REASONS TO BUY
Weather-resistant
Comfortable
Inexpensive
REASONS TO AVOID
Not warm on its own
Patagonia Powder Town Review
This affordable shell is a good option for everyday use in all types of weather
Credit: Patagonia
RELATED: Best Ski Jackets for Men of 2024
Our Verdict
The Patagonia Powder Town is a comfortable and well-fitting shell jacket at an attractive price. Its tailored fit is contoured perfectly to most users, and the hanging mesh lining sits comfortably against the skin or inner layers while providing a small amount of warmth. A waterproof and breathable membrane keeps water out of the inside of the jacket, and waterproof zippers and a full-coverage hood complete this weather-resistant package. It has plenty of pockets to make your day at the ski hill an easy one, including a dedicated ski pass pocket that helps you get through lift turnstiles quickly. The mesh lining doesn't add much warmth, so users should be prepared to layer underneath if warmth is needed. Overall, this excellent shell is a good choice for those on a budget who want a stylish and well-fitting shell.
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
Patagonia Powder Town | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  Best 3-in-1 Ski Jacket |  Best Bang for the Buck | | Best Ski Jacket Under 100$ | |
| Price | $349.00 at Dick's Sporting Goods Compare at 4 sellers | $289.95 at Evo Compare at 4 sellers | $319 List $223.29 at REI | $229 List $160.29 at REI | $80 List $64.98 at Amazon |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Bottom Line | This inexpensive shell keeps the weather out with style and comfort | A favorite 3-in-1 jacket with good protection, pockets, and slouchy style | This shell nearly matches the performance of much more expensive products | This jacket doesn't excel in any attribute, but it doesn't fall short either | This inexpensive and warm jacket ticks all the boxes for a solid ski jacket |
| Rating Categories | Patagonia Powder Town | 686 Smarty 3-in-1 F... | REI Co-op First Cha... | REI Co-op Powderbou... | GEMYSE Men's Mounta... |
| Warmth (20%) | |||||
| Weather Resistance (20%) | |||||
| Comfort and Fit (20%) | |||||
| Ventilation (20%) | |||||
| Style (10%) | |||||
| Features (10%) | |||||
| Specs | Patagonia Powder Town | 686 Smarty 3-in-1 F... | REI Co-op First Cha... | REI Co-op Powderbou... | GEMYSE Men's Mounta... |
| Main Fabric | 100% polyester | Nylon | Recycled polyester | Nylon | Unknown |
| Insulation | Recycled polyester lining | Synthetic 160g | None | 60g polyester sleeves, 80g polyester body | Synthetic and faux-fleece |
| Pockets | 2 zippered hand, one zippered chest, pass pocket, 1 internal stash, 1 internal drop | 2 handwarmer, 2 chest, 1 internal mesh | 2 handwarmer, 2 chest flap, 2 chest zipper, 1 internal zipper, 1 intenal mesh, 1 sleeve | 2 zippered hand, 1 zippered chest, 1 sleeve, 1 internal zippered chest, 1 internal mesh | 2 handwarmer, 1 chest, 1 internal zip, 1 internal stash |
| Weight (size large) | 1.54 lbs | 3,15 lbs | 1.73 lbs | 1.81 lbs | 3.63 lbs |
| Water Resistance | DWR | infiDRY | Gore-Tex | 2-layer waterproof breathable laminate | Unknown |
| Hood | Adjustable | Adjustable | Adjustable | Adjustable | Removable |
| Pit-Zips | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Cuff construction | Velcro | Elastic strap with velcro | Velcro | Interior wide hook-and-loop adjustments and external velcro | Stretchy wrist gaiters and external velcro |
| Powder skirt | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| RECCO | Yes | No | No | No | No |
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Our Analysis and Test Results
This jacket stands out for its impressive fit and high level of comfort. Our testers noted how comfortable this jacket is to wear and how well it fits many different body types.
Performance Comparison
The Powder Town looks great and fits perfectly, while keeping water and snow out.
Credit: Sam Willits
Warmth
As a shell jacket, the Patagonia Powder Town doesn't supply much warmth. It features a hanging nylon mesh lining underneath the 2-layer shell fabric. This lining traps some warm air between the user and the shell, but not much, since there is no puffy insulating material. The result is a jacket that is slightly warmer than a 3-layer shell that is made from only one tangible piece of fabric, but we still have to layer underneath this shell whenever the temperatures are below freezing. For spring skiing and warm, sunny days in slushy snow, you may be able to get away with no other layers besides this jacket and a base layer.
A hanging mesh liner adds some insulation, but not much.
Credit: Jackie Kearney
Weather Resistance
This shell repels the elements with ease. It features a waterproof and breathable membrane, as well as waterproof front and chest pocket zippers. The hood fits nicely over your favorite ski helmet, and the powder skirt keeps snow from entering through the hem of the jacket on deep days. The wrist cuffs have hook-and-loop straps that securely tighten on top of gloved hands, and the long hem seals down around the waist. Overall, this is a very protective jacket.
The full-coverage hood and long hem prevent wind and snow from penetrating the top and bottom of the Powder Town.
Credit: Sam Willits
Comfort and Fit
The Powder Town stands out for its excellent fit. It was perfectly tailored to the contours of most of our testers, and is easy to wear while being active. It is sized with the understanding that layers will be worn underneath, so if you want a more form-fitting fit for warm weather and spring skiing or to use as a rain jacket the rest of the year, size down. The outer shell fabric is soft to the touch compared to Gore-Tex shells, and the inner mesh lining is very soft against the skin.
We love how the Powder Town fits most of our testers' bodies. It isn't too contoured, but isn't too loose either.
Credit: Sam Willits
Ventilation
The Powder Town has armpit vents that fully open to the environment, without being hampered by mesh. This allows most heat and moisture to escape when the user gets too hot. Patagonia uses their proprietary “H2No” waterproof and breathable membrane in this shell, which is not as breathable as other technical fabrics on the market, and the hanging mesh liner also inhibits the flow of air between the body and the shell. Overall, this jacket has average ventilation as a resort ski jacket and less than average ventilation compared to shell-only jackets. It's not breathable enough for backcountry skiing.
Long vents without mesh are great for ventilation, but the hanging liner makes the jacket feel a little muggy during aerobic exercise.
Credit: Jackie Kearney
Style
The Powder Town is a stylish jacket that looks good in a variety of situations, from freeride competitions to highbrow après-ski bars. With multiple color options and clean zipper lines, this jacket has a style for every user. Our testers always felt good when wearing this jacket.
The Powder Town has an unassuming and versatile style, and it can look good in a variety of contexts.
Credit: Sam Willits
Features
The Powder Town has a good set of features that make this jacket easy to use on the mountain. It comes with two handwarmer pockets and one external chest pocket, as well as a ski pass pocket on the sleeve. There is one internal zippered chest pocket and one internal mesh drop-in pocket. A powder skirt and snap loop, which attaches to Patagonia snow pants, completes the full set of features.
A powder skirt and two large interior pockets add plenty of versatility to this inexpensive shell.
Credit: Jackie Kearney
Should You Buy the Patagonia Powder Town?
This jacket isn't cheap, but compared to the rest of the competition, it's a good deal. There are very few shell jackets on the market that cost less, especially considering the high level of weather resistance and comfort that this jacket provides. There are less expensive options on the market, but not by much. As such, this is a great choice for everyday resort skiers who want a good deal but who are also willing to spend just a little more to have a high-performance shell.
The Powder Town is a great choice for users who want a versatile shell jacket with a great fit, at an affordable price.
Credit: Sam Willits
What Other Ski Jackets Should You Consider?
If you are on a tight budget while shopping for ski shells, the REI Co-op First Chair GTX is a bit less expensive and very similar in performance. We like the Powder Town a bit more, but the REI jacket will save you a little money. For the best shell jacket that money can buy, the Arc'teryx Sabre is a great choice. If backcountry skiing is on the agenda, the Arc'teryx Rush is super versatile for both inbounds and off-piste skiing. And if you are looking for good deals but need the warmth of an insulated jacket, the REI Powderbound is our top recommendation for you.
—Jeff Dobronyi
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