America’s Best Backpacking and Outdoor Adventures
By Michael Lanza
You’re out on an all-day hike in the mountains, or a long climb or trail run, or backpacking. The weather forecast looked pretty good before you set out—but no one shared that memo with the wind that just started hammering your summit ridge, or the spitting rain and hail now pelting you as you contemplate the sudden drop in temperature and the miles between you and shelter. The question now is: What’s in your pack?
Ultralight Rain Jacket Outdoor Research Helium Rain Jacket $159, 6 oz. (men’s medium) Sizes: men’s XS-XXL, women’s XS-XL backcountry.com Whether hiking through heavy, cool mist while backpacking the Wonderland Trail in Mount Rainier National Park, pulling this shell on frequently to fend off cold wind and rain showers during a five-day backpacking trip in The Maze District of Canyonlands National …
Ultralight Rain Jacket The North Face Flight FutureLight Jacket $280, 8.5 oz. (men’s medium) Sizes: men’s XS-XXL, women’s XS-XL backcountry.com When The North Face billed its Flight FutureLight Jacket as the most breathable rain shell the brand has ever brought to market, that naturally caused a stir in the outdoor industry—and made me eager to put it to the test. …
Ultralight Shell Jacket Arc’teryx Incendo SL Jacket and Cita SL Jacket $129, 2.8 oz. (men’s medium), 2.3 oz. (women’s) Sizes: men’s XS-XXL, women’s XS-XL backcountry.com With an ultralight shell—besides very low weight—we’re seeking a delicate balance between competing objectives: breathability for high-exertion activities like running, and protection against wind and light precipitation. On numerous late-winter and spring trail runs and …
Ultralight Shell Jacket Black Diamond Distance Wind Shell $129, 3.5 oz. (men’s medium) Sizes: men’s S-XL, women’s XS-XL backcountry.com Obvious first impression: The Black Diamond Distance Wind Shell passes the test of being so light that there’s no reason to not carry it. But a shell this packable becomes truly invaluable when you can use it in a variety of …