DRY IN ANY STORM
If you go out when others go home, this is your jacket. It’s a tad heavy, but the payoff is uncompromising protection. When a group of five testers ski-toured out of Washington’s Commonwealth Basin in steady rain, the only guy who stayed bone-dry was the one in the Stretch Latitude. It’s made with hard-duty ripstop nylon and reinforced with additional stretch fabric at the shoulders, arms, and hips. While the material itself (Patagonia’s three-layer H2No) isn’t exceptionally breathable, we stayed relatively cool thanks to extra-long (12-inch) pit zips and a mesh-backed chest pocket. 22 oz (L); patagonia.com
Bonus: An internal stash pocket is the perfect size for a water bottle or climbing skins.
Bummer: The cuffs are overbuilt and a bit clunky.