Patagonia Dual Aspect Jacket Review

Christine: Though the Dual Aspect is built for climbing, it’s a comfortable fit for general wet weather walking that I am more likely to use it for. It's a bit longer than some other styles of jackets, though the pockets are generous and easy to access. I'm not sure how much I am going to use the chest pockets as anything that is put in them makes the jacket feel uncomfortable.

The hem adjust is easy to use and nicely concealed in the pockets, out the way so it doesn't catch on anything. The hood is helmet-compatible, so it is pretty big, but the 2-way adjustments at the back of the hood and the chin allow this to decrease in size and sit neatly. The peak of the hood sits out and off the face with a wire re-enforcement to keep its shape.

When the jacket is on it feels comfortable and soft around the cuffs, the zips don't stick as some watertight zips do. The jackets waterproofing so far has been excellent and can deal with a Scottish downpour when it's time to pick up the kids from school.

Jen: When I first saw this jacket, I immediately loved the colour, the look and the feel. I was surprised to read Patagonia’s description of it as a “technical Alpine shell” as it’s so lightweight. The ECONYL feels great with a little stretch to the fabric. Being free from fluorinated chemicals and using recycled material, this jacket is an exciting next step for Patagonia’s technical range.

Matiss: The jacket feels like it's made for the top end alpine climber who wants to get the most out of it, being able to use it every day being eco-conscious at the same time. I think it's aimed at anyone who needs a waterproof jacket no matter the use, as the jacket is super versatile.

I think the jacket is a game-changer in the way of having the ability to be comfortable wearing it day-to-day. Most top-end GTX jackets even with thin face fabrics, will feel rigid and uncomfortable when you wear just a t-shirt underneath, but this jacket feels nice and soft and at the same time good enough to bring it with you on big winter sends.

Miriam: I liked the idea of a fully PFC-free waterproof jacket suitable for more technical uses such as climbing and mountaineering. I think it’s aimed at anyone wanting a high-performance hardshell with less environmental impact than more commonly used Gore-Tex jackets.

I have used it in both the Peak District and Lake District for hillwalking and a bit of winter mountaineering. I’ve been really impressed with it in very wet weather as well as in blizzard conditions on the fells.

Christine: 8/10 - Regular fit, good length.

Jen: 7/10 - The longer length and standard fit to the jacket means it sits comfortably over layers without obstructing movement. The only downside I have found is that the arms are a little long, and personally, the cuffs don’t quite tighten enough. I have very small hands so even when wearing a light pair of gloves (or no gloves), they sit too far over the hand when tight. It could do with a thicker band of velcro that doesn’t taper smaller when being tightened. Another worthy mention is the large hood adapting well for a helmet (or not), and love that it has a wired peak to keep the shape when it's snug around your face.

Matiss: 9/10 - The jacket is super long, which I love because it is easy to layer up when needed if going on a winter climb. It also feels nice to have more coverage when going to the shop for some milk.

Miriam: 7/10 - I find that the fit is a little loose for me, but I like that I can easily layer up with thick insulation pieces - I’ve often worn my bulky down jacket underneath and find it very easy to layer with the Dual Aspect. I like the longer length in the arms, especially when using ice tools, and haven’t had any issues with the jacket riding up during use.

Christine: 9/10 – The water beads off the fabric really well, great waterproofing.

Jen: 10/10 - The jacket has been great, keeping me dry and protected. The conditions I have used the jacket in so far have been quite mild and it has felt light and breathable to wear and comfortable throughout the day. Water is beading off the fabric and I have been really pleased with the H2No waterproof standard.

Matiss: 9/10 - I was concerned about the breathability for this jacket, but I seem to have no issue with it. And the main purpose for it is to keep me dry and well, I am dry.

Miriam:  9/10 - Very impressed so far, the jacket is very waterproof and is still beading well after a few months of use, as well as being extremely breathable. I’ve used it in various conditions - torrential rain, snow, thick fog - and haven’t had any issues with waterproofing.

Christine: 8/10 - Comfortable soft fabric around the cuffs, fitted well around the body and looser in the shoulder area for ease of movement.

Jen: 8/10 - Feels very comfortable, especially around the collar and the hood as the fabric is supple with a slight stretch so it doesn’t feel too rigid around the face.

Matiss: 9/10 - Way more comfortable to any GTX options out there as the jacket is not so rigid, I feel like I am able to move much nicer, however sometimes I wonder if that is just because the fit is quite big.

Miriam: 8/10 - I find the jacket very comfortable to wear on long days out. The material is flexible and doesn’t restrict movement at all. Something that I noticed almost immediately is the inner lining of the cuffs is very comfortable against the skin. This hasn’t always been the case with other top-end jackets I’ve used in the past.

Christine: 7/10 - The fabric feels pretty durable, will stand up to day-to-day activities.

Jen: 8/10 - It is holding up with everyday wear and tear and a few longer mountain days.

Matiss: 9/10 - So far, feels like a proper bombproof GTX pro-shell.

Miriam: 8/10 - From initial use the material as well as features such as zips and toggles seem very durable.

Christine: 7/10 – The jacket feels pretty lightweight without feeling flimsy.

Jen: 9/10 - Feels nice and light, especially for a winter shell with lots of pockets and features. It packs up small when stuffing it into my pack.

Matiss: 9/10 - It feels super lightweight, but I don’t see anything out of the ordinary if we compare to any other shell with the same face fabric thickness.

Miriam: 9/10 - Very lightweight for such a good technical shell, and packs down really small.

Christine: 8/10 - 100% recycled ripstop fabric with PFC free water repellency zips and seams all well-constructed with no stray threads or glue patches.

Jen: 10/10 - The ECONYL fabric is great. I love the feel and how it sits while moving. Good size pockets that can fit gloves or a hat. I like the two additional smaller chest pockets for a phone etc. Massive underarm vents and the zips don’t dig in the armpits at all. Certain features such as the elastic drawcord around the waist have been constructed in a way to allow easy repair in the future. It’s these kinds of touches to the jacket that illustrate Patagonia’s dedication to the longevity of a garment.

Matiss: 7/10 - Everything feels great apart from these things:

1 – the chest pocket zipper regularly gets caught in the zip cover material, so you have to use both hands to open a chest pocket, which I find a bit annoying if belaying someone.

2 – the zipper ends are just on a small piece of strings, which sometimes is hard to grab even with naked hands, but pretty much impossible with freezing cold hands with gloves on (just feels like you need a small piece of plastic or something on the zippers)

3 – The armpit vents are impossible to get fully open, I was trying to get them open by myself, but I literary could not do it. The zipper is not sliding easily enough and you have to get it at a perfect angle to get it open (and I am very flexible). I was able to get it open half way, but could not even close it after that. Note, that this was on a hill where my hands were cold.

Miriam: 9/10 - Feels like a high-quality piece of equipment. I really like the construction of the hood with the flexible peak and find both the chest pockets and handwarmer pockets really practical to use.

Christine: 7/10 - Simple looking design with pockets that are designed to go with the lines of the jacket.

Jen: 10/10 - Awesome colour, with a nice finish and attention to detail - love the look of the stitched logo on the chest- Looks great.

Matiss: 10/10 - A beautiful jacket that fits very stylish and looks like a proper mountaineering shell and a city jacket at the same time.

Miriam: 7/10 - I think it’s a really good-looking jacket in a nice range of bright colours. Despite the slightly baggy fit, the construction of the jacket and placement of pockets gives it a very streamlined look.

Pros:

• Waterproofing is currently great, fit is great

• Light enough for use across the seasons.

• Lots of features and enough room for warm layers.

• Designed and made with longevity in mind

• Recycled materials and free from harmful chemicals.

• Versatile fit for summer and winter

• Comfortable cause of soft fabrics

• Looks amazing

Cons:

• Expensive

• Pit zips not opening and closing

• Chest zip gets stuck

• End of zips are hard to grab with thicker gloves

Christine: This jacket will be perfect for climbers and walkers of all levels.

Jen: While this jacket has the features of a technical Alpine shell and is designed for harsh conditions in mind, I would recommend this to anyone looking for one go-to jacket that does it all! Whether you are walking, climbing or ski touring, the lighter denier fabric and weight of the overall jacket means that use outside of the winter season with light layers or even a t-shirt won’t feel like overkill or too rigid.

Matiss: I think it is a great jacket for someone who wants to do a bit of winter climbing, but mostly use it as a comfortable everyday jacket. The overall feel is that I could not trust it enough to be my go-to winter shell as I would be annoyed that I can’t even open my chest pocket while belaying. It is a great product though, and I can’t wait to get out climbing more with it.

Miriam: Overall, I really like this jacket and have consistently been choosing to wear the Dual Aspect rather than my usual Gore-Tex jacket. I’d recommend it to anyone wanting a good quality technical shell as it’s a very good jacket regardless of environmental credentials, as there is no compromise on performance. I think it’ll be interesting to see how the Dual Aspect influences the PFC-free approach in the future as these environmentally-driven options become more popular.