The Patagonia Torrentshell 3L is a reasonably priced, 3-layer waterproof/breathable rain jacket that’s surprisingly reasonably priced with premium options necessary to hikers and backpackers. It has a two-way adjustable hood with a entrance brim, pit-zips, zippered handwarmer pockets, rip-and-stick velcro-style cuffs, and is absolutely seam-taped. When new, it is extremely stiff and awkward to put on however will get a lot softer and quieter with use. The sizing runs fairly massive within the torso and sleeves which might be good for cold-weather layering, however it’s possible you’ll wish to measurement down for three-season use.
Specs at a look
- Waterproof/breathable: 3L
- Membrane: PU Membrane
- Weight: 13.9 oz (our take a look at jacket is 15 oz in a males’s XL)
- Gender: Males’s (Ladies’s additionally accessible)
- Pit zips: Sure
- Adjustable hood w/brim: Sure
- Climbing suitable hood: No
- Pockets: 2 (handwarmer)
- Velcro-wrist cuffs: Sure
- Seam-taped: Sure
- Hydrostatic head: 20,000 mm
- MVTR: Not Printed
- Match: Runs massive
- Supplies: 50 denier recycled nylon ripstop exterior face cloth, tricot backer
- Exterior DWR: Sure
Three-Layer Waterproof/Breathable Development
The Patagonia Torrentshell is a 3 layer waterproof/breathable rain jacket with a burly 50 denier nylon exterior face cloth, a PU (polyurethane) waterproof/breathable membrane, and a tricot cloth backer. Relating to waterproof/breathable rain jackets, 3-layer jackets are often the cream of the crop by way of breathability, consolation, options, and value. Additionally they are typically heavier than the light-weight 2.5 layer rain jackets favored by many hikers as a result of they’ve a 3rd cloth layer, an inside cloth liner that makes them much less clammy to put on in humid climate.
Comparability of 3L Rain Jackets
The Torrentshell 3L is without doubt one of the least costly 3L waterproof/breathable rain jackets accessible at the moment. One motive for that is that it makes use of a PU (polyurethane) waterproof breathable membrane as an alternative of Gore-Tex or one of many different premium membranes. PU membranes have a lot decrease breathability ranges (like one-half to two-thirds much less) and work greatest when there’s a massive temperature differential between the skin and the within of the jacket, as in colder climate. They change into way more efficient to put on in hotter climate, nonetheless, once you ventilate them, on this case with pit zips. Air flow (additionally known as mechanical venting) could make an “OK” rain jacket carry out significantly better by way of breathability and luxury.
PU membranes are often a lot thicker than premium waterproof/breathable ones and necessitate using a thicker greater denier exterior cloth, which is one motive why the Torrentshell has a burly 50 denier exterior shell cloth. The tricot knitted liner on this jacket is primarily offered as a consolation function as a result of it feels hotter and fewer moist on the pores and skin. But it surely additionally serves to guard the PU membrane from dust and oils and to anchor the jacket’s seam tape.
Jacket Options for Mountain climbing and Backpacking
Once I consider rain jackets for backpacking there are a number of options that I search for, no matter whether or not the jacket is made with a water-resistant/breathable cloth or not. These embody an adjustable hood, pit zips, and whether or not the wrists have velcro closures or elastic ones. All of those options are necessary for regulating your heat degree and the quantity of perspiration you expertise. As a hiker, you need to have the ability to handle your heat and perspiration degree throughout a wind vary of temperatures, wind speeds, and path circumstances by zipping and unzipping openings and overlaying and uncovering your head and wrists.
Pit Zips
The Torrentshell 3L has pit zips within the armpits to vent built-up physique warmth and scale back perspiration, although the jacket is made with waterproof/breathable cloth. The Torrentshell’s pit zips are 12 inches lengthy which is fairly common. The pit zips have twin sliders and so they have a rain flap overlaying them to stop water from coming into. The zipper sliders are simple to tug down (from bicep to ribs) to shut the pit zip however troublesome to zip up (from ribs to bicep) with out two or three palms. I often preserve my pit zips open on a regular basis, even in winter, besides after I get very chilly. In any case, I’d suggest that you just lubricate the pit zips periodically with Gear-Assist Zipper Cleaner and Lubricant to make them work extra easily.
Adjustable Hood
The Torrentshell 3L Jacket has a excessive quantity hood nevertheless it has a rear quantity management that permits you to downsize it to a extra manageable measurement scale. The hood has a entrance waterproof brim that covers your brow and retains the rain off your glasses or out of your eyes. Nonetheless, the hood just isn’t fairly massive sufficient to be climbing helmet-compatible, so that you’d must put on the jacket below a helmet if one is required.
There are additionally two neck management cords that cling down under the collarbone and allow you to scale back the peak of the brim, so it sits nearer to the highest and sides of your head, however not sufficient to seal off the perimeters of your face from the wind or rain. These neck controls don’t lock in your changes below pressure and tend to slide, which is type of annoying. There are two inside twine tensioners sewn into the jacket however they don’t have sufficient chew to carry the cords locked in place.
When the hood is zippered up all the way in which, you get a great deal of face protection with it, so your mouth, neck, and higher chest are protected against the wind, and blowing snow and rain. A excessive neck like this can be a good function to fend off nasty climate and is an effective hedge in opposition to having to put on full face safety like a balaclava throughout the colder months. There’s additionally zipper storage on the high of the central zipper, which is sweet for bearded folks so your facial hair doesn’t get caught within the zipper.
Wrist Cuffs
The Torrentshell has rip-and-stick (velcro) model wrist cuffs as an alternative of a budget elastic wrists that you just discover on many warm-weather rain jackets. These are way more environment friendly at sealing in physique warmth on the wrists and to be used with insulated gloves. I think about this a premium function on a rain jacket and one which extends its utility into the colder, winter months.
Water Resistance
Breathability
Consolation & Mobility
Hood Adjustability
Weight
Sturdiness
Packed Measurement
Pockets
The Torrentshell has two zippered handwarmer pockets which have rain flaps positioned over the zippers and are lined on one aspect with the tricot again and the opposite with the outside shell cloth. The pockets aren’t hipbelt suitable, however that’s a reasonably uncommon function on US-designed rain jackets anyway. The jacket stuffs into its left-hand pocket for storage and there’s an inside loop so you’ll be able to cling it from a harness. These stuff-it pockets are literally an necessary function on waterproof-breathable jackets which have an exterior DWR coating decreasing abrasion earlier than DWR reproofing is required. (See: Rain Jackets – Make Your DWR Final Longer).
Advice
The Patagonia Torrentshell 3L is a reasonably priced three-layer waterproof/breathable rain jacket that can be utilized year-round for climbing, backpacking, and winter sports activities. Whereas 3-layer rain jackets are typically heavier and dearer than lighter weight alternate options, they often come outfitted with wonderful technical options, along with a premium waterproof/breathable membrane from Gore-Tex, eVent, or Pertex.
By utilizing a proprietary PU membrane within the Torrentshell 3L, Patagonia is ready to provide the identical premium options present in different 3-layer jackets at a a lot cheaper price level. Whereas the PU membrane is much less breathable than a premium one, the Torrentshell 3L makes use of pit zips as an equalizer to vent water vapor and enhance the jacket’s general efficiency. I feel the Patagonia Torrentshell 3L is pretty priced for the worth it provides and can show to be a dependable garment if it’s maintained correctly.
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