Patagonia’s Stormstride jacket, as the name implies, offers storm protection and a do-everything and durable vibe that should cover most, if not all, of your hardshell needs.
The Patagonia Stormstride jacket offers a hardshell option for backcountry tourists that leans into durability and a decent feature set that won’t weigh you down.
Jason here jumping in for the first section of this review. Last January, we received a few Winter ’25 pieces from Patagonia. The men’s Stormstride jacket (medium) was included. I had two hardshell jackets to test/review, the Stormstride and the M10. The weather here was downright wet and blustery for more than a minute. Read that as tourable weather in a rain and wet snow mix. Stormy weather. I grabbed the Stormstride and then handed the jacket off to the ideal beat-the-crap-out-of-their-gear tester. That person is Matt Colton; an easy-going human being. (More from him in a bit.) To know Matt is to know someone who wants no bells and whistles. He wants gear that works. He wants gear that can deal with heavy-use abuse as he seeks snow to ride in both hemispheres.
My first impression is that this is a well-built jacket with a “just enough” feature set for broad appeal. The fit is in between freeride baggy and svelte alpinism. Don’t expect a restrictive Euro-style fit, but don’t expect a parachute of fabric to flap in the wind and an excess of fabric to slow your progress in a headwind.
Two ample vertical pockets offer plenty of storage. Sorry splitboarders, it’ll be a tight fit for big skins.
The Basics
Price: $499.00
Weight Men’s M: 570g (confirmed)
Pockets: Two Napolean style chest pockets, one internal zip pocket to accommodate a phone, and a single drop pocket large enough for minimalist liner gloves or skins. (Your big, wide, and long skins will not fit in this single drop pocket.
Hood: Two-way adjustable helmet-compatible hood.
Pitzips: Easy to close off or open up pit zips that offer plenty of venting: the openings run ~12”.
Powderskirt: The jacket is outfitted with a minimal “low-bulk” powder gasket around the bottom hem.
Cuffs: Basic velcro (hook and loop) closure that fits over most gloves/mittens.
Fabric: PFC-free H2No® Performance Standard shell (fabric, membrane, and finishes do not contain perfluorinated chemicals): 3-layer, 4.8-oz 40-denier Pertex® Shield 100% recycled nylon plain weave with two-way stretch, a soft polyester knit backer and a PFC- free DWR (durable water repellent) finish.
Long pit zips offer heat dumping options for those working up a sweat.
The single drop pocket can secure gloves, an extra hat, and other modestly bulky items. The Stormstride has a small vertically aligned zip pocket on the opposite side big enough for a phone, lip balm, and small essentials.
A simple cinch at the waist serves as a keep-the-powder-out barrier.
The Stromstide strikes an excellent balance between being light enough to bring on most winter tours (and the foul weather spring tours or traverses) and appears to have sufficient durability to last years. For example, I’ve been using the M10 Jacket for eight months. Love it. It has 2.6oz. 30-denier face fabric. The Stormstride’s face fabric, at 4.8-oz and 40-denier, sports a more robust hand. If you are the type of skier/rider who fears shredding their jacket while passing every branch or twig during a tree run, you’ll be satisfied knowing the Stormstride’s fabric can take a beating. Regarding weatherproofing, the DWR beaded moisture well, and my inner layers remained dry during the episodic and drizzly weather I happened upon last winter.
The DWR works as advertised and has held up pretty well. In wet environments, wash the jacket semi-regularly for better weatherproof performance.
The key to moisture management with a piece like the Stormstride is not overdressing on the uphills. This is particularly true if part of your calculus is getting a mild workout. In that case, you’ll generate excessive heat (and moisture) and begin fiddling with dumping that heat via pit zips or the front zip. As the rule goes, start cold: This is even more axiomatic when beginning a tour in a hardshell like the Stormstride. On the other hand, if you keep a mild pace, temperature regulation should be pretty tame with this jacket.
Those were my impressions after several tours. I liked the pocket layout—there’s ample room for smaller skins in the chest pockets, and the lack of hand pockets was an upside since I always tour with a pack, and hand pocket access is usually restricted by my waistbelt.
The clean look from Patagonia with hood fit nicely over the helmet. Photo: Patagonia
The clean backside look of the Stormstride jacket (hood fit over helmet). Photo: Patagonia
Stormstride Jacket: The Matt Colton Perspective
The Patagonia Stormstride Jacket has been finding its way into my kit more often than not. Excelling for me during mid-winter riding, I’ve also used the jacket in mild and warm spring conditions. When selecting outwear to accompany me on extended travel-based ski trips, the Stormstride is a great choice as it balances weatherproofing, durability, and functionality.
I have been riding in South America for several months and testing this jacket in different weather. The jacket has held its own in some wet Argentina storm-riding days—the type of day where the parking lot is a little wetter than we’d like. We had four straight days of high winds, heavy snowfall, and dripping wet down low.
I love blizzard snowboarding, being out in the elements, and getting refills every lap. It’s also a great test on gear. From living up by Mt. Baker for a while, I’ve learned any product will get a bit moist in this type of weather, much different than intermountain storm riding conditions. The Stormstride jacket performed well in this weather, and I could stay fairly dry and warm. It was breathable for riding and the return hike for more turns.
Matt Colton heading up in the Stormstride jacket on a decidedly un-stormy day.
Those who know me understand I keep it simple: no more, no less. This means it’s one hard shell at a time for me: a do-it-all go-to. If I had a whole closet of hard shells, I would probably select a Gore-Tex Pro jacket for wet storm skiing. However, the Stormstride shines in its versatility and ability to work for many different days and in different types of mountain weather. Case in point, finally, on our fifth day, the unsettled and moist cleared in the high alpine. The high winds remained. It was a colder day with ample fresh and blowing snow. In these powder conditions, or for variable weather or storms, which I became accustomed to in South America, I’ve been pleased with the weatherproofing. The DWR holds up, the fabric beads moisture (remember to wash the jacket occasionally), and my mobility moving up and down the mountain isn’t compromised.
And, the descent. For those looking for a simple wardrobe, the Stromstride should be a good fit.
During the Southern Hemisphere spring, I did encounter some mild weather in the hills. For days when chasing smooth snow in perfect evening light and Super-G-ing a favorite wave for a few thousand feet were on the menu, I opted for a full softshell for a little extra breathability. But for the overnighters during this period, I brought the Stormstride. Weather can change quickly down here, and I like the advantage of having something a bit more weather-resistant for multiple days out. With pit zips undone and the front zip opened, breathability is sufficient, but layer accordingly. A synthetic t-shirt should suffice in mild spring conditions, and the upside is that the internal fabric doesn’t chafe against the skin or feel like a crinkly trashbag.
Personal preference is a thing. Pocket alignment is in the conversation when asking, “Do they or don’t they?” work for my style. The Stormstride has two vertical zip pockets on each side of the front zip. They are functional for storing smaller pliable skins but too small for any splitboard carpet. There’s a small internal zip pocket for a phone and a drop pocket for a modest pair of gloves. As a splitboarder, I prefer a big pocket on the inside of the coat for skins or just extras.
I’m about 5’10” and wore a size medium. The fit is ideal. It’s not too baggy and also not too tight. In the past, I’ve had the Patagonia SnowDrifter jacket. This is a pretty similar jacket to the Stormstride (H2No and intended use), but the new Stromstride has a much better fit compared to that jacket. There is more room around the waist without being too baggy up top. It’s very comfortable and has a nice look, too. For those wanting one jacket for a single extended ski trip, give the Stromstride a look. It’s also the type of jacket that is certainly technical wear but can be worn around town without looking like you are costumed for an assault on the Eiger’s North Face.
The fit is simple, which Colton likes. In other words, the jacket offers excellent mobility without being too baggy, or too technical looking.
Overall, the Stromstride excels as a solid all-around choice. A more spring or heavy winter storm type of material will prevail for some conditions, but the Stormstride performs well in most conditions. After 70 days of use, the jacket is still in good condition. And here at home in the Central Cascades, the jacket has come in handy as the repeating storm cycles have laid down some deep snow with the occasional drizzle, to keep me honest. The Stromstridee jacket has been a good companion for keeping the elements out and my wardrobe simple.
