What is the best winter jacket for hiking and at the best price?
Chilly Billy, Pipersville, Pa. Well, Chilly, the short answer is there isn’t one best jacket that does it all. Buy a layering system. That way you can bundle up when it’s cold and rainy, then peel off the layers when the sun comes out or when you’re hiking really hard. Start with a fleece vest for warmth. Something like the Columbia Cathedral Peak is a good choice ($35; www.boyslife.org/links/columbia or 503-985-4000). This should fit snug; wear it over your long underwear top. Next, you’ll want a softshell jacket. Softshells are made of stretchy nylon that’s windproof and water-resistant. One of the best values I know of is the REI Neo ($99; www.boyslife.org/links/rei or 1-800-426-4840). It’ll get you through 90 percent of weather conditions – everything except a full-on downpour. For that, you’ll want to throw on your third layer: a waterproof outershell jacket like the Marmot PreCip ($99; www.boyslife.org/links/marmot or 1-888-357-3262). A poncho from www.boyslife.org/links/scoutstu
