Patagonia Guide Jacket
October 31, 2008
[Please welcome a new Geargal! Not only is she deserving of the Geargals title, but probable the Ultimate Alaskan title as well. She's built her own house, a yurt, several outbuildings, a dog kennel, some fences, and probable a bunch of other stuff as well - all with her own two hands and ingenuity. She's a search dog handler, too, so you know she knows her stuff when it comes to gear. Without further ado.... ~Head Geargal]
The Women’s Guide Jacket is a comfortable, light weight, soft shell garment. It is surprisingly warm, and the fabric is pleasantly flexible. The “poppy fields” shade of pink is a bit nauseating, and the tiny pocket on the left sleeve is of questionable value. The fit is snug, but the supple fabric and clever cut allow free arm motion. I have worn this jacket as an outer layer in mild temperatures and under a bulkier fleece layer as winter approaches. It has stood up to a variety of traditional Alaska women’s activities, including chopping wood, hoisting wheelbarrows, jogging along behind a search dog, and berry picking. I have been pleased with the material’s wash ability, and have noticed that it sheds dog hair better than most.
When I first tried this jacket on, I was concerned that it would be too snug. I have a sturdier build than some of my Patagonia wearing friends [totally not true ~HG], and have often found the company’s sizes a bit stingy. Despite my initial misgivings, I have been happy with the fit; it is slim and flattering, yet not confining. I have been able to wear it over a base layer in comfort, and have added an outer layer when necessary. I have not had the opportunity to wear my Women’s Guide Jacket on any exciting expeditions yet, but have used it frequently around town and home, doing more mundane chores in preparation for winter.
When we are not bicycling over mountains and pack-rafting across fiords, we Alaskan women can often be found doing the heavy lifting around our homes. Shovels, splitting mauls, air compressors, propane tanks, snow tires, you get the idea. The Guide Jacket has stood up to all of these chores, and gotten smeared with soot, grease, berry juice, and compost. It has come clean in cold water and still looks like new. It sheds rain and snow, and is comfortably breathable. I look forward to wearing it when I dig snow caves for avalanche dog training this winter.
The jacket is a great addition to my gear. But what’s this little bitty pocket on the left sleeve for? If I were Sarah Palin (and if Sarah Palin still wore actual clothing appropriate for Alaska), I might keep my lipstick in it. It’s about the right size for a doggy pick-up bag but when I need to put another layer on, the pocket becomes hard to access. A chest pocket would be much more useful.
And the color, well, “poppy fields?” It is a peculiarly livid shade of pink, and would be more accurately named “flesh.” I could regale our readers with what specific types of flesh it reminds me of, but I’ll spare you. Overall, I recommend this jacket to anyone who is not built any more “sturdily” than me. But you might want to try a “shoreline blue” one instead.
