Don’t have a good windbreaker in your arsenal yet? We have you covered with the David Jacket, Davis Anorak, and Samara Anorak.
It was the spring of 2020—at the start of the COVID pandemic—when we first debuted the Davis Jacket. Things were weird back then, as you recall, but one constant remained during that wild time: people got outside. And it turned out, everyone needed a windbreaker. Doesn’t matter if you’re a trail runner or a Nordic skier, a climber or an angler, a backcountry skier or a mountain biker: If you spend time in the mountains, you know the value of a good packable windbreaker.
"Flylow’s Davis jacket might be the best spring jacket out there." —Singletracks
It’s kind of like your insurance policy. You may not need it every day or on every ride or run or ski tour, but when you do need it? You’re really glad to have it. It’s that emergency layer that you can toss in your pack and pull out if the winds pick up or the temps drop.
“It’s so lightweight that it feels silly not to bring it along.” —Freehub
The idea for the Davis Jacket came to us while climbing a steep singletrack on our bike. At the top of the climb, the wind was whipping off the summit and body temperatures were quickly dropping. We needed a quick, light layer—one that shoved easily into a pack or jersey pocket—that would keep wind and light rains away. But wasn’t so stuffy and overbuilt that we couldn’t wear it while climbing uphill. It needed to be ultra breathable. The Davis Jacket came from that need.
“It does breathe extremely well, and the fabric is soft and comfortable against the skin.” —Blister
The full-zip Davis Jacket has proven so essential over the past five years that we added two new styles from the same fabric this year: the non-hooded Davis Anorak and the women’s hooded Samara Anorak, pullover versions of our favorite windbreaker. Both anoraks come with a big front zip, so you can ventilate and pull the shell off over your helmet. These are truly year-round pieces: You’ll wear it ski touring, skate skiing, or winter running in the colder months; and in the summer, bring it along on a breezy run, ride, or hike.
“For blustery ridges and cool mornings, grab this windbreaker. The DWR treatment makes it a great oh-shit layer.” —Outside
The Davis Jacket, Davis Anorak, and Samara Anorak are meant to be windbreakers, to keep you more comfortable on windy summits or breezy descents while still providing enough breathability to wear them on a climb. (Without going into a full-on lecture on waterproof membranes, if we made these pieces completely waterproof for downpours, they’d feel warm and muggy while riding uphill.)
“It does not make you feel like you are wearing a plastic trash bag.” —The Loam Wolf
These pieces are not meant to be full-fledged rain jackets. The Davis Jacket, Davis Anorak, and Samara Anorak are wind and water resistant, certainly. But if a massive rainstorm is in the forecast, you’ll likely want something with a bit more weatherproofing. (Which means you’ll sacrifice a touch of breathability in order to stay dry.) We make a rain jacket, it’s called the Trailworks Jacket and you’ll love it.
“The Davis proves that not all windshells are created equal: It’s breathable enough to use as a sun shirt in a pinch, and ultralight enough that we never questioned stuffing it into our packs.” —Backpacker Magazine