Patagonia Torrentshell Review
 
 

Sometimes I feel compelled to write reviews of outdoor gear that I use on a regular basis and really like. And I have to say I really like my Patagonia Torrentshell jacket.

I’ve owned this hard shell jacket for about a year now, and it’s been my constant companion on a variety of adventures both large and small. And it has performed admirably every time I've needed it.
 

  What It Is

I've see the Torrentshell described as a “minimilist” jacket - meaning it doesn’t have a lot of the bells and whistles that more expensive shells do. But that’s okay with me - I just need a rain jacket that I can fold up and stow away when the weather’s nice, then throw on when the rain clouds start building.

So why exactly is the Patagonia Torrentshell a great rain jacket? It’s light as a feather for one. And Patagonia uses some sort of “barrier membrane” on their shells that allows them to be 100% waterproof and breathable at the same time.

In fact my only real nitpick with this jacket is that the material isn’t as breathable as some of the more expensive hard shells. In some situations you'll definitely need the zippered armpits to vent off excessive moisture, but since the Torrentshell is less than half the price of other shells, I can live with it. Usually I don’t do a lot of heavy, sustained exertion in the rain, so this really hasn’t been a problem for me.

The Torrentshell's fabric is also tear-resistant, which means you can hike through dense underbrush without it ripping to shreds. And trust me I've found myself in dense underbrush more than once, portaging my yak from vehicle to launch point, or around water hazards and other obstacles.

This jacket also comes with a full-length zipper that's treated against moisture, two deep hand pockets with zippers, an inside pocket, and hook-and-loop closures at the wrists.
 

 

 

 

       Why You Need One

If you play outdoors on a regular basis, sooner or later you’ll get caught in a downpour, and there’s nothing more miserable than trekking for hours when you’re sopping wet and in near-freezing conditions. Not to mention that hypothermia is a real possibility, even in above-freezing weather, as water removes heat from your body 25 times faster than air.

This jacket provides the protection necessary to keep you dry even in a downpour. It's certainly lightweight at 13 ounces, but did I also mention that it's very comfortable as well? It has a microfleece-lined neck that won’t rub your skin raw even after hours of use. At times I forget I've even got the thing on, and another thing I like is that I can toss it in the washer when I get home and it's ready for my next outing.

Another thing I like about Patagonia products is that they all come with a great warranty. Basically if you’re not satisfied with your purchase, or it doesn’t perform the way you expected it to, you can return it for a repair, replacement or full refund. I haven’t had to take them up on it, but it’s nice to know the guarantee is there in case I need it.

So there you have it. Other than the lack of armpit zippers, I don't have a negative thing to say about this jacket. If you’re looking for a great hard shell that’s light, very packable (it folds up into it’s own pocket) and very affordable, then the Patagonia men's Torrentshell is hard to beat.
 

 

 

   The Best Place To Buy One

The Patagonia Torrentshell is available in most of the major outdoor recreation stores like REI or Dicks Sporting Goods. But the best price I've found is on Amazon.com

 

 

 

 

       

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