tripleaughtdesign.com
There are smart phones, smart cars, and even some smart people, but this is the first smart jacket that gets our Gearzilla All-Star Badge. The Stealth LT is a three-layer jacket made from multiple Schoeller textiles and technologies; the lightweight-but-bombproof fabric has four-way stretch for an unbeatable range of movement with none of the noise created by most hard shells. We won’t bore you with a seminar in textile engineering, but basically the C-Change membrane provides ace waterproofness and breathability, the ColdBlack element reflects and blocks UV rays, 3XDry adds even more water and stain repellency, and Nanosphere sheds dirt, grime, and water. In short, the jacket is designed to adapt to the environment both outside and next to your skin to maintain the optimal body climate. In the case of heat or sweat, the fabric’s pores open up to channel the heat and dampness away from your body. When it’s cold outside, the pores constrict, trapping the heat inside, so you stay warm. Our happy testers loved the design’s attention to detail; a roll-away hood, six strategically placed pockets and channels to guide earbud wires from the electronic pocket to your ears—so there are no dangling cords. Some testers were mystified by the 3×5 velcro patch loop on both arms; you can strip away all labeling or add your own “moral” patch to customize the coat. The jacket’s stylish enough to wear around town, but built for the backcountry—whether it’s the sands of Afghanistan or the slopes of Mt. Rainier.