Consumer Reports

If you're here searching for a lightweight option for your next backpacking trip or adventure abroad, the Columbia Flash Forward is a great choice. It's thin and lightweight without sacrificing quality materials or construction. Weighing less than 6 ounces, it can easily be crammed in just about any pocket or crevice to be brought with you. As a thin jacket, it's exceptionally breathable &mdash; aided by pockets made of mesh that double as heat-dumping vents when you need a little extra help. Surprisingly protective from wind and rain, if the jacket does become soaked by precipitation &#40;or sweat&#41;, it dries very quickly. It's sized so that it's easy to add as a final layer over whatever else you have on, and its hood is a decent size for pulling over your ponytail. 
Of course, all this thinness and breathability resigns the Flash Forward as a mild-weather jacket, not well-suited to cold winds or heavy downpours. We can also easily see t-shirt prints through the white section of the coat, and its drawstring hem is more awkward and cumbersome to use than the elastic bungee cord of just about every other competitor. The cuffs are a bit coarse and wrinkly and aren't our favorite to wear pulled up. Though this windbreaker is a bit on the expensive side for this category, it's still a good value for when you need to shave ounces off your pack and save space in your bag.
Like the sound of this jacket, but want something a little warmer? Check out our full review of the fleece-lined version of the Flash Forward. 
Made of: 100% polyester

OutdoorGearLab

Best for Most

walmart

amazon.com

The Black Diamond Alpine Start Hoody is an incredibly lightweight jacket that bridges the gap between softshell and windbreaker. This jacket was designed with alpine climbing and cool-weather mountain activities in mind, but it would be well-equipped as a light jacket for travel, hiking, or any activity where you move from warm to cool temps. It has comfortable cuffs, a two-way adjustable, helmet-compatible hood, and a flattering alpine-style fit that is equally at home in the alpine or at a brewery. The zippered chest pocket doubles as a stuff sack when you want to stash your jacket on the back of your harness or in your backpack. The stretchy Schoeller fabric is abrasion-resistant, highly breathable, and moves well regardless of your activity. 
We still haven't found that perfect unicorn jacket free from drawbacks, and the Alpine Start is no exception. That being said, the downsides may be irrelevant, depending on the jacket niche you seek to fill. Notably, this jacket can withstand dryer moisture like snow but has below-average water protection, especially when compared with the technical softshells and hybrids in our review. Despite being very feature-rich, it does not offer UPF-rated sun protection, and it isn't among the warmest jackets in our review. Finally, it is rather spendy. These drawbacks aside, this hoody is a great lightweight wind layer that moves and breathes well for all manner of alpine activities. 

Switchback Travel

Ah, the Black Diamond Alpine Start: where do we begin? This jacket has become our layer of choice for everything from windy hikes to daily runs, multi-pitch climbing, and even ski touring. What makes the Alpine Start stand out is its stretchy, softshell-like fabric, which offers great range of motion, impressive breathability, and serious durability. Perhaps most significantly, the shell’s robust nature, in addition to Black Diamond’s proven NanoSphere finish, means you get exceptional protection in wet weather. We’ve worn the Alpine Start in all-day drizzles and blowing snow and never once wished for more jacket.

The Black Diamond Alpine Start isn’t the lightest or most packable jacket here, but it might be the best-performing. In fact, it tops the Patagonia Houdini Air above in most categories except for weight and packed size, and it's so breathable that we keep it on even during the most high intensity of runs. A relatively roomy fit and helmet-compatible hood round out the mountain-specific build, which ups the ante for windbreakers with a great next-to-skin feel and slight insulative properties. We can wax poetic for days, but we’ll leave you with this: since we bought the Alpine Start, our softshell, hardshell, and rain jacket have barely left the closet. Now that’s saying something... Read in-depth reviewSee the Men's BD Alpine Start  See the Women's BD Alpine Start

The Black Diamond Alpine Start is one of the lightest softshells on our list and arguably the most versatile. Whereas burly jackets like the Arc’teryx Gamma MX below can only be worn when temperatures drop, the Alpine Start is a year-round layer. It’s easy to wear over anything from a t-shirt to a lightweight down jacket, depending on conditions. Made with thin stretch-woven nylon coated with BD’s proprietary NanoSphere water repellant, the Alpine Start is designed to keep out wind and rain without compromising ventilation. And in practice it delivers: throughout an all-day drizzle on a recent trek in Patagonia, the Alpine Start’s shell beaded water and kept us dry while our hiking partners were all forced to don their (less breathable) rain jackets.

The Black Diamond Alpine Start blurs the line between softshell and windbreaker jacket, a trend we expect to see more and more of as demand increases for lighter, more breathable, and more versatile layers. Don’t expect any insulation from the Alpine Start’s thin fabric though, and the stretch knit at the cuffs and hem will also limit how much you layer underneath. But for runners, backcountry skiers, and climbers wanting a weather resistant, breathable softshell that packs down small (into its chest pocket) and weighs nothing, the Alpine Start is our favorite ultralight offering... Read in-depth reviewSee the Men's Black Diamond Alpine Start  See the Women's Black Diamond Alpine Start

An iteration of a harness that Black Diamond has been selling for years, the Black Diamond Momentum does not disappoint. It's a versatile, all-around model that is comfortable, adjustable, and inexpensive. It has Black Diamond's unique trakFIT adjustable leg loops, which provide a bit of adjustability but still the security of a fixed-leg system. The plastic-covered gear loops are rigid and stick out from the waist belt for easy clipping and unclipping, and there is a sturdy haul loop in the back. 
The Momentum has a thickly padded waist belt, which is excellent for hanging belays, but not so great on warm days. We always found ourselves with a sweaty back in this one and something you certainly should keep in mind if you regularly climb in hot weather or tropical climates. Other than that, this affordable model is an excellent buy for a new climber who wants a guaranteed all-around versatile harness or for a seasoned rope climber looking to save money. 
Read more: Black Diamond Momentum review

expert-review

Black Diamond Alpine Start Hoody | Blister

bazaarvoice

Switchback Travel | Black Diamond Alpine Start Hoody Review

REVIEW: Black Diamond Alpine Start Hoody & Alpine Light Pants

yotpo

Black Diamond Alpine Start Hoody Review

Review: Black Diamond Alpine Start Hoody - The Big Outside

As it's a newly released version of one of our old favorites, we were excited to check out this year's Patagonia Airshed Pro. We found a fantastic mix of old and new in this product, and its comfortable design quickly helped it stand out from the pack. We love how the sleeves and hood are made of a super-soft, stretchy material while the torso keeps you protected from the elements. We also love how the two-way zip allows for extra ventilation. Thoughtful design makes this jacket one of our favorites for comfort. 
This jacket doesn't hold up very well in the rain since it is comprised of soft, stretchy fabrics. The Patagonia Airshed doesn't have any pockets or added features. Despite being somewhat basic in design, it doesn't lack comfort. We truly never want to take it off. This might not be the first choice for runners in the PNW, but if you're looking for a cozy layer for chilly days or a light layer for warmer days, the Airshed Pro will be a great choice. 

As it's a newly released version of one of our old favorites, we were excited to check out this year's Patagonia Airshed Pro. We found a fantastic mix of old and new in this product, and its comfortable design quickly helped it stand out from the pack. We love how the sleeves and hood are made of a super-soft, stretchy material while the torso keeps you protected from the elements. We also love how the two-way zip allows for extra ventilation. Its thoughtful design makes this jacket one of our favorites for comfort. 
This jacket doesn't hold up very well in the rain since it is comprised of soft, stretchy fabrics. The Patagonia Airshed doesn't have any pockets or added features. Despite being somewhat basic in design, it doesn't lack comfort. We truly never want to take it off. This might not be the first choice for runners in the Pacific Northwest, but if you're looking for a cozy layer for chilly days or a light layer for warmer days, the Airshed Pro will be a great choice. 
Read more: Patagonia Airshed Pro Pullover - Women's review

Windbreaker Comparison