Cloudveil Cascade
$240; cloudveil.com
Fashioned of supple but extremely tough material, the 24-ounce Cascade fought off light snow and the nicks of ski edges (alright, the tester took a beater) during a mild day at Lake Louise.
Just don't bring the Cascade to Sugarloaf in January: This shell is not designed to insulate you on long, frigid lift rides. But if you like to tour, two large chest pockets double as vents and a buttery-soft liner wicks sweat like a champ, making it the best backcountry jacket in the bunch.



