This year may be a drier one due to the lack of snow but it doesn’t mean that it’s going to be warmer or that the man-made snow at our Idaho resorts won’t be fun. I for one, love a great snow year but detest being cold. Enter Patagonia’s Storm Shift Jacket for all your mountain time adventures.
The Storm Shift Jacket is beautifully constructed and comes in some fun colors for 2023-2024. I have the Obsidian Plum colorway, a saturated purple with a great pop of turquoise on the interior. The outer shell is made of GORE-TEX material (fabrics, membrane, and DWR) made without perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs/PFAS) thus making it both windproof and waterproof.
Body-mapped fleece lining helps to pull moisture away from your body and allows it to dry quickly so you can keep skiing. This may be one of the warmest jackets I have worn out on the mountain in a few years.
When the wind really starts to blow, the higher collar helps to keep warmth in. The helmet-compatible hood also comes in clutch when I need that extra layer of protection from the elements. Unlike other “helmet compatible hoods,” the Storm Shift Jacket actually allows for range of motion when worn and you can easily look up the trail or have it on while throwing your boots on.
The Storm Shift comes loaded with pockets; two zippered handwarmer pockets; a zippered chest pocket; a zippered forearm pocket; an interior zippered pocket; and two interior drop-in pockets. All external pockets are watertight thanks to coated zippers. Large armpit “pit zips” help keep your temperature regulated.
Other reviews remark on the “bagginess” of the jacket. Personally, I found it to be quite comfortable and I appreciate the hip-friendly cut. Not all of us are rail thin and I’m digging the room to move my booty! I’m also a chronic layer-er so it’s nice to be able to wear my emotional support vest underneath.
The Patagonia Storm Shift Jacket weighs in at only 723 g and packs down well to fit in any bag. It comes in 4 colors, Cosmic Gold is a STRONG contender against the Obsidian Plum. The Storm Shift Jacket retails for $499. It is great for all levels of skier/snowboarder. You can grab yours on the Patagonia website.