OR Report: The Everything Jacket

There’s a lot of fresh life in Outdoor Research, and here’s one symptom of the renewed energy. The Lodestar is like your three favorite jackets in one—man-fur wicking fleece, soft-shell torso, and hardshell protection on the hood and sleeves. The materials are top notch: Polartec Power Shield Pro (the most remarkably breathable, waterproof-enough laminated fabric we’ve seen) matched with a new Polartec Power Shield High Loft—a fluffy, high-loft fleece—backed with soft-shell. It’s going to be the kind of jacket you never need to take off, no matter what the conditions. That’s good, because it’s not going to be cheap: $450. (Matching pants: $400). Launching in Fall 2012.