A few months ago, Patagonia announced the launch of their Torrentshell and Stretch Rainshadow jackets. Made using 100% recycled nylon, including from some of the 600,000 tons of fishing gear discarded every year, we were certainly impressed by Patagonia’s ongoing commitment to reducing their environmental footprint.
Now we’ve had a chance to review the 2.5-layer Stretch Rainshadow.
What you notice immediately when picking up the jacket is just how light it is. I’m reviewing a Men’s XL and it taps out just over 320 grams and can be stuffed down to the size of a mango.
Made using Patagonia’s H2No fabric (including a DWR coating) the jacket is rated to 20,000MM. (Check out Wild #171 for a detailed guide on waterproof/breathability). However, N2No is made for getting wet, seriously wet. All seams and zippers are watertight, with a helmet compatible hood and waist both including draw-cords to keep the weather out.
Two-way, underarm zippers allow for venting and the entire jacket can be stuffed into the chest pocket with carabiner clip-in loop. It took me a few tries to work out how this worked, however once mastered, it allows the jacket to pack down into a nice little satchel.
While I’ve used the Stretch Rainshadow during a number of wet hikes and paddles, I haven’t yet fully tested the durability and strength of the fabric.
The Stretch Rainshadow comes in both men’s and women’s styles and available across a range of sizes.
For those wanting a light-weight, performance wet weather jacket, while also playing a small part in reducing your own impact on the environment, its worth checking out the Rainshadow.
More Info
RRP: $279.95
More info
RRP: $279.95