Rex Sanders illustrates how difficult it can be to make accurate product comparisons based on manufacturer-provided data.
Paramo Ostro Ultra Light Windproof Jacket
Paramo’s Ostro Ultra Light Jacket is a new version of the popular Ostro Windproof Jacket with features not often found on ultralight jackets.
Patagonia Micro Puff Hoody Review
Our Patagonia Micro Puff Hoody Review features one of the highest-performing synthetic jackets we’ve ever evaluated. It’s performance- and feature-to-weight ratio is extremely high and should be a top pick considered for ultralight backpacking.
Patagonia DAS Parka Review
The Patagonia DAS is our highest rated synthetic insulated winter-weight parka. Frequent revisions have created a stunningly effective jacket for expeditions that cross multiple climates and for overnight alpine climbs and backcountry trips where a wet down parka would force you to bail, or worse. Despite a suite of expedition features, the premium insulation and light fabrics keep the DAS lightweight at only 22 oz. in men’s medium. This parka performs so well and is offered at such a reasonable price that we feel it’s the only warm synthetic insulated parka worth buying.
Patagonia Nano Air Light Review (Hoody)
This Patagonia Nano Air Light Review features one of the highest performing hoodies on the market, especially for active use in cool conditions. This one’s a fleece-killer.
Patagonia Nano Air Hoody Review
The Patagonia Nano Air Hoody was released in July 2014 and was the best performing all-purpose active insulation jacket at that time. Does it hold up to the current crop of insulated jackets?
Outdoor Research Uberlayer Review
This Outdoor Research Uberlayer Review features an active insulation jacket that weighs about four ounces more than similar jackets but does not make up for the extra weight with added comfort, durability, warmth, or lower cost. The Uberlayer performed reasonably well in our tests.
Rab Xenon X Review
The Rab Xenon X used to be the best all-purpose lightweight synthetic insulated jacket on the market. Over the last seven years, the author has used the Xenon and Xenon X for some fantastic outdoor adventures: a 35-day traverse of Alaska’s Brooks Range, climbing Denali, Half Dome, and El Cap, and other things. Though the Xenon X performs above average in our tests, a variety of other jackets now offer superior performance.