2009 Patagonia R2 Jacket - First Impressions

About the Patagonia R2 Jacket

Along with my Patagonia Primo Jacket and PantsI received an R2 jacket to serve as my insulation layer.  Like I said in that article I have gotten a late start in testing my new ski gear but I plan on giving it a run for it's money in the coming months.  Before we get too involved let's take a look at the R2 jacket features from the Patagonia website:

• Highly technical R2 fabric is light, stretchy and compressible, with great breathability
• Insulating long fibers alternate with dense, supportive short fibers to optimize insulation and reduce bulk
• Directional knit wicks moisture and speeds dry time
• Inner collar lined with R1® fabric (made with recycled polyester) for next-to-skin comfort; collar and protective chin flap lined with R1 fabric (made with recycled polyester) for next-to-skin comfort
• Low-bulk R1 fabric cuffs
• Pockets: one chest and zippered handwarmers; zippers all welded and reinforced with Supplex® for snag-free operation
• Shoulder seams set forward for pack-wearing comfort
• R2® shell: 7.4-oz Polartec® Thermal Pro® 100% polyester (40% recycled) fleece. R1® panels: 6.5-oz Polartec Power Dry® 93% polyester (60% recycled)/7% spandex. Recyclable through the Common Threads Recycling Program
• 419 g (14.8 oz)
• Made in Colombia.

First Impressions of the Patagonia R2 Jacket

The first thing I noticed when I pulled the R2 jacket out of the box was how light it was, even for a fleece.  The high loft of the soft polyester fleece seems ideal for great compressibility while providing great insulation qualities.  It's quite soft too!  It is a shame that Patagonia hasn't been able to get a lightweight fleece such as the R2 with wind resistant properties like the R4 but I suppose that's the trade-off.  That said, the R2 jacket seems to be constructed to the high standards that is common of Patagonia.  I did have a few issues when I wore the jacket around the neighborhood for the first time.  The fit seems to be a little weird with a tight fit in the shoulders and arms.  Perhaps I was wearing a bulky sweater, but it still struck me as odd.  The second problem I have is similar to the many jackets sporting a napoleon pocket: when reaching to unzip the jacket I tend to grab the pocket zipper instead.  It's really a love hate relationship with napoleon pockets in general.  Otherwise there seems to be no problem with materials, design, or construction.

What We're Looking for in the Patagonia R2 Jacket

In the next few months we will be testing the Patagonia R2 jacket under hard shells while skiing both downhill and AT, on it's own while climbing in the Gunks, and of course we will be wearing it around town after a day of hiking.  We expect the R2 jacket to perform as advertised with it's light weight, compressible, insulation goodness. Make sure you subscribe to out RSS Feed so you don't miss the final review.