Windshells are a standard piece of gear you can rely on in the mountains, where the weather can change quickly. They offer a good balance of wind resistance and breathability, and the hood makes it easy to regulate your temperature, so I personally use one. With the recent evolution of rain jackets, more and more people are using them as both a rain jacket and a windshell, but the latest lightweight and sweat-wicking windshells are certainly evolving. Now is the time to rediscover this item
In this article, we have carefully selected 10 models from the 2025 lineup that excel in the specifications of being "lightweight, easy to use, and comfortable." From these, we have conducted a field review of the three best models
You're sure to find one that suits your hiking style
table of contents
- 10 lightweight windshells
- We selected the three strongest wind shell candidates from the above and field tested them
- Test environment and field test results
- Impressions of each model
- Best Overall: MOUNTAIN HARDWEAR Core Air Shell Hooded Jacket. It offers excellent comfort, breathability, and wind resistance. Recommended for all hikers!
- Best Value and Lightweight: Mont-Bell EX Light Wind Parka. Recommended for UL hikers interested in lightweight gear
- Excellent breathability! Recommended for fastpacking and cold-weather hikers who want to keep their core warm! Patagonia Airshed Pro Pullover
- Summary: Performance can't be measured by lightness alone. My personal recommendation is the MOUNTAIN HARDWEAR Core Air Shell Hooded Jacket
10 lightweight windshells
We selected 10 items that are ideal for fast packing, with excellent wind resistance, breathability, weight, and comfort, all of which must be on sale in 2025, weigh less than 150g, and have a hood
- Zpacks Ventum Wind Shell 46g
- Mont-bell EX Light Wind Parka 61g
- Black Diamond Distance Wind Shell 72g
- SALOMON SENSE AERO WIND 88g
- TETON BROS. Wind River Hoody 100g
- Patagonia Airshed Pro Pullover 100g
- Mont-bell UL Stretch Wind Parka 117g
- MONTANE Featherlite Packable Hooded Windproof Jacket 120g
- Rab Vital Hoody 130g [Tried on]
- MOUNTAIN HARDWEAR Core Air Shell Hooded Jacket 137g
We selected the three strongest wind shell candidates from the above and field tested them
I tried on many windshells and agonized over my choices before making a list of 10, but narrowing it down to just three was really difficult
The first three points I chose are:
- Mont-bell EX Light Wind Parka 61g
- Patagonia Airshed Pro Pullover 100g
- MOUNTAIN HARDWEAR Core Air Shell Hooded Jacket 137g
Here are the reasons why I chose these three points
The first item, the EX Light Wind Parka, is an ultra-lightweight wind shell that I've been interested in for a long time. I was torn between the Zpacks Ventum Wind Shell, the Mont-Bell EX Light Wind Parka, and the Black Diamond Distance Wind Shell, but I ended up choosing the Mont-Bell EX Light Wind Parka because of its exceptional value for money and ease of use
My second choice, the Core Air Shell Hooded Jacket, is because it's an all-around wind shell. The TETON BROS. Wind River Hoody, Rab Vital Hoody, and MOUNTAIN HARDWEAR Core Air Shell Hooded Jacket are all excellent wind shells that you can't go wrong with, so it was a tough decision. Furthermore, all three share the same fabric, Pertex® Quantum Air. Ultimately, I chose the MOUNTAIN HARDWEAR Core Air Shell Hooded Jacket based on my instincts about how the sleeves fit and the thickness of the fabric (20d)
The third item, the Airshed Pro Pullover, is an unusual wind shell that combines different materials. I chose it because I wanted to see how it would work with fastpacking and because it would make an interesting contrast with the other two items
Test environment and field test results
Which wind shell offers a good balance of wind resistance and breathability while remaining lightweight?
The field test was carried out under the following conditions:
Test environment
[Period] March to April
[Temperature] 2°C to 20°C
[Mountain area] Tokai Nature Trail (Osaka, Kyoto), Kyoto Loop Trail (Kyoto), Rokko Mountains (Hyogo)
[Weather] Sunny, rainy
[Activity] Fast packing
[Layering] Wear active insulation, a T-shirt, and a wind shell
Field test results
| type | The most comfortable, all-around type | Lightweight, the lightest in its class | Excellent sweat wicking, mixed material type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Item Name | MOUNTAIN HARDWEAR Core Air Shell Hooded Jacket |
Mont-bell EX Light Wind Parka |
Patagonia Air Jet Pro Pullover |
| image |  |
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| material | PERTEX® QUANTUM AIR 20 denier | Ballistic Airlite® 7 denier | 1.2 oz 100% recycled polyester 2.3 oz 100% recycled polyester |
| Actual weight (g) | 137 | 61 | 100 |
| Left and right hand pockets, inner pocket | none | Chest zip pocket | |
| Packable | 〇 | 〇 | 〇 |
| Reference price (as of May 2025) |
19,250 yen | 11,000 yen | 19,800 yen |
| Here is ◎ |
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| Here is △ |
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| Outdoor Gearzine Review | |||
| Windproof | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★☆☆ |
| Breathability (resistance to stuffiness) | ★★★★☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★★ |
| weight | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Ease of movement | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ |
| Comfort | ★★★★★ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★☆ |
| Ease of putting on and taking off | ★★★★★ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Storage capacity | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
Compared to the OD Can 110, the EX Light Wind Parka (top right) is noticeably small!
The Airshed Pro Pullover (bottom left) looks large, but it's empty inside and could be made more compact, perhaps because the size of the pockets was prioritized
Impressions of each model
Best Overall: MOUNTAIN HARDWEAR Core Air Shell Hooded Jacket. It offers excellent comfort, breathability, and wind resistance. Recommended for all hikers!
The MOUNTAIN HARDWEAR Core Air Shell Hooded Jacket is the heaviest of the three, weighing in at 137g
I found it to be a very well-balanced garment, apart from the weight.
168cm, 56kg, size M, Black
Roomy enough to wear over active insulation
The back is completely covered up to the buttocks
The overall material is stretchy, and the hood in particular is highly versatile, able to accommodate a wide range of body types and neck lengths
Next, the 20 denier PERTEX® QUANTUM AIR provides excellent wind protection while remaining breathable and well ventilated even during intense exercise
The fit is smooth and comfortable
The design is not too sporty, so it can be used for a variety of purposes, such as traveling
It combines all the important functions of a wind shell at a high level, and I felt that I would want to use it even though it is heavy, so I chose it as the best one I wanted the most
This is a wind shell that we recommend to all hikers, including those considering purchasing a wind shell for the first time, as well as those considering replacing their current one
Easy-to-reach hand pockets (with zippers)
Highly stretchable PERTEX® QUANTUM AIR
Even when you sweat while climbing in temperatures of 20°C, it doesn't feel sticky
It is the heaviest of the ones we tested, but it didn't really bother me that much
It's highly breathable and comfortable to wear, so I walked around wanting to wear it all the time. Whether or not you want to wear it all the time is an important evaluation point
Best Value and Lightweight: Mont-Bell EX Light Wind Parka. Recommended for UL hikers interested in lightweight gear
When I first put on the EX Light Wind Parka, I was blown away by its unbelievable lightness and unprecedented comfort
What would happen if we used this gear in a harsh mountain environment? We were excited to test it in the field, discovering the possibilities of this ultra-lightweight windshell
First off, let's start with how it looks when you're wearing it
168cm, 56kg, XL size, dark green
No pockets, just a minimalist design with reflections
The hood also has a moderate amount of room
Next, the windproof properties of the 7-denier Ballistic Airlite® effectively blocked the wind, fulfilling its function as a wind shell
However, it can feel a little cold when the temperature is around 10°C and there is a strong wind, so the temperature range it can handle on its own is somewhat narrow
I don't see this as a disadvantage, and layering it with active insulation or similar will give you just the right balance, keeping you neither too hot nor too cold
Although the fabric itself is not very breathable, there are slits around the armpits where heat tends to accumulate, which allows heat to escape. Combined with the fact that the fabric itself is not very windproof, it does not get stuffy, resulting in an exquisitely balanced finish
It's hard to see in the photo, but there are several ventilation vents around the armpits that allow heat to escape
The fit of the hood, an important point when choosing a windshell, is simple yet fully adjustable, and I'm fascinated by this, embodying Mont-Bell's philosophy of "function is beauty." Raising and lowering the sleeves is also stress-free. At just 11,000 yen, it's the best value for money in these times of rising prices
Hood shaped to fit the shape of your head
Adjusting the hood is as simple as pulling a cord, but it can be adjusted firmly, and the beauty of the minimalist design will leave you in awe
One thing that bothers me is that because it is so lightweight, wearing it in strong winds requires some skill, so you need to be careful not to let it blow away
It also has a very tight fit, even for Montbell products, so you need to be careful when choosing the size. If you plan to layer it with Active Insulation, it is recommended that you go up a size, and we recommend trying it on first
I would definitely recommend this to UL hikers looking to save weight, but I also recommend it to all hikers. I'm sure it will change your perception of wind shells
It is also recommended for UL hikers who use it as both a rain jacket and a wind shell, as it is such a functional and rational wind shell that the 61g weight increase is worth it
Although it is a 7 denier fabric, I didn't feel too worried about its durability
The minimalist design is cool and stoic. It's also easy to swing your arms
It's so compact it fits in your hand and easily fits in your pants pocket
Excellent breathability! Recommended for fastpacking and cold-weather hikers who want to keep their core warm! Patagonia Airshed Pro Pullover
I was very interested in the Airshed Pro Pullover. It's a windshell with knit material in areas like the armpits where heat tends to build up. It's similar to a Houdini jacket combined with Capilene Lightweight
I was excited to think that this would free me from the drawbacks of wind shells, such as stuffiness and stickiness caused by sweat when climbing hard
First off, it's dressed up
168cm, 56kg, size M, seabird grey
The material from the elbows down and the neck up is knit
The hood is stretchy and made of knit material, so it's extremely comfortable to wear
My impression after field testing is that this wind shell has exceptional breathability. It has the highest breathability of the three, and it's extremely breathable, so it's comfortable to wear for a wide range of activities and temperatures. The secret to its breathability is the knit material that extends from the sleeves to the armpits! It doesn't get sticky even when you sweat, and it's extremely easy to roll up the sleeves, making it extremely comfortable to wear
The feeling of rolling up the sleeves is the same as with a long-sleeved T-shirt
The unique knitted hood can also be used as a balaclava, making it suitable for a wide range of activities, including hiking in snowy mountains, skiing, and snowboarding
Pullovers have the disadvantage of being difficult to ventilate, but the Airshed Pro Pullover has a deep zipper that allows for sufficient ventilation, and the double zipper also means that the amount of ventilation can be adjusted, which is a plus
The zipper is deep enough and the double zipper is a nice feature!
So, it's breathable enough, but because it's breathable, the knitted sleeves can get cold when the temperature drops below 10°C, which is a matter of personal preference
Since it is a wind shell similar to a base layer, you can adjust the temperature appropriately by layering it with synthetic insulation or a rain jacket
This wind shell is not only suitable for fast packing, which requires a lot of physical activity, but is also perfect for hikers who are sensitive to the cold and want to walk slowly while keeping their core warm
It can also be used as a sunscreen
It was comfortable even when I drove hard
Summary: Performance can't be measured by lightness alone. My personal recommendation is the MOUNTAIN HARDWEAR Core Air Shell Hooded Jacket
After field testing the three items, the one I wanted most was the MOUNTAIN HARDWEAR Core Air Shell Hooded Jacket
The deciding factors were that it has a good balance of all the functions required of a wind shell, and its design is not too sporty, making it highly versatile and suitable for a wide range of uses, from harsh mountain environments to travel
I finally found a windshell to replace the Patagonia Houdini Jacket I've been using for about 10 years
However, for me the best was the MOUNTAIN HARDWEAR Core Air Shell Hooded Jacket, but the other two were also excellent wind shells with very clear concepts and distinct characters
For example, the 61g Mont-Bell EX Light Wind Parka can be kept in your backpack at all times and used as a talisman, and the Patagonia Airshed Pro Pullover is a great companion for trail running
The appropriate model will vary depending on the mountain range, season, activity, etc., so we hope this comparison review will help you make a decision when hiking
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Haruki Murakami
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