Patagonia Marsupial: A cozy jacket for spring and fall
Written: Apr 20 '05
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Pros: a variety of colors and patterns available, made from recycled materials
Cons: not windproof, not as warm as I thought it would be
The Bottom Line: An upscale, comfortable fleece jacket.
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| modernmarvel's Full Review: Patagonia Marsupial |
I love fleece, particularly during our cold, snowy winters and our cold, rainy springs. I am always on the look out for another fleece jacket or pullover. I found this nice pullover by Patagonia and was attracted by the design and the brand name.
DESCRIPTION
The jacket itself is made from fleece, or what Patagonia calls synchilla. This name implies it will be extra soft. I find the fleece is very soft and about as soft as other fleeces I have bought in the same price range. The fleece is also made from post-consumer recycled materials so you can feel good about buying it and wearing it. The edges of the sleeves, neck and the waistband are bound with nylon spandex. This binding is quite stretchy although it doesn't feel as comfortable against my skin as fabric does. There is a large pocket in the front of the jacket for warming your hands. I just use it to carry stuff.
My fleece is a half-zip so I put it on over my head. The fleece is also fitted so it nips in at the waist. I sometimes like this styling because it is more flattering. However, usually when I throw a fleece on, I feel like being sloppy, and this fleece doesn't quite have that sloppy feel. I would prefer a bit more room in the waist.
This fleece, given the price range, is not as warm as I expected. The wind goes right though it. It provides about as much warmth as a medium weight cotton sweatshirt although it is much, much lighter than cotton. It works best on afternoons that turn chilly. Once nice thing about it is that it doesn't wrinkle. I can throw it in the car or wrap it around my waist and, when I put it on, it alwasys looks good.
PRICE
The patagonia marsupial for women sells for $78 on the patagonia web site. I found mine on sale for $54 on another web site. The best bet for a good price on the internet is to use a shopping comparison engine. Many retailers carry the patagonia brand.
HOW IT STANDS UP
I have washed my fleece about a dozen times in cold and warm water. I always put it in the dryer. It has stood up pretty well to all the washing but there has been a little pilling. This occurs in all the fleeces I have owned to some degree. This fleece is better than most at standing up to a lot of washings.
VARIETY
The marsupial comes in styles for women, men and kids. Patagonia keeps reintroducing it in various solid colors and prints. My jacket has a nice flower and vine design. The marsupial also comes as a vest.
FINAL RECOMMENDATION
I really like this fleece. The fleece has washed well and doesn't wrinkle. It is comfortable to wear although the fitted styling is the one element I could do without. It doesn't seem to mesh with the casual feel of the fleece. Overall, I would recommend this fleece if it is on sale but feel that they are similar fleeces on the market for less money and similar quality.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 58.00
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modernmarvel
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