Great Value on a Versatile Soft Shell

By Adam Lewis Ranked #952 - Men's Softshell Jackets March 3, 2011

This is my third soft shell from Patagonia and so far it seems like the one I will get the most use out of. The light fleece insulation is just enough to retain heat without being too hot for high-activity pursuits or too bulky for a daypack. Although there is no windproof membrane, I only felt very strong gusts cut through which is more than I can say for most soft shells. Don't expect the guide hoody to be the most water resistant of Patagonia's jackets, but it didn't absorb any moisture during a light rain storm or skiing in knee-deep powder. The fleece lined, helmet-compatible hood makes this version far warmer and more versatile than the regular guide jacket.

Even though Patagonia considers the cut to be "slim fit", I had plenty of room for a couple baselayers and a windproof vest. I wear a Large for most Pagagonia pieces and found the guide hoody true to size (certainly not as snug as Arcteryx). My only complaint about this jacket is that there are no velcro wrist closures which allows wind and snow to get in your jacket unless you are wearing a gauntlet-style glove.

The guide hoody is an ideal do-it-all jacket for backcountry skiing, alpine climbing and trekking at 2/3 of the cost of comprable jackets. It does not have a lot of technical bells and whistles, but it does the job.

View Details: Patagonia Guide Hooded Softshell Jacket - Men's

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