Burton AK 3L Freebird Gore-Tex Jacket

The 3L Freebird is a backcountry buff’s dream come true. Lightweight and packable, it’s easy to stow in your pack during high-output skin missions. Need to layer up instead of down? Variable conditions in Chile had testers rocking everything from synthetic t-shirts to merino blend ninja suits and mid-winter down jackets under the shell: Burton’s regular fit (roomy yet not overly so) adapts to layering challenges with impeccable exactitude. In the words of one tester, “I’d remove my puffy before skinning, knowing that Freebird would repel wind and snow while allowing moisture to escape. Either way, it was comfortable—with or without layering.” Splitboarders noted that the chest pockets could have been larger, though the jacket is designed namely for those who haul avy safety gear in a backpack. Pocket qualms aside (which were virtually annihilated when this jacket was paired with the Freebird Bib), this 3L jacket earned top marks from testers in every category.