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Outerwear

Patagonia Snowdrifter 2020-2021 Snowboard Jacket Review

  • Waterproof/Breathability: Gore-Tex
  • Shell/Insulated: Shell
  • Fit: Slim
  • Category: Backcountry
  • Size: XS/S/M/L/XL
  • Colour: N/A
  • Price: £360

Why we chose the Patagonia Snowdrifter Snowboard Jacket: 3L backcountry specific jacket made out of 70% recycled material, available for both men and women.

Last year, the world was introduced to Patagonia’s Shell Yeah campaign, a campaign that celebrated the fact that all of Patagonia’s shells for 2019/20 were manufactured using recycled materials while also being Fairtrade sewn. After the roaring success of the line, the Shell Yeah collection, including the Patagonia Snowdrifter jacket, is back for a second season; leading the way to a more sustainable future for the outerwear industry.

Patagonia’s Snowdrifter jacket has been a huge favourite amongst the riders who like to spend their time off the beaten path and explore what lies outside the boundaries of the resorts. Designed to tackle anything mother nature throws your way, the 3L shell is back for its second season with an updated colourway – for both men and women.

“Patagonia’s Snowdrifter jacket has been a huge favourite amongst the riders who like to spend their time off the beaten path and explore what lies outside the boundaries of the resorts”

If you’re looking for something casual to throw on for a day spent cruising down the pistes, the Snowdrifter might be a bit too spenny for that purpose. However, if you’ve got any intention of making your way into the backcountry, you really ought to make sure you’ve got the right equipment for that and a jacket like the Snowdrifter, one that can properly keep the elements at bay, will come in handy.

A 3-layer-fabric is your best choice when hiking off the beaten track. You’ve got the outer layer, or ‘face fabric’, which keeps the elements out, and a membrane that’s been bonded to it. A mesh is then bonded to the inner surface to provide comfort, which you’ll come to appreciate when trekking up the mountain.

Patagonia uses their own H2NO performance standard to measure the jackets waterproofness, breathability and durability – three of the most important features for a jacket to exceed in when likely to be faced with rigid conditions. Not only does the Snowfdrifter do well when exposed to all three tests, but its stretchy fabric also makes it easier to move in.

The Snowdrifter doesn’t just have high technical standards, it also sits right up there on the sustainability league table – something to consider when purchasing outerwear in general. The jacket is made out of 100% polyester, of which 70% is recycled.

If you’re afraid that a shell won’t be able to keep you warm, the Snowdrifter has got a good amount of space for layering underneath too. The fit is tight enough for what you’d expect from a backcountry specific snowboard jacket, patterned for uphill and downhill movement whilst the slightly longer back protects your behind better than a standard alpine shell. It’s also extremely lightweight (587g for men and 510g for women), and easily packable into a tiny space.

“The Snowdrifter doesn’t just have high technical standards, it also sits right up there on the sustainability league table”

In addition, the Patagonia Snowdrifter has also got a powder skirt, pit-zip venting and a RECCO reflector.

Striving for a more sustainable future, Patagonia is a firm believer in producing durable products as the production of new products is what creates the highest carbon footprint. Rather than encouraging consumers to buy a new jacket, Patagonia offers its customers the chance to send their ripped clothing back for them to fix – without any extra cost. Spending that £400 on a jacket doesn’t sound that bad now, does it?

The Snowdrifter is ready to take anything thrown its way. If you want to match the jacket, take a look at the Patagonia Snowdrifter Pants to get the full Patagonia treatment.

Keen to read more about how this product performs away from the shelves in the shops? Have a read through this test of the Patagonia Snowdrifter jacket and bib pants.

The female model in the photo is 5’8” (173cm) tall and wearing size S.
The male model in the photo is 6’3” (190cm) tall and wearing size L.

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