Rab Boreas and Aurora Softshell Windshirts

Named “Editors’ Choice” in Backpacker Magazine’s Gear Guide, these pull-on softshell windshirts from Rab offer versatile weather protection for climbing, backpacking, biking, and trail running. The Matrix SWS fabric is treated with antimicrobial Polygiene for start-to-finish freshness on multi-day trips. Plus, it breathes well, dries quickly, and offers UPF 50+ protection to ensure you’re covered on sunny days, too. At just 9 ounces in the men’s large, this layer is lightweight and low-bulk enough to bring along wherever you go.

This softshell is equipped with a low-profile hood that fits neatly under a helmet and can be pulled over a hat to block neck drafts. Along with a deep chest zip that improves ventilation during warm hikes and brisk ascents, it has a single zippered chest pocket that doubles as an integrated stuff sack. The men’s style is aptly named for the Greek god of the cold north wind and bringer of winter, while the women’s style is named for the Roman goddess of the dawn and bringer of first light.

Rab was founded by Scottish mountaineer Rab Carrington in 1980s—but the seed for the company was planted much earlier. In 1973, Carrington found himself in Buenos Aires, his expedition to Patagonia aborted due to a UK dock strike that had delayed the arrival of his equipment. He decided to stick around, and took up work sewing sleeping bags for the Argentinian army. Today, those skills and ethos of adventure can be seen in Rab’s full line of performance clothing, sleeping bags, mountaineering tents, and extreme expedition gear.