North Face Hydrogen Jacket : So Light You May Forget It's There

The first time I picked up this wisp of a jacket by North Face it reminded me of the garbage bag I used to shove into my backpack at outdoor concerts (for the inevitable rain showers). At just 3.1 ounces it's far lighter than the hood of my winter jacket, which is precisely why it's an ideal cool-weather windbreaker for running, hiking, biking, paddling, or just ambling along the beach.

Last week, up in the High Peaks region of the Adirondack Mountains in upstate New York, I carried it with me everywhere: After a sweaty hike up Azure Mountain, I stood atop the fire tower in the brisk wind basking in the uninterrupted 360 degree view of mountains stretching as far as I could see. Before you could say "I wonder what the flavor-of-the-day is at Donnelly's ice cream," I was chilled...so out I pulled out my sunburst yellow Hydrogen jacket and caught the nip in the bud.

I also I donned the Hydrogen many times while camping along the Fish Creek Pond and the Raquette rivers. Several mornings, I crawled out of my snug sleeping bag into morning temperatures hovering in the mid-40Fs and, once again, the Hydrogen jacket was just the ticket. I like zippered Napoleon-style chest pocket; it's good for keys, money, or my iPod Nano.

Available in several colors and in men's and women's sizes.

Bottom Line: Made of rip-stop nylon, this minimalist, breathable, jacket is water repellent, and has reflective logos for nighttime runs or bike rides. It comes in a burrito-sized stuff sack with a cinch-chord and belt loops so you can wear it around your waist or stow it in your back pocket.--J.G. (Sept. 08)

Price: $98.95 (Discontinued colors are on sale for: $75-79 on various web sites listed below.)

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Manufacturer's Site: www.thenorthface.com

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