It seems like I have been on a never-ending quest for a lightweight, breathable rain jacket and winter shell. I think I may have finally found one that satisfies my requirements and more: the Celestial Jacket from Outdoor Research.

This jacket is made from Gore-Tex PacLite fabric and only weighs 10.2 oz. in a men’s large. It is really lightweight and I’ve dropped my wind shirt from my gear list because this jacket can do double duty. The Celestial Jacket has a lot of very unique capabilities designed with backpackers in mind that you can’t find from other manufacturers. It excels in the following 3 areas:

1. Vent location is unique. This jacket has zips that start just below the armpits and extend all the way down the side of the coat so that it can open like a poncho from the upper chest down. This is different from normal pit zips that don’t let you vent around your waist. In practice, this feature is great if you are hiking with a pack because it helps prevent the sweat from your back from pooling along your waistband and lower back. In addition, velcro strips around the wrists are robust but lightweight and resist tearing.
2. All of the zippers on the jacket are waterproof, and although smaller, they are just like the plastic ones you find on dry suits for cold weather kayaking. They’re a little stiff but can be easily lubricated with McNett’s Zip Tech which will also protect the zipper and prevent snags. The coat does not have side pockets, but has what are called Napoleon pockets on the chest that are long enough to hold a map. Again, this is a great feature if you are carrying a pack because it lets you carry your little essentials and navigation in a very easy to reach location.
3. Finally, the jacket’s hood actually works in rain without the need to wear a hooded baseball cap underneath. There is a cinch bungee located on the back of the hood that let’s you tighten it around the crown of your head like a skull cap. This keeps it on and prevents it from flopping around. A goretex bill prevents the rain from dripping down your face and the elastic hood band for closing/venting around your face is situated inside the collar and not outside of the jacket providing for better waterproofness in heavy rain. It is also impossible to pull out.

I’ve used my Celestial in a variety of conditions and I am very pleased with it’s performance. As I mentioned before, it is light enough to do double duty as a wind shirt. It is great in warm rain with a light base layer and it an excellent winter/snowshoeing shell with a mid-weight base layer. The only caution I should mention is that the 15 denier Gore-Tex fabric is not robust enough for bushwacking. It tears easily.

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