2009 Patagonia Primo Jacket and Primo Pants – Final Review

About the Patagonia Primo Jacket and Pants

The Primo jacket and pants are the premier shell from Patagonia. That distinction does, however, come at a price. The jacket rings in at $450 and the pants are a slightly less expensive $350. But, should you decide to put up $800 for the pair you likely won't be disappointed. Both jacket and pants are constructed of stretch-woven nylon with Patagonia's proprietary 3-layer H2No waterproof/breathable barrier. The 3-layer barrier provides the utmost in durability and the most waterproof, windproof barrier that Patagonia offers. The Primo jacket also features removable hood and powder skirt, which is appreciated on a fair weather outing. A brushed tricot lining around the neck keeps the jacket from chafing. The high neck keeps the wind and precipitation off your back even when you don't have the hood up or even attached. The chest pocket hides a padded electronics pocket that also provides holes for your headphone cables. The jacket also provides three hooks that attach to any Patagonia shell pants to keep you protected in every condition. The pants are constructed of the same material and feature a gusseted crotch and articulated knees provide a full of range of motion.The high cut back ensures you stay dry and the hook and loop side, size adjustments make achieving the perfect fit a cinch. All external zippers on both the jacket (main zipper, chest pocket, shoulder pocket, pit zips) and pants (crotch zipper, hand warmers, cargo pocket, and thigh ventilation) are waterproof. Check out our first impression of the Patagonia Primo jacket and pants.

Performance of the Patagonia Primo jacket and pants

The Primo system proved to work as designed. From frigid days on the slopes in Park City, UT to rainy days in Seattle the Primo kept the wind, rain, and snow off me while breathing enough to keep me dry inside. I wore the Primo jacket over my Patagonia R2 jacketand the pants over my Smartwool tights, and the combination provided more than acceptable insulation. The full-length gaiters kept the snow out of my boots for several days of skiing, even in deep powder and including more than a few falls. The jacket weighs in at 21.75 oz. and the pants come it at 16.75 oz., about average for these type durable shells. The padded inner pocket on the chest kept my iPhone safe, and although I didn't use the routing holes for headphones, the feature is appreciated. My one complaint: although the Primo jacket does have a built in lift ticket holder, it's really nothing more than a plastic hoop you attach your zip-tie to. First off, the holder sits too high forcing you to dig for your lift ticket when you need it. Second I would like to see a buckle attached to a small, thin piece of webbing that will simply go through the hole in the lift ticket. Picky, I know, but when I spend $450 on a jacket, I guess I feel like I should be allowed to be picky.

Final Conclusions

The Primo jacket and pants are for serious people doing serious outdoor adventures but if you are looking for a shell that will protect you for years to come, you could do worse than the Patagonia Primo jacket and pants. Why It's Hot:

• Bombproof
• Durability
• Pants size adjustment

Why It's Not:

• Lift ticket holder