You don’t necessarily think of a jacket as summertime gear, but when you run into bad weather on the hiking trail — particularly at altitude — you quickly discover how important it can be. The Marmot Red Star is a high-tech jacket that manages to be both waterproof and comfortable. Made with a three-layer NanoPro stretch fabric (a proprietary Marmot product), the Red Star keeps water out, even in the strongest downpours. After the storm, the Red Star’s underarm vents will help if you start to overheat on the trail and help you dry out.
The hood provides full coverage for your head, and it and plenty of pockets to hide maps, car keys, energy bars, etc. There’s even an interior zippered pocket if you want to make sure to keep something dry. The athletic fit of the jacket makes it comfortable when wearing a pack, and at 15 ounces, the jacket doesn’t take up too much room when you stow it away when the sun comes out.
$300, marmot.com
