Patagonia KnifeRidge Jacket Review

The Patagonia KnifeRidge Jacket is an easy pick if you want something that'll keep the elements out, but will still breathe well enough to keep you from overheating. It is the best winter softshell we tested and is versatile to be at home in many mountainous pursuits. It was the top performer for wind and water resistance but fell just a bit behind in breathability.

Performance Comparison

Weather Protection

The Patagonia KnifeRidge Jacket blocks wind, rain, and snow like no other softshell in this review. The Polartec Power Shield Pro membrane does its job and keeps the vast majority of the elements out. During our waterfall test, our reviewer stayed warm and dry as the jacket repelled the frigid torrent with ease. The only other jacket to approach the water resistance of this piece was the Patagonia Adze Hoody that uses Polartec Windbloc. Unfortunately for Adze wearers, water began seeping through the seams long before it leaked through the fabric. But the KnifeRidge with its taped seams and water-resistant zippers didn't have this issue. Patagonia claims that the KnifeRidge is waterproof in “all but a downpour” and after our field tests, we agree.

Now let's talk about wind. Not only did this jacket protect us in wet conditions, but it also blocks wind with ease. In addition to real world field tests, we compared wind resistance of these jackets by sticking our arms out the window while driving 60 mph. You can't feel the chill of wind through this jacket.

All of this combined, we give the KnifeRidge a 9/10 when it comes to weather resistance. Ice climbers and skiers will welcome the protection afforded by this piece. But with increased weather resistance comes a subsequent decrease in breathability. It's also worth noting that there is no insulation in this piece. The material itself is thin, so you'll want to wear it over other layers. We see this as a benefit, however, because it means that you can wear this jacket in a myriad of conditions rather than just a few.

Breathability

The breathability of the KnifeRidge is by no means excellent when you compare it with other jackets like the Black Diamond Alpine Start or Outdoor Research Ferrosi. If you're planning to hike or skin uphill or maintain an elevated heart rate during other aerobic activities, it is possible that you'll sweat enough to exceed the KnifeRidge's ability to evacuate moisture. If your adventures have you gasping for air as you race to beat your personal best, this jacket probably isn't what you're seeking.

That said, when you compare this jacket with hardshell jackets the breathability advantages are evident. Hardshell jackets rely on humidity gradients to transmit water vapor through a porous membrane. Most of the time, when you're working up a sweat, your moisture output typically exceeds the ability of the jacket to breathe. The membrane of the KnifeRidge differs from that used in hardshell jackets because it allows a tiny amount of air to pass through helping you dry out. The downside is that it also means that the jacket isn't totally waterproof. Expose it to driving rain for extended periods of time or agitate it with pressure (as with the shoulder straps on your backpack) and water will seep in.

Like most other jackets, if you start overheating, roll up your sleeves, unzip your main core vent (aka the center zip), and let the wind cool you down. It's worth noting that the sleeves on this jacket are comfortable to wear on your arms/elbows. When used for climbing, backcountry skiing, hiking, and other such activities in cold environments, our reviewers felt that the trade-off in breathability was worth the increase in water resistance.

Mobility & Fit

Reach, stretch, shred, pull, crank, and crush while you're wearing the KnifeRidge. Need to strain for that pick placement that's just out of reach? No problem! Starting a mountain-top yoga meet-up? Go for it! Just don't forget to throw those sweet shots on Instagram. Of any jacket we reviewed, this one feels the stretchiest. This is awesome and makes the jacket feel like a top shelf product. All too often, jackets that fortify us against weather feel clammy, crinkly, and stiff, but the KnifeRidge stretches and flows with you rather than against you. Though we loved the stretchy nature of this piece, it was surpassed in mobility by the Patagonia Adze Hybrid, which has a more generous arm gusset. When reaching up, the hem of the KnifeRidge slightly rises, and the wrist cuffs slightly fall. In actual use, this was never an issue as the stretchiness of the fabric accounted for the gap, but in contrast, the Adze never had this issue.

In the last two iterations of our softshell review, we bought everything in size medium. If you're considering buying the KnifeRidge, you need to be aware that it fits quite large compared with any other softshell we tested. In fact, this jacket was roughly a full size bigger than other softshell jackets we reviewed (even others also made by Patagonia!). The photo below shows the size medium we originally purchased before exchanging it for a size small for the duration of this review. The small size fits like a medium but is a little on the smaller side of the range.

Weight & Packed Size

This jacket came it at 19 ounces for the size small. It is a tad lighter than the Black Diamond Dawn Patrol that weighs 20 ounces. Either of these jackets feels light enough and pack down small enough that throwing them in your pack isn't a huge sacrifice unless you are ultra weight-conscious. If you love trimming ounces and liters from your pack, look at the Black Diamond Alpine Start that weighs a scant 8 ounces. If you combined the Alpine Start with a super lightweight rain jacket like the Outdoor Research Helium II that weighs 6.5 ounces, you'd have a weatherproof, modular system that weighs just 14 ounces and costs less than the KnifeRidge alone. That said, as previously mentioned, the benefit of the KnifeRidge is that it can face a myriad of conditions without having to stop to add a layer.

Features

The features of the Patagonia KnifeRidge Jacket are those you'd expect from a piece that costs you nearly half a grand. Each cut of fabric joins the next with flat seams, giving the jacket a streamlined look. Before we jump into all the other features of this jacket, we've got to tell you about our favorite feature. This jacket has far and away the best cord lock adjustments of any softshell we've tested. The cord locks on other jackets are basic (they're just a cinch that you pinch to adjust and are seen on everything from sleeping bags, stuff sacks, to backpacks, and more). This jacket has “Cohaesive” cord locks that work a bit differently. Though they function the same as regular cord locks, their design equates to increased ease of use. Rather than looking like the cylindrical cord locks that we're accustomed to, Cohaesive cord locks look like two flat disks laid on top of each other. The difference this makes is striking. Rather than having to pinch the ends of a cylinder, you just need to press a big round button to adjust them! It works brilliantly and is easier to use when wearing gloves.

While on the topic of adjustments, the hood adjustment is the best of any jacket in this review. Other adjustable hoods have three cords you need to pull to fully cinch up the hood. Meanwhile, the KnifeRidge has just one cord that adjusts them. It's super fast and easy to use this hood with or without a helmet, and the adjustments feel automatic compared with other jackets. Additionally, the hem drawstring is accessed through the two hand warmer pockets but can also be adjusted via an external pull tab.

We also liked that the wrist cuffs use a Velcro cinch that feels durable. The Velcro that Patagonia uses feels much more robust than that used by competitors, which leads us to believe that it is more durable in the long run. If you've ever worn through the velcro on a jacket's cuffs before, you know how big of a deal this can be.

Finally, two handwarmer pockets lined with a stretchy mesh material can be used as vents. They are located just high enough to keep them out of the way of most harnesses, but some reviewers wished they were a tad higher to not interfere with a hip belt. One external chest pocket finishes off our discussion of this jacket's excellent features.

Style

Designed with alpine uses in mind, this jacket fits the bill in terms of style. If you love looking sporty in the mountains, go with the blue color we tested. More discreet outdoor adventurers will opt for the Arbor Green or Forge Grey. This isn't a jacket we'd often wear around town as it isn't as cozy as those with fleece linings. It looks out of place in many work environments and appears more like a rain jacket than casual wear. Because it doesn't look that great around town but looks awesome on the mountain, we give it a 7/10 for style.

Best Applications

The Patagonia KnifeRidge Jacket excels of many mountain missions that require protection from the elements and some breathability. It is a stellar ice climbing jacket and works well for backcountry skiing and mountaineering. However, it is not suited to super high output activities like cross-country skiing or mountain running.

Value

This top shelf jacket carries a top shelf price tag of $450. Considering you could buy several other jackets for this price, it is a relatively poor value. If you don't already have a hardshell jacket or a rain jacket, we highly recommend that you buy one of those first before buying a softshell. Many of our reviewers also opt to buy an insulated jacket before purchasing a softshell.

Though it is expensive, the KnifeRidge is the best softshell jacket we tested. If you demand the highest performance from your gear, then this jacket is well worth your investment.

Conclusion

The Patagonia KnifeRidge Jacket is the best softshell that we tested especially if you value weather resistance slightly over breathability. It isn't great for running or cross-country skiing but excels for nearly every other use in the mountains. We love using it for ice climbing and skiing, and it breathes much better than we expected. If you're looking for a sweet softshell to use as a go-to piece for all your days in the mountains, this jacket is our top choice.