HELLY HANSEN CYCLONE
$75; 800-435-5901; www.hellyhansen.com
Helly Hansen bills the breathable polyurethane coating on the Cyclone's polyester ripstop fabric as "spray resistant," presumably meaning you'll stay dry if your neighbor attacks you with a garden hose. In other words, it's not impervious to moisture but it will get you through an afternoon cloudburst. The 12.3-ounce Cyclone shined as a jogging shell—literally: The jacket's don't-hit-me-yellow color and its reflective seam piping can't be missed in headlights. Other runner-friendly features include a free-hanging mesh lining at the back and chest that keeps it from clinging to a sweaty torso, chest-pocket zippers that vent air through the jacket and out a third pocket in the back, and a fleece-lined collar that soaks up perspiration and prevents chafing. Once the day warms up, the Cyclone shoves easily into a small fanny pack or a big CamelBak.

CLOUDVEIL CIRQUE SHELL
$80; 888-763-5969; www.cloudveil.com
Sort of like George Jetson's car collapsing into his briefcase, the Cirque disappears into its own pocket and clips onto a pack or climbing harness as a virtually unnoticeable 7.5-ounce packet. Unfurled and zipped shut, with the comfortable fleece-lined collar turned up, it effectively shrugs off chilly breezes and light drizzle. The Cirque is perfect for spring bike rides when it's 50 degrees at dawn and 80 two hours later. Be careful around branches, however—the gossamer fabric (whose threads are dipped in a water-repellent polymer before being woven together) is ripstop but not rip-proof. Nor can it be expected to shed rain with the fortitude demanded by a Seattle jogger. But the eminently packable Cirque eliminates any excuse to leave your shell at home.

SIERRA DESIGNS PEAK BAGGER XV
$219; 800-635-0461; www.sierradesigns.com
Sierra Designs pulled off a complex juggling act to produce a hip-length, multifeatured parka that tips the scales at 20 ounces. The shell itself is a three-layer non-porous, breathable membrane andthe outer fabric is feathery 30-denier ripstop nylon. With such light materials, the designers felt free to add on a bunch of options: four pockets, a built-in hood, and wrist zips that extend from just above the elbow to the cuff. The wrist zips work with two chest zippers to keep fresh air flowing through the jacket—an effect further enhanced by storm flaps on the chest that Velcro open to form little air scoops. Just the ticket for high-intensity workouts. Other thoughtful touches include soft foam cordlocks on the hood cinches so the cords can't belt you on the schnozzle in a high wind, and a visor long enough to keep rain off your nose.

JAGGED EDGE NORTH WIND
$150; 800-926-0159; www.jagged-edge.com
The 14.5-ounce North Wind has a stylish look that belies its technical résumé. It's cut short, and the hood disappears into the stand-up collar, so it could pass for urban fashion. Yet like the Marmot PreCip, the North Wind fends off real wind and rain with a nylon shell reinforced with a seam-taped, microporous polyurethane membrane (which is unlined, and thus feels slick and clammy against bare skin; wear long sleeves underneath). The vanishing hood is big enough to go over a climbing or biking helmet. Unfortunately, the North Wind lacks pit zips, although opening the zippers on the two mesh chest pockets allows some flow-through ventilation. Panels of elastic material sewn into the back and underarm gussets stretch when you exceed the parameters of fit—a trait you'll appreciate when reaching for a distant climbing hold or attempting to perform a self-arrest on a 55-degree slope.

MARMOT PRECIP
$99; 707-544-4590; www.marmot.com
Marmot products have been tagged with a lot of superlatives over the years, but "screaming bargain" was never one of them—until now. For a hundred bucks, the PreCip covers you with a light ripstop nylon shell that's fully seam-taped and backed up with a polyurethane-based, microporous coating, pit zips, a roll-up hood, three pockets, and storm flaps covering all the zippers. Impressive. Plus, the fit is classic Marmot, allowing full arm-swinging movement with no binding, and the whole 12-ounce package stuffs into one of its own pockets. The polyurethane membrane, while not as waterproof as Gore-Tex, makes a very effective budget wind-and-rain barrier—but stay away from activities that involve a lot of abrasion, such as toting heavy packs (which would quickly chafe the coating). Use it for biking, running, and lightly-loaded hiking, and the PreCip should last for years.

ARC'TERYX BETA SL
$300; 800-985-6681; www.arcteryx.com
Arc'Teryx may be unique among clothing manufacturers for showing undue modesty: It wrongly labels an expedition garment as a "lightweight shell." The proof: Three-layer Gore-Tex XCR construction throughout, including a reinforced shoulder yoke to withstand abuse from heavy pack straps. The Gore XCR material is reportedly 25 percent more breathable than first-generation Gore-Tex, an advantage for climbers and backcountry skiers. You get all these winter-coat features in a 15.8-ounce package. So what's missing? Well, a hood for one thing, and pit zips (the Beta AR, six ounces heavier and $75 dearer, has both). The three-layer material is also rather stiff, though a wash or two softens it up. Still, whether you think of the SL as an expedition parka on a diet or a lightweight shell on steroids, it's supremely functional. It's also sewn in Canada with attention to detail that Armani would envy.  

Photos: Clay Ellis