Reviewed in September, 2019

Lightweight, storm resistance and full of features—pretty much sums up the Mont Bell Storm Cruiser Jacket. Using Gore-Tex with a C-knit backer, you can be assured the Storm Cruiser will keep you dry, breath well and most importantly not be clammy against bare skin. When you crank up the cardio and heat begins to build the Storm Cruiser's pit zips come in very handy and if the sun happens to shine then it will pack down into the super small stuff sack that Mont Bell thoughtfully included. Unlike other lightweight rain shells, Mont Bell's Storm Cruiser can take the abuse of epic adventures and constant use and is still light enough to toss in your day pack for every quick hike. It's really hard to find anything bad to say about the Storm Cruiser but if I had to be really picky then the other thing I could gripe about is the crinkly texture to the jacket's fabric—but again, this is being super picky.

from Backcountry Skiing Canada

Reviewed: March, 2019

Our take : This shell has a just-right balance between weight and features for all-purpose use. It has the most critical details (hand pockets, pit zips, three-way-adjustable hood), yet packs down to the size of a large burrito. Three-layer Gore-Tex with a C-Knit backer enhances breathability and lends the jacket a supple feel. (Testers deemed overall breathability “very good.”)

The details : The large pockets start near the armpit, sit above a hipbelt, and can each fit a fly box or a dog leash, and the hem extends far enough to cover our butts when sitting on a raft or bending over. And the well-designed hood earned particular praise: “The cut lets it sort of ‘float’ around my head, without impairing hearing as much as other shells, though it’s rigid enough to hold its shape and doesn’t let wind in,” says a tester.

Trail cred :“On a 2,500-foot descent in Montana’s Garnet Range, I loved

how the collar came all the way up to my mouth, so I could hide in it and not have rain flying down my neck,” notes one tester.

By Elisabeth Kwak-Hefferan

from BACKPACKER