High-end jackets are a tough proposition-unless you've got Charlie Sheen money, buying one is a major event. I mean, if you're going to cough up $300+ for a shell, it had better be an awesome one, right?
I've been testing out Columbia's Peak 2 Peak Jacket ($350), and it lives up to its price tag. It's a storm shell, so its main purpose is to keep wind, rain, and whatever else nature is going to hit you with (maybe not lightning) at bay. And it does so in spades.
The Peak 2 Peak utilizes Columbia's Omni-Dry fabric, which is touted to be 100% windproof and waterproof, yet is able to diffuse the sweat that you'll work up during intense activity. As a stormshell, the Peak 2 Peak's bonded liner and taped seams held up like a champ in rain and snow, not letting in a drop. The "Invizzip" zippers are completely waterproof as well, so anything you stow will stay as dry as you do.
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| Snowshoeing the Peak 2 Peak to the peak. Photo by Matt Moseley |
As far as wind goes, I had a great chance to test it out on a snowshoeing trip up Mount Shasta. It was warm enough at the lower altitudes, but once we got past the treeline, the wind really picked up and started making things miserable. I slipped on the Peak 2 Peak, and I didn't feel a thing for the rest of the ascent.
Making a stormshell that keeps the weather out is one thing, but making one that doesn't collect your sweat while you're working is a whole other beast. I worked up a wicked sweat on my way up Mt. Shasta and the the Peak 2 Peak handled it. The Omni-Dry fabric kept things from getting too clammy inside, and when things started to really heat up, the pit vents did a good job of letting the excess heat escape.
Add the jacket's slim cut and articulated elbows to keep the jacket from getting in your way, the adjustable storm hood, the drawcord hem, and the fact that the whole deal weighs less than a pound (14oz) and you've got a jacket that'll work for every penny you spent on it. Heck, you might feel like you ripped Columbia off.
