User Review: Patagonia Men's Torrentshell

Summary

Hard shell jacket? Hardly. Get this jacket if you want it for one thing: torrential rain. This is my emergency jacket that sits in my scooter for when I forgot to check the weather report. Not especially durable, which is why I'm saying this is not a hard shell, but a rain shell. This is a Seattle jacket, not a Whistler or Teton jacket.

I didn't buy this jacket as a bombproof shell. This is for rain when I am not going to put this through the ringer.  I like the colors and fit of the Torrentshell, or Patagonia in general. It's not superbly cut for cartwheels and parkour, but I don't do either of those too often.  

I keep this in the trunk of my scooter, so when it rains I unpack it out of its own pocket and stay 100% dry. I'll also go for a walk in Muir Woods in it, vent it if necessary, and be completely happy. Unless the conditions are freezing AND I'm going to be risking my life hourly, this jacket combined with a fleece or mild to moderate insulated layer will do most things necessary.

If you want/need a bulletproof jacket, go mow a few lawns or donate more plasma or just stop paying rent. This might not be the one if you have to have the indestructible. Otherwise, buy this jacket. It's comfortable, stylish, and inexpensive.