Perfect shell

By ErkMD Ranked #1913 - Men's Technical Shells April 25, 2009

Patagonia hit a homerun with this jacket. The fit is very slim/athletic so be aware of this when purchasing. I am 5'8 155 and the medium is custom tailored for me, and it is not loose or blousey anywhere, great overall fit. It is absolutely waterproof, and vents well if you overheat in summer storms or in a tropical storm piling sandbags (personal experience). The internal pockets are mesh so keys and other unshapely items may get caught, but that is a minor irritation. The sleeves are a good length with adjustable cuffs that are ideal for gloves or sealing off your arm from the elements. The hood adjusts easily allowing you to customize the fit for hat/helmet or head size. The zippers are great, no weakness in waterproof materials here, they will keep the water out 100% as long as you remember to zip them! The underarm vents are a great addition and very necessary for hot humid rainy conditions. It can get extremely hot sauna style in this jacket if you do not vent. This however is great if the ambient temperature is chilly. One last note, it packs up great and is exceedingly light, so you can stuff it anywhere and have confidence in complete weather protection if weather takes a turn for the worse. Overall a great shell, superior design, and top-notch materials, I highly recommend.

View Details: Patagonia Stretch Element Jacket - Men's

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