Staying heat when it’s moist and chilly is a problem. As somebody who hates being chilly, I’ve spent the previous 5 years of my life dwelling on Oahu, the place it’s heat 12 months a yr. However this yr, my husband’s job modified, that means we’ll be splitting our time summering in Oahu and wintering in Northern California. And it’s been an adjustment.
When it rains in Hawaii, it sometimes lasts just some minutes, after which it’s again to sunshine. Often, I’ll pull out my rain jacket when it’s a day-long storm, however even then, it’s nonetheless fairly heat. However when it rains in winter in Northern California, it’s chilly — and when it doesn’t rain, it could nonetheless be fairly chilly.
I often layer my go-to fleece or puffy jacket with a rain jacket, and it retains me heat and dry. However I really feel like a large puffball with restricted mobility. And after I go inside someplace, eradicating all of my layers is a course of. However proper across the time we made our transfer, I caught wind of Patagonia’s Jackson Glacier Jacket.
I’ve a Patagonia puffer, and I find it irresistible. However when the sky splits open and I’m caught in a downpour, it’s not sufficient to maintain me dry. In contrast to many down jackets, the Glacier Jacket is absolutely waterproof. As a result of it’s often moist and chilly in Northern California, my husband and I each opted to get a Glacier Jacket, because it appeared like the last word multi-purpose piece of outerwear.
In brief: The Patagonia Jackson Glacier Jacket has a 100% polyester shell coated with a sturdy water-repellent end, and it’s insulated with recycled down. It would preserve you each heat and dry, no matter the place your adventures take you. For individuals who reside in or frequent chilly and/or moist climates, this jacket is a flexible piece that may accompany you out in town, on a hike, or to the slopes.
Looking for down jackets? Take a look at GearJunkie’s information to the Greatest Down Jackets and the Greatest Winter Jackets.
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Waterproof and down -
All zippers are waterproof -
Hood is insulated and adjustable
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Not as snug as a conventional down jacket -
Not very packable -
Cut up zipper may be annoying
Patagonia Jackson Glacier Jacket Assessment
First Impressions
Upon first inspection, the Glacier Jacket appears and seems like a snowboarding jacket. It’s received an outsized look and match and isn’t as gentle as a conventional puffer jacket, however it feels well-insulated and heat. Patagonia instructed me this jacket was not supposed for high-output actions or technical efficiency. It’s a part of the model’s sportswear line and was designed largely as a life-style piece.
My husband and I each examined the hip-length jacket, however the Glacier additionally is available in a parka fashion that hits mid-thigh in the event you’re searching for some added heat. In our information to the Greatest Winter Jackets, the parka model of this jacket was rated as GearJunkie’s Greatest Full-Size Parka. So, I used to be keen to place it to the take a look at on some moist winter hikes and walks round city.
Matches True to Dimension
In keeping with Patagonia’s web site, the Glacier Jacket has a “common match,” and that appears correct. The jacket matches true to measurement with sufficient room for a layer beneath for extra-cold days.
For reference, I’m 5’7” and 125 kilos, and I opted for a medium, as I like my jackets to be a bit outsized for consolation and straightforward layering. I most likely might have match right into a small within the Glacier Jacket. However I’m comfortable that I selected a medium. My husband is 5’9” and 170 kilos, and ordered a males’s medium. He discovered that the jacket matches him completely.
H2No Waterproofing
The Glacier Jacket is as breathable as most well-insulated, waterproof jackets I’ve worn. The shell is produced from a H2No Efficiency Customary two-layer 100% recycled polyester plain weave. That makes this jacket each wind- and waterproof, however nonetheless permits for some airflow. It isn’t going to breathe like an Alpha Fleece garment, however it wasn’t stuffy or clammy like some waterproof shells.
I reside a brief stroll from the seaside, so my pup and I stroll down for a surf examine each morning. Northern California winter mornings are chilly, so I’ve been pulling on my Glacier jacket day by day, rain or shine.
Plenty of days are windy, and I recognize how the jacket cuts the windchill. I additionally don’t get too overheated on our morning walks. Relying on the day, we’ll do anyplace from 1 to three miles.
On days when it rains, our morning walks are typically shorter. However I can attest that the Glacier jacket does its due diligence in preserving me dry when it’s coming down. H2No is identical three-layer waterproof materials that Patagonia makes use of in rain jackets just like the Torrentshell.
The Insulation
Historically, down just isn’t the insulation of selection for moist situations. When down will get moist, the feathers lose their loft and may’t retain heat air. Down may also take some time to dry out as soon as it’s moist, so that you don’t see a ton of down jackets rated as “absolutely waterproof.”
Nevertheless, as a result of the Glacier Jacket makes use of absolutely waterproof H2No, Patagonia used 700-fill-power 100% recycled down for the jacket’s insulation. The recycled down is produced from duck and goose down and waterfowl feathers reclaimed from different down merchandise.
Most 700-fill energy down jackets ought to be high-quality and heat — however not all of them are additionally waterproof and wind-resistant. The Glacier jacket is all of these issues. It’s well-made, sturdy, beads water simply, and delivers a stable quantity of heat, rain or shine.
Extra Options
One in every of my favourite options of the Glacier jacket is its waterproof zippers. Each the middle zipper and the pocket zippers are water-proof and clean, making certain you and all of your valuables keep dry.
The middle zipper is a two-way zipper, which can be utilized for fashion but additionally makes this jacket climbing harness-compatible. So in the event you needed to make use of this for belaying ice climbers (or rock climbers on a chilly day), you possibly can. The 2-way zip made it barely tougher to get the zippers lined up, although, and I didn’t use the underside zipper a lot.
The 2 aspect pockets are the proper measurement for storing necessities like my telephone and automobile keys, and so they’re simply the appropriate measurement for warming up frozen fingers. The jacket additionally features a zippered inside pocket for gadgets I needed to maintain further secure.
The insulated hood is loads spacious and has adjustment cords so I might cinch it tight on extra-chilly or moist days. It’s simply large enough to barely match a ski helmet beneath, though Patagonia doesn’t invoice it as a “helmet-compatible hood.”
Lastly, the insulated storm cuffs are a pleasant contact. They sealed within the heat and saved snow, rain, and chilly breezes out.
Testing the Glacier Jacket
To check out the heat, performance, and waterproofness of the jacket, I wore it on walks round city and climbing within the redwoods close to my house in Northern California. I additionally wore it on my each day surf examine walks right down to the seaside. My husband did the identical and in addition had the chance to take his on a ski journey in Colorado.
Between the down insulation, the insulated hood and the storm cuffs, we each discovered that the Glacier jacket is generously heat. Throughout rainstorms, the Glacier did, certainly, preserve us dry. The waterproof zippers made a giant distinction, preserving water out and our physique warmth in.
Limitations & Room for Enchancment
Sadly, the Glacier doesn’t pack down small, so it’s not a fantastic choice for backpacking.
Additionally, whereas the Glacier jacket appears extremely sturdy, my husband had an issue together with his whereas touring. He packed it into his ski bag, and when he received house, it had a few slices on the skin of the jacket.
Fortunately, Patagonia’s restore coverage is unbelievable. So, we’re sending it in to get mounted. However simply make certain you pack your jacket rigorously whereas touring to make sure this doesn’t occur to you.
Remaining Ideas: Patagonia Jackson Glacier Jacket
Like all issues from Patagonia, the Jackson Glacier Jacket is Honest Commerce Licensed sewn. It additionally incorporates recycled and reclaimed supplies to be as mild on the surroundings as attainable.
If you happen to’re a minimalist, the Glacier jacket is a superb choice, because it options down insulation paired with a water-proof exterior, primarily delivering two jackets in a single. We discovered that it labored properly for walks round city, chilly hikes, warming up after a surf, and ski days. If you happen to ice climb, this may be a fantastic belay jacket.
There’s a cause why GearJunkie voted the parka model of this jacket as its Greatest Full-Size Parka within the information to the Greatest Winter Jackets. It brings the whole lot to the desk, preserving you heat, dry, and out of the wind even by the wettest winters.
