I got the Patagonia Powder Bowl Jacket in the winter of 2016.
Since then this jacket has been all over with me.
It’s kept me warm and dry in Arizona, the Alps, the Wasatch, the San Juans, and the Interior of BC.
Now after using the jacket for 6 years I wanted to share my thoughts on it and write this review.
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Patagonia Powder Bowl Jacket Review: The Basics
The Powder Bowl is a 2 layer hardshell Gore-Tex ski jacket. Patagonia says “it is built for freeride spontaneity and never standing still”.
The interior is lined with brushed polyester mesh which is comfortable on the skin. The outside is treated with a DWR (durable water repellent) finish and is made from a bluesign certified fabric, meaning that this shell is produced to the highest level of consumer safety and conserves resources minimizing the impact on the environment.
But enough about the tech specs, if you want more you can find them here. Now let’s talk about my personal experience with the jacket.
The Jacket’s Fit
For reference I am 6’3, weigh 180 pounds and I have the XL size.
The jacket has a regular fit, it is not super baggy like a Saga jacket but it is not slim either. I can easily layer underneath it according to the weather. The hood is helmet-compatible and can just barely fit my XL helmet. If you wear a smaller sized helmet you will have no issues.
The powder skirt comes down past my waist and is long enough to prevent snow from getting up the backside of my jacket. The sleeves are just the right length and sit comfortably over the top of my mittens.
The Powder Bowl’s Durability:
The Powder Bowl’s durability has been amazing. I have logged 200 plus ski days in the jacket and the zippers, velcro, and elastic adjustments look the same as the day I got it.
Now on its fourth season, the jacket is wetting-out, but with this much use I expected that. I plan to renew the DWR finish this year with a new coating.
The color has started to fade a little bit, but it is hardly noticeable. Overall the durability has been great.
Warmth:
This jacket is just a shell with a minimal polyester lining , so just by itself, it is not that warm. But when you layer appropriately the jacket is plenty warm and protects you from the elements. On the flip side, it has great pit vents that let you dump heat on those spring ski days.
Do you get cold skiing? Learn how to layer better for those cold days here.
Suggested Improvements for Patagonia:
I would like to see Patagonia add wrist gators to the jacket. They would help keep the snow out of the sleeves on those deep days or on the days where you tomahawk down the landing of your favorite hit.
Patagonia Powder Bowl Jacket – Bottom Line:
Overall I love this jacket. I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a middle of the road shell that will last them for years to come. Couple this quality with Patagonia’s IronClad Guarantee (you can return a Patagonia garment at any time for a repair, replacement, or refund) and you have yourself a jacket that will last you for a long time.
Eventually, as I get more into backcountry skiing I will acquire a new 3L jacket because of the lighter weight. So if you are a weight weenie I recommend going straight to a 3L jacket like the PowSlayer or the SnowDrifter.
However I will stick with Patagonia for their quality and support, they have earned a lifetime customer.
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