The Patagonia Torrentshell is an affordable and reliable rain jacket that will keep you dry and protect you from the elements. If you're looking for a comfortable and functional rain jacket for every day wear and maybe some casual outdoor activities, then the Torrentshell is definitely the jacket to consider.
The Torrentshell is a lightweight and durable build, made from 100% recycled nylon, which makes it great value for money. This rain jacket does everything it should and is a great item to throw in your bag if you're worried about getting caught in the rain.
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Patagonia Torrentshell Rain Jacket
Manufacturer: Patagonia
Pros
Cons
Conclusion
The Patagonia Torrentshell is a very reliable rain jacket that is made from 100% recycled nylon face fabric. This rain jacket is durable and will shield you from bad weather on your everyday excursions.
The Torrentshell is an ideal jacket to just throw on or pack in your bag for everyday use in rainy conditions. It would also hold up fine for some light outdoor hiking or walking activities.
While most rain jackets use Gore-Tex fabrics, the Torrentshell is made from H2No Performance Standard Protection fabric with a DWR finish.
This waterproof fabric will keep you dry in light rain, but it doesn't do as well as other rain jackets in heavy, continuous rain. It also packs away very neatly into one of its pockets, which is very convenient when packing it away.
The Torrentshell features an adjustable hood and wrists to help ensure that no water gets under the jacket. The breathability of the Torrentshell is decent and it features pit zips to improve ventilation and expel excess body heat.
This makes it a great budget option for people wanting to use it for daily commuting, or light hiking and casual outdoor activities, but not for more rigorous, hardcore activities. The durability of the Torrentshell is surprisingly good and it can be used for many years to keep you nice and dry.
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Key Features
Water Resistance
The Patagonia Torrentshell has decent waterproofing and will keep you perfectly dry in rainy conditions. In very heavy rain the material may absorb some water , but overall it offers good protection and is a good choice of rain jacket for everyday wear.
The hood has a great fit and can be adjusted to fit comfortably around your head and face to ensure no water gets in. The hood has a visor, to keep rain out of your face, which can be folded away when not needed.
The hems and wrists can also be tightened to secure the jacket around you and provide extra protection. The Torrentshell also does a good job of keeping out wind so that you don't get cold.
Durability and Fabric
The durability of the Torrentshell is quite impressive. This rain jacket can rough it in the wild and come out unscathed. Its exterior is made from ripstop nylon which will help improve its durability so that the jacket can last you a long time. The Torrentshell is a good quality jacket, and all of its key features will hold up in the long run.
The Patagonia Torrentshell is made from 100% recycled nylon face fabric. Nylon is quite difficult to recycle so this is a great design feature and makes this rain jacket a great option from an environmental point of view. This ripstop nylon exterior and DWR finish make the Torrentshell an impressive and functional rain jacket.
Breathability
The Torrentshell's 2.5-layer fabric has quite good breathability, but it doesn't quite compare to the other jackets in this review. However, as the budget option, the Torrentshell performs very well. It does feature pit zips, which provide great ventilation and help expel excess body heat and moisture so that you don't overheat or feel clammy.
While this jacket wouldn't be the best choice for high energy activities, it would do well on casual hikes, walks and everyday wear.
Comfort and Weight
The adjustable hood and hems of the Torrentshell allow you to alter it to fit your body so it fits comfortably. Its design and cut are non-restrictive so you have free range of motion, which is always a great feature. The cut is quite trim but you can still fit some comfy, warm layers underneath.
It's light and fairly quiet so it's great for throwing on over your clothes when commuting and running errands. It also has some micro-fleece lining at the back of the neck, but it's not really noticeable when wearing the jacket.
The Torrentshell weighs only 343g (12oz), which makes it perfect to keep tucked away in your bag until needed. Its lightweight, impressive durability and good weather protection, make this rain jacket a great budget option if you're simply looking for a jacket to keep you dry in your day to day life.
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