Owner Review: Patagonia Supercell Jacket

 

 

Reviewer Information

Name: Chad Brackelsberg
Age: 32
Gender: Male
Height: 6’ 1” (185 cm)
Weight: 160 lbs (72.5 kg)
Email address: chadbrackelsberg@yahoo.com
City, State, Country: Sandy, Utah, USA

Date: August 8, 2005

Backpacking Background:

I started backpacking in 1997 while living in Minnesota.  From my first trip I was hooked. I have spent time backpacking throughout the US as well as in New Zealand, India, Thailand, and Nepal.  My trips have ranged from short mileage overnight trips to long mileage day trips to 30-day trips covering over 300 miles. Through these trips I have learned that with a light pack I have a more enjoyable time so I am always looking for ways to cut pack weight.  I now reside in Utah where there is ample opportunity for fantastic mountain and desert backpacking as well as high mileage day trips.

 

 

Product Information

Manufacturer: Patagonia

Year of manufacture: 2003

URL: www.patagonia.com

Listed weight: 15 oz (425 g) (size large)

Actual Weight: 16 oz (454 g) (size medium)

MSRP: $179 US

Product description:

The Supercell jacket is a light weight, 2.5 layer, water proof, breathable jacket.  The jacket is made with an internal H2No^® HB (highly breathable) barrier with a 2.7 oz (76.5 g) ripstop nylon outer with a Deluge™ DWR finish.  The jacket has the following features:

• Highly compressible to take up minimal room in a pack

• Taped seams

• Mid-length cut with a longer tail reaches approximately half way down my bottom which I have found beneficial for both cycling and backpacking.

• The front zipper runs freely and has a water flap secured by hook and loop closures to protect against leakage

• The jacket has a single adjustable hem drawcord allowing me to keep the jacket snug on the bottom and preventing it from riding up on my waist

• Elbow-to-waist pit zips for excellent ventilation

• A large hood with a brim to drain water off the side and drawcords to make it adjustable by pulling the sides of the hood back and snug the hood around the face.  The hood rolls down and secures around the collar with a hook and loop flap.

• Adjustable hook and loop closure cuffs allow me to tighten them to keep rain out or keep them loose to aide in ventilation

• The only pockets are large mesh internal pockets with ample storage space for my hat, gloves, and other miscellaneous items

 

 

Field information
The Supercell is a lightweight rain jacket that has stood up to the abuse that I have given it.  The jacket was purchased to replace a much heavier 3 layer waterproof jacket.  Since purchasing the Supercell, it has been my primary rain and wind jacket for hiking, backpacking, and bike touring trips.  The jacket is compressible enough to roll into a 2 x 13 in (5 x 33 cm) loaf and stuff in the sleeping bag compartment of my backpack.  I always hope my rain gear remains stuffed into an accessible pocket on my pack but when I have had to rely on the jacket, I have been very satisfied.  In warm weather, the elbow-to-waist pit zips allow superb ventilation.  The internal layer does not get clammy on warm days and the nylon outer layer keeps the wind out and keeps me warm on cool days.  The hood is large enough to fit over a bike helmet or adjustable enough to fit tight over my head using the 2 hood adjustments.

 

I have used this jacket on many short trips when the performance of the jacket was not pushed, but I have also used it on longer trips and pushed the jacket to its limits.  On a 30 day bike tour through the South Island of New Zealand in November (a month where it is known to rain every day) I wore the Supercell jacket daily as wind protection on cold mornings (32 F, 0 C), during cold weather rain (35 F, 2 C) when warmth was required, and during warm weather rain (80 F, 27 C) when good ventilation was required from both the pit zips and the cuffs.  The Supercell jacket kept me dry in all of these instances except during fast descents when speeds exceeded around 35 mph (56 kph).  At these high speeds the impact of the rain caused some seepage which appeared as though it was coming through the taped seams.  On a seven day traverse of the Uinta Mountains in Utah, the jacket was used to keep dry during the daily thunder storms.  When hiking through driving rain with a 50+ lb (23+ kg) pack, the jacket kept me totally dry.  There was no leakage from the seams or from the pressure of the pack straps.  When hiking in the warmer rain, the inside on the back of the jacket became wet from perspiration, but quickly dried from body heat when finished hiking.

 

 

Summary

The Supercell jacket is a light weight, waterproof, breathable shell that stands up to severe weather and keeps me dry and warm in the process.  I have been very happy with the performance of the jacket when hiking, biking, and backpacking.  Since this is a lightweight jacket I am concerned about the jacket’s ability to withstand the continual abuse of skiing, rock climbing, or ice climbing.  I have not subjected the jacket to this type of abuse due to these concerns.

 

My favorite aspects of this jacket are:

·        Superb Ventilation

·        Light weight

·        Small pack size

·        Highly adjustable hood