The new Outdoor Research Paladin
Jacket ($250, outdoorresearch.com) hearkens back to
the days before complex
multi-fabric construction
and a pocket for every
purpose. Stripped down
for alpine climbing,
the Paladin has only
two external pockets,
placed well above the
waist belt and designed
with two-way
zips for easy access
under a harness and
pack straps. The
jacket has no pit zips,
but the large pockets with mesh
linings can be left open for additional breathability; this approach
worked well during ascents in low-humidity Colorado, but people
in wetter climes might wish for more ventilation. The Paladin has
quality features: waterproof zippers, an internal media pocket,
and a generous hood with highly effective closures and clever
tunnels for the drawstrings that keep them from slapping your
face in high winds. At about 13 ounces (men’s large) on our scale,
this jacket is not super-light by modern shell standards, but the
three-layer Pertex Shield fabric is fully waterproof and exceptionally
wind-resistant. —Dougald MacDonald
Enlarge
