Patagonia Women’s Hooded Guide Vest Review

By Shannon on Feb 16, 2011 in Outerwear, Performance Apparel, Women's

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Patagonia thinks of everything. I didn’t know that I needed or even wanted a softshell vest until I started testing Patagonia’s Hooded Guide Vest. The vest is a spin-off from Patagonia’s most successful, aka popular, softshell the Guide Jacket. Since I received the vest, it has been easy to put the vest to good use: over a down puffy for a day on the slopes, over my Patagonia Nanopuff for a cool morning of skinning, and over my favorite running jacket when the temps hit below zero just last week.

For starter’s, Patagonia states that the Guide Vest has a slim fit. However, I have been placing it over all of my size small/medium jackets without a problem and without looking or feeling to bulky or restricted. The arm openings of the vest are plenty generous and allows easy layering. The vest is plenty long and hits about 5″ below my hip bones, making it pack and snow friendly. The lower hem can be easily adjusted with two pull cord adjustments, one on each side to seal out the elements. The vest also features a helmet compatible hood that has a single pull adjustment cord and a semi rigid visor to increase your visibility.

What I liked most about the vest it’s versatility. The outer membrane is not only wind resistant, but also breathable and features a coating of Deluge DWR, making it also rather water repellent. Wearing the vest over a insulating layer or shell gives your core a little more warmth without all of the bulk of adding an entire jacket. The inside of the Guide vest is super soft thanks to fleece lining. Your chin stays cozy with the vest zipped up all the way thanks to an even softer micro-fleece panel. The vest also features two hand-warmer pockets that are backed with fleece for added warmth. See the photos below to get an idea of what the vest may look like with some layering combos:

IMG 21441 225x300 Patagonia Womens Hooded Guide Vest Review

Layered with a 750 fill down jacket

IMG 22581 188x300 Patagonia Womens Hooded Guide Vest Review

Layered with the Patagonia Nanopuff Hoody

Retails for $125 and is available now from Patagonia.com

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Brands: Patagonia

About the Author

Shannon, our fabulous female tester, takes gear testing to a new level for women. When not at work or school, she is most likely training for a marathon, climbing one of Colorado’s tallest peaks, riding her road bike, or skiing down a mountain slope. Like many women, Shannon gets cold easily, therefore, we try to test the best all weather gear to help her stay warm and dry during all day outdoor pursuits. In the warmer months, Shannon enjoys exploring the Colorado backcountry with her friends and dogs and attempts to escape for as many trail runs as her schedule allows. Shannon is a great women’s tester because she gives readers true insight into how a product may perform for an active woman.