Value
You pay for the Gore Tex name, and the performance is top tier. But it’s not exceedingly better than the other shells.

Weathershedding
Despite being lighter weight than Gore’s burliest Pro Shell, Active Shell loses nothing in waterproofness. Like we’ve come to expect from Gore products, it deflected full day rainstorms with no signs of performance issues. The lightweight meant it wasn’t quite as resilient in the face of a blow, but as an outer layer in -15F and blowing 20 mph we didn’t feel Old Man Winter’s icy fingers. It helped that the helmet compatible hood cinches in tight from three adjustment points—either side of the face and back of the hood.

Breathability
After testing several Active Shell jackets we can firmly say the breathability rivals eVent, DryQ and Polartec NeoShell. All three do an admiral job of moving moisture and all can be overwhelmed in warmer temps. No pit zips on the Segnas saves weight but cuts some breathability. Mammut made up for it with mesh backed hand pockets. Crack them for a noticeable breathability boost.

Function
The jacket falls to the hip with large Velcro wrist closures that cinch tight or wide, depending on your need. Zipper pulls make it easy to operate with gloves on. A little bit of stretch throughout kept the jacket where it should be even when reaching overhead.

Durability
Gore recommends all Active Shell garments for day trips, and recommends that the lighter weight membrane be washed more regularly. We’ve used the Segnas for several multi-day trips without washing and haven’t noticed a performance issue, but we will wash it sooner and treat it nicer than burlier fabrics for sure.

Carryability
At 11 ounces the Segnas is the second lightest shell in the test, and third most packable behind the Blazar and Speedri. It packs to the size of a mini watermelon. Definitely a good choice when weight and pack size matter.