Reader Reviews

Rating: 4 / 5

I bought this in part motivated by a glowing review in Backpacker magazine, plus this review from Outside:
http://outside.away.com/outside/gear/gear.tcl?gear=Patagonia-Spraymaster&gear_id=2461&action=showgear
And it was also only around $100 during a Patagonia sale.
My version is a couple years old, so I don’t know if the current version is any different, but here goes:
- Stretchiness makes it very comfy to wear, just like a soft shell.
- Abrasion resistance also like a soft shell.
- Waterproof so far in my experience (including sideways wind-driven rain recently on Mt Hood that started to soak my Schoeller Dynamic pants – short ski tour, with easy bail points, so wasn’t worried about the safety implications of wet legs).
- Breathability is *not* like a soft shell!
I view this kind of like a niche garment on my quiver, that gets used only for specific purposes, although when I use it for those purposes, I like it:
– backcountry skiing tight glades, where I don’t need a hard shell (since the weather is ok), and a lightweight windshirt would get ripped to shreds, so the Spraymaster is much lighter than a Schoeller Dynamic or Dryskin soft shell yet fulfills the same purpose (breathability doesn’t matter that much since I skin up just in a regular shirt with nothing else on top)
– short hikes when I know I’ll be in rain, so a lightweight windshirt is just going to get wet, and the Spraymaster is more comfortable than my lightweight hard shell (original TNF Diad), even though it doesn’t breathe any better.

Rating: 3 / 5

This Jacket is a great idea, but unfortunately did not perform as well as I'd hoped.

It comes in at 11.7 oz. in a size M, which is heavier than specified from Patagonia.

Pros:
- fabric has great 'hand' and feel
- waterproof enough
- stretchy
- quite tough for weight
- stuffs in own pocket
- hood rolls & tucks into collar and seals around neck

Cons:
- hood too snug
- zipper chafes skin / no guard
- not very breathable
- 'clammy' feel to inner
- lacks venting options that work well
- wrist cuffs don't seal out water

I wish it worked well - I hope to see more fabric like this, if they can get the WPB membrane to function better.

Rating: 4 / 5

I like the stretchy fabric, I like the athletic cut (the medium is ideal for me at 5'11" and 160ish), and the minimal features. I don't care or expect much from breathability in a hard shell. This keeps the rain out, and that's all that matters.

The DWR is top notch. It took a few years for it to need reapplication.

I just wish the hood were bigger. It just fits a wool hat, just.