Patagonia Minimalist Wading Jacket - Thoughts? vs FL Boundary?

[lcxctf2000]

Need to get a new rain jacket for this fall. I've always had great luck with Patagonia gear and have zero experience with FL. Of the jackets I've been considering the FL Boundary is currently tied or second to the Patagonia.

The Patagonia Minimalist Wading Jacket feels like it has a lot of potential to fit my needs. Waterproof. Lightweight. Brown. Reasonable cost. Feature set looks like it would work just fine for backpack hunting while also performing well as a fishing jacket for me. I worry a bit about noise as it looks like the same material as my last Pata jacket and while it's not crinkly it's not silent. Also the cut is apparently shorter than normal due to it being a wading jacket.

The FL Boundary gets really solid reviews as a hunting and all purpose jacket. Waterproof. Quiet. Brown. Reasonable cost (albeit more than the Pata option). Proven to work backpack hunting and feature set should work find for fishing/outdoor jacket for me. Main things that are having it run in 2nd place are weight (8 oz is a lot!) and cost.

99% sure that I'll be happy with either, which is good. Wondering if you guys have any thoughts/input from experience with either of these jackets or with rainwear in general that may sway my decision?

 

[cuerro viejo]

The wading jacket is going to be short torsoed, very short. Not going to cover your back side if you set down or bend over.

I'd go first lite unless you where wading over knee deep

 

[lcxctf2000]

The wading jacket is going to be short torsoed, very short. Not going to cover your back side if you set down or bend over.

This is a "long" wading jacket. I have an email to Patagonia about how long it truly is, but they say it's 5" longer than their SST.

I anticipate it will be shorter than the FL and that is another one of my considerations that I forgot to include above. Thanks for the reminder!

 

[lcxctf2000]

Just heard back from them. Center back length measured from neck seam to bottom is 26 3/4" on a large, 25 3/4" on a medium.

Anybody have a FL they can measure for comparison?

 

[Trial153]

I like the idea of the jacket pulling double duty.....

 

[cuerro viejo]

This is a "long" wading jacket. I have an email to Patagonia about how long it truly is, but they say it's 5" longer than their SST.

I anticipate it will be shorter than the FL and that is another one of my considerations that I forgot to include above. Thanks for the reminder!

Ya I looked it up, no pit zips though.

 

[lcxctf2000]

no pit zips though.

Excellent consideration.

I also worry about the shininess of the Patagonia fabric over the FL. Probably not a huge issue, but certainly a factor.

Sounds like FL it is! Just have to wait for them to get into stock.

 

[FreeRange]

Any reason you're not considering the Torrentshell? It's an ounce heavier but that's probably on account of the pit zips. Same material as the minimalist jacket. Its a nice jacket and mine does duty all year fishing, hunting and at work. It comes in brown as well. It's a well known and abused piece of gear by many and easily picked up on sale if you're patient. You're right though, that material isn't the quietest, but I can make do with it.

 

[lcxctf2000]

Any reason you're not considering the Torrentshell?

I was looking at it, as well as the SuperCell. Those two are still in the group I am going to pick from. I get good pricing on the Patagonia so that another factor in favor of a Patagonia jacket that I didn't add earlier.

 

[dreamingbig]

Patagonia supports anti hunters. First Lite supports hunters! I vote with my wallet!

 

[PNWGATOR]

Patagonia supports anti hunters? Really? Can you site your source? Not trying to be confrontational, just informed. They make a great product, have fantastic customer service and as a rabidly passionate fly angler and hunter I'm very familiar with their product line. Yvon Chinonard is an avid fly angler and adventurer and I'd be truly dissapointed if he was the founder of an anti hunting company producing outstanding outdoor products backed with outstanding customer service.

Okay, back on topic.... Simms is another manufacturer I'd recommend strongly considering. Outstanding quality, made in America and great customer service.

 

[dreamingbig]

Yes it is true. Many discussions on it already. I could dig it up but you could too if you search a bit. I like their product but I won't buy any.

 

[PNWGATOR]

Ugh...I'll look, thanks.

 

[westrnwild]

Also look at Ooutdoor research foray jacket. The owner of Patagonia supports bow hunting for food not trophy hunting. I have spoken to their HQ about this.

As for the FL it runs big... I returned mine cause it was loud and puffy. The OR is relatively quiet. I went with sitka cloudburst though

 

[lcxctf2000]

Yes it is true. Many discussions on it already. I could dig it up but you could too if you search a bit. I like their product but I won't buy any.

All the discussions I found in my interwebs search came up with no definitive anti- stance for Patagonia.

They certainly are very active in habitat and environmental causes and those sometimes do step on the toes of hunters so I can see how they would get the rep of being anti.

They sell a lifestyle more than anything these days and many people who want to live that lifestyle don't want to be associated with hunters. Makes sense that they wouldn't alienate their core money making market and let brands like Kuiu, Sitka, etc. play the hardcore gear for hunters game while they pick off people on the edges that want the good stuff but don't always want camo.

 

[lcxctf2000]

Since this bugged me I did some research directly with Patagonia.

They are pretty transparent with where their environmental money goes: http://www.patagonia.com/us/patagonia.go?assetid=2927

And from a chat I had with a CS rep a moment ago:
You: do you have a corporate stance on hunting?
You: pro-, anti-, neutral?
Kayli: Our biggest priority is environmental stewardship. We're not anti-hunting, but want hunting to be used as an effective tool to manage wildlife populations and environmental needs.
Kayli: We feel the same way about fishing.

I am sure that's the corporate language, but from all my experiences with the company it feels like what I would expect.

 

[dreamingbig]

They are supporters of wolf reintroduction and could care less if hunters lose time afield. Not an org I will be supporting. Call me crazy but I am pro First Lite, Sitka and Kuiu as a result.