The Patagonia Torrentshell 3 L rain jacket

story, photos and video by Murray Selleck, HIKE ROCKY magazine's gear reviewer
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Editor’s note: HIKE ROCKY magazine receives no compensation for brands reviewed by Murray

Hiking while it’s raining is wonderful. The sound of raindrops hitting the forest floor with soft “tap tap taps” is delightful. The intimacy of nearby birds chirping and singing will have you walking slower while you endeavor to make no sound yourself.
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Thunder rolls down from the clouds, fills the valleys and echos off the steep rock faces. Aspen leaves quake in the wet breeze letting loose their own shower of raindrops. New spring green becomes even more vibrant, washed clean with the rain. Those who are out hiking in the rain count themselves lucky to experience it.

​Quiet footsteps on rain-softened trails is such an incredible contrast compared to what most of us have been used to: dusty trails packed hard as stone, every step joint-jarring. Low, heavy clouds flatten ridge tops and drape the forest in a
gossamer web of drifting humidity. The terrain appears practically unrecognizable to hikers hungover from decades of drought.
 
Despite some trails becoming slick, despite grand vistas lost in the low hanging vapor, despite the goose-bump-generating temperatures and despite ourselves – a hike in the rain should not be passed up. It should only be seen as an opportunity!

This spring my go-to piece of rain gear to get me out no matter what the day brings is the Patagonia Torrentshell 3L Rain Jacket. When you are dry and comfortable any wet weather you encounter is manageable. The alternative to dry and comfortable is wet and miserable and getting caught out unprepared in a rain storm leaves little doubt as to why hiking in the rain gets such a bad rap.

Gear up with the Patagonia Torrentshell and embrace a rainy day!
 
Patagonia Torrentshell Features:

The Hood
Starting at the top, there are two ways to adjust this hood to suit your face and preferences. The very top cord on the back of the hood will pull the sides of the hood back to increase your peripheral vision. There are worse things, but it is aggravating to turn your head to
the side only to see the inside of your hood! With this side adjustment you eliminate this possibility and replace it with being able to see everything you’re looking for.
 
The second hood adjustment are two pull cords at the top of either side of the front zipper. These cords will pull the hood down and snug it around your head, ball cap, helmet, or knit hat. These pull cords help you batten down the hatches if your hike turns into a torrent!

The visor of the hood is laminated so it won’t flop down over your eyes. And the last feature is that the hood can roll up securely out of the way if no hood is needed at all. The top adjustment cord on the hood has a tiny hook that after you roll the hood up will attach to the loop just inside at the top of the jacket. This keeps the hood rolled up and out of the way.
 
If you have read any of my previous articles or watched some of my video contributions to HIKE ROCKY magazine, you know that I am not a huge fan of hoods. With Patagonia’s Torrentshell, I make an exception! However, hoods do reduce hearing. That fact remains my biggest complaint with hoods. I need to hear all there is to hear – especially when I’m out hiking. I do concede that when Mother Nature has opened up every faucet in the heavens, a hood is a good thing. If a hood keeps one single raindrop from sneaking all the way down my spine, then in this case, I thank Patagonia for the Torrentshell hood!

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Waterproof/Breathable
​The Torrentshell is designed and manufactured with 100% recycled waterproof/breathable face fabric. It achieves Patagonia’s H2No® Performance Standard for a three-layer shell with a PFC-free DWR finish (durable water repellent coating that does not contain perfluorinated chemicals). The three layers are the recycled nylon ripstop face, a polycarbonate PU membrane with 13% biobased content, and a tricot backer and a PFC-free DWR finish. All this tech is to say the Torrentshell will keep you dry with best environmental manufacturing practices in mind.
 
One of the main things I like about the Torrentshell and the reason I purchased one is how light and packable it is. With many more expensive laminated waterproof jackets you get a stiff crunchy feel which can be fine for a winter jacket but if you are looking for a lightweight, easy-to-pack rain jacket, then consider the Torrentshell.

Two Pit Zips
​Pit zips are a mechanical way of opening up the jacket to allow more body generated heat to escape from underneath the jacket. The Torrentshell is waterproof and breathable. There are tons of waterproof/breathable jackets on the market and with no exception you must consider “breathable” with realistic expectations.

The Torrentshell is no exception and that is why most manufacturers, including Patagonia, offer pit zips on their rain jackets. Hiking up a steep trail, hiking fast, or even trail running in the rain will generate more body heat than what the jacket can breathe or expel on its own to keep you from over heating. So how do you cope? You open up the pit zips and even zip down the front zipper to release more heat to regulate the microclimate you create under the jacket. The cautionary note with pit zips or unzipping the front collar to vent is the risk of allowing rain, grapple, hail, sleet, or even snow an easy way in. Just be weather and vent savvy.

Main Zipper Line
I love the fact that Patagonia does not use any velcro to protect the front zipper. Velcro on a zipper line just inhibits the zipper slider from working. Patagonia’s front zipper is touted as snag free and that is pretty much true. The slider may encounter a hiccup or two as you’re using it but that is nothing compared to trying to un-velcro velcro and work the slider up or down as the velcro reattaches itself. A no-velcro, no-snag zipper is a wonderful thing.
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This front zipper is rain protected by essentially three storm flaps. The main storm flap is on the outside and covers the zipper nicely. The two remaining flaps cover the other side of the zipper line and seal out any wind- driven rain. Nice.

Two Pockets
​The Torrentshell has two very good sized hand pockets with zipper closures. Pockets are not only good for keeping items handy, they can also offer some warmth if you’re not wearing gloves. (I do own a wind shell that has no pockets and there are times I sorely wish it did).
 
You can stuff the entire rain jacket into the left pocket for a handy way to store the jacket when you’re not wearing it. The pocket itself acts as the stuff sack. This pocket has a small loop inside it so you can carabiner the stuffed jacket to your pant loop or daisy chain on your pack.

Tip: When you stuff the jacket into the pocket turn the pocket inside out as you stuff the jacket.

Cuff and Waist Adjustments
Both sleeves have the common velcro closures to help you adjust the length of the sleeve and loosen or tighten the cuff around your wrist. I do have long arms and I like being able to snug the velcro around my wrist to create the correct length of sleeve. I also like the fact that Patagonia has not cut the sleeves too short which is a typical problem for tall and lean hikers. Sleeves that actually run the full length of my arms practically make me giddy!
 
Another common feature is a cord to snug the hem of the jacket around your waist. When the rain and temperatures drop at the same time it is nice to be able to snug the jacket around your waist to keep the body generated heat in the jacket to maintain warmth.
 
The Fit and Year-Round Versatility
I am about six feet tall with long legs and arms. Lean and 160 pounds. I wear a size medium in the Torrentshell and it fits perfect. Sleeves that reach a touch beyond my wrists are wonderful. The length of the jacket is not too long which I also like. There is room for additional layers underneath the jacket if I need them. There is no reason why I can’t wear this as a winter shell when the conditions warrant adding even more year-round value to this jacket.

Recycled Fabric
The Torrentshell is made with recycled nylon. Creating fabric from recycled material may not be newsworthy but in this case it is. Patagonia produced its spring 2023 product line with 89% recycled nylon. Part of their recycled nylon comes from old carpet and old fishing nets. We all need to think more carefully not only about what we buy, but from whom we buy it. Too many “me too” companies out there only pay lip service to our climate crisis and often exaggerate their environmental record. I believe my dollars are well spent when I support Patagonia. Their products are sound and so is their business ethic.
 
Conclusion
​I like it and recommend it. Now let’s get out and hike… no matter what the day’s weather may bring!

Murray Selleck moved to Colorado in 1978. In the early 80s he split his time working winters in a ski shop in Steamboat Springs and his summers guiding on the Arkansas River. His career in the specialty outdoor industry has continued for over 30 years.
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Needless to say, he has witnessed decades of change in outdoor equipment and clothing. Steamboat Springs continues to be his home.

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This piece of original content was made possible by Heidi RIedesel, Realtor; Estes Park Health; and, Snowy Peaks Winery.