MOST VERSATILE
New Gore-Tex Pro Shell fabric, which is lighter, more comfortable, and more durable than the company’s former top-of-the-line stuff (XCR), is one of the season’s standout innovations. The key is a softer inner fabric that works great when worn over a base layer. In the La Grave, Marmot mixes the über-fabric with strategically placed Gore-Tex Soft Shell, creating a jacket that performed equally well boot-packing in the Colorado backcountry and skiing through rain in the Northwest. 1.8 lbs (M); marmot.com
Bonus: Love the microfleece lining on the inner collar.
Bummer: It’s 2007. Where are the iPod pocket and earbud port?