For years, outdoor companies made shells the same way: they鈥檇 sandwich a waterproof membrane between a tough, durable exterior fabric and a softer next-to-skin layer.
This technique works great, but it has two major downsides: the face fabric on the outside can wet out (retain water), making the jacket feel cold and clammy; and gluing three layers of fabric together reduces breathability. 听
Enter the . Columbia managed to ditch the exterior fabric entirely by layering a thin, diamond-patterned film over the waterproof membrane to protect it from abrasions and boost durability. They also did away with the glue, instead using heat and pressure to combine the membrane and interior fabric. 听
The result: a supremely breathable yet still perfectly waterproof slicker that won鈥檛 get shredded by errant branches or rocks.
So how鈥檚 it work in the field? We were exceedingly impressed by the shell during an听initial two-month test in Vermont. With a hood and drop hem, it鈥檚 best suited to hiking it wet conditions, although we鈥檇 love to see a version cut for biking. 听听听听听听听
$400,听
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