Patagonia Tres 3-in-1 Parka Review

The Tres is highly versatile, thanks to its modular construction. It also boasts powerful weather resistance and great styling.

Performance Comparison

Warmth

The trade-off for its stylish and contoured fit is less insulation. The Tres 3-in-1 is certainly warm enough for most winter use, but its removable down sweater layer does lack the insulation density of bulkier parkas. This decreases this jacket's ability to keep you toasty in the most frigid temps, but its overall warmth score is very competitive when directly compared to the other jackets we studied.

We put the Tres 3-in-1 to the test as we spent a few cold, dark weeks in mid-December touring Helsinki, Finland, and Stockholm, Sweden. We even traveled to the northernmost reaches of Swedish Lapland, where daytime temps barely eked above 0°F. Overall, we were impressed with this jacket's ability to keep us warm and dry as we spent the majority of our sun-less days outside. These results were backed up by our temp tests, where we used a Bluetooth thermometer to record the temps inside our Tres 3-in-1 .

We conducted this test twice: Once in the wilds of northern Sweden, where the temperature was 5°F (max internal reading 73.2°F); and back at home, where the outside temp was 18°F (max internal reading 76.3°F). In the end, the Tres 3-in-1 registered above-average internal temps compared to the other jackets we tested.

The zip-out liner provides the main insulation in the form of 700-fill recycled duck and goose down. Although the outer trench-style shell of the Tres 3-in-1 is not heavily insulated, it does consist of a two-layer polyester system which includes a waterproof membrane that is sandwiched between a heavy herringbone outer shell and thinner polyester liner. During our testing, we often wore just the outer trench but combined it with a scarf and sweater. This combination is perfect for a more formal night out when temps are hovering around freezing. When the trench and inner down puffy were combined, we felt comfortable walking in temps in the low teens. Our favorite feature of the down zip-out is its cinchable waist, which can be easily tightened to trap warm air around the upper body more effectively.

The adjustable hood is not helmet compatible, but is large enough to easily accommodate even the thickest of beanies. In fact, we suggest finding an additional layer for your noggin if you plan to wear this jacket in colder temps for extensive periods of time, since the hood is not insulated.

Often overlooked, adjustable cuffs are a simple but very effective warmth feature on any winter jacket. The ability to clamp a coat's sleeves firmly around the wrists helps the arms and shoulders maintain a more constant temperature, especially during wind and rain. This jacket's cuff system is dual-layered. The inner down has its own elastic cuffs. These are complemented by an adjustable strap on the outer shell.

Weather Resistance

The Tres 3-in-1 features Patagonia's proprietary waterproof, breathable membrane called H2No. The jacket effectively blocks all moisture from rain, snow, and sleet. Its length, style, and protection puts it almost on par with a traditional rain jacket.

During our homemade rainstorms, we found Patagonia's DWR treatment to be effective, but not perfect, at preventing liquid from soaking the shell's outer layer of fabric. After nearly 3 minutes of continuous soaking, we did see the layer fail in random areas; however, the H2No membrane was superb in protecting the jacket's interior from moisture. An additional benefit is this jacket's trench coat length, which adds extended protection from rain and wind to the waist, bum, and upper thighs.

We also tested our Tres 3-in-1 in winter windstorms with wind speeds ranging from 20-25 mph. We were impressed by the outer shell's ability to block cold gusts, thanks to its extra length and H2No membrane. Additionally, this jacket's adjustable cuffs, cinchable hood, and full-length zipper storm flap effectively keep the Tres 3-in-1 battened down. However, during our testing period, we did notice wind occasionally creeping in through the collar.

Although large enough to accommodate a thick beanie, we do feel the hood of the Tres 3-in-1 should offer a little more real estate. In general, it performs adequately for most conditions, but when combined with a beanie, there isn't enough fabric to allow the hood to cover the head completely. We feel this could be solved by a deeper hood or larger retractable bill.

Comfort

The newest design of the Tres 3-in-1 is noticeably roomier than its original slim-fitting model. This, along with comfy fabrics and a contoured cut, earned this jacket top scores for comfort. In fact, it just might be the most comfortable coat in our lineup.

Despite its layers, we felt the Tres 3-in-1 was very comfortable. It doesn't wear as well as an Italian suit, but its soft polyester shell kind of looks the part, and it is very pliable and accommodating. Even when fully layered, we found it easy to sit, twist, bend, or squat, even with a few extra base layers.

While roaming the cold streets of Helsinki and Stockholm, we often wore our Tres 3-in-1 for 6 to 8 hours a day. Whether hopping a bus or train, meandering through a Christmas market, or ducking in and out of souvenir shops or museums, we always felt comfortable. The high collar is inviting, the waist is contoured but roomy, there's space through the shoulders and chest, the pits don't grab, and there's plenty of room in the sleeves. Hands down, our favorite feature was the herringbone outer shell. It's soft, classy, and hangs great.

All comfort reveling aside, We did not like that the Tres 3-in-1 lacks exterior side-entry pockets to warm and rest our hands while walking. The existing pockets are excellent for storing items, but horrible for stowing the hands. Their top-down entry is not ergonomic, and the wrists are forced to ride against the zipper closures, which are quite abrasive. Likewise, since the pockets open from the top, anything inside them is exposed to precipitation whenever they are being used to warm the hands. Even after two months of wearing our Tres 3-in-1, we still found ourselves routinely searching for phantom side pockets.

Versatility and Style

We like the style of the Tres 3-in-1. It is decidedly urban, with long, straight lines and angular accents. It's also the most versatile jacket in our lineup, earning it top scores in this metric.

Two side zippers, along with a few interior snaps, hold the interior down layer in place. Separating the layers is simple. Just unsnap and unzip, and you instantly have two completely independent jackets — each with its own unique style and function.

The classic Patagonia label is prominently displayed across the chest, which some testers liked and some didn't. Other than the label, the jacket is elegantly designed and looks high-end. More importantly, we love that it is a legitimate three-season garment. From fall to spring, this jacket offers a perfect layer for close to nine months out of the year. And, in some northern climates, the external shell could even serve as a grab-and-go covering during a cool summertime rainstorm. The thing we like the most is this jacket's overall vibe. The Tres 3-in-1 is rugged and functional, but also tailored and stylish.

The exterior shell hangs like a tailored trench-style coat, but its herringbone pattern gives it a slight business suit polish. While far from haute couture fashion, the Tres 3-in-1 can be combined with a scarf or sweater for a semi-casual dinner date, a trip to the cinema, or a night out at the game.

Although we certainly had our issues with the exterior pockets, we do like their storage versatility. They are excellent for storing larger items that you want to keep secure. Each pocket has a sturdy zipper closure and an extra large storm flap that clicks into place with metal snaps. Although not completely protected from pickpockets, we found these pockets to be a great storage option when visiting events with large groups of people.

Construction Quality

The Tres 3-in-1 features durable, tight seams and burly outer shell fabric. The polyester exterior of the down sweater is less durable, but this component will be tucked safely inside the shell layer in many cases.

We tested the zippers, snaps, and drawstrings. We also used the sharp end of a paper clip to test the resilience of this jacket's shell and liner and discovered the Tres 3-in-1's swanky fabrics are more prone to snags and scratches. We then examined the stitching, finding that the majority of this jacket's seams are held by 12 stitches per linear inch — an excellent ratio. A few areas on the interior puffy had 10, but the overall majority showed 12. This translates to stronger seams that are less likely to unravel, tear, or fail in some other way. It's also a good indication of Patagonia's overall attention to detail. They could have easily cut corners in this area, since stitching patterns are mostly overlooked by the consumer.

Should You Buy the Patagonia Tres 3-in-1 Parka?

Uniquely designed in the field of winter jackets, the Patagonia Tres 3-in-1 offers excellent versatility, good warmth and weather protection, and classic urban styling for an upper-tier price. It's a little short on warmth when compared to bigger parkas, but it certainly is no slouch when it comes to overall protection. It packs a massive punch when it comes to adapting to climates, seasons, social settings, and temperature. If you want a jacket that has a little more swag and offers a ton of versatility, this jacket is your new best friend. It accommodates most body types and can be worn in recreational, occupational, and casual settings.

What Other Winter Jackets Should You Consider?

A 3-in-1 design makes the Tres an inherently good investment, as this jacket will be much more versatile than any other winter jacket. It can be used as a winter parka, a shoulder season sweater, and a raincoat. If you like its multifaceted function but don't need its warmth, take a look at the The North Face Thermoball Eco Triclimate or the Outdoor Research Foray 3-in-1 Parka. Both offer a more lightweight 3-in-1 design. If you already have a jacket for all these scenarios, and you want a true winter parka, then you may want to look at the The North Face McMurdo Down Parka.