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Patagonia Insulated Powder Town Pants - Women's Review

This well-constructed insulated pant is a great value if the specific fit works for you
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Patagonia Insulated Powder Town Pants - Women's Review (Patagonia Insulated Powder Town Pant Women's)
Patagonia Insulated Powder Town Pant Women's
Credit: Patagonia
Price:  $269 List
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Manufacturer:   Patagonia
By Jacqueline Kearney ⋅ Review Editor  ⋅  Dec 14, 2022
70
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#11 of 17
  • Weather Resistance - 25% 7.0
  • Fit and Comfort - 25% 7.0
  • Ventilation - 15% 6.0
  • Warmth - 15% 8.0
  • Features - 10% 8.0
  • Style - 10% 6.0

Our Verdict

The Patagonia Insulated Powder Town Pant impressed us with its quality construction and attention to weather-resistant detail. The soft insulation is baffled for a snag-free fit, and the pant is loaded with features. The cut is wider in the hips and legs, so if you prefer a narrower fit here, maybe consider another pant in this review.
REASONS TO BUY
Warm
Soft insulation
Well-constructed
Good value
REASONS TO AVOID
Specific wider cut in legs and hips
Short hem length

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Overall Score Sort Icon
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Star Rating
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Bottom Line If the specific fit works well for you, this well-constructed insulated pant is a great valueFor those looking for a high-performing shell, this pant offers technical features in a reasonably priced packageWith a Gore-Tex membrane, this pant is an excellent value for a weather-resistant bibFor those who prefer the fit and protection of a bib, this option is warm and functional at an affordable priceThe Arctix checks all of the boxes for an insulated ski pant, without a hefty price tag these are economically priced and very warm
Rating Categories Patagonia Insulated... Outdoor Research Sk... REI Co-op First Cha... REI Co-op Powderbou... Arctix Insulated -...
Weather Resistance (25%)
7.0
8.0
8.0
6.0
5.0
Fit and Comfort (25%)
7.0
8.0
8.0
7.0
7.0
Ventilation (15%)
6.0
9.0
7.0
9.0
1
Warmth (15%)
8.0
5.0
5.0
9.0
8.0
Features (10%)
8.0
9.0
7.0
5.0
5.0
Style (10%)
6.0
7.0
8.0
6.0
6.0
Specs Patagonia Insulated... Outdoor Research Sk... REI Co-op First Cha... REI Co-op Powderbou... Arctix Insulated -...
Measured Weight 1.4 lbs 1.3 lbs 1.7 lbs 1.7 lbs 1.5 lbs
Waterproofing 2-layer H2no 3-layer AscentShell 2-layer Gore-Tex 2-layer Peak ThermaLock coating
Vents Thigh Outer thigh Thigh Inner thigh, outer thigh None
Pockets 2 zippered hand, 1 zippered thigh 2 zippered hand, 2 zippered thigh 1 zippered chest, 2 zippered thigh 2 zippered hand, 1 zippered chest 2 zippered thigh
Main fabric 100% recycled polyester 88% nylon, 12% spandex 100% polyester Nylon 100% polyester
Insulation/Lining 60g Thermogreen recycled polyester None Recycled polyester 40g polyester 85g ThermaTech
Waistline construction Button & zip fly Button and zip fly Bib Bib Button & zip fly

Our Analysis and Test Results

This insulated pant comes in at a great value for its thoughtful, weather-resistant construction. Featuring taped seams, water-resistant zippers, RECCO, and effective proprietary H2No technology, this is a great value if the specific wider hip and leg fit works for you.

Performance Comparison


patagonia insulated powder town pants for women - the patagonia powder town is an excellent choice for a...
The Patagonia Powder Town is an excellent choice for a well-constructed insulated pant on a frosty day.
Credit: Jacqueline Kearney

Weather Resistance


The Patagonia Powder Town uses a proprietary H2No, two-layer waterproof-breathable membrane with DWR. The 75D finish gives the face fabric a beefy feel, and when put to the test, we were impressed by its resistance to water and wind. We didn't feel any drafts through these insulated pants. The face fabric did show evidence of saturation under high-pressure spray and after long sits in wet snow, but it never bled through to the insulation.

An extra layer of weather resistance comes from the water-resistant zippers on the thigh pocket and thigh vents. These excel at keeping moisture out of the high-exposure areas here. We wish that the hip pockets both had these zippers too. The gaiters do a good job of holding onto boots, and the extra lace hook on their end prevents them from riding up.

patagonia insulated powder town pants for women - even after high pressure water, the propriety h2no fabric only...
Even after high pressure water, the propriety H2No fabric only absorbs a small amount of water.
Credit: Jacqueline Kearney

Fit and Comfort


We found these pants to fit like a nice, lofty synthetic sleeping bag. We love how the insulation is in baffles in this pant, which helps it stay put. This baffling also makes the fit of these pants feel very svelte for an insulated pant.

The adjustable waist sits comfortably right at the top of the hip and seemed properly sized for the width of the pants. This being said, the leg of this pant definitely leans on the wider and shorter side, so if you prefer a more narrow fit, consider one of the other pants in this review.

patagonia insulated powder town pants for women - the powder town has a wider tailor in the hips and upper legs than...
The Powder Town has a wider tailor in the hips and upper legs than many other pants we tested.
Credit: Jacqueline Kearney

Ventilation


As an insulated pant, these did not breathe quite as well as the shell models in this review. We found the mesh-lined vents to be surprisingly effective due to their location on the outer leg. We think this vent could be improved by being fully open to increase ventilation instead of backed by mesh.

patagonia insulated powder town pants for women - mesh lined vents on the outer thigh are effective, but could be more...
Mesh lined vents on the outer thigh are effective, but could be more effective if they were completely open.
Credit: Jacqueline Kearney

Warmth


With 60g of Thermogreen recycled polyester insulation, these pants kept us warm and dry all day. The baffled insulation stayed in place, creating even insulation across your entire lower half. We also did not notice any strange drafts through the zippers while skiing at high speed. We found that these pants kept us adequately warm on all but the very coldest days of our testing period (approximately zero degrees Fahrenheit).

patagonia insulated powder town pants for women - we love the baffled insulation on the powder town pants.
We love the baffled insulation on the Powder Town Pants.
Credit: Jacqueline Kearney

Features


This pant is one of the most feature-rich pairs in this review, so if you like to have all the bells and whistles, you should consider this pant. There are three basic and functional pockets: one thigh and two handwarmer pockets. There is also an adjustable waist and a webbing loop to connect compatible Patagonia jackets and their powder skirts for the deepest days. The belt loops allow an additional belt if you want, and the powderskirt connection adds an additional level of protection. These pants also feature RECCO technology, which can help rescue groups' recovery efforts in the case of an avalanche.

patagonia insulated powder town pants for women - the cuffs on the patagonia powder town pants are very effective...
The cuffs on the Patagonia Powder Town pants are very effective gaiters.
Credit: Jacqueline Kearney

Style


We found the Powder Town's cut to be on the traditional side. The cut of this pant is a little wider in the hips than some of the more modern pants in this review, but our reviewers also had narrower hips. If you prefer to have extra room here, this is a great look.

patagonia insulated powder town pants for women - contrasting taped zips and bright pull tabs are a nice touch on the...
Contrasting taped zips and bright pull tabs are a nice touch on the Patagonia Powder Town.
Credit: Jacqueline Kearney

This pant comes in several different earth tones, and we like the slightly contrasting taped zippers that give them a more modern look and the geometric seams that give subtle shape. The fabric has an interesting sheen to it that looks a little more like rain pants than snow pants, but we found this less noticeable when paired with a ski jacket.

patagonia insulated powder town pants for women - the cut of the powder town is a little more tapered and traditional.
The cut of the Powder Town is a little more tapered and traditional.
Credit: Jacqueline Kearney

Should You Buy the Patagonia Insulated Powder Town?


If you're in the market for an insulated pant and need a wider fit in the hip and upper leg, then the Powder Town could be the perfect pant for you. With taped seams and water-resistant zippers in high use areas, this reasonably priced pant is well constructed. We also appreciate Patagonia's dedication to sustainability and recycled materials, and they have a great return policy, to boot.

patagonia insulated powder town pants for women - with soft insulation, taped seams and loads of features the powder...
With soft insulation, taped seams and loads of features the Powder Town is a great value for its quality.
Credit: Jacqueline Kearney

What Other Women's Ski Pants Should You Consider?


If you are looking for a more breathable pant with a slightly more tapered hip, try the award-winning Arc'teryx Sentinel Pants. Looking for the best budget buy and still want an insulated model? Try out the REI Powderbound Insulated Bib. For an affordable insulated pant, check out The North Face's Freedom Pant.

patagonia insulated powder town pants for women - another day on the slopes with the powder town in the front range of...
Another day on the slopes with the Powder Town in the Front Range of Colorado.
Credit: Jacqueline Kearney

Jacqueline Kearney