Weathershedding

Trust a brand from England to make a shell ready for lots of rain. Waterproof zippers—with storm flap on the main zipper—and plenty of adjustments on the hood, waist and wrists helped maintain great weather protection. As did the eVent membrane. There’s enough protection here to weather a full-blown storm.

Breathability

The eVent DVstorm membrane is the most breathable eVent to date—up to 20 percent better than the previous generation of eVent—and one of the best membranes I’ve tried. Because it lacks the polyurethane coating found on the inside of most other membranes, eVent breathes better in more difficult conditions, ideal for humid and foggy weather. It would be an even better performer with a couple pit zips, but at least the internal fabric is soft and hides any condensation well.

Function

Three point adjustable hood and high, fleece-lined collar top the list of effective, functional features. The two hand pockets are generous enough to hold a one liter waterbottle when I strolled from camp without a pack. The waterproof zippers moved smoothly with few snags.

Durability

The same reason its breathability is top of class—no PU coating—makes eVent jackets a bit more susceptible to wear and tear. With no barrier between body oils and sweat, washing it regularly helps maintain its performance. But take care of it and it’s probably as durable as Gore-Tex Active shell, Polartec NeoShell or any other proprietary barrier.

Packability

Landing in the sweet spot for all around shells at 12 ounces, the Muztag finds a nice balance between features and function and weight. It packs fairly small too, about the size of a mini-watermelon.