The Mountain Hardwear Minimizer GORE-TEX Paclite Plus Jacket (for women or men) is well-named. It’s a rain layer that packs down ridiculously small and weighs just 225 grams (size M)—but it’s a minimal layer offering maximal protection.
We tried it out on a SUP river paddle recently. Just as we planned, it rained for two hours straight. The day was cool, not cold, but the rain had a chilly edge. We were paddling hard and sweating.
The best mild-weather raingear will not only keep you dry but also keep you comfortable when you’re working hard and prevent you from overheating. According to tester Susan (who wore a midweight poly layer underneath the Minimizer) “This jacket never quit breathing while it was keeping me dry from the absolute downpour I was paddling through. Near the end of the route, the sun came out and it was suddenly very warm on the river and everyone shed their layers. The Minimizer fit in the small webbing pocket of my pack. It’s like a magic trick, it compresses down instantly into nothing.”
She added, “But it’s so light and the material is so soft next to your body that you generally won’t feel the need to take it off. It’s like a second skin, never clammy or itchy.”
Features:
-Adjustable hood
-Zippered chest pocket
-Two zippered hand pockets
-Highly packable design stuffs into its chest pocket with internal carabiner clip loop
-Hook-and-loop adjustable cuffs
-Drawcord hem adjustment
-GORE-TEX Paclite Plus 13D 2L (100% nylon)
Packability + Comfort
Packability + Comfort
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