Whether thunderheads threaten your afternoon hike, or you can smell the moisture in the air during your Yosemite backpacking adventure, having packed the L.L. Bean Pathfinder Waterproof Shell will ensure peace of mind and the weather protection you’ll want and need.
On Performance and Design…
The outdoor world is chock full of technical hard shell jackets. Burly shells for scaling up frozen waterfalls. Ultralight shells for trekking through the Himalayan mountains. What they all have in common is the latest waterproof breathable technologies along with a premium price point bound to leave you with an empty wallet and a sinking feeling in your gut.
The reality however, is that most of us won’t spend much – if any – time suspended halfway up a vertical mountain wall when a blustery wind picks up and rain begins to fall. The vast majority of outdoor enthusiasts simply need a lightweight durable shell. A shell that’s ready to tackle hiking and backpacking adventures when the weather is uncertain – and won’t let you down when you’re making the sprint from car to coffee shop in a torrential downpour.
Enter the L.L. Bean Pathfinder Waterproof Shell for men and women. This technical shell offers everything you need in a mountain-ready package minus some of the excessive features you don’t, which merely end up hitting you hard in the pocketbook. Featuring L.L. Bean’s proprietary TEK3 fabric, the Pathfinder seamlessly blends low-bulk abrasion-resistant nylon with an inside backer fabric that absorbs and diffuses moisture, striking a worthy balance between lightweight performance and beefed-up durability.
Fully taped seams enhance this jacket’s waterproof protection, and waterproof zippers cover the center front and all three pockets. On top of that, the Pathfinder also features underarm ventilation, a fully adjustable hood for extra coverage, and exaggerated hand pocket openings which ensure you don’t spend excess effort and energy fumbling around for stored gear.
Notes from the Field…
As with most outdoor apparel, finding the right gear is a bit of a calculation. It requires an understanding of how and where you will be using your gear along with the monetary resources you have at your disposal. Once you work through that calculation, more often than not, you’ll discover you don’t need to spend $800 for your technical shell.
At $179 the Pathfinder offers the protection from Mother Nature you need, at a price that you can actually afford. During our test period, the Pathfinder Waterproof Shell sloughed off rainfall while we romped up Sierra summits and sliced through wind on exposed ridgelines like a ninja. Admittedly, we have tested technical hardshell offerings which provide greater levels of breathability than the TEK3 fabric. The Ridge Shell from Canada Goose for example offers much better breathability during high aerobic pursuits. Of course, not everyone can afford the $645 price tag that accompanies the Canada Goose shell.
So on days you’re pushing hard for the summit, you can expect to work up some excess moisture on the interior of the Pathfinder. But the truth of the matter is, when your engines are cranking at full throttle, there are very few (if any) technical shells that can dispense moisture as quickly as your body produces it. As such, we’re not deterred from recommending this jacket for anyone looking for a versatile shell that’s ready to handle the ugly side of nature. Moreover, if you couple the Pathfinder with the L.L. Bean 850 Ultralight Down Sweater, you’ll find that you’ve got a tremendous fortress ready to withstand the perils of winter.
Bottom Line…
The performance and versatility you need for hiking, camping and backpacking, all at a price point you can actually afford.
*Gumption Gear Review received the items featured in this review from L.L. Bean at no cost and receives no monetary compensation for this or any related review. The items featured were provided solely in return for our honest views and opinions.