Beringia Tsurugi Jacket
Jed Doane: I wouldn’t call myself an “anorak guy” (I maintain neutrality in Blister’s internal anorak war), but Beringia’s flagship touring jacket has become my daily driver for most backcountry missions. It’s incredibly light and shockingly waterproof given its breathability. It’s also very comfortable, easy to move in, and soft enough to wear next-to-skin on hot days. I wasn’t sure about the enormous diagonal zipper at first, but I’m a total convert after 50+ days. It serves a number of purposes, opening wide enough to get in and out of the jacket with a helmet on as well as serving as an adjustable vent that’s optimized for use with a pack.
I wore it on an overnight splitboard mountaineering mission up and down Mt. Rainier’s Fuhrer Finger couloir and was very grateful for the breathability as the temperatures climbed. I haven’t worn it in prolonged rain or slush, but the waterproofing has held up to some long PNW snow days. I have a few minor gripes (no phone pocket, an awkwardly-placed waist cinch, and strange wrist closures), but nothing enough to sway me from choosing this piece every time, even with a growing number of great touring jackets to choose from.
