Patrik Orcutt 12.13.22
Yvon Chouinard, who started his profession as a climber within the early Fifties, is credited with beginning Patagonia. Chouinard, billed as each an outside fanatic and environmental activist had developed a lifelong love of mountain climbing, which later led to the creation of an outside retail chain that has dozens of places around the globe. By 1957, as he continued to pursue his passion, Chouinard started to show himself how one can blacksmith to create climbing instruments. With his new expertise, the passionate climber was in a position to make his first pitons with an previous harvester blade. By 1970, merely 5 years into the enterprise, the corporate was billed as the most important provider of climbing {hardware} within the United States, in keeping with Patagonia’s web site. Fast ahead to 2022 and Patagonia is likely one of the greatest out of doors clothes manufacturers on this planet and has a line of clothes tailor-made for army functions. Today, we’ll assessment the uncommon Patagonia Level 3A Jacket – “the Patagonia Jacket they won’t sell you.”
The Level 3A Jacket was independently bought by the reviewer. Patagonia didn’t ship a assessment copy and had no say on this written assessment.
Patagonia Level 3A Jacket – Testing
The Patagonia Level 3A Jacket is a light-weight synthetically insolated garment designed for army use however takes lots of its design cues from Patagonia’s different jackets like their nano and micro puff choices. I’ve owned my copy of the Level 3A for over a yr now and have taken it on missions to locations like Finland and Germany within the winter. It has additionally seen a couple of vary journeys to the again woods of Maine as we transfer into December right here in New England.
Patagonia Level 3A Jacket – Construction and Materials
Just just like the Nano Puff jacket, the Level 3A is constructed of a 20-denier (D) recycled polyester shell material which is about common by way of sturdiness for a light-weight insulated jacket. In apply, the upgraded ripstop building has put up a great struggle towards snags and abrasion. This was a shock to me as you’d think about this material would tear simply contemplating its weight, however it merely doesn’t.
The Level 3A is stuffed with artificial insolations that means that it’ll retain heat even when moist however won’t have the long-term sustainability of different supplies like Goose Down or Wool. Synthetic insolation tends to get compressed over time and lose its skill to retain heat. Of course with Goose down, if it will get moist it loses a lot of its insulating properties. Wool will keep heat regardless however may be extremely costly when utilized in a jacket like this.
I feel Patagonia went with the appropriate materials for this jacket to maintain it heat whereas being weight and dimension environment friendly, all vital issues for any soldier. The pocket zippers on the jacket are from IDEAL zippers and have good Hypalon pull tabs for straightforward acquisition whereas the primary zipper is an outsized YKK. As I bought this jacked off the second-hand market, the primary IDEAL zipper that got here on the garment was in fairly tough form and wanted to get replaced so that’s the reason you will notice me working an outsized YKK in lots of my footage. This brings me to my first main criticism about this jacket, the zippers. I assume that to be BERRY compliant with DOD for this contract, Patagonia went with the IDEAL zippers as they’ve a producing college within the United States. Unfortunately, these zippers sort of suck and the pockets like to get caught up within the materials of the jacket.
Patagonia Level 3A Jacket – Features
The Level 3A contains a full zip design permitting for straightforward removing of the jacket in case you are getting heat whereas carrying it. There are three zippered pockets, two hand pockets, and one chest. The sleeves are gusseted with a little bit of elastic similar to on the Nano Puff and have the right quantity of rigidity in order they maintain the chilly air out whereas not changing into uncomfortable after extended put on like on another jackets. There can also be a drawstring on the underside of the inside of the jacket for tightening or loosening.
Patagonia Level 3A Jacket – Performance
The general efficiency of the Level 3A has been what I might have anticipated out of it. The jacket retains you heat in sub 40 F and 30 F diploma climate with ease however after that, you’ll want to begin layering below or over the garment. Very usually I might discover myself solely carrying a t-shirt below this jacket within the winter if I knew I used to be going to be transferring steadily.
Likes
- Very heat for its dimension and weight
- Great for Military functions
Dislikes
- Pocket zippers usually snag on pocket materials
- Difficult to buy as solely issued to Military Special Operations
Patagonia Level 3A Jacket – Wrap up
Overall The Level 3A is a perfectly well-designed and executed garment (apart from the zippers) Unfortunately Patagonia gained’t promote these on to the general public so you will want to scour the used marketplace for one to pop up in your dimension as I did. I paid $250 for mine and I feel that’s a good worth for what you’re getting. The Level 3A is an upgraded Nano Puff with more durable supplies. If you’re available in the market for a Level 3A and may’t discover one and are usually not fearful about having that further safety, I might advocate simply getting the Nano puff as they’re virtually the identical jacket from and finish person’s perspective. Plus you possibly can put on the Nano puff in additional locations because it doesn’t are available Multicam.
