Patagonia Storm Shift Insulated Review

What's most remarkable about the Patagonia Storm Shift Insulated is how it does so many things quite well, but nearly as remarkable is the exterior 2-layer Gore-Tex ePE fabric shell. With its Durable Water Repellant coating, water almost seems to leap off of it. After skiing on a sleety early-season day in Idaho, our tester simply gave the jacket a quick shake in the parking lot, and it was nearly dry for the ride home.

Warmth

The Storm Shift Insulated isn't the warmest jacket we tested, but it's still quite warm. Patagonia's “strategically placed” Thermogreen insulation feels thickest at the chest, nearly as thick on the back, and thinner through the arms. The interior side panels from the underarms down to the hem have an airy mesh liner with zero insulation. We weren't sure how the uninsulated side panels would feel on cold days, but even in temperatures in the low teens with a single-digit windchill factor, we didn't feel any coolness from the sides.

The collar isn't particularly lush, but the fit offers a good seal against drafts. It provides enough room for mobility, so we could zip it to the top and ski difficult runs without feeling constrained. The wrists have enough adjustment to fit over gloves or snug down to let gloves with gauntlets ride over the top. Either way helps seal out drafts to improve warmth. The cut also provides enough room for a warm midlayer, allowing you to layer up for extra warmth.

Weather Resistance

The most important layer for weather resistance is the outer shell. Patagonia has its own proprietary waterproof/breathable fabrics, but the company decided to go with a well-regarded 2-layer Gore-Tex ePE fabric for this jacket. Gore-Tex, in all of its variations, has always performed very well in our tests. Plus, Gore-Tex fabrics have tended to stand the test of time.

We wore this jacket on multiple ski days in both wind, snow, and sleet and found zero gaps in coverage. The hood fit our tester's helmeted head well without large gaps that required major adjustments to close. In our shower test, the seam-sealed shell fabric shed water easily for five straight minutes. The DWR coating also remained effective even after repeatedly rubbing a section of material under a constant shower. Overall, weather resistance is outstanding and functional while skiing.

Comfort and Fit

The Patagonia Storm Shift Insulated is very comfortable and uses excellent fabrics, but it's not a plush jacket. For instance, the collar just uses the shell fabric in front of the chin area. It doesn't cause any discomfort, but it's not a soft and cozy microfiber and lacks padding. The interior fabrics and insulation feel great, slide over layers with ease, and remain flexible while skiing. We do very much like the feel of a small insulated draft collar that hugged the back of our necks.

As for the fit, the Patagonia Storm Shift Insulated in size XL fit our 6'3" 220-pound tester nearly perfectly, fitting as expected compared to other XL ski jackets. He reported a cut that was just a bit athletic, just a bit trim, but it had enough interior volume to let him ski comfortably in a base layer with a thick midlayer for extra warmth. Shoulder mobility was also quite good, ranking well against other insulated jackets. Most people should be able to order their usual size.

Some insulated jackets lack arm and shoulder mobility, but the Patagonia Storm Shift Insulated bound very little under extreme movements.   Credit: Ethan Maxcer

The elbows have articulated seams that provide increased comfort and agility.   Credit: Ethan Maxcer

You don't have to chase acrobatic jumps to appreciate a well-fitting ski jacket!   Credit: Ethan Maxcer

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Breathability

When compared to most insulated jackets, the Patagonia Storm Shift Insulated is a breathability leader. Waterproof/breathable shell fabrics, like the 2-layer Gore-Tex ePE used in the Storm Shift, allow warm water vapor produced by hard-working torsos while skiing to escape. The challenge is that water vapor has to work its way through layers of synthetic insulation without condensing, which is a tough task. To help, Patagonia's uninsulated side panels give water vapor a chance to escape without needing to pass through insulation.

While skiing in Idaho in temperatures ranging from the low teens to the mid-twenties, our lead tester experienced remarkable dryness and comfortable thermoregulation, despite ripping multiple runs in quick succession.

Of course, when he did heat up to uncomfortable levels, the long, 13.25-inch underarm vents unzipped easily, letting him dump heat quickly. Overall breathability and ventilation is at the top of all insulated jackets we've tested, but it isn't nearly as good as the best completely uninsulated shell jackets — which are designed for maximum breathability and ventilation.

Style

The slightly athletic cut of the Patagonia Storm Shift Insulated offers a stylish, functional profile. The quality of materials and construction creates a sense of refinement. At no point did anyone we skied with consider this a flashy jacket. It has a timeless, clean, crisp, and classic vibe that most seem to appreciate. They might offer nods of approval, but they're not giving serious curiosity or interest to the look.

Patagonia's muted color options don't attract attention, and they're unlikely to annoy anyone when you ski in this jacket a few years from now. However, if you crave a pop of color, you'll need to add it through your goggles, helmet, or ski pants.

Features

The Storm Shift Insulated has all the core features we expect in good ski jackets, but not all are top-of-the-line. For instance, you only get one exterior chest pocket, which is handy, but why not two? This is a spendy jacket, so why not increase the functionality? The insulated hood is a nice touch, and the overall fit of the collar is fantastic, but it lacks any soft materials that can make cold days feel cozier on bare skin. No worries if you've got a beard, but clean-shaven guys might appreciate a micro-fiber lining.

The pit zips are large and feature two-way zippers for on-the-go adjustment. The pass pocket in the sleeve with a waterproof zipper is much appreciated, and the draft collar at the back of the neck is a nice touch. The non-removable powder skirt has a low-profile taper, which is both a pro and a con: when not snapped, it performs better than most traditional designs, which is good because many people forget to snap them or don't bother. However, when the pow is deep, the low-profile front provides less gap coverage if the hem is moving around a lot when you're in the mind to crush some runs.

We appreciate how this little draft collar improves comfort and warmth.   Credit: Chris Maxcer

The powder skirt tapers to the front.   Credit: Chris Maxcer

We're fans of the large interior mesh goggle pocket.   Credit: Chris Maxcer

The sleeve pass pocket is handy for RFID lift passes.   Credit: Chris Maxcer

The helmet-compatible hood fits and provides good coverage even before fine-tuning adjustments. It's a nice feature for those who rarely use their hoods but want one available just in case.   Credit: Ethan Maxcer

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Should You Buy the Patagonia Storm Shift Insulated?

The Patagonia Storm Shift Insulated is an outstanding do-it-all insulated ski jacket with targeted insulation that delivers warmth without easy overheating. With excellent waterproofing, we think it's a winner for resort skiers who aren't sure what conditions they'll face up on the hill and want a no-fuss, versatile jacket. The simple style won't turn many heads, but it's also built to last, making this a solid investment despite the premium pricing. It's not a good jacket for truly hard-charging skiers or backcountry explorers, who should look more toward uninsulated shells and layering options to achieve best-in-class breathability.

What Other Ski Jackets Should You Consider?

If you're looking for a very warm, plush, and premium option, check out the Helly Hansen Alpha LifaLoft. It's warmer than the Storm Shift and includes a soft insulated collar, stretchy wrist/thumb gaiters that seal out drafts, and lots of bright color choices. At a much lower price point, the Obermeyer Raze offers great insulation in a cut that provides superb mobility for active skiers, though it's not quite as rugged. If you're thinking of getting into skinning up slopes to earn your turns far away from ski lifts, the Arc'teryx Rush is one of the best lightweight, uninsulated shells we've tested — just remember that you'll need to always plan for insulating through under layers.