Weather Beaters

Keep moving in all conditions

- KELLY BASTONE AND RYAN STUART

Black Diamond HighLine Stretch $299

Waterproofing, breathability, durability, packability, comfort, sustain ability — you’re lucky if your jacket has a few of these attributes. The HighLine has them all. Most notable is the PFC- and palm-oil-free DWR treatment from Green Theme Technology. Unlike most DWRs, the process uses no water, and it’s applied at the fiber level, making it more permanent than topical coatings. It also firms up the jacket’s individual fibers, which Black Diamond claims reduces microplastic shedding. We tested the HighLine by bushwhacking uphill in the rain for three hours, followed by a hose-down. It came through without a scratch or a leak. That said, the jacket doesn’t feel like armor. Its durable three-layer construction is comfortable, with light, stretchy 15-denier nylon and a jersey-knit lining that feels like a well-worn tee. But what we noticed most was the breathability . With the pit zips cracked we never overheated, even during a week of soggy, 70-degree hikes in Kauai. Weighing less than 13 ounces—light for such a bomber shell— and scrunching down to grapefruit size, it’s the whole package. 12.7 oz (men’s, pictured) / 10.7 oz (women’s)

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