It’s easy to be swayed by the sex appeal of a shell jacket. Waterproof, expensive, colorful. I constantly find myself lusting after the new Gore-Tex whatever. But then I kit up for any high-output winter activity— backcountry skiing, running, hiking, cycling, etc—and am reminded that midlayers are the backbone of winter layering, get triple the use of other pieces, and warrant a bigger investment.
That’s because unless it’s pissing rain, dumping snow, or freezing cold, my shell stays in my bag. A shell, even the most breathable, is just a plastic bag and will not vent your heat, whereas a breathable midlayer creates just the right amount of warmth but sheds excess heat while you slog down pavement or up a mountain. Midlayers also get extra use on warmer winter days when worn by themselves without a base layer underneath.
Over my 10-plus years at Outside I’ve tested well over 100 midlayers, out of which I’ve found a few favorites for each of my winter sports.
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