Patagonia

Super Alpine Jacket - Women's

Blue skies and calm winds do nothing for you. You ferret out insane ice overhangs and the promise of white-out conditions when winter descends. Refined for 2014, the lighter, stronger, and meaner Patagonia Women's Super Alpine Jacket guarantees to protect you from the weather, but offers no such assurances about your physical well-being when you're taking on the trials and tribulations of the WI 10 ice of Helmcken Falls, Canada.

New materials helped this hard shell drop well below the one-pound mark, where it now barely tips the scale at a meager 13.8 ounces. Rugged 40D nylon, reinforced with 40D ripstop nylon in high-wear areas stands stalwart against sharp ice sharps, rude ropes, and the errant ski pole tip. Gore-Tex Pro guaranteed waterproof, breathable membrane lies between the rugged exterior and Gore Micro Grid Backer. This highly breathable backer slips over your many layers with ease, won't get caught up on the finer points (of your gear).

If the sun peeks out from behind the clouds or the temps take a turn for the worse (yes, that means getting warmer), open the underarm vents for an instant hit of cool air. The hood slides over your helmet, and the Touch Point adjust system lets you fix your lid from either the hem or the hood. A laminated brim helps shield your face from blowing snow or pelting rain. Pleated chest pockets play nice with your harness so you can still grab an energy gel or leftover Halloween candy for a quick hit pick-me-up when you're within spitting distance of the summit.