The Axiom of Jackets – Outdoor Research

Featured writer: Darren Carter

To say I’m a “gear junkie” is an understatement. I love progress and truly appreciate advancements in technology, regardless of the medium. I also love fresh air, being “present” in wilderness, and enjoy a great hike. It centers me. It might sound odd, but the scent of rotting leaves is one of the best scents I enjoy, and I look forward to inhaling as it greets me at the start of a walk among the trees.

Today’s advancements in technology leveraged to produce clothing for outdoor enthusiasts is nothing short of remarkable. Clothing is lighter and stronger while providing more protection and breathability. In a nutshell, they’re just comfortable. Spending a bit more on a technically advanced piece of clothing versus its cotton counterpart will ultimately make you want to stay out longer because the clothes you’re wearing make it so.

When it comes to outdoor gear, I think in layers. Thin layers. Lightweight layers. Breathable layers. As outside temperatures change, I want to be able to quickly adjust the layers I’m wearing so that I stay as comfortable as possible given the activity I’m doing. These layers must be stored somewhere so the smaller I can pack them and the lighter they are, the further I can go. The outer layer, the shell, is where I want to invest not in something which will be bulky and heavy, but lightweight with a few pockets which also provides maximum protection from the elements.

Enter the Outdoor Research Axiom. Incorporating the awesome GORE-TEX® Active shell technology which is more waterproof, breathable, and windproof than ever into a durable jacket while providing me with some nice deep pockets is just what the doctor ordered.

Many GORE-TEX® shells are stiff and inflexible; they don’t move with you. That’s not the case with the Outdoor Research Axiom. It will flex and stretch with you and not restrict your movements. It also comes equipped with fully taped seams, water-resistant zippers, an adjustable hood which can fit over a helmet, a Napoleon pocket, internal pocket, a waist cinch strap, and even a stuff sack incorporated into the left pocket.

Cram all of these features into a shell weighing a mere 13.3 ounces and you have a winner. Not surprisingly, the Axiom garnished Outdoor Magazine’s 2012 Gear of the Year award.

This jacket has become my “Go-To” lightweight shell. Welcome to the inner circle of trust Axiom; you deserve it!