What hiker doesn’t know the feeling of going on a long hike and just letting their heart dictate? In most cases, I do, but when I’m testing gear, I usually try to pay attention to how it performs.
In a recent gear test, I did a little bit of both, and while testing the Patagonia Granite Crest Women’s Rain Jacket, my mind wandering and focus merged, with thoughts like these frequently popping up:
Has Patagonia ever failed you? How many pieces of Patagonia clothing or gear have you used in your life? Wow, it’s really hard to count. Well, anyway, can you think of one that has ever disappointed you? *Silence* … Wait, what were you thinking?
If I got into too much detail I could make a “cons” list for most gear, but Patagonia is usually pretty good with me and the Granite Crest Rain Jacket is no exception.
Patagonia Granite Crest Rain Jacket Overview
MSRP: $279
Weight: 12.6 oz | 357 g
Fit: Regular
Material: 3-layer H2No® Performance Standard NetPlus® 100% recycled nylon ripstop with PFC/PFAS-free durable water resistant (DWR) finish
Click here for the Men’s Granite Crest Rain Jacket
Review status
I tested the Granite Crest Rain Jacket while hiking and running in Michigan, New York, and Kentucky throughout the fall and winter. The weather was mostly cold with showers, downpours, snow, and my favorite, a winter mix of rain. The jacket performed well in all conditions.
Patagonia Granite Crest Rain Jacket Features
Waterproofing work at work.
like water off a duck’s back
It works! In case you didn’t know, where I live in Southern Michigan, we get a lot of rain. Seattle-level rain. In fact, Ann Arbor and Seattle get roughly the same average rainfall, with Ann Arbor getting significantly more snow. So I had no problem testing the waterproofing of this jacket.
I spent many hours in it wet with no issues. Of course, I did have to deal with the issue of sweat getting damp on the inside of the jacket (if water can’t get in, it can’t get out – “waterproof/breathable” is a bit of a misnomer in my opinion), but the vents (see below) helped a lot with that, and I stayed warm and comfortable overall.
Aside from the fact that it’s waterproof, I also love that this jacket is made from recycled fishing nets, helping to reduce plastic pollution in our oceans – we need more of this conscientious attitude in the outdoor industry, and in companies in general.
DOUBLE BONUS: All three layers of this shell and its durable waterproof (DWR) finish are made without perfluorinated compounds (PFCs/PFAS), man-made chemicals that don’t occur naturally, don’t break down in the environment, and have been linked to harmful effects on animal and human health. That gives me great peace of mind.
Materials and waterproofing are one of the main features that distinguish the Granite Crest from Patagonia’s popular Torrentshell, the latter better suited for all-day movement on wet streets.
Food
I like to be harshly critical when testing gear with hoods. I can’t stand it if the hood isn’t designed to be easily and properly adjusted. But I had no complaints. The adjustments were easy to make and use, and the result was a hood that fits snugly against my face and doesn’t obstruct my peripheral vision.
The hood is another feature that slightly differentiates the Granite Crest from the Torrentshell, as the Torrentshell is not helmet compatible.
Peripheral vision remains intact!
vent
The two-way vents have waterproof zippers for effective ventilation even during intense exercise. I didn’t get much use out of this, as it takes a fair bit of effort to get too hot in the rain or cold, but when I did, it was easy to operate and provided effective ventilation without significantly compromising protection from the elements.
Pockets and zippers
The zippers are waterproof, the main center-front zipper has a zipper garage so it doesn’t chafe against your chin or face, and the pockets are very high, so you can reach your hands in them even when wearing a backpack, harness, or other intrusive hip belt.
This jacket can also be packed into the chest pocket, which is a nice option, although personally I don’t mind this as much if the jacket can be packed compactly inside a backpack.
Patagonia Granite Crest Pro
I’m wearing two layers, including a hooded one underneath, and there’s still plenty of room and I can move around freely. The sleeves are a little long though.
Relaxed fit
Don’t get me wrong, I love rain jackets that fit like a glove and don’t have much extra room, like the OR Helium. Slimmer-fitting, less roomy jackets, like the Helium, are great for trail running and thru-hiking in mostly dry conditions (e.g., most trails in the Western US).
But the Granite Crest is a more versatile option that can be used as a standalone rain jacket or as part of a variety of layering systems. I’ve worn it on several occasions as a standalone piece in slightly warmer weather with just a wool baselayer underneath, paired it with a Melanzana fleece hoody, or with my long-time favorite combination: a wool baselayer and an Arc’teryx Atom Jacket.
When wearing the Granite Crest by itself, it was easy to cinch the excess material down and it didn’t feel bulky when layered. I’m 5’2″ and weigh about 110 lbs. and tried on an XS. Only later did I realize that the Granite Crest also comes in an XXS, which in retrospect may have been a slightly better fit.
multipurpose
As a thru-hiker, you might be tempted to shave off as much weight as possible by purchasing gear made specifically for ultralight backpacking.
If you have the money to spare, that’s great. If you don’t, it might be wise to consider something that can be used in more scenarios than just thru-hiking. The Granite Crest is a good option for that.
It’s helmet compatible, the tall pockets are reachable even when wearing a harness or hipbelt, it can withstand long, intense efforts in wet conditions, and has enough space for a variety of heavy-duty layering systems underneath.
Additionally, in my opinion, a heavy rain jacket is really useful when thru-hiking. You never know when you might encounter days of continuous rain and be glad you had one. I learned this firsthand during a number of fun Type 3 moments.
durability
I’ve had it for 6 months now and it’s showing absolutely no signs of wear. To be fair, I’m pretty fastidious about looking after my gear but I don’t think that’s the reason this is still in such good condition – I think it’s just a high quality garment.
ethics
As always, I review not only the gear but also the companies that make it, and Patagonia is widely praised for doing its best to protect our precious playground, the Earth, and, similarly, for respecting the people who make the clothing and gear we buy.
We’ll continue to keep an eye out for any signs of concern, but generally speaking, when I buy something from Patagonia, I don’t have to worry that I’m actually harming anyone, the planet, or both. What’s really great is that if you want to offset your social and environmental impact, you can also buy gently used clothing and gear from Patagonia Worn Wear. Check it out.
Cons of Patagonia Granite Crest
They are suitable for any activity, even for running on rainy and cold days when you have to cover long distances anyway.
Torrentshell is somewhat redundant
The only drawback I can think of is that Granite Crest might be a bit unnecessary. I understand that companies are always trying to create new products, and I can certainly see the difference between Granite Crest and Torrentshell, but overall I think the differences are negligible.
The Granite Crest feels better and is less crinkly. Still, I find it hard to justify paying $100 more for the Granite Crest than the Torrentshell.
whole
The Granite Crest is now one of my favorite rain jackets. To be honest, I still prefer the Arc’teryx Beta FL hardshell that I tested a few years ago. That jacket has been discontinued, but I think I’ll feel the same way about the Beta AR.
However, these jackets are made from Gore-Tex, which contains the aforementioned PFAS. These “forever chemicals” are everywhere, not just in rain gear, but it seems wise to limit your exposure as much as possible, and it looks like we may soon see these chemicals banned from rain gear.
I’m still deciding if I’ll continue to wear Gore-Tex — I’m a scientist and need more information — but I’ll definitely be wearing Granite Crest in the meantime.
Shop Patagonia Women’s Granite Crest Rain Jacket
Shop Men’s Patagonia Granite Crest Rain Jacket
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The Patagonia Granite Crest Rain Jacket was donated for review purposes.
