Patagonia Torentshell 3L waterproof jacket review: a shell that performs beyond its specs in all but the most torrential of downpours

Patagonia Torentshell 3L: first impressions

I first tested this shell in the Lake District, right at the cusp of autumn where the weather turns wet and those warm, dry days of summer seem to fade to distant memory. The jacket certainly was put through its paces as we began the ascent of Harrison Stickle and the heavens truly opened. Knowing that even the most technical jacket would not long withstand this kind of deluge, I pulled over the hood, cinched every cord that i could, opened the pit zips and begrudgingly trudged upwards.

With a very simple aesthetic, the Torrentshell runs light on the features you may see on higher spec shells. However there are a number of quality of life improvements from the 2.5 layer version.

The central zip runs very smooth and has a storm flap to prevent moisture entering. It features a micro-fleece lined neck which again helps take away that clammy feeling. The hood can be rolled down and clipped in whilst also remaining suited for a helmet, being adjustable both at the neck and the peak of the head with a stiff front which allows rain to roll off. I did, however, find the toggles for the hood and hem to be somewhat unintuitive and almost impossible to adjust whilst wearing gloves.

There are two zippered hand warmer pockets on the lower half which boast an impressive amount of room. However I would have really appreciated internal or chest pockets, as the lower pockets were obstructed by my backpack hip belt. Climbers won't find this to be an issue, but if you're hiking in it, you may find this frustrating.

Fit and appearance

For my build the Torrentshell fits slightly on the slim side, but thankfully still gives enough room underneath for a decent sized warm layer. I'm 6ft 2in (1.88m), I was wearing an XL, and it proved long enough to give me freedom of movement and avoid exposing any skin when stretching either legs or arms.

The coat retains the simple look of the earlier 2.5 layer iteration, with small but effective zips and clasps often hidden behind folds. Patagonia offers a plethora of colour choices, with options for either a single block colour or a two tone design.

I liked the Cascade Green colorway, but perhaps while out in the hills a colour that blends less with the surroundings would be the wiser choice for the sake of visibility. The shell utilises a 50 denier fabric that feels flexible and rarely clammy against your skin, giving a good balance of comfort and durability.

Weight and packability

Coming in at 15.5oz (438g) for the XL version, the jacket certainly isn't the lightest on the market. However, its a decent weight, given its price point for a mid range shell and I never felt the jacket was a burden, whether worn or packed away.

The jacket can be packed into its left hand pocket, which uses a smart two-way zip, but found this feature to be slightly too bulky given the size of the pocket and opted to revert to the more versatile method of just stuffing it into my backpack instead. In comparison to the earlier 2.5L version, the fabric of the jacket is exceptionally malleable throughout, meaning that despite the weight the jacket is perfectly suited to be pushed into a pack bottle-holder or other equivalent space.

Waterproofing and breathability

Patagonia has used its own membrane in the 3-layer design, which has undergone its in-house H2No performance standard testing, so there's no hydrostatic head listed for this jacket.

As a brand that stands upon its efforts towards sustainability, this performance testing has allowed the brand to move away from Gore-Tex and its historic use of PFAS.

In torrential rail, it wasn't long before the shell wetted out. However in brief showers or even a consistent drizzle I found the jacket to perform very well, remaining comfortable and avoiding the 'slimy' stuck to the skin feeling I've experienced with Gore-Tex equivalents.

Where I really struggled with this jacket was in breathability. With a 3-layer construction I found that on strenuous ascents I was forever wondering whether the wet was coming from the inside or the outside!

There are two 12in (30cm) pit zips built into the shell to help you dump heat, but I could honestly feel little, if any, tangible difference even when both were fully open. Admittedly, I always run on the warmer side while hiking and have yet to find a shell that truly balances waterproofing with breathability. Happily, I did find that the coat dried very quickly when we were afforded breaks in the rain.

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