Review: CoalaTree Windbreaker

By Mike England, Fall 2023

Every veteran recreationist in Montana knows not to head into the woods or onto the river without an extra layer, be it a fleece or rainshell. But what about a windbreaker? Will it keep you warm as the sun sets and the temps plummet? Will it provide sufficient protection when a late-afternoon squall roars in? If it's the CoalaTree Whistler Self-Healing Windbreaker, it will.

It may be a "windbreaker," but it's not your dad's favorite coat from the '80s. Slim-fitting, lightweight, and packable, this sucker stuffs into a drybag or a small daypack, leaving plenty of room for food, water, and other items. While it's designed to rebuff wind—and rebuff it, it does—the DWR coating keeps you dry enough to make it through the storm and get back to your vehicle without any violent shivering.

The self-healing aspect of this coat is fascinating—if you get a small tear or puncture from a sharp branch, just rub your finger rapidly across the hole and watch the fabric blend together, restoring wind- and water-resistance. Cool, eh?

$125; coalatree.com.