The Coolest Pieces of Gear We Tested This Week

Even though summertime is officially here, there are still plenty of scenarios where a high-quality lightweight jacket comes in clutch. When the wind blows onshore and that evening chill sets in, when you’re hanging out all day on the fishing boat, or even when it’s late night and you’re deep in the backcountry on a multi-day excursion. A lightweight jacket performs year-round.

And this season, we discovered the Eddie Bauer BC Dura 3L Jacket. This thing is so perfect for so many situations. We wore it on a midday whale watching boat, utilized it on a beach camping trip with the kiddos, and it also came in handy on an early morning drizzly hike through the Southern California foothills. It packs up into nearly nothing, weighs a mere 11 ounces, while still boasting all-weather performance that is very impressive.

It’s waterproof with its StormRepel DWR, it’s features three-layer construction, and it’s  one of the most breathable jackets we’ve ever used. These are wins across the board if you ask us. Whether the sun’s out and you need to stow this in your pack, or the weather turns quickly and you need to layer up and throw this on over everything to keep you dry, this jacket performs for everything. Period. This should not only be your summertime go-to jacket, but also your all-year trusty companion.—Jon Perino, senior editor

[$279; eddiebauer.com]

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