AFFORDABLE AND VERSATILE
Let’s put it this way: If the other jackets here are Audis, the Waypoint is a Toyota. Made from Columbia’s proprietary Omni-Tech waterproof-breathable fabric, it sheds precipitation as ably as pricier jackets and kept testers completely dry fly-fishing in an all-day drizzle off Long Island. The catch is, despite ample pit zips, it simply doesn’t breathe as well as higher-priced options. Several testers reported feeling clammy in the Waypoint, and it left one with a sweaty back after he humped a heavy load a few miles. But it costs nearly $150 less and performs just fine in most conditions. Plus it’s made from 45 percent recycled polyester. 14 oz; columbia.com