Patagonia Primo Jacket

Bombproof, high quality and stylish. The Primo is totally waterproof, highly breathable, lightweight and comfortable and fully featured.

The Primo is an awesome piece of kit. For me at 5'11" and 40" chest the fit in medium is good, allowing for layering (I've worn base layer, fleece and gilet without feeling restricted) and the cut allows for completely comfortable movement without anything pulling or binding. The fit suits me fine, just long enough in the sleeves and waist but not so much as I look like a park grom. The Goretex is totally waterproof, highly breathable, lightweight and comfortable, it's also really tough.

There are loads of features most of which are excellent. Internal and external pockets are all well placed, big enough and with tough waterproof zippers (on the outside). The zips are a little fiddly with gloves on (small pulls and don't glide totally smoothly) but not impossible to use. The music device pocket inside the chest pocket is a bit tight for an iphone but would fit an ipod mini/nano.

Cuffs are well thought and easy to adjust, powder skirt stays put and seals out snow, even better when attached to the compatible loops on Patagonia pants (yes, I'm a fan boy!). Waist and hood draw cords work but there's a knack to it, although I've not really needed to use them. Initially the hood feels a bit tight over a helmet but it stays put, seals out snow and allows good movement. The collar is independent of hood so whether the hood is up or down it sits reasonably comfortably round neck and chin if perhaps a little bit tight to duck your chin and mouth into. There is nice fine fleece around the inside of the collar to help movement and reduce chafing.

So it's a pricey piece with colours perhaps not to everyone's liking and a few very small compromises, but the design, build and material quality - it's all there in spades. This jacket is going to last me a long time and won't ever leave me wanting!

Let's start. I'm Italian and I paid this jacket a lot: 300 euros (391 dollars) on sale, from 399 euros of the bill (520 dollars) -- our customers are totally crazy and thieves!!!. So, I paid it more than how much Patagonia makes it cost (350 dollars) on its on-line shop.
Anyway it was my only possible way to buy a good gear here in my town.

This is the first review and it concerns the "us in town", and I used it biking in the street with cold and rain sometimes:
it behaved as a marvellous jacket! Awesome!
goods: Light, comfortable making movements, absolutely wind/waterproof, pitzips everywere. Great hood.

bads: very minimalist shell. few pockets, and not so deep to easily pack-in a thick beanie. the "neck-mouth wall" sometimes goes under the chin cutting. I must use a thin but usefull fleece-necklace.
Ok. I bought the Primo for harder conditions, so I'm going to try it on the snow. So I'll make the second part of the review later. Bye!
Carlo

Update: April 24, 2005

This is the second review I make about this gear, as I promised, because I managed to use it snowboarding on Dolomiti Mountains the last three months.

I can't rate it 3 stars because the Primo is a really good ski-jacket (it has powder-skirt). Comfortable, strong with reinforces on shoulders and bottom, great hood, warm neck, and typicall Patagonia finishes.

BUT, I can't rate it 5 stars, and so I can't be so enthusiast as other reviewers, because of the lack o pockets, and because Primo has got only two taped zips, while the zip of the breastpocket is not (why?), and pitzips are quite impossible to open/close with one hand wearing gloves (expecially wearing snowboard gloves).

I wouldn't pay 300 euros for this jacket again. A TNF hyvent cheaper jacket (es. caber hybrid) wouldn't be useless for my needs. Surely is an all-around alpine jacket. But the price is too high.

Confirmed 4 stars. And I keep it hoping it will last years.

Fit is odd, pockets small, quality jacket.

I have only worn this once on a windy day climbing a mountain.

The fit is odd with this model, I originally bought a large thinking I would have room for layering, it was way too big. When I returned it for a medium everything fit except for the arm length, I knew from talking to Patagonia and reading their fitment chart it would be a little big. I weigh 160lbs. 5'10"

The pockets are too small, I have to squeeze my fingerless wool gloves and my winter hat in the pockets (hat in one and gloves in the other) but once I get them in they fit fine because they are deep pockets.

My jacket was purchased at the Patagonia outlet in Reno and is the previous version of the Primo Jacket. I skied with it last month at a resort overlooking Lake Tahoe on a day when it was blowing and snowing hard, no one else was on the slope. We stopped at the top overlooking the lake before skiing downslope. At that point we cracked open some ice cold beers and enjoyed them and the view in very cold conditions. That jacket is a beautiful thing. Of course I also had on Primo pants and gloves.

As a professional skier I must count on my gear. I wore my Primo Jacket and Primo Pants yesterday in -10 conditions. With my layers under them I was warm as toast. Wind doesn't bother me a bit. They wear well and I love them enough that I just bought another color set today. Enjoy the snow!;-)

I work on the ski patrol in the winter. I have used the Primo Jacket for three winters and am lost without it. I am planning to buy another one for my off duty skiing. This jacket is a real best buy, it is tough, looks good, and wears great.

This jacket is awesome! I bought it to go on a winter backpacking trip, but I ended up wearing it as a main winter coat. No wind or water will get through it! It is very warm as well.