Review: Ibex Shak Jacket

It's a common occurrence in mountain towns: you buy a piece of outdoor clothing, intending to punish it out in the elements, but soon realize how attractive it is, and thus appropriate for casual wear around town. It's only after a few months, or years, that it gets transferred to the "outdoor" wardrobe and is finally used as intended.

So it is with my latest apparel acquisition, the Shak Jacket from Ibex. In lieu of the typical softshell, I wanted a quality mid-weight merino-wool layer, for cool-weather hiking, biking, and mountain-climbing. But damn, it looks good. Soft & comfy as my favorite hoodie, it fits nicely over a collared shirt during the workweek, and over a t-shirt on weekends. It's warm and breathable, and it stretches as I move, making it great for casual bike rides around town. So, the Shak Jacket won't be seeing the forest, river, or mountainside anytime soon. But it'll get loads of wear nonetheless.

$260; ibex.com.