Triple Aught Design Stealth Hoodie LT

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.

$329

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Nau Elimeno-Pea Coat

nau.com
Traveling levies near-constant challenges for the minimalist packer, especially when visiting colder climates. You could go with tech-savvy weather protection—but then you look like you’re in a city solely to be outside, even when you want to museum hop or hit the latest Top Chef-established restaurant. Thankfully, Nau’s dedication to functional fashion-forward apparel continues to provide the perfect sartorial answer. The hybrid approach in the Elimeno-Pea Coat merges naturally insulating, odor-resistant, breathable wool flannel with a poly, weather-proof laminate. The outcome? A stylish peacoat jacket that also armors you from averse elements. The higher-impact areas of the coat, like the shoulders and upper sleeves, are further reinforced with waxed cotton. However it’s the tailor-crafted detailing that keeps it firmly entrenched in a GQ world, from a patterned, cotton inner lining to bound internal seams for a clean finish to its overall slim design. A strong central zip and flip collar keep out the elements, twin zipper hand pockets are deep without becoming black holes, and two internal pockets house your must-have electronics. As you’d expect from a pea coat, it’s not the most packable jacket. The price may seem a bit high,but you’re paying for quality. And if you want proof of Nau’s dedication to the outdoor world, look no further than the sleeve cuffs. They may look a bit overdone, but they’re designed to cover the back of the hand, a bike-friendly detail that makes the Elimino one tester’s go-to jacket for damn near everything, not just travel. If only winter lasted longer….

$495

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Black Diamond Equipment Legend Glove

blackdiamond.com
Over the past few years, gear technology and design have catapulted the simple ski glove into sci-fi realm. Lightweight insulation keeps hands warm without bulk, allowing for unprecedented dexterity and comforting fit, even in wet, soggy conditions. Waterproof/breathable fabric technologies make things forever dry and not the least bit clammy. Some even come with electric heater controls or Bluetooth iWhatever interactivity. To take advantage of both the new and old worlds, go for Black Diamond’s Legend Glove. Designed for skiers, alpinists, and ice climbers, these gloves are built to last. The motocross style has an under-the-cuff design to seal out the elements. Inside, PrimaLoft One insulation warms the hand, while a breathable Gore-Tex XCR insert keeps water out without sweat build-up. The shell is a woven four-way stretch, with protective molded EVA pads over the knuckles. Ultra-soft, flexible goat leather gives you pickpocket-like dexterity and sensitivity. While we flinched slightly at the price, our tester logged 80 days of skiing and mountaineering in the Legends last season, and the gloves still thwart snow and water like when they were new, promising seasons of hardcore future use.

$120

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Outdoor Research Northback Gloves

www.outdoorresearch.com
Other than a humbling crash, nothing turns a great day on the slopes into a mad dash for the lodge quicker than bad gloves. Outdoor Research offers a simple failsafe solution with their Northback gloves. The waterproof-breathable Gore-Tex inserts keeps hands dry and fully insulated, even in the messiest of East Coast snow (read: freezing rain), the stretchy fabric interwoven between the fingers and across the back allow for close-to-the-skin fit and near-unencumbered dexterity, and a mix of lofty insulation (227 grams on the back, 170 grams on the palm) provide the warmth you need. The palms boast durable, soft leather that wraps around the glove sidewalls for a solid pole grip, and the gauntlet cuffs tie down with a one-hand pull. Little details—like a soft nose wipe on the thumbs and wrist straps to keep the gloves from falling while adjusting mid-lift—round out the bevy of features, but we’re equally impressed by the glove’s clean aesthetic and its overall durability, promising a few seasons of protection against the elements when you most need it.

$99

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Arc’Teryx Beta AR Hard Shell Jacket

www.arcteryx.com, 15.3 ounces
Yes, we love gear. Most of our testers have a jacket to accommodate any condition, broken down in five-degree increments. But we also adore products that prove invaluable in all conditions—like the newly redesigned Beta AR hard shell from Arc’Teryx. It just gets everything right, from the hip-length hem for added protection to the helmet-compatible hood to generous pit zips to waterproof zip pockets high enough to accommodate a waist belt or harness. Waterproofness and breathability comes from Gore-Tex’s three-layer Pro Shell fabric treatment (the toughest they make), but the shell is near-cotton soft, with reinforced shoulders and elbows to endure countless alpine abrasions. One-hand adjustment for all draw cords make customizing a breeze, but with articulated joints and Arc’Teryx’s hard-earned rep for perfectly-fitting apparel, you’re covered the moment you first put on the jacket. The cut is generous enough to work as an outer layer in colder climes, but you won’t feel like you’re swimming in fabric if you go with just a base layer—and its packability serves day and multi-day outings with stash-it-and-forget-in ease. At $450, the price is dear, but the Beta AR jacket works in damn near any condition that requires weather protection.

$450

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