![]() ![]() ![]() That quality also means this jacket does well in warmer weather, like shoulder season or cool spring or even summer evenings. On a peak with a stiff wind, wearing this jacket on its own or even with layers underneath, getting stuck without a shell would be a very chilly experience. It’s normal for me to wear this without a shell in the winter when I’m moving uphill, then pull on a shell or puffy layer when I stop or get to a point where I’m more exposed to the wind. That can be an advantage if you want to bleed off extra heat and moisture. (The Retro-X is a stiffer, heavier jacket, very wind-resistant, and much warmer as a stand-alone the Retro-X is not so good at wicking moisture or letting heat escape if you need that). In that respect, it’s very different from the similar-looking Patagonia Retro-X Jacket, which has a fuzzy outside backed by a fleece wind stopper layer. Wind blows right through it, more so than most fleece or even the Nano Air jackets. Wearing this jacket without a shell is a different story. Worn in temps under 20 degrees with a thick fuzzy layer underneath. ![]() Functionally, it operates in the same space as Patagonia’s Nano Air Jackets or older versions of the Arc'teryx Atom (before they beefed up the outer shell). And, as I’ll discuss more below, this wicks better than a shelled synthetic puffy jacket. That’s an advantage for winter hiking and climbing, where the combination of cold weather and hard aerobic work might not be ideal conditions for a down sweater. If you wear retro pile under a shell, you create a healthy amount of airspace under the shell, so it keeps you really warm-more so than many other types of fleece. One of the primary strengths of this jacket is its insulating value worn under a shell compared to how it insulates on its own. Length-wise, the hem sits a bit below my hips. I chose to buy a men’s XXL in this jacket, though it’s a size larger than recommended, because I wanted room to wear layers underneath. The pullover, when I tried it on, was more narrowly cut, so much so that I would definitely would have had to size up. You can safely buy them with the size Patagonia offers unless you intend to layer quite a bit underneath, in which case sizing up could be prudent. The Retro Pile Vest and full zip jacket are "regular fit," so they’re definitely not an athletic or tapered fit. Sizing can be a little bit of an adventure with Patagonia. OG retro pile jacket - this one has stitched on patch pockets, nylon shell fabric covering the elbows, and shock cords that tighten at the hem and neck. These were first made with the fuzzy side facing out, then reversed because the outer-facing fuzz had a tendency to pill in a way that didn’t impair how they functioned but looked unsightly. The inside of the fleece is somewhat smoother than the outside pockets are backed by polyester mesh.įor fun, here is a photo of the early '90s Patagonia pile jacket I still have and wear from time to time. The wrists and hem are not adjustable but are finished with elastic. The fabric is milled up to be thicker than standard fleece it’s a pretty loose, stretchy fabric. Patagonia also sells the same type of fleece fabric in Retro Pile Vest and pullover/half zip versions. The full-zip jacket has two lower zip pockets and a zippered chest pocket, and a hang loop by the neck. Patagonia makes them in a greater-than-normal size run of men's XXS through 3XL and women's XS through XXL. The Patagonia men’s Retro Pile Jacket is a riff on the company’s original pile jackets-higher bulk fleece with very limited water resistance, designed to let air flow through and wick heat and moisture away. Patagonia’s zipper pulls are simple and easy to grip you can remove them if you want. Zipped up (accurate view of the color) Full jacket view. ![]()
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