Second Skin Protection from the Nebo Windbreaker at Outdoor Vitals

Outdoor Vitals is a company that excels in exactly what their name suggests .. All your outdoor needs. From sleeping bags and backpacks to tents and everything in between, you’ll have your one-stop shopping needs met for any outdoor adventure. In addition to all the gear, you’ll find some high quality apparel here too, and I was happy to get my hands on the Nebo Windbreaker. This jacket, named for the rugged peaks where it was tested, is extremely versatile and meant for the backpacking journeys on your list.

Looks

The Nebo Windbreaker is available in two colors, Black or Dark Forest, (a lovely shade of green.) It comes in sizes XS to 3XL, so will fit the average human. I received mine in an XS in black.

The style is very simple and not too flashy, with one zippered chest pocket perfect for a cellular phone. The jacket has a fairly straightforward shape to it, made for both women and men, but there’s a slightly swooping drop back which is great for preventing drafts sneaking up your back while you’re moving.  The hood is close fitting which means it won’t slide down in a high wind scenario. The hem around the wrists and hood waist  is stretchy and the drawcord in the waist is adjustable.

Function

The Nebo Windbreaker is great for use all year round. It’s really easy to layer, so you could wear it with a heavier jacket over the top in the winter or as a single layer when the weather warms up. What’s really nice is that it’s so lightweight at only 4 oz that you won’t be weighed down at all and it’s super easy to pack up in a backpack or just about anywhere else. According to the website, the Nebo Windbreaker has the highest weight to warmth ratio out of any other jacket in their inventory, so you’ll really be multitasking in the best possible way.

The primary function of this windbreaker is to let your body breathe. The material will block those stormy winds so you don’t get cold or hot, and it will perform no matter how hard you are working.

Construction

This is not the type of windbreaker that feels (or sounds) like a plastic bag when you put it on. It’s not sticky on sweaty skin or loud and “swooshy” when you’re clumbing up those hills. Even better, the DWR treated fabric helps with a bit of water protection if it happens to rain. It’s also very soft and moves with your body well while it’s in motion, so you’ll likely forget it’s even on.

The drawcord at the waist is adjustable so you can decide how loose or tight you want to keep it. Overall, the hem at the wrists, hood, and waist are built in such a way that wind will be kept out, but it’s so lightweight that you won’t feel like it’ a hotbox when you start to sweat either.

Fit

This jacket is considered an “athletic fit,” halfway between “compressive” and “loose.” This comes in men’s sizing, though it’s a unisex jacket anyone could wear. The jacket is meant to accommodate additional layers as needed but it won’t flap in the wind since it’s meant to be worn close to the body. The XS fit well on me, though I needed to adjust the waist a bit to accommodate my hips. As mentioned, it is close fitting, but that prevents you from feeling held back by too much fabric.

Overall/For Consideration

If you’re looking for a multi-tasker that can be shoved into any bag on your next adventure away from home, this is your jacket. So light that you barely feel it when it’s on, it’s super useful for a walk along the beach on the Oregon Coast or for a trek up the side of a mountain. It will keep you both dry and comfortable with it’s lightweight materials.