West Marine Third Reef Jacket
$189; www.westmarine.com
Out of all the jackets we tested, West Marine’s Third Reef is the burliest of the bunch, with its Oxford nylon outer shell that features a durable water-repellent finish and a high brushed-mesh collar. Big front pockets will keep your personal cargo dry and safe, the bright-yellow safety hood is easy to spot, and, combined with the high, fleece-lined collar, it outfits you with your own personal dodger. Hand-warmer pockets on the chest are lined for comfort, though they could stand to be a little deeper. One thing we’d like to see changed is a little less hook-and-loop fastener strip on the storm flap covering the front zipper (if you take this jacket off in a restaurant, people will notice—it’s that loud). Perhaps smaller pieces of fastener would still do the job and be a little easier to handle. In any case, if you’re looking for a jacket that will take you offshore and keep you dry when the squalls roll through, the Third Reef is a good fit.
