The Lowdown

The Patagonia Insulated Powder Town Jacket isn’t my usual first choice when it comes to choosing new outerwear for the season. Typically, I prefer the oversized look and feel when it comes to getting geared up for winter. My preferences vary like the temperature throughout the season, so I usually snag something slightly oversized that isn't insulated and I can layer as needed. Plus, I just vibe with the look of a big ole jacket. That being said…the Patagonia Insulated Powder Town may have completely changed my outlook, and I am so stoked I got to try out a different approach to outerwear. First of all, the jacket is SO SOFT. I couldn't believe how smooth it was against my skin, but that made me wonder if it wouldn't be quite as durable and could possibly get snagged or banged up if I went through some trees or took a few tumbles as usual. This was not the case. I put its durability to the test and dodged some trees making sure to take a few branch ends to the shoulder as I went, and to my pleasant surprise, the jacket and I came out unscathed every run.

Ride Impressions

Something that really stood out to me overall was how versatile I could see this jacket being. Although it is designed for winter sports, I would undoubtedly use this for hiking or even just as my outerwear jacket running errands around Denver in the chilly months. It has a great casual look and fit that my normal ski jackets don’t, so it absolutely got some bonus points from me there. Plus, it’s super lightweight and packable so totally ideal for traveling. Another cool feature I never knew I needed is the hood cinches. Since I usually gravitate towards oversized jackets my hood would never stay up while skiing, but on this one you can cinch it up to fit however you’d like. Plus, if you’re not wearing the hood up you can cinch it down to keep from flopping around in the wind which I liked a lot.

While this jacket kept me completely dry on a snowy day, I’m not sure it would be my top pick to wear solo in blizzard conditions. I don't think it’s quite warm enough for the coldest parts of winter, but I brought my shell jacket to put on over this one for a super cold snow day, and that helped a bunch to deflect wind and retain the warmth more than the jacket does on its own. On those super cold days I also just want something that gets a little more coverage on my thighs and butt for sitting on frigid chairlifts. I do think it’s more ideal for skiers as there isn't a ton of coverage for sitting on the snow to strap in/adjust snowboard boots and bindings. The Women’s cut is definitely apparent, but it’s not so fitted that it would only work on certain body types. It is roomy enough to have a good base layer underneath, but not much more than that. Even though I debunked the speculation that its buttery soft material might not be as durable as I’m used to, I think buying with Patagonia is well worth the investment because they will pretty much repair anything that's fixable for the lifetime of the jacket if something were to break or snag.

Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆

Who's It For?

The Patagonia Insulated Powder Town Jacket is ideal for someone looking for a comfortable, tapered fit that is also super versatile. Since this jacket isn’t the warmest option for peak winter conditions, it would be great to use on warmer bluebird days or on the skin track since it’s so lightweight and you can utilize the armpit zips. The simple, clean cut look makes this jacket perfect for running errands in the wintertime and is easily packable for travel adventures when staying lightweight is key!

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