We like the Outdoor Research Aspire Trench Jacket because it's long on water protection but short on weight and bulk. The secret is the GORE-TEX Pac-Lite Plus membrane, which is durably waterproof and windproof, but also light and highly packable. That keeps the trench long and lean, giving us a lightweight rainjacket that we can wear comfortably in all four seasons or easily stuff in a pack, purse, or suitcase for our emergency shell.
