Patagonia Torrentshell 3L (women’s) review: a three-layer shell at a mid price
Most rain jackets at a moderate price use a light 2.5-layer fabric that keeps rain out for a few seasons and can then wear thin from the inside. The Patagonia Torrentshell 3L uses a full three-layer fabric, the construction used in far more expensive jackets, and adds pit zips and a hood that adjusts properly, in a women’s cut.
Quick take
A three-layer rain shell for regular hikers at a mid-range price. The women’s Torrentshell 3L kept testers and long-term users dry through days of heavy rain, has pit zips for venting, packs into its own pocket and is built to last for years. The fabric is stiff and crinkly, it is cut close at the hips, and it is not the most breathable jacket on a hard climb. For most hiking in wet weather it is a strong choice.
What it does
The Torrentshell 3L is a three-layer rain jacket. A waterproof, breathable membrane is bonded between a 50-denier recycled nylon ripstop face and a soft knit backer, and the three are one fabric. In a 2.5-layer jacket the inner face of the membrane is covered only by a thin printed coating, which feels clammy against bare skin and wears through first. The knit backer of a three-layer fabric protects the membrane from sweat, skin oil and abrasion, so the jacket lasts longer and is more comfortable over a T-shirt. The cost is a fabric that is stiffer and noisier than a light shell, most noticeably when new.
Patagonia tests the fabric to its own H2No waterproof standard, and the water-repellent finish on the outside is made without PFCs. The seams are taped. The front zip is covered by a storm flap, and there are two zipped hand pockets.
For venting there is a zip under each arm. The hood adjusts at the back and the sides and has a stiffened visor, the cuffs close with hook-and-loop tabs, the hem has a drawcord, and the collar is lined with soft fleece at the chin. The jacket stuffs into its left hand pocket, which has a loop for clipping it to a pack or harness.
The women’s jacket weighs 12.4 ounces (352 g) and comes in sizes from XXS to XXL. It is sewn in a Fair Trade Certified factory and covered by Patagonia’s guarantee, which includes repairs.
What verified buyers say
Across verified-purchase reviews, the same points come up:
- Dry in real rain. The most common report, from eight days of hiking in a coastal rainforest to repeated downpours in town, with the upper body dry while trousers and shoes soaked through.
- Sleeves long enough. Owners with long arms say the cuffs stay over the wrists when reaching, and the collar zips high over the chin.
- Pit zips and packability. The underarm vents are used often, and the jacket stuffs into its pocket for travel and for carrying in a pack.
- Well made. Buyers who had other jackets delaminate describe this one as sturdier, with a better lining.
- Close at the hips. Roomy in the shoulders and chest, snug at the hem. Several went up a size for their hips or to fit a mid layer.
- Stiff and a little noisy. Mentioned often, and seldom as a reason to return it.
- A minority had jackets that wet through. A small share report water coming through within months, in some cases after washing and re-treating as directed.
Worth knowing
This is a rain shell with moderate breathability. On a steep climb in mild weather you are likely to sweat inside it, so open the pit zips early and slow down before you overheat. When rain stops beading and the face fabric darkens, the jacket is not leaking, but it will feel cold and damp and stop breathing. Wash it with a technical cleaner and tumble dry on low to revive the finish, and re-treat it when that no longer works. The front zip relies on a storm flap, so in wind-driven rain some water can reach the zip. The hand pockets sit where a pack hip belt covers them, and there is no chest or inside pocket. The hood drawcord is awkward to adjust with the hood up, so set it before the rain starts. If you are between sizes or carry your width at the hips, try the larger size.
Who it is for
The women’s Torrentshell 3L is for hikers, backpackers and paddlers who are out in the rain often enough to wear out a lighter jacket, and who want one shell that will also serve for travel and daily wear. It suits three-season use and works as a wind shell over insulation in winter.
If you want the lightest packable shell and hike mostly in showers, the Marmot PreCip Eco (women’s) weighs less. For sustained mountain storms and more venting, the Outdoor Research Aspire 3L opens from hem to bicep. For an inexpensive first shell, see the Columbia Arcadia II. The men’s version is reviewed separately: Torrentshell 3L (men’s). Our guide to what to wear in the bush covers the layers that go under a shell.
Specs at a glance
- Type3-layer waterproof-breathable shell
- FabricH2No, 50D recycled nylon ripstop, PFC-free finish
- Ventingpit zips
- Hoodadjustable, stiffened visor
- Cuffshook-and-loop
- Packs into its left pocket
- SizesXXS to XXL
- Listed weight12.4 oz (352 g) · women's
- Best forregular hiking and backpacking in rain
These links go to MEC and REI, which are authorized Patagonia dealers and stock the full size range, so the jacket comes with Patagonia’s guarantee. We have no affiliate relationship with either and earn nothing if you buy through them.
The Verdict
The Patagonia Torrentshell 3L gives regular hikers a durable three-layer rain jacket with pit zips and a good hood at a moderate price, and independent testers rank it at or near the top of its class. It is stiffer than a 2.5-layer shell, only moderately breathable, and close at the hips. For frequent use in wet weather it is a sound choice. For a lighter shell, see the Marmot PreCip Eco (women’s); for the hardest mountain weather, the Outdoor Research Aspire 3L.
