User Review: Patagonia R4 Jacket
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Rating: 
Not for hiking, unless for rest stops, in which case you could take something more packable and lighter. This is due to the thick pile and the water-resistant membrane laminate construction.
Mine is the early design, which was improved somewhat. Pockets are high enough for a pack belt, chest pocket is slanted. Cuffs do not open so the heat builds up, and there are no pit zips. Hem draw-cords don't work as they should. Pile eventually flattens out under a pack.
More of a fishing/photography jacket.
JANUARY 11, 2009, UPDATE:
This jacket has real potential as a hard-wearing belay type jacket in my opinion. If Patagonia added a hood, made the cut a bit longer at the back and opened the sleeves, then they would be on to a winner.
I say this because as a warm-up type jacket it can function as an adjustable insulation layer: the heavier pile on the outside of the membrane only really cranks up the heat when you encapsulate it in a shell. You can then remove the outer shell once you heat up and the jacket itself as you heat up further. Therefore, the versatility it has over a synthetic down belay, which only beats this type of material in weight and compression (drying time and water resistance being a moot point, in my opinion, as it depends on the climate you intend to use it in and the habit of carrying a light hard shell), would accompany its advantages in durability, anti-shoulder strap slide and general coziness. Find a way to bond the seams and it could get even better.
Either wait years for that or look for a company making technical fleeces with hoods. As far as I know only Mammut, a company with hardly the widest distribution in the UK (USA?), are making anything resembling the above.
NB: I went up a size for comfort and layering, when I originally purchased this.
Where to Buy
Buy Online We found the R4 Jacket at 13 online stores:
| Store | Product Description | Price |
 Patagonia.com 3 purchase options: | Women's R4 Jacket - Special | $225.00 | Buy Now |
| Men's R4 Jacket | $250.00 | Buy Now | |
| Women's R4 Jacket | $250.00 | Buy Now |
 Campmor | Women's R4 Jacket | $180.00 | Buy Now |
 Backcountry.com 2 purchase options: | R4 Fleece Jacket - Women's | $212.50 | Buy Now |
| R4 Fleece Jacket - Men's | $225.00 | Buy Now |
 Oregon Mountain Community 2 purchase options: | R4 Jacket - Men's | $184.95 | Buy Now |
| R4 Jacket - Women's | $184.95 | Buy Now |
 Moosejaw 2 purchase options: | Men's R4 Jacket | $199.99 | Buy Now |
| Women's R4 Jacket | $225.00 | Buy Now |
 Altrec Outdoors 3 purchase options: | Women's LW R4 Jacket | $199.95 | Buy Now |
| R4 Jacket - Men's | $225.00 | Buy Now | |
| R4 Jacket - Women's | $250.00 | Buy Now |
 REI 2 purchase options: | R4 Jacket - Men's | $250.00 | Buy Now |
| R4 Jacket - Women's | $250.00 | Buy Now |
 Ramsey Outdoor | Men's R4? Jacket | $225.00 | Buy Now |
 RockCreek 3 purchase options: | R4 Jacket (Women's) | $200.00 | Buy Now |
| R4 Jacket (Men's) | $225.00 | Buy Now | |
| R4 Jacket (Women's) 2008 | $225.00 | Buy Now |
 Massey's 2 purchase options: | Mens Patagonia R4 Jacket | $149.99 | Buy Now |
| Womens Patagonia R4 Jacket | $225.00 | Buy Now |
 EMS 2 purchase options: | Men's R4 Jacket | $250.00 | Buy Now |
| Women's R4 Jacket | $250.00 | Buy Now |
 US Outdoor Store 2 purchase options: | R4® Jacket | $250.00 | Buy Now |
| R4 Jacket - Women's | $250.00 | Buy Now |
 Sierra Trading Post | R4 Polartec (r) Jacket - Berber Fleece - For Women | $115.96 | Buy Now |
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