Best jacket for Philmont?

Q. Hey Gear Guy! What kind of jacket do you recommend for Philmont Scout Ranch? I need the jacket to be preferably something light and under $100.
—Curious Kannan, Herndon, Va.

A. Hey there, Curious. Good question. I called our buddy Mark Anderson, Philmont’s director of programs (that means he’s the boss!), and he recommended packing a fleece jacket that’s designed to block the wind. By nature, fleece is lightweight, but your ‘under $100’ requirement is a bit tougher to meet for a wind-blocking fleece. That said, I did a quick search and found these two jackets, which would be great for chilly weather at Philmont. Stay warm!

• REI Windbrake Thermal Fleece Jacket ($89.50; rei.com)
• The North Face Windwall 1 Fleece Jacket ($70-$100; thenorthface.com)