User Review: Patagonia Torre Parka

Reviewed November 6, 1997 by Dennis

Rating: rated 5 of 5 stars
Fabric: 3-ply Gore laminate on nylon ripstop w/ shoulder and arm reinforcement
Price Paid: $410

This is an excellent specimen of the 3-ply expedition parka, probably the best I 've seen since Moonstone's Sauvage (no longer in production). The Torre has a great hood, big enough to hold a helmeted head, easily adjusts for smaller volumes, and has a simple one-hand adjustment system. The chest pockets hold lots of stuff, and the reach-across entry means you can get into them despite whatever combination of pack straps and slings are strewn around your torso. The arms are long enough, and the cut keeps your wrists inside even when reaching for that high tool placement. Length is good for climbing/skiing/etc. I haven't worn it in the rain yet, but so far the jacket has shrugged off wet snow, sleet, high winds.

About the only thing I can find to complain about is that the long pit zips are rather hard-running (they use the new water-resistant type zipper, which means they can get away with single flaps over the pit zips - a nice touch); the zips have started running more freely after some use, but they're still stiffer than others I've used. Also, with pit zips this long (into the torso) they should make the zips open from the sleeve end rather than the body. The slider can end up trapped under pack straps so you have a tough time opening the zips. I'd still recommend the Torre highly.

Women: be advised that the torso cut is BIG; you may find yourself swimming around in there. The very similar Triolet (same basic design in a 3-ply H2NO Storm) comes in a woman-specific cut; I've heard good things about the proportioning.

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