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	Gear Item: Summit Jacket Category: 1 Author: Greg Rouse Contact: WildernessOutlet.com
The Summit Jacket was great. The first time I used it, I took it on a multi-day climb of Mount Rainier. The weather forecast was for clear but windy days and I was a bit skeptical to take such a new jacket on a major climb, but by the end of the week, I was sold.On the third day, when we headed out at midnight for our summit attempt, it was cold but clear with 20-mile an hour winds. Climbing was strenuous but the breathability was great and with the pit-zips open, I was able to manage my perspiration fine. Later on as we got higher up the mountain, the wind picked up to 50-mile an hour winds that almost blew you off our feet during the gusts. Snow was blowing sideways and any exposed flesh felt like it was being sand blasted off, but after buttoning down the hatches and with the powder skirt shut, I can honestly say this jacket never failed.Some of the other benefits I found were the soft fleece patch where your mouth contacts with the hood when it’s closed tight. It doesn’t seem like much until you have to button down the hatches and hike all day with that hood wrapped around you face. I also liked all the pockets that this jacket has. It made it nice for keeping everything from my snacks to my chapstick from being frozen in my pack, not to mention the fact that it let me carry quit a bit smaller and less cumbersome pack with all the cargo room the pockets afforded.About the only complaint I had was how the hood really wasn’t built for going around a helmet, which was easily handled by just wearing the hood underneath the helmet. A nice waterproof/breathable jacket, that’s affordable with lots of pockets. - Kudos to Wilderness Outlet!"