Hi, I purchased the first edition of the R3 zip jacket in a blueberry color and loved it and lived in it, layed underneath with silkweight capliene tank and midweight capliene Zip-T in the frigid Maine winters! But I found a bothersome design fault with its zipper and eventually it frustrated me so much I sent it back! You sometimes couldn't open the pocket at all! It would be stuck on the pockets inside material. And most of the time, I had to use both hands to even open the pockets at all! So back it went!
I then bought a W's XL Black R2 from Altrec for a sale price of $55. So for what I paid, it's a good value. W's XL seem to be hard to find in these jackets. I also noticed the pocket design was different and I can open the pockets all the time with only one hand! About time! So I have kept the R2 and love it. It is kind of shaggy looking though, as it definitely changes it appearance from what it looks like in the stores! It also attracts everything, like my long hair, my cats, etc! Makes it look even rattier! But it is light-weight, easy care, warm and great insulation under a shell.

Customer Service

I have been buying Patagonia mens and womens products for 16 years, and have been happy with the merchandise overall.
But I do have big concerns! What upsets me most is the return policy and how they claim just send it back! I used to have no problem sending things back,say when the elastic from a pair of expedition weight underwear lost its zing in one winter or the elastic lost it in their Baggies shorts. They sent me a replacement back pronto or my money back. But recently, they won't take back things I buy. I bought about 8 silkweight capliene shirts in different colors. I only tried them on and didn't like some of the colors on me, so I washed them and returned them. They were in totally perfect condition! They then sent me back the shirts and said they would not refund my money. The next year, I bought a Patagonia R3 mens jacket and discovered a design problem with the pocket design,where the zipper caught on the inside pocket material, preventing the pocket from being unziped. I returned it and they wrote a nasty letter to me to say they prefer me not to do business with them anymore! Can you believe that?
The other compaint I have is that their womens sizes are too small! I need XL to even think about buying their tops! I end up buying unisex.

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Bought during 1987-1989: Expedition weight underwear: W's leggings, Zip-T's, Wallace 3 button L/S : Excellent and Tough!!! Navy color and Bright blue my favorite colors for women.

But: 1995 Expedition Weight Underwear Zip-T fell apart within 3 washings! Sent back, got refund no problem.

1997 Midweight Capliene underwear: W's XL Zip-T's :Excellent. Colors so-so for women.

1995-2001 Silkweight tanks, Long sleeve Crews, excellent, durabable, but colors so-so for women. Excellent.

W's Baggies shorts: light, easy drying, durable, elastic used to loose it too soon on a pair bought back in 1990.

Bought Stretch Midweight Capliene underwear, and still have them 6 years later in great condition! I love them! Warm,stretchy, comfortable to wear all the time, and durable!
But they don't make Stretch Midweight anymore that I can find! Isn't that always what happens!

Light, warm. I use this for snowboarding, camping,travelling- anything where i need a lightweight and easily-packable yet warm layer. and what a great purple color, though I dont think it comes in this color anymore (mine is over 1 year old)

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patagonia, REI helley hanson and columbia- these last two are not on this site anywhere!

The regulator material is unlike other fleece that I've had in that although it seems very light it is very very warm. It breathes well, and wicks quickly. It also scrunches into a very small space and can be folded into one of its mesh pockets. A lot of warmth for little weight and space with outstanding freedom of movement. It's not an outer garment though, it's a middle layer, without a shell on the outside the wind goes right through. A great jacket, ... I love it, highly recommended.

Customer Service

What else can be said about Patagonia, they stand behind their products, ...big time. Good company!

The regulator material is unlike other fleece that I've had in that although it seems very light it is very very warm. It breathes well, and wicks quickly. It also scrunches into a very small space and can be folded into one of its mesh pockets. A lot of warmth for little weight and space with outstanding freedom of movement. It's not an outer garment though, it's a middle layer, without a shell on the outside the wind goes right through. A great jacket, ... I love it, highly recommended.

Customer Service

What else can be said about Patagonia, htey stand behind their products, ...big time. Good company!

I love this jacket, it was a Christmas gift from my boyfriend, we have seen it in the ads, and I was intruiged by the idea of a new fleece. It has proven to be all that i had hoped for, it is warm and light, and being a fabric inclined person for all of my life, i did love the retro style of the pile, and the fact that it actually functions so well is cool. I get comments form a broad spectrum of friends, and even if they don't get the significance of the jacket, they think that it looks cool! I love to wear it under my Gore-tex shell, it beats the bulky fleece, and is so supple. Get one.

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Marmot, and more Patagonia, old stuff.