DUDE CRED
Good for Backcountry
FlyLow has a sense of humor. The care-instructions tag in this piece advises you first to “Drink Cold Beer.” But the Denver-based company also has a solid reputation for making durable, no-nonsense gear. And by using a highly water-resistant, stretchy “kung fu” polyester fabric (unbranded Taiwanese material), FlyLow has managed to build a high-performance, do-it-all soft shell at a decent price. While it looks a bit unfinished on the inside, the attention to detail elsewhere is impressive. The hood is helmet-compatible, the cuff adjustments are made from a burly material that’s easy to grab with gloves on, and the extra-long, two-way pit zips are nice when only a small temperature adjustment is needed. 1.8 lbs;