Weather-shedding
Nylon fabric with a DWR finish makes the surge jacket mostly water resistant, with the only leaking occurring around its untapped zippers and seams. During shower testing, the Surge performed second best, holding most water out for four minutes before noticeable leaking.

Breathability
Lululemon incorporated a thoughtful zipper design to the pit vents of the Surge. The zippers are angled toward the shoulder of the user, as opposed to straight-lining into the armpit. Simply raising the arm of the jacket places the zipper on enough tension for smooth operation. In addition, the Surge features a vented upper back panel that remains open, allowing heat to escape.

Function
The Surge features the greatest storage capacity of any jacket in this test: two zippered hand pockets and two inner pockets. The right hand zippered pocket is equipped with a sewn sleeve for a smartphone. A small exit near the top of the pocket allows users to internally route headphones from device to collar. A horizontal zipper located on the back of the jacket’s high collar allows the user to roll and store the hood. Some testers found this functionality unnecessary, adding unwanted fabric around the hood. Reflective detailing is placed strategically around the jacket for visibility at night.

Fit/Comfort
The Surge Jacket fit one tester larger than the average medium sized jacket, meaning the Surge best fits well-muscled runners. But, for smaller runners, the loose fitting sleeves and body comfortably fit over athletic clothing or an insulating layer, perfect for cold weather activities. The cuffs were made of a soft elastic on the underside of the wrist, and the front edge of the hood uses the same elastic, although neither was equipped with a tightening mechanism.

Packability
The Surge does not have a pocket dedicated to self-storage, although some testers noted the jacket fit nicely in one of the jacket’s inner hand pockets. The jacket’s added fabric made the package the largest in this test.