The Olivia Veste Jacket from Orage

Orage doesn’t carry the high profile of, say, Patagonia or North Face when it comes to outdoorsy jackets, and that’s a shame. Their Olivia Veste jacket can stand up to the competition.

The compact jacket can be layered or worn as outerwear. It’s insulated with an efficient Primaloft Sport 60g and carries respectable waterproofing. One downside is there are no thumbholes to help with the layering process; these additions are all the rage lately, and they do tend to be helpful. Still, at just 200 CAD, this jacket is priced well.

The fit is great, and the side panels help with the flattering cut. There’s a chest pocket and two hip pockets, though no inner pockets, which can be a drawback if that’s something you value in your outerwear. The side panels also seem to help the jacket breathe well, which is especially important if you’re active and tend to sweat.

The hood fits well, even though there’s no cinching mechanism to draw it close around your face. Still, with the zipper going all the way to your chin area, it tends to stay on even in windy conditions. There aren’t tons of color options, but Orage does have a nice teal, a lovely red and a simple black for the Olivia Veste.