Honest, field-minded reviews of outdoor and safety gear.
The Patagonia Torrentshell 3L (men’s) is a three-layer rain jacket with pit zips, an adjustable hood and a recycled nylon face, at 14.1 ounces (400 g). It is durable and dependable in heavy rain; the fabric is stiff and only moderately breathable.
The first fleece midlayer for men — soft, warm even when damp, fast-drying, and cheap, with a track record few jackets can match.
The versatile men’s puffy — warmer and less bulky than fleece, tolerant of damp where down struggles, packable, and priced below premium down.
A light, packable 2.5-layer rain shell with pit-zip venting and recycled materials — the proven default for hikers in weather. Our field review of the Marmot PreCip Eco.
The packable-warmth benchmark for men — 800-fill down warmth for half a pound that stuffs into its own pocket, prized by people who live in the backcountry.
A durable 3-layer Gore-Tex hardshell with full hem-to-bicep side venting for hard mountain weather. Our field review of the Outdoor Research Foray 3L.
A genuinely waterproof, seam-sealed rain shell that packs into its own pocket for the price of a dinner — the best-value first rain jacket. Our field review of the Columbia Watertight II.
A full waterproof jacket-and-pants suit that weighs about 13 ounces (360 g) and packs to nothing — the ultralight emergency backup for every pack. Our field review of the Frogg Toggs Ultra-Lite2.
