THE GRADIENT JACKET will get you noticed on the trail, but it’s not just the lairy looks that make it stand out for us. The lightweight two-way stretch material gives a close fit and excellent mobility, and there’s room to layer up underneath.The slightly dropped rear gives a bit of bum coverage, the underhelmet hood stashes away to form a comfy collar, and we love the laser-cut underarm vents, which help with cooling without the bulk of a pit zip.
Despite the jacket weighing just 182g it’s got abrasion-resistant panels on the shoulders and elbows, and the obligatory media pocket too. The taped seams, elasticated hem and cuffs and waterproof zip combine to seal out the elements without things getting too stuffy. In fact, water resistance and breathability were way better than expected.After an hour’s mud plugging in driving rain we only had damp patches at the top of our arms and under our pack straps.
Price 217$
