Patagonia Adze Hoody - Women's Review

An affordable shell with excellent wind protection, the Patagonia Adze Hoody doesn't quite stack up against the majority of other jackets in our review. It's heavy, stiff, and the fit is a bit awkward. However, it's still a good shell for the price, offering a helmet-compatible hood, adjustable cuffs, and admirable weather protection. For the right person and activity, it could be a good match.

Performance Comparison

Weather Protection

This softshell is constructed with a 2-layer, 9.3-oz stretch woven fabric comprised of 90% polyester and 10% spandex. It has a fleece grid backer and a DWR finish for added insulation and protection. Of all our rating metrics, weather protection is where the Adze rises to the top, blocking out wind and cold like a champ. However, the thick fabric and fleece make it more stiff than soft and not very breathable. We also noticed that water seeped through all those layers in a relatively short amount of time during our water tests.

And though we were warm in high winds and low temperatures, we found the fit on the Adze to be a bit boxy and awkward. There simply isn't much stretch, and the material around the chin isn't very soft and doesn't come as far up the face as other models. While we happily recognize the ability of this jacket to keep the weather at bay, the subpar fit lessens what could otherwise be a very cozy experience.

Breathability

In our experience, the Adze Hoody is more than adequate in the weather protection department, but as a trade-off, it struggles with breathability. The interior of the jacket is lined with a gridded fleece that lightly insulates and assists in moving moisture away from the skin, but the exterior material does not allow as much heat to escape as some of our more breathable models. This can, however, be offset somewhat with ventilation through the hand pockets. If these pockets are left open, some of your hot air can escape out the jacket. And, of course, when we wore the Adze in very windy and cold settings, we didn't mind that it held in our heat. It all depends on how you plan to use your softshell.

Mobility

Unfortunately, the Adze Hoody's heavy material is less flexible than many of the other soft and supple shells that scored higher in our review. We could certainly still swing ice tools or push with poles comfortably, but this jacket doesn't melt onto the body like the Arc'teryx Gamma MX Hoody or the super stretchy Black Diamond Dawn Patrol. We just didn't feel that the Adze moved particularly well, finding the fit to be boxy and movement slightly more restricted than many of our other tested models.

Weight

At 25.3 ounces, this model is the second heaviest in our review. It's also quite warm and decently affordable, but you can get these attributes and more in other jackets that weigh less.

Features

The Adze keeps things fairly simple yet functional. It has a drawstring hem that adjusts from inside the hand pockets which are zippered and lined with the same gridded fleece as the interior. On the inside, there's one zippered chest pocket and two simple drop pockets that don't zip. The hood is two-way adjustable and helmet compatible, though it does run a smidge tight with certain helmets. Without a helmet it's a great size, easily providing excellent protection from wind and weather.

The cuffs are adjustable with velcro, and the underarms are gusseted for better mobility, though overall this jacket still felt quite stiff when compared to other super soft jackets in our review. But in general, we feel like the Adze has the perfect lineup of softshell features, everything a serious model should have for time spent hiking or climbing in the backcountry.

Style

The Adze Hoody has a technical yet fairly classic look that is available in appealing colors, though the cut is boxy. Still, it can move seamlessly from the hiking trail to the grocery store, especially if you live somewhere outdoorsy like Colorado.

Best Application

The Adze performed the best in cold, windy conditions. When we hiked through strong winds and freezing temps to an alpine glacier, we easily felt protected. It was easy to stay warm if we kept moving. However, this jacket is not the best choice for high-exertion aerobic activities in milder temperatures where breathability is key, or for things like climbing where you need to be able to move unimpeded.

Value

$199 for the weather protection this shell offers is a pretty solid deal. You have a lot of options in this price range though, so try to consider what activities you think you will be engaging in the most. If you need a durable jacket for cold weather activities where you won't be sweating too much, the Adze is a good one to consider. But if you will be super mobile and upping your core temp we suggest looking at some of our stellar award winners for a better fit.

Conclusion

A solid option for cold days and activities where breathability isn't the top concern, the Adze Hoody is a durable and well-featured jacket. This is a good layer to have while out in the mountains for most situations. However, we were less than thrilled with the overall fit of the jacket and feel it could be better with a few tweaks. There are simply better fitting and more comfortable options in our review, some for more money, but also many for less.