Patagonia Dimensions Jacket Review
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For the backcountry skier, mountaineer, or active winter sports athlete, Patagonia has recently introduced the Dimensions Jacket to help guide you through many of your winter outdoor activities. The Patagonia Dimensions Jacket is a Windstopper 3 layer softshell jacket that is meant to protect you against the winter elements allowing you to enjoy all the outdoors has to offer.
Layering with GORE Windstopper
To keep you projected from the elements, the Patagonia Dimensions Jacket incorporates GORE Windstopper. As the name implies, Windstopper blocks out all wind (windproof) which allows the body to retain your body’s warmth when you need it most. And while you may think it only blocks out the wind, it is important to note that it also lets the moisture out. As far as the jacket construction goes with the Gore Windstopper panels, there are a total of 3 layers used. The first is the outer fabric layer which is the first layer of protection. This layer protects you from the scrapes from rocks, snags from branches, and scuffs from falls. The inner layer is where the Gore Windstopper membrane is and that is what keeps the wind out, yet also allows excess moisture and heat out. The third layer is what sits against your skin which is a softer layer that keeps the jacket from sticking to your skin and it also adds a small amount of insulation.
Stretch Fabric That Let You Move
Skiing the trees at Steamboat with the Dimension Jacket
To allow for maximum mobility, the Patagonia Dimensions Jacket uses a breathable stretch fabric along the sides and back of the jacket to allow you to twist and turn your body while keeping the jackets bulk to a minimum. I tested this jacket out while backcountry skiing, nordic skiing, resort skiing, and winter hiking and found the range of movement to be excellent.
How did the Patagonia Dimensions Jacket Perform?
Skiing the trees at Steamboat with the Dimension Jacket
While we had a cold spell of -20 temps in Colorado, I wore the Patagonia Dimensions Jacket while nordic skiing for a few reasons. One, it stretched the way I needed it, it protected me from the cold temps, yet it helped my body vent out the heat and moisture. This is similar to my use on my backcountry adventures which I heat up a lot while skinning, but need the protection on the downhills. For additional ventilation while skinning, I use the jackets side mesh pockets which double as vents, but don’t allow snow to get in the jacket while it’s snowing. For inbound resort skiing, I actually had some of the harshest weather conditions in which it was 5 degrees with wind gust of 30mph and whiteout conditions at times. During that time, the jacket held up like a rock star keeping out the wind and snow, allowing me to retain all my heat. During that time, I wore a few warm layers underneath as the Dimensions Jacket doesn’t offer a lot of insulation.
Testing out the Patagonia Dimensions Jacket with Harsh Winter Conditions
To keep snow and rain from penetrating the jacket, the Patagonia Dimensions Jacket uses a DWR coating, which stands for durable water repellent. A DWR coating typically lasts for about 2 years depending on use. This can be re-applied through a simple wash with a DWR solution which can be found at most online retailers.
Features worth Noting
Patagonia Dimensions Hood and Back of Jacket Fit
There are a few call-out features worth noting in the Patagonia Dimensions Jacket. To start, the hood of the jacket is helmet-compatible which is a must on any ski-related jacket these days. There are two ways to get the best fit with the hood; in the rear of the hood and there are pulls on each side on the front of the jacket near the neck. I found the jacket to work well with both a helmet and no helmet. It’s a little bulky with no helmet but definitely gets the job done. To aid in keeping out the cold and the wind, there is also a cinch cord on the bottom of the jacket that is very easy to use. The jacket sits around the waist for the average person, meaning the jacket won’t ride up which creates cold spots right where your so-called love handles are.
The cuffs on the Patagonia Dimensions Jacket use the classic hook and loop system. For gloves and mittens, the cuffs are more narrow than wide meaning winter gloves and mittens typically have to go over the jacket cuff. If you are using liner gloves or mittens, they easily fit under the cuff.
The zippers on the Dimensions Jacket are very easy to slide up and down which is important when you have mittens or gloves on and you don’t want to fumble around with zippers. The main front zipper doesn’t rub against the chin when zipped up all the way on those cold blustery days thanks to a zipper garage at the top that has a fleece liner that sits on the inside of the jacket. To keep the zippers from flapping around as well as creating a nice clean look, there are zipper garages at the top of each zipper for pockets.
Jacket Sizing and Fit
Patagonia Dimensions Hood and Back of Jacket Fit
Front of Patagonia Dimensions Jacket
The Patagonia Dimensions Jacket has a standard to athletic fit. It has enough room to fit warmer layers underneath which is a must in a non-insulated jacket. I am 6’0 with regular tors and arm dimensions and I range between 170-173lbs. I found the size medium to be the perfect fit for skiing, hiking, and around town use.
Final Thoughts
The Patagonia Dimensions Jacket is an excellent all-around jacket that can fit most of your needs for a ski jacket. This jacket stretches and breaths the way you need it to for all your backcountry winter adventures while keeping out the wind and elements with Gore Windstopper. For more information, please visit www.patagonia.com
