Good for Backcountry
No bell, whistle, or expense was spared in making this uninsulated jacket: Two-way pit zips. Padded cell-phone compartment. Seven pockets. Reinforced shoulders. Removable powder skirt with belt loops. A Recco avalanche reflector. The list goes on, and you might ask yourself: Do I really need a clip-in lens cleaner in the forearm pocket? Probably not, but that doesn’t mean you won’t use it. Beyond the sundries, the Free Thinker II is constructed of Pro Shell
fabric—Gore’s most durable waterproof-breathable offering—making it the burliest jacket we tested. 1.8 lbs;