Torrentshell 3L

The Patagonia Torrentshell 3L Jacket is a rugged three-layer rain jacket that’s waterproof enough to keep you dry yet breathable enough to provide all-day comfort. The jacket meets Patagonia’s H2No performance standard which tests their proprietary materials and subsequent product on four criteria: waterproofness, breathability, surface repellency, and durability. I’ve now worn this jacket doing a variety of activities in a variety of weather—windy daysailing in coastal Maine, paddleboarding in the Teton Mountains during sun showers, and hiking up shrubby trails in New England’s summer humidity—and have been impressed with its performance and comfort in every condition.

Photos by Tom Conlogue

The Patagonia Torrentshell 3L zips easily in the front and the zipper-garage chin guard prevents painful snags.

The most important considerations for any rain jacket are how well it keeps water out for an extended period and how comfortably it’s able to do so. The Torrentshell 3L is made with a 3.3-oz nylon ripstop face, a polycarbonate polyurethane membrane, and tricot backer and finished with a durable water-repellant (DWR) coating. Many rain jackets are made of just a ripstop outer surface with an internal membrane which can cause clamminess and stickiness. The addition of the tricot backer, a woven nylon inner fabric, helps wick moisture from the body, and I’ve found it to be very effective in this jacket.