Neo may be The One, but he's still a wanker. A computer geek wakes up one day and he's a superhero? Thank god he didn't have to work for it or anything. For those of us who do have to work for a living but need the occasional superpowers of breathability and weatherproofness, REI hooks us up with the One jacket.
I still have the original flavor of the One jacket in basic black from about six years back, and I've always appreciated its ability to go from business casual to backcountry competition without a hitch. The understated fashion plus high performance continues in the latest iteration, now featuring beefy Schoeller soft shell material for serious wind and water resistance. It sure doesn't hurt that the fit and finish are still top-notch without breaking the bank.
The One is set up in true minimalist fashion, with just what you need: high garrote-proof collar with soft brushed liner and chin guard, full-length zipper flap, drawcord hem and rip-and-stick cuffs. Pockets include one zippered exterior chest pocket with internal headphone port, two traditional low rear-opening zippered handwarmer pockets and an open large pocket on the inside low right. At the time this review was posted the online specs incorrectly list a zippered inner pocket that doesn't exist. The original also had the open inner pocket on both sides, but there's just the one on the new One. It's still the classiest, best-performing and most reasonably priced dual-purpose jacket out there.
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