This jacket has been amazing! I have used this jacket for every backpacking, camping and canoe trip I have done for the past 8 years, as well as wearing it as a general jacket for most of the year. It has lasted with me through -20 f. winters in Minnesota (with a fleece lining!), and balming 90 f. rain while hiking. I only real regret was that it doesn''t have zip open armpit vent--which the new models now have. As the years have worn on I have had several problems, but each of which Patagonia resolved: - I have had to treat it with Nikwax, as water no longer beaded off the fabric. This worked well until recently (see below) - The zipper finally broke, and the velcro at the wrists wore out. I called Patagonia to see how much repair would cost, and they replaced them for free! - Finally, after 8 years, water had begun to seep through the fabric at the shoulders under heavy rain. I called Patagonia to see if there was anything I could do to prevent the problem, and they gave me a brand new coat! Overall: A great jacket for any weather with proper layering, and a great value given Patagonia''s cutomer service.

Customer Service

Amazing. (see above).

Similar Products Used:

None ever needed.

I have owned a storm jacket for over 7 years now, and have used it in many wilderness camping situations. On balance, I feel it is a really well made, bombproof jacket. Some people have noted that the fabric does wet through and does not bead as well as it should. I agree. To improve the waterproofing I reproof my jacket with nikwax direct waterproofing about once per year. I have found that even my other gore tex jackets bead well initially, but eventually soak through, ie., 2 or 3 days of continual rain. The storm jacket is very basic, no pitzips. However, it has keep me dry, although a bit clammy on many occasions. What I like, however, is its simplicity and amazing durability. My jacket still looks almost like new even though its 7 years old, and has been used about 40 days a year for that period. In other words, when camping in wilderness places I go with durability. Moreover, this jacket is superb as a wind barrier. It stops the wind and cold. With either a vest or fleece underlayer, you can wear this jacket all year long. I have not had any problems with the mesh lining, alhtough I see where this could create some problems for people. If I had a negative to say, it is that the velcro front flap attachments do not work as well as buttons. To secure the jacket you need to zip it. For the money, and you can find this jacket usually on sale on line, it is a great value for the $. I highly recommend it

Customer Service

I have not had to use it.

Similar Products Used:

Marmot gore tex thunderlight jacket

In short an overpriced and wimpy jacket. It is quite absurd to call this the "storm" jacket. In stormy, wet conditions you will find water getting in through your wrists. In addition the entire outer fabric of the shell will become soaking wet, wicking away heat from your body, leaving you feeling like a fish flapping around on a slab of ice. The meager amount of cloth near your chin will not prevent your facial skin from coming into contact with the plastic parts of the hood adjustment. This can cause annoying abrasions. It is disgusting to pay such a high price for a jacket that is best suited for a walk in the park on a mild, dewey fall/spring day. Patagonia needs to reposition this jacket. I would never buy another Patagonia shell because of my disappointing experience with the "storm" jacket.

Similar Products Used:

None

Junk. Made the mistake of actually taking it into the mountains in winter in a storm. I got soaked -- wetted right through, velcro on the sleeves wouldn't close, snow inside the liner, the works. You name a failure and this rig had it going on...all the while my buddy in his nice n' dry Marmot Alpinist was laughing at me.

"Storm" Parka my ass...

I've been a Patagonia customer since 74, but now all they seem to do well these days is fleece and underwear -- although if you're a yuppie in the market of $75 sweatpants, you'll probably find yourself in heaven...

Customer Service

Surprise, surprise -- This was my first call at the end of the trip. To their credit, it was a no-questions-asked exchange and the nice lady who was the customer service rep was very friendly. I shipped it back and had a check within a week. The only rub was that when she heard where I had taken it -- Cascades snowstorm in 50 mph whiteout above the treeline -- she said I would have been better off with "one of our more expensive shells."

And there I was thinking a $300, ahem, "Storm" parka might actually be up to handling a storm...Silly me!

Similar Products Used:

Marmot (both Goretex & Membrain -- both excellent), North Face (shoddy construction; blaring logos), Wave Rave (Goretex snowboard shell -- quite simple and effective)

The one I have is a couple of years old. It's pretty good, but it has this hanging mesh liner in it that I absolutely hate! It gets caught on my rings and watch every time I try to put it on. I wouldn't buy another unless they get rid of that liner. The surface wets-out pretty quickly. The water soaks into the fabric of the shell. It doesn't get into the barrier, but it still makes the jacket feel clammy. But it doesn't leak and that's good. And it's expensive.

Similar Products Used:

None

I've had this jacket around 1 1/2 years. It has proven to be very waterproof and the DWR has been good. The hood, once adjusted, provides good vision and fit (drawstrings are inside -- you can set them for optimal fit and then forget about them). Range of motion of the sleeves is good, but not the best I have tried (NF Mountain Light, MH Vertigo, various Marmot GoreTex shells, Arc'Teryx are better). The velcro on the sleeves could stand to be a little more substantial.

I haven't found the jacket to be as breathable as GoreTex and Patagonia (in their literature) agrees. The jacket could use pitzips in addition to the mesh chest pockets which can be used for venting. If it's over 60F outside and humid, and if I expect to put my body through more than mild to moderate exertion, I'll wear something else that breathes better.

What I really do like about the jacket is the overall fit and the clean lines. The Patagonia Storm is the one I'll pull from the closet to put on over street clothes in rainy or snowy weather (the taffeta sleeve lining allows it to slide over layers). You don't need a user's manual to wear it and you won't appear like a poster child for TNF (or most of the other brands) while it's on - a nice change from the ubiquitous black shoulders and elbows look. The Storm is very well made and seems like it will be extremely durable.

As for value, I found mine at a half-price sale and base my value rating on that. If you are looking for a technical shell, you can do better (in my opinion) with another brand (one using GoreTex) at the normal Patagonia retail price. If you hardly sweat during exertion and/or plan to use it for short hikes or hanging around town, the Patagonia Storm may just be the ticket for you.

Customer Service

No experience with customer service, but they have a good reputation.

Similar Products Used:

North Face Mountain Light, Mountain Hardwear Vertigo, Marmot Turnweather, Marmot Thunderlight,
older early 80's Marmot GoreTex shells, Arc'Teryx Theta LT.

After my beloved Super Pluma parka was stolen in the middle of a Montana winter, I went to the Patagonia outlet store to pick up either a Torre or Triolet Parka, but they didn't have any except in size XS, so I had to settle on a lowly Storm Jacket--no pit zips, old-style two layer construction with a liner--but I just needed something for lift-served telemarking and day-long ski tours.

Well, I've been pleasantly surprised. Sure, the hood is fantastic (as with all Patagonia parkas) and the detailing immaculate, but this really is a serious parka--at least for the winter. Of course it's waterproof, but the DWR, even though it is not Patagonia's new Deluge, beads rain far better than Marmot or North Face parkas I've had. I had always believed that textured fabric wasn't as water repellent as ripstop, but it's not the case with the Storm Jacket. What really made me happy is that this jacket is far more breathable than I would have thought--the mesh liner does a good job, and opening the chest pocket zippers is an adequate (in the winter) replacement for pit zips. One debatable advantage is having the lower sleeves lined in nylon taffeta. It makes the jacket slide on easier over fleece and doesn't snag snow, but sweat will condense on it, and when you wash the jacket, you'll notice that water beads on the liner and fills up between the shell and the taffeta.

The extra lower pockets are useless when you're wearing a pack, but they're quite handy for storing gloves when skiing. And although the jacket is significantly lighter than my Marmot Cervino, the fabric is much more durable.

Also, check out the little round patch of velcro that holds the tab secured when the cuffs are all the way open--a neat trick because loose velcro can really abrade fabric. One thing I've always liked about Patagonia is that they don't go overboard on the velcro: with some other jackets you catch your storm flap on the wrist closure all the time.

Although I think Arc'Teryx makes the best technical parkas available, we all can't afford the entry fee, and the Storm Jacket really does what it says it can.

Customer Service

Absolutely the best. They love to keep fixing Patagonia stuff from the '80s to keep the owner happy and the stuff out of the land fill.

Similar Products Used:

Patagonia Torre (the best gore-text ther is), Patagonia Super Pluma, Marmot Cervino, North Face Mountain Light (junk), Sierra Designs 60/40, various first generation gore-tex.

The Storm jacket is excellent. I have used it to protect me snowboarding in Vermont to cold whitewater rafting in Maine. It is an excellent back country jacket that will protect you from howling wind or driving rain and snow. It’s an excellent investment. I have spoken so highly of it that my parents just bought one for each of them!

Similar Products Used:

None

Patagonia STORM (shell) Jacket

This is the 6th year of using my STORM Jacket. It has protected me, on an everyday basis, from the beautiful Seattle weather. It protected during the first white collar strike in US history. It has kept me dry on countless packpacking trips and ski adventures.

The hood is great. Have a fat head, I looked around quite a bit to find a jacket with a hood that would fit over a hat and still be ajustable.

The STORM Jacket is a good invetment.

Customer Service

PATAGONIA's customer service has always been very helpful. When I had another peice of clothing that had unusal wear (after only six months) they replaced without any discussion.

I've owned this jacket for abou two years and have used it as an everyday city rain jacket as wellas a backpackers rain jacket. I must say that it has kept me dry in both situations. Sure, it costs a ton but if staying dry is your prime concern then there is no better all-around jacket.