Patagonia R2 Granular Jacket

Finally, a warm, extremely light, wind and water resistant fleece jacket. Polartec thermal pro fleece that is similar to shearling fur on the inside and a hard face on the outside, kinda like cotton duck canvas. A pull cord in the collar to keep the wind out, and the pull cords for the waist are inside the pockets so they don't hang out.

Nice supplex pockets and elbow patches add to the overall quality of this jacket. The sleeves are really snug down at the wrist, but that will help keep you warm. It just takes a bit of a pull to get it on and off. The torso and sleeves are long enough for me (I wear Tall/Long) which is a pleasant surprise. The other R garments are cut too short. Now if they would only make it with a hood as well...

Update: March 20, 2006

I reviewed this jacket previously, but after going mountain biking with it at 35 degrees, I have to change my opinion. At 10 or 15 MPH, the jacket is just like a screen door. I guess I hadn't had a hard wind blow before I wrote the other review. It seemed nice around town, but I think I shall go back to a wind/water resistant nylon shell with a fleece lining for the mountain biking. It has its good features, but it falls short of the all around jacket I had hoped it would be.