Patagonia Jackson Glacier Review

The Patagonia Jackson Glacier is a down hybrid coat with 700-fill-power down insulation, a water-tight 2-way zipper, and low-key style that makes it wearable for almost any winter activity. It's not meant to brave arctic cold or white-out blizzards, but it is warm and protective enough to earn a top score in our testing.

Warmth

The Patagonia Jackson Glacier is not the warmest jacket we tested, but it is well above average for the group. Due to its shorter length, there is just simply not as much fabric and insulation to warm the lower body. However, the 700-fill power down provides plenty of warmth around the torso and arms. After wearing this jacket around town and on breezy e-bike commutes, our lead tester said, “The chest area felt impenetrable to the cold” compared to other jackets he has worn on the same ride. Just be sure to wear some warm pants.

We felt comfortable wearing this as a standalone jacket in 20°F-40°F while standing still, and would feel confident wearing it down into single-digit temps if we added a few layers or were actively moving. The collar zips up to the nose, and you can cinch down the hood to trap more warmth. The hood is roomy enough to wear with a beanie underneath, but not as gigantic as some others.

The weak point of the Jackson Glacier is in the wrists. There is elastic in the inner cuff, but it did not fit snugly against the wrists, and we got a shiver up our arms anytime there was a swift breeze (particularly while biking). This could be remedied by wearing gloves with a longer gauntlet that goes over the sleeves, but we prefer jackets that have a velcro or bungee pull to tighten the sleeves. It's not made for long, stationary days in brutal cold, but for most people, the warmth is adequate, and in true down jacket fashion, pulling it on feels more like wearing a warm cloud than a winter coat, but with an extra punch of weather-proofing on top.

Weather Resistance

The Jackson Glacier is very weatherproof, repelling water and wind with ease. The Patagonia Jackson Glacier became the go-to jacket for our tester's bike commute to the office. Riding in a mix of slushy late fall precipitation, frigid early morning winter temps, and a 20°F windchill that comes with riding an e-bike into work, this jacket got a taste of it all.

It has almost no exposed seams, the waterproof zippers are bomber (a common weak point for many winter jackets), and it has a 1-inch wide storm flap behind to further protect from the wind. As noted above, cold air can creep in through the sleeves, which can be annoying depending on your glove choice. Unlike the wrist cuffs, the waist hem has a cinch bungee built in that you can tighten to keep the breeze from blowing up your back, which we appreciate in a shorter length jacket.

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The shell is made with Patagonia's H2No performance fabric (the same fabric that makes the Patagonia Tres so water resistant). In our shower tests, water beaded up and rolled off immediately. After spending a good 5 minutes under a full flow of water, the t-shirt our tester was wearing underneath was completely dry, and the jacket did not feel heavy or saturated like some others. We were able to simply shake off whatever water was left; no need to wait for it to dry before heading outside again.

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Unfortunately, the hood is not as protective in stormy weather because it lacks a ruff, baffle, or visor to keep wind and precipitation away from the face. It has a cinch around the hood to close it up around your face, but it would be nice to have a brim or ruff for better wind/snow deflection.

Comfort

The Patagonia Glacier hits the sweet spot for comfort. It is roomy enough to layer underneath, without being so big that we felt like we were wearing a giant sleeping bag. Mobility is great, and our shoulders never felt restricted. Since it is a shorter jacket, you don't have to worry about leg movement being restricted either.

Small touches like a zipper garage and fleece lining around the collar keep your face protected and prevent an unfortunate beard-in-the-zipper situation. The hood does not impact peripheral vision too much, but if you need to stay extra aware of your surroundings (such as when riding a bike in traffic), there is a rear cinch that keeps the hood further back from your eyes.

It was hard to find any negative points about the Glacier's comfort. Our tester noted, “It doesn't feel heavy to wear like some jackets. I almost didn't know I was wearing it around.” It is

Versatility and Style

The Patagonia Jackson Glacier is not a statement piece, nor is it a highly technical-looking piece of gear. This jacket has a basic, under-the-radar look that fits in just about anywhere. However, it's not the most versatile in terms of weather conditions. It doesn't have any snaps, so you can't leave the zipper open and snaps shut for ventilation on warmer days. However, it does have a two-way front zip that serves a similar purpose. The hood is not detachable.

The collar is relatively fitted, and there might not be enough room to wear a scarf underneath. However, when fully zipped, it reaches your nose, and you might not need a scarf anyway. We were also slightly annoyed by the way the sleeves came up short of our wrists when holding our arms up. To fix this problem, you'll have to wear a glove with an extra-long gauntlet to keep out snow and wind. However, this also means they don't bunch around the wrists as much when standing normally, lending a cleaner look to the jacket.

The pockets open wide enough to fit gloved hands inside, and they are deep enough to hold wallet, phone, keys, and an extra beanie if you need it, and there is a small inner chest pocket that keeps cold sensitive items warm and protected. Perhaps the most versatile thing about the Glacier jacket is that it can fit in just about anywhere. You could wear it to walk the dog or shovel the driveway during the day, and then wear it to dinner in the evening without looking out of place.

Construction Quality

The Jackson Glacier is made with the understated quality we have come to expect from Patagonia. The dense material, high-loft down, and 2-layer outer shell come together to make a jacket with very few weak points. Both the down fill and the polyester fill are made from 100% recycled materials.

We were impressed with how well it resisted intentional abrasion, showing only slight markings when scraped with the end of a paper clip. The dense material did not snag or catch on protruding branches, which gives us confidence that the material will continue to look sharp for years to come, no matter where you choose to wear this jacket.

There are few places on the jacket with exposed seams, and where we were able to find them, the stitching is tight and even. The first place we could see wearing out is the elastic bungee cords used to cinch the hood and waist. Elastic stretches out with use, and will inevitably lose its ability to retract over time.

Should You Buy the Patagonia Jackson Glacier?

The Patagonia Jackson Glacier is a great option for the casual wearer who wants to stay warm without making a statement. While it may not be what you would grab to head out into the blizzard of the century, it is what you'll reach for on a daily basis. If, like most of us, your winter routine involves walking or biking around town, shoveling the driveway, and the occasional sledding day, the Jackson Glacier will be a good fit. Particularly if you live in a climate that experiences heavy wet snow and biting winds.

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