User Review: Patagonia Storm Jacket

Patagonia Storm Jacket
Above: The current Storm Jacket, which may differ slightly from the version reviewed.

Reviewed July 9, 1999 by an anonymous hiker

Rating:
Fabric: H2No Storm
Price Paid: $115 on sale

After my beloved Super Pluma parka was stolen in the middle of a Montana winter, I went to the Patagonia outlet store to pick up either a Torre or Triolet Parka, but they didn't have any except in size XS, so I had to settle on a lowly Storm Jacket--no pit zips, old-style two layer construction with a liner--but I just needed something for lift-served telemarking and day-long ski tours.

Well, I've been pleasantly surprised. Sure, the hood is fantastic (as with all Patagonia parkas) and the detailing immaculate, but this really is a serious parka--at least for the winter. Of course it's waterproof, but the DWR, even though it is not Patagonia's new Deluge, beads rain far better than Marmot or North Face parkas I've had. I had always believed that textured fabric wasn't as water repellent as ripstop, but it's not the case with the Storm Jacket. What really made me happy is that this jacket is far more breathable than I would have thought--the mesh liner does a good job, and opening the chest pocket zippers is an adequate (in the winter) replacement for pit zips. One debatable advantage is having the lower sleeves lined in nylon taffeta. It makes the jacket slide on easier over fleece and doesn't snag snow, but sweat will condense on it, and when you wash the jacket, you'll notice that water beads on the liner and fills up between the shell and the taffeta.

The extra lower pockets are useless when you're wearing a pack, but they're quite handy for storing gloves when skiing. And although the jacket is significantly lighter than my Marmot Cervino, the fabric is much more durable.

Also, check out the little round patch of velcro that holds the tab secured when the cuffs are all the way open--a neat trick because loose velcro can really abrade fabric. One thing I've always liked about Patagonia is that they don't go overboard on the velcro: with some other jackets you catch your storm flap on the wrist closure all the time.

Although I think Arc'Teryx makes the best technical parkas available, we all can't afford the entry fee, and the Storm Jacket really does what it says it can.