Patagonia  Torrentshell 3L Jacket - Women's

I bought this jacket a couple of months ago and just now tested it out in some rain and it failed miserably. It was only an hour of drizzly rain, not even a downpour, and it soaked through and I am wet.

The good first: fabric feels durable, it’s nice to have the three layers rather than just flimsy rip-stop you see on so many packable jackets. I am tempted to give this jacket 2 stars because I want to like it, and it really does have potential. Alas, I am reviewing what is, not what could be. Also, REI has been fantastic helping me with the shipping/logistics side of things, which should be noted. However… Now the bad: the reason I ordered THIS jacket instead of any other was the advertised hook and loop closure on the storm flap. Turns out that was the last model of this same-named Torrentshell. They got rid of the storm flap and the hook and loop closures on this most recent model, but didn’t update their product description and some of the photos at the time of this review. I tend to need a rain jacket for mostly tropical climates, and I like the option to loosely close the front with just the hook and loops when I’m trying to ventilate but also moving/traveling/trying to stay dry. Think on a bike where I’d really rather not be flapping about everywhere, but I also don’t need to be stifflingly zipped. Why on earth did every major brand get rid of this option? Probably cost savings disguised as reducing weight/bulk, right? I’m no expert, but on that alone I will be returning this jacket, and I’ve just placed a second hand order for the previous model with the hook and loop closure option. I suppose that’s better for the planet anyways! Other things I strongly dislike about this jacket - the pit zips are quite stiff and feel very uncomfortable in my armpits with just a tshirt on. It feels like a thick, stiff metal zipper that bends into a “U” shape, and resists folding or bending to accommodate a relaxed arm. Hopefully the used jacket I just purchased will be broken in a bit already and this will be less of an issue? We’ll see. I’m willing to put up with it if it’s the only light-weight jacket with hook and loop closure storm flap, but a lighter/smaller zipper here with the other missing features replaced would make this my favorite jacket in the whole world (pending waterproofing performance). The interior mesh/stowing pocket no longer exists. I can’t remember if that was in the product description I read when I purchased this jacket. But it does exist on the previous model which I purchased used. Love a good interior stowing pocket. Museum maps and precious things can go more safely in that pocket. Last complaint - the “stowable hood” looks really nicely stowed in the photos online, but after wrestling with it for 5 minutes I couldn’t figure out how it’s meant to stow at all period. There’s no loop, snap, hook, zip, or anything on the collar to secure the hood, and the only thing on the hood that could be argued to contribute to some kind of organization is the hook and loop hood/visor adjustment on the back of the head section. Maybe that’s another feature they did away with on the “upgraded” model and forgot to mention? Maybe I would need to watch a few videos to figure it out? I was really drawn to that feature because my hoods are eternally getting tangled in my crossbody bag straps and hair when I try to take my purse off. It’s really nice to have layers that don’t create unnecessary hassle. My notes to Patagonia would be: please stop stripping down features that people genuinely like! They serve a purpose and they have a place. Also, if you kept them you would stand out, because everyone seems to be stripping everything down, and when does a brand ever get ahead by following along with everyone else?

I purchased this coat after conducting extensive research. My top priority was (obviously) being waterproof. Within six months, I can't even be outside in light rain for more than ten minutes without water starting to seep through. I have washed it as directed and, as a last-ditch effort, attempted to restore its durable water repellent (DWR) finish with another REI highly recommended product. That attempt was unsuccessful. I will be returning this coat and starting my search again.

This is an amazing raincoat. Hiked with it for 8 days in the Pacific Northwest. Stayed completely dry. Love the length of the sleeves, I’ve never found a jacket long enough to stretch your arms out and wrists are not exposed. Love the zippers under the armpits to provide ventilation. How high the jacket goes up when zipped completely to cover your chin and part of face is awesome when it’s coming down. Nice to wear as a windbreaker/outer shell when not raining. I know it’s pricey but worth it!!!

No rain jacket is perfect over time, no matter how expensive. I've loved the relative affordability of Patagonia's Torrentshell and it is certainly "good enough" (I've purchased and happily used several). My use is for backpacking in northern Scotland, where quality rain gear is essential. I add for any Patagonia rep. reading: I am really sad about your new, "dull" range of colors. Backcountry walkers need to be visible for safety reasons. (Women too, not just men!). Please return to your longtime previous bright orange. Though it appears bright on the website, your new "pimento" looks like tomato soup in reality. Sadly, I'll be returning the one that I just ordered.

I purchased this for a trip to Seattle and Olympic National Park and I am so glad I did! Whether it was sitting in the rain a softball game, riding the ferry, hiking in the rainforest or spending the morning on the beach tidepooling this jacket kept me dry and comfortable without being too hot. The packability is a double plus especially since we flew up there.

There are MANY MANY MANY rain jacket options out there. They all range and have their own pros and cons. I choose this for my girlfriend because of three main features. (1) BREATHABLE. My girlfriend runs really hot and this jacket's ability to allow vapor escape is simply amazing. (2) FIT. Unlike other jackets which are very squared shape and unflattering, this jacket allows for layering with the same sizing and it retains a very flattering looking for when she wants too wear it around town or in the woods. (3) LIGHTWEIGHT/PACKABILITY. At less than a pound for such a great rain jacket, it can live in her pack.

After previously having a couple North Face rain jackets that ended up delaminating too quickly, I decided to give the Torrentshell a spin. This jacket feels extremely well-made. It is a little stiff as some other reviewers have mentioned, but it's not in an uncomfortable way. Love the nice to have features like the double zipper pit zits. Makes using them easier than other jackets. The lining seems like higher quality than my past NF jackets, so I hope it lasts a long time. The fit is true to size. I'm usually a medium, and the medium fits well with plenty of room, though it doesn't feel baggy. I tried on a small in-store, and I think that would have been a fine fit as well, not overly tight. Though I wanted more space for cold weather layering if needed. I've worn the jacket a few times in heavy downpours, and it does its job super well! The water beads up so well on the exterior that I had to shake it off before going inside.

This is a really good rain shell. However, it doesn't have enough pockets, and the hood adjustment is terrible. Also it hangs on me like a bag. I suggest these improvements: 1. More pockets, including at least a chest pocket. The jacket has only the two side pockets. 2. Improve the hood adjustment so it really works without a helmet. There is only a single adjustment, and by the time I pull the visor out of my eyes the sides are pulled so far back that my face is fully exposed. There should be a separate adjustment to pull the visor back. 3. Improve the fit so it doesn't hang like a bag. Definitely do not make it fitted, as the jacket is for layering, but it doesn't need to be a bag either.

I am a woman in my 60s, 5’5” and 145 lbs. I typically wear an 8/10. Based on the sizing guide, I ordered a Medium (10/12) and expected that I would be able to wear a sweater or sweatshirt underneath. The Medium jacket does have more than enough room in the shoulders and bust, and as others have noted, it has very long sleeves; however, the jacket fits me quite snugly at the bottom, which limits me to wearing a long-sleeve T-shirt underneath. Not a deal-breaker for me, but please keep this in mind if you are somewhat pear-shaped. A Large (14/16) would probably fit me better at the bottom, but would definitely be too big elsewhere. The jacket appears to be very well made. I bought it for an upcoming trip, so it hasn’t been put to the test yet in a rainy environment, but I expect it would do well. Yes, it’s a bit noisy, but not unusual for a raincoat. Each zipper pull has an elastic extension. The one on the main zipper is a bit more color-coordinated to the Night Plum (wine-colored) jacket, but all the rest are a very bright blue. This doesn’t affect my overall rating of the jacket, since I can remove the elastic if I want to, but it just seems like an odd color choice for this jacket.