacket was an instant tester favorite.
Gear Review: ARC'TERYX Atom LT Hoody
This warm, but not bulky, hoody can do double duty as insulation or outer shell.
Gear Review: REI OXT Airflyte Running Jacket
This hoodless jacket is breathable and stretchy, perfect for aerobic activities.
Gear Review: Rab Latok Alpine Jacket
This '08 Editors' Choice Award winner is still a staff favorite.
Gear Review: Outdoor Research Revel Jacket
This Outdoor Research jacket was deemed "most comfortable" thanks to its stretch Pertex Shield fabric.
Gear Review: ARC'TERYX Alpha SL Pullover Jacket
Pulling this jacket over many layers is a breeze with the elbow to hem pit zip.
Gear Review: Westcomb Revenant Hardshell
This Westcomb hardshell is at its best in extreme, wet conditions.