Patagonia M10 Storm - Women's Review

The Patagonia M10 Storm is no ordinary hardshell jacket. Weighing in at nearly half the weight of many other hardshells on the market, the M10 is constructed from three-layer recycled nylon and “H2No” waterproof treatment. It's incredibly versatile, for a wide range of activities, seasons, and climates, from backcountry skiing, to rock climbing, to backpacking. Don't judge this jacket by its weight, either: It provides an impressive amount of weather protection in a tiny package. For demanding alpine mission where weight is front-of-mind, or even simple high output cardio during wet winter storms, this lightweight hardshell is a standout. It's also a reasonable price, environmentally conscious and free of harmful chemicals.

Weather Protection

The M10 Storm is made from a uniquely breathable and waterproof fabric that's exceptionally lightweight. It's called the Storm for a reason: This is the jacket you pack for emergency storm situations on big alpine climbing routes or unexpectedly wet ice climbs. While we thought that the lightweight fabric would equal less than adequate protection, this didn't prove to be the case. “Even in super heavy snow, this jacket was impressive. It beads water as well as a hardshell that's twice the thickness,” noted our lead tester.

While we found that the M10 Storm provided impressive protection for its weight, where it suffers a bit is in extremely cold, high winds, when you're stationary (like for resort skiing). This was just about the only time we wished for a thicker fabric. “In the shower test, it held up admittedly much better than I thought. It beaded moisture almost as well as the GoreTex Pro jackets, at nearly half the weight,” said our lead tester. While thicker fabric doesn't always equal greater performance, the M10 may be on the lighter side for exceptionally cold or wet days, but for the most part it performed with the best of them.

Mobility and Fit

The M10 is made of a thin, malleable material that generally moves with you without pulling or bunching. Unlike burlier hardshells, it doesn't bunch up and moves easily with you.

We were worried this jacket might look like a rain jacket when we put it on, especially in a skiing context, but the longer fit and drop hem actually make it both quite stylish and a highly protective cut. Due to that long cut, we found that it stayed in place well during dynamic movement, like swinging an ice tool or climbing a couloir, and it never pulled out from under our harness. There's even an ultralight knit backer so that the jacket feels more comfortable against bare skin on warmer days, and it notably avoids the “plasticky” feeling that many hardshells have.

Venting and Breathability

Three-layer H2No fabric is Patagonia's proprietary waterproof and breathable technology, designed to provide reliable, waterproof weather protection while maintaining breathability for active pursuits. It's made without harmful chemicals and recycled materials. While it has higher breathability when compared to GoreTex, it's also not as durable, wind or abrasion resistant. Compared to other hardshell materials, H2No allows more moisture to escape, allowing for better breathability.

While the thinner fabric itself has great breathability, there are no underarm vents for dumping extra heat. However, essentially anytime we wanted the additional protection of this jacket, we found that it was usually cool enough with the right layering to strike the breathability balance. Plus, adding underarm vents adds weight to the construction of the jacket overall. Ultimately, we value the low weight more than we would value the addition of underarm vents to this mostly sufficiently breathable jacket. The only exception is during extremely humid conditions, when the vents can be especially helpful.

Weight

If it's not already obvious, we're incredibly impressed by just how lightweight this hardshell is. Out of all the jackets we tested, this one stands out as the absolute lightest, tipping the scales at just 9.8 ounces. To put that into perspective, it weighs less than half of some of the burlier jackets in our lineup, making it an exceptional choice for those prioritizing weight savings without sacrificing essential protection. Whether you're packing for a fast-and-light alpine mission or simply looking to cut down on bulk, this jacket offers an unparalleled balance of minimalism and performance. Its ultralight design makes it easy to stash in a pack, ensuring you always have weather protection on hand without adding unnecessary weight to your setup.

As mentioned above, the only time we wished for more weight to this jacket was when we were standing still in exceptionally cold and windy conditions. Even still, as long as we kept it moving, most of the time we found the protection solid. The one potential downfall of the low weight of this jacket is the long term durability.

Features and Design

Even despite its featherweight construction, the M10 doesn't skimp on features. It has all of the necessary features we look for in a hardshell: like a fully adjustable storm hood, adjustable cuffs and accessible pockets. However, it's too light on features overall to do double-duty as a resort skiing jacket.

While we generally prefer hand pockets, the two A-line pockets of the M10 are easily accessible when wearing either a pack or harness — or both. The weight and packability in itself are the greatest feature of the M10 Storm overall; it's almost as if its greatest attribute is the lack of unnecessary features, not the abundance of them.

Should You Buy the Patagonia M10 Storm?

The Patagonia M10 Storm is a remarkable lightweight hardshell jacket. We enjoyed bringing this jacket along for a wide range of adventures, and think that it's an incredible value. However, it's worth considering the long term durability of the lighter fabric. If you live in a very wet climate or are looking for a hardshell for ski area specific use, this jacket wouldn't be the best choice.

What Other Women's Hardshell Jackets Should You Consider?

If you're venturing out into exceptionally wet and cold climates often, this is not a jacket for tackling the most extreme weather. Additionally, if you're looking for more durability that will last you for many years, you're better off looking into a much burlier jacket that doesn't prioritize packability and weight, like the Mammut Nordwand Pro. If you're looking for a good jacket for active wear but want something that might be a bit thicker and will stand up better to intense wear, consider the affordable Rab Arc Eco - Women's - Rab Arc Eco.