Weathershedding
Despite feeling like a windshell, the Dermizax DT membrane worked well in intense showers, persistent drizzle and everything in between. It beat down a solid gust, too. But as its weight suggests this is a thin jacket, so beyond summer use, it may feel too light in really stormy conditions. The hood fits snug, with an elastic section sucking it tight against the temple. This helps keep the stiff brim in place and pushes drops away from the face. Wrists close with elastics too and the front rises high – ideal for hunkering in nasty weather.

Breathability
As we suspected with such a light jacket, it breathed really well. Even chugging uphill on a 55 degree day we stayed comfortable. Even when things started to get a little sweaty, panels of merino wool helped pull sweat away from the skin and disperse it through the jacket.

Function
As we mentioned the hood is protective. It’s also cozy and self-adjusting with the snug fitting elastic to keep it in place. The solo Napoleon pocket is large, allowing plenty of room for storage, but we miss hand pockets. The front zip is waterproof and it tended to be stiff and catchy, but always worked. The fit is athletic, but not so trim as to be restrictive. There was room for layers and with stretch built into the membrane we never felt constricted.

Durability
The thin fabric won’t stand up to serious abuse. We’ll be treating it gently.

Packability
At 6.5 ounces this is a highly packable shell. The waterproof front zip adds some bulk, but it still easily packs down into a hip pocket and even into a bike jersey pocket.