The best hiking jackets should keep the sun off your shoulders during the day, keep you warm in the evening, be comfortable against your skin, and keep you dry during those unexpected downpours. They pretty much need to be prepared to have the wringer thrown at them, whether that’s weather, mud, rain, snow, or rock. Oh yeah, and be light and packable enough that you can stuff it in a hiking backpack.
It’s tough to decide on the proper classification of what constitutes a hiking jacket. It is particularly true given the fact that you can hike in literally any climate. It’s walking in nature essentially, so wherever our two feet can take us is where our clothing needs to go.
