Outdoor Research Synapse Jacket (For Men)

Bought this as a top layer for running in cool weather. Really light-weight, yet keeps wind out. Feels great!

I am tall and skinny (well sort of), and this jacket works for me, although just barely. The sleeves could be a bit longer and the chest a bit skinnier, but the fit is better than say most patagonia stuff. The zipper is nice and lightweight, but it won't last long. Then again, windbreakers don't usually last very long anyway...

Nice wind shell. It stuffs into its own chest pocket and turns into a tiny package. It is feather light, made out of material much like a tent rain fly. The material is not silky or soft despite its light weight, so is not as quiet as some nylons. When it flaps in wind, it makes a racket especially with the hood up. The hood is close fitting (wear it under your helmet), and has a reasonable adjustment bungie on the back of the head, and a stiffened brim up front. There is only one chest pocket (which is also the stuff bag), and it can only be accessed from inside the jacket so you have to unzip the main zipper to get into it. Overall a super little jacket that does a wonderful job in the wind if you don't mind sounding like a sheet of Tyvek housewrap.

I purchased this jacket for hiking but have been using it for work. I live in South FL and spend 85% of my workday outside. I can put this jacket in my pocket and take it out when it rains, put back in my pocket when the rain stops. It may not be the best choice for cooler conditions (coverage would be insufficient for a really cold rain) but for warmer climates this is the ideal rain shell. Very light, packs down smaller than any shell I've ever seen!

This one is quite similar to Patagonia Houdini at a fraction of a price. Pretty lightweight: 4.2 oz for size L, 4.5 oz for XL.