Product Information: Review Posted 2/8/8

What struck me initially is the “lightness” of this jacket.  As compared to my usual wading jacket, the Patagonia weighed about half as much and with about the same reduction in bulk.  Any weight that can be shaved off makes a huge difference to me when packing into mountainous destinations or layering for a winter steelheading expedition.  I was also impressed by how compact an area the jacket can be compressed into.  This would be very handy when packing for a trip.

I found the Velcro fasteners, the zippers, the drawstrings, and the compartments to function smoothly and stay put.  The size of the jacket and the way it is constructed allowed for easy mobility.  I found nothing irregular about the fit and they way it permitted me to move when hiking into my destinations and during casting.

The jacket was put through the ringer including freezing temperatures, howling winds, taking a few swims, and ice/rain storms.  When used as the outer layer over performance fleece, it performed very well.  The breathability worked perfectly when I was warm from a long hike.  The water resistance stayed waterproof through anything Mother Nature threw my way.  I also found that it gave me the perfect amount of barrier when winds and blowing snow kicked into high gear.

The cut, shape of the arms, fit taper available through manipulation of the drawstrings made this jacket fit me rather than me having to conform to its shape.  At first, I felt as if it may be undersized, but the jacket in Large fit me extremely well throughout the testing.  It also fit well whether under or over my pack vest.

I found the neoprene cuffs and Velcro straps at the wrist did an excellent job of keeping the water out when landing fish and freeing snagged flies from subsurface holds.  To test just how well they worked, I cinched them down a bit tighter than I normally like and submersed my entire arm.  After a prolonged period of time, I found that only a slight amount of water had seeped into my wrist area.  This was impressive considering past experiences with "other" supposedly water tight cuffs.

Other than a slight slime-coat smell, I have a habit of taking the necessary steps to keep my equipment in excellent condition,. this coat has seen little abuse.  I’ve mistakenly trekked into some undesirable areas thick with briar and pricker bushes.  During my hasty retreat, the tell tale screaming (like record player needle on vinyl) sound of thorns against denier microfiber was evident.  I found the material to hold up well and show no signs of wear.  Not so with my $100 wading jacket that will soon be replaced!

Given the cost of this jacket, I was very impressed.  There many options as far as jackets are concerned and the prices are extremely varied.  I’ve spent nearly the MSRP of the Patagonia’s on combined jacket purchases over the years.  I can’t help but know that I should have invested into a jacket of this quality from the start and thus have the luxury of spending the balance of bad investments made beforehand on other gear!

What most impressed me is the cargo space of the pockets, the pack-a-bility, and the lightness of the material versus the performance.

I felt extremely protected a few outings ago when wearing this jacket during 40-60MPH gusts of 35 degree winds!  I can certainly see this jacket continuing to perform well in spring time and summer rains and finding a valuable place as a warm outer layer barrier against the cold nights of West Virginia and Pennsylvania Camp/Hike-in/Trout Bum Adventuring.

There was a host of criteria that weighed heavy in my evaluation.  How well does it fit?  Does it cause me neck pain by its design and fit (a fractured C1 has a tendency to ache due to tight neck cuts)?  Can it be packed down extremely small to fit in my wading vest / backpack combo?  How heavy is it?  How well does it stay water resistant / waterproof?  How well does it protect against driving rains and cold winds?  How well does it breathe?

It was a pleasure to find that all my questions were answered and met by the positive performance attributes of this jacket.  Finally a model that I can wear and be completely comfortable in!

If a investment into a Patagonia jacket is in your future; I assure you… You will be impressed at the performance and value!

Review	Scale	Points	Overall Grade
	scale 0-10
First Impression		10
Design		10	Superb, A TRUE MUST HAVE!
Performance		10
Functionality		10
Durability		10
Quality		10
Max Points	60	60
Total Points		60

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