Good for Backcountry
The Amalgam isn’t quite as breathable as the Lobuche or as tricked out as the Free Thinker II, but it’s better priced and more packable. One thing it doesn’t compromise on, however, is weather protection. When a wet spring snowstorm near Winter Park, Colorado, caught one tester by surprise, it easily sloughed off several hours of falling slush. Credit for that goes to the weight-conscious blend of waterproof-breathable Gore-Tex Performance Shell fabric and PacLite laminate. Our only nitpick: The sleeves were a bit long and baggy on some. 1.1 lbs;