Showing your belly is cool in only a handful of situations — usually when you’re an infant, or an NBA cheerleader — not while climbing in alpine environments. Which is where the Axiom jacket’s Gore-Tex Active comes in, somewhere between soft shell and hard shell. National Geographic Adventure picked it for Gear of the Year in 2012, saying: Activities like alpine climbing demand both waterproof storm protection and flexibility in the garment—and the Axiom gives both. And while Gore-Tex Active doesn’t stretch as much as a soft shell, it has enough elasticity that reaching to place a piece of protection doesn’t lead to the whole jacket pulling up and exposing your midriff to the elements. Read the full review here.
