Patagonia Traverse Jacket Review
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If you’re looking for the ultimate spring jacket that can do pretty much anything you ask it to, the Patagonia Traverse Jacket is that best friend you’ve been looking for and you might even have a little left over money for it to buy you a beer. Yes, I understand you might be rolling your eyes at this point asking how can a jacket buy you a beer when it’s only a couple months old, but I advise you to keep reading…
The Patagonia Traverse Jacket is a blend between a running jacket and a lightweight softshell. It has the properties of a softshell in that it’s wind and water resistant, but comes in a slimmer profile to accommodate the demanding endurance athletes out there. As I lean more towards the endurance athlete/runner side, I have used this jacket dozens of times fending off cold rain, wind, snow, and downright cold spring temps. For one reason or another, Colorado has seen some extreme weather this spring so far and while I am ready for the warmer temperatures, I’m not going to let winter like conditions throw off my training.
The new Patagonia Traverse Jacket is made from a recycled blend of polyester and spandex incorporating both stretch and breathability features. When using this jacket, it moves with you as you move vs. some of the more traditional running jackets made of nylon that don’t have a lot of give. The jacket also does a good job with temperature regulation.
Fit
The fit of the Patagonia Traverse Jacket is something you can tell the designers put some thought into. I feel as this jacket is has a slim profile, but it’s roomy enough to fit a long sleeve shirt underneath with comfort. The arms arn’t super tight which is something you often find in other slim profile running jackets. The rear of this jacket sits about an inch lower than the front which gives you a little protection if the jacket rides up. There is a draw string used at the bottom of this jacket, so if you want to keep in warmth or keep the elements out, this comes in handy. The cuffs on the sleeves of the Traverse jacket are about a half inch longer on the top which means it will cover a little more on the top of your hand than the bottom. This is a great feature that you don’t find in all running and endurance jackets and is a small detail that just shows you the designers really listened to what athletes wanted in this type of jacket.
The Patagonia Traverse Jacket comes with two side pockets for storage. This is nice in case you want to store thinner running gloves, a hat, or a house/car key. The pockets are sown to the jacket, so you don’t get any flapping around which can be annoying and since also can be used as inside the jacket pockets. On the inside of the pockets is a light furry layer of fabric that does a good job at keeping your hands warm in a pinch, but keep in mind this is a “light layer” and won’t substitute for mittens or gloves. This light furry layer also goes around the neck collar of the jacket to keep your neck warm on those cooler days.
Overall, I am super stoked about this jacket and with a price tag of $119, this is a must have in your jacket quiver. For more information on the Traverse Jacket and other Patagonia products, please visit www.patagonia.com
