Raide HiO Active Insulator Jacket (Men's)

HiO stands for High Output. Raide built this hooded insulator around one idea: if you’re moving fast in the mountains, breathability matters more than squeezing out every last gram. It works as a midlayer under a shell or as a standalone outer layer on the skin track, and it stays comfortable when most insulated jackets would have you stopping to strip off.

The insulation is Heatlock Aero, a synthetic fill that incorporates NASA aerogel, one of the lightest insulating materials around. It’s body-mapped, so you get 30gsm through the core, 20gsm across the back, and 15gsm in the sleeves, with warmth where you need it and less bulk where you’re generating heat. The liner is a Micro Dot Air fabric (UPF 50) that moves heat and moisture out during sustained climbing, which is where active insulators usually fall short. The face fabric is a light, breathable woven with a Spectra (UHMWPE) ripstop, so the jacket holds up to pack straps, rock, and ski edges without adding weight. PFAS-free DWR.

The details are well thought out for touring. Laser-perforated pit vents let you dump heat quickly. The YKK tapeless AiryString zipper is about as light as zippers get. The chest pocket takes a 360ml soft flask, there’s an internal stow pocket, and an internal beacon pocket with a clip keeps your transceiver close to your body. Elasticized cuffs, thumb loops, and a hood that works under a helmet.

Weight: 300g (size M)
Insulation: Heatlock Aero with NASA aerogel | body-mapped 30gsm core / 20gsm back / 15gsm sleeves
Face fabric: 28gsm | 87% recycled nylon / 13% UHMWPE (Spectra) ripstop | PFAS-free DWR
Liner: 63gsm | 88% nylon / 12% elastane | Micro Dot Air | UPF 50
Zipper: YKK tapeless AiryString
Venting: Laser-perforated pit vents
Pockets: Chest pocket (fits 360ml soft flask) | internal stow | internal beacon pocket with clip
Hood: Yes
Cuffs: Elasticized | thumb loops