GoLite Bark jacket and Trunk pant shell garments provide good wind resistance with great breathability for a wide comfort range

Although GoLite's rainwear has some breathability, most of the time you'll be more comfortable wearing GoLite's highly breathable, wind and water-resistant microfibre Bark shell jacket with hood ($95) and Trunk shell pants ($85).

Weighing almost the same as the raingear, the shells make the combined weight of all four garments still only 28 ounces for a waterproof and highly breathable system. That's the weight of many waterproof-breathable jackets alone, and while the heavier conventional shells are usually waterproof, they're nowhere near as breathable as the GoLite microfibre garments.

With the GoLite clothing system you trade some wet weather comfort for far more comfort the rest of the time. How often does it rain where you go? In light rain and showers, the Bark and Trunk are water resistant enough to keep you dry anyway. I found them to be great for hiking in windy weather where I wanted both windproofness and a wide comfort range.

Upside: Great lightweight windwear that's highly breathable for a wide comfort range.

Downside: Pants pockets are too shallow, easy to lose stuff when you sit.

Move on to Pack: the Breeze

Return to Top