By Billy Brown

There are plenty of options when it comes to shell jacket material, but when the weather gets nasty, GORE-TEX is a solid option with over 50 years of weather-beating credibility behind it. For long days in the backcountry, Patagonia's 2-layer Powder Bowl hard shell jacket combines an abrasion-resistant polyester outer layer bonded to a Gore-Tex waterproof breathable membrane with a polyester mesh inner layer for wicking away interior moisture. The jacket covers all of the bases - bomber storm protection, high collar, powder skirt, pant integration, et cetera. It also rocks an adjustable, removable hood with a laminated visor.

In addition to the Gore-Tex lining, Patagonia decided to flip the elements the bird by giving the polyester exterior a DWR coating to bolster the jacket's waterproofing and to keep the exterior from soaking out. The tough poly exterior also held up to getting whipped by the occasional branch during a day of tree riding. Testers seemed especially enamored with the Powder Bowl's heavy-duty protection, saying that its protection feels like it should come from a heavier jacket.

Besides being a tank when it comes to weather resistance, testers noted that the jacket's attention to the minor design details really made it stand out among the crowded jacket market. The Powder Bowl's seven pockets scored points with type A testers, who noted that they liked that there was a separate pocket for gloves, goggles, media pockets, keys, et cetera. The jacket's cut was notable as well - the generous fit allows room for insulating layers and provides a full range of motion when you're cartwheeling off of a cornice.

On a dawn patrol trip up into Mt. Shasta, the Patagonia Powder Bowl's high collar blocked wind in the pre-dawn stage of the hike, while felt detailing on the collar's interior prevented any skin irritation. During later stages of the hike, the jacket's wide armpit vents kept the jacket's interior from getting clammy, particularly during the steeper sections. On the ride back down, the Powder Bowl blocked wind and shed snow like a champ.

Overall, the Patagonia Powder Bowl got a huge thumbs-up from Team AJ - the bomber weather protection and well-thought-out design make it a killer hard shell no matter how brutal the weather gets.

Earn Cash Back on the Patagonia Powder Bowl Jacket - Men's