Giordana Zephyr Jacket | Gear of the Day

The emergency shell seems like one of those things that should have been perfected long ago, but internally we still debate the finer points of breathability vs. waterproofness vs. cost vs. packability. Priced at $130, the Giordana Zephyr jacket hits on a nice balance of these attributes, making it an easy choice to carry along on any ride (well, maybe not in the middle of summer, but maybe even then—you never know). Unfurl it from its built-in pocket and you have a lightweight layer that keeps the wind chill out and admirably holds up against sudden downpours for a layer that doesn’t have fully taped seams. Pick up this unisex, made-in-Italy shell in either black or white. 

$130; 2 colors; giordanacycling.com