There’s lightweight, and then there’s ultralight, and then there’s Hyperlite. There’s no better brand for those serious about shedding every possible ounce and still demanding indestructibility, and their Technical Jacket is no exception.
The unisex Hyperlite Shell starts at 5.16 oz. It’s not apples to apples, but that’s roughly the weight of the men’s hoodless vest version of Mountain Hardwear’s Ghost Whisperer line, for comparison.
For a garment that’s essentially made of the world’s nicest tarp, you couldn’t be faulted for expecting the Shell’s wearability to suffer in favor of durability and waterproofing, but that’s not the case. The Shell’s wrinkles fall out quickly when you unstuff it from its built-in bag, hem toggles let you cinch up when needed, and the rigid hood brim and Velcro wrist cuffs are very welcome quality of life additions. The Shell is also relatively breathable and won’t restrict your range of motion.
The Hyperlite Shell isn’t the coziest in its category by any stretch, but like they say about cameras, the best shell is the one you have with you, or in the case of backpacking, the one you can forget you have with you.