Patagonia Fleece Jackets

In the previous article I have listed some important features that you must look out for when buying ski jackets and what is the difference between Patagonia fleece jackets and shell jackets. Continue reading here in "Part 2" the guide on how to buy your own ski jacket.

Patagonia Jackets - Best Buying Guide - Part 2

Here on this article you will find additional information regarding choosing the best and most suitable winter ski jacket to help you have the best time when skiing outdoors. Some of the tips here and on the previous article will apply not only to Patagonia jackets, but also to many other clothing that you need in order to have a good time skiing: pants, shoes, covers, pullover, vests, etc.

Choosing The Right Seam Type For Your Patagonia Fleece Jacket

Ski jackets seams are an important part of your comfortableness when wearing your Patagonia clothing. There are basically two types of seam: Critically taped and fully taped.
Fully taped seam: this is the best seam option that you can have and it is exactly like the name looks like. By having all seams properly waterproofed, you will prevent moisture and water from penetrating into your clothes making it a unpleasant ride. This type of seam is achieved through the use of a waterproof tape that is glued both in the exterior and interior of your Patagonia fleece jacket. An even great option - and more expensive also - would be welded seams which will further help you protecting from moisture penetration.

Critically taped seam: this is also what the name sounds like. This type of seam will only protect the most critical areas of your body preventing moisture from penetrating through the seams. Even though it might sound that this isn't a good option since it might leave some openings for moisture, you should only avoid it if you spend a long time under wet weather or if you are a rookie just starting out and keeps falling over and over again in the snow. Other than that, you can definitely get away with this seam option specially considering it is usually cheaper than the Welded or Full seams.

Best Features In A Patagonia Fleece Vest

There are some standard features in your Patagonia clothing that it is definitely wise to take your time to fully analyze it. Some of these features include:
Wrist Closure: this is a really important feature that you must look out for in your Patagonia fleece and shell jacket. Ensuring that you have proper closure and also making sure that your wrist will bond well with your ski gloves, will ensure that no cold air gets through and up your arm. This will be achievable by using Velcro, elastic, snap or any other form of closure that you may find available in your Patagonia ski jacket.

Front Zipper Cover: as usual, zippers will be one of the most fragile parts of your Patagonia fleece jackets. To help prevent moisture and wind from penetrating through the zippers, a front zipper cover is definitely recommended and something you should look out for in your winter jacket.
Hood: there are some people that use their hood all the time and some people that do not like this option. Patagonia clothing will offer you basically three hood types: attached (non-removable), detachable and stowaway. The names are pretty self-explanatory but I like detachable hoods since they offer me the option to detach them on warmer days and put them back on, in case there is a strong winter storm coming. Stowaway might also be another good option, just make sure you check the designed area for it since some are not that good and it might indeed make you uncomfortable while wearing it.

Final Recommendations On Getting The Best Patagonia Jackets

To get the best price and deals available, I would recommend looking out for different Patagonia outlet stores available throughout the country. Check my other article with a list of some common Patagonia stores that you will probably find one near you. Additionally, search of "store locators" on Google. This will enable you to find further Patagonia outlets and also another great stores that you can get good ski jackets like Altrec, MooseJaw and Zappos. You will probably find the best deals and specials for a Patagonia fleece jackets in their outlets, but it won't hurt to check out these other stores to see what prices they are working with.