Lots of companies built minimalist jackets from Gore’s Active Shell — as the folks at Outside pointed out in their Buyer’s Guide in 2012, we maxed out the features and still kept the weight low in the Axiom jacket. That’s how the Axiom got the “Gear of the Year” stamp of approval at Outside: The Axiom is designed primarily for alpine climbing—the hood is trim, the hand pockets sit out of the way of harnesses, and the fabric has a bit of stretch. But we found it’s up for just about every mission, from backcountry skiing to backpacking. Read the full review here.
