PATAGONIA WOMEN'S PIOLET JACKET - S12
[83385S12]

Comments about Patagonia Women's Piolet Jacket - S12:

I just got this jacket, and took it right away on a 2-day ski trip to Vermont. The weather was pretty foul, with very wet snow, mist/fog, and wind, and temps hovering just around freezing. Water beaded off the jacket all weekend, and I felt pretty dry (minus my face, which is inevitable). In terms of breathability, I feel that the jacket performed well, even in those humid conditions, and even after working up a sweat I didn't feel moist for long.

Some things I love about the design of this jacket:
1) The inside mesh (just in the torso area) is great for helping to wick sweat away from the body, and I'm hoping that this will mean I might even be able to wear this jacket in the summer)
2) The pit zips are LONG, allowing for agressive venting. Also, FYI, the pit zips go all the way through (i.e there is no mesh blocking access into the coat)
3) I really like the fit of this jacket. I am 5'8" 160lbs, athletic build. The medium would have fit trimly (which is great for a summer jacket when you only need a t-shirt or light sweater underneath). But I wanted this jacket to layer, so I bought the large. I can wear a base layer, thick wool sweater, and puffy down vest under this jacket. Yet even with fewer layers, it's cut in such a way that it doesn't look super baggy. As you can see in the picture, the jacket is definitely a bit loose (in the photo I just have a base layer and fleece sweater underneath) but I like this because it gives me freedom of movement, and the ability to add more layers.
4) The hood is awesome! The brim comes out and over the forehead, and feels really protective! I haven't tried it with a helmet yet.

A few things I don't like:
1) the pockets are very small... When I put my hands in the pocket (say to get my hands warm) they just barely fit, with my wrists outside. That means you can't really carry around tons of stuff in your pockets.
2) The adjustment system (say to cinch the hood or waist) can only be operated with two bare hands (or thin gloves). It's totally impossible to do with thick gloves or mitts. But, despite this minor inconvenience, I really like the cinch method, as it says very secure and looks clean.

Overall, I'm in love with this coat and I'm excited to use it more! Bring on the rain!

Comments about Patagonia Women's Piolet Jacket - S12:

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