Patagonia didn’t name themselves after some of the Earth’s most technical ascents for nothing. The rock climbing technician turned global icon has jackets for all sorts of adventures. Today, we’ll meet one of their most protective hard-shell raincoat options.
With the Patagonia name behind the Calcite’s production, you know you’re going to get a comfortable, stylish, and sustainable option, but that’s not always good enough. As one of their more high-alpine options, the Patagonia Calcite makes its living above the tree-line. Anything made for the summit has to be held to an incredibly high standard.
The difference between water-resistant and waterproof may not be a deal-breaker at sea level, but can be the difference between forging onward and turning back early on the mountaintop.
Patagonia can’t just rest on its laurels at 8,000 feet. We’ve got to make sure this expensive rain jacket provides the lightweight comfort and protection necessary to justify its place in bags for all sorts of adventures.
So, let’s take a closer look.
We put these fine fibres underneath the microscope and analyzed every inch of this industry leader. Stick around and find out with us whether or not the Patagonia Calcite further amplifies it’s creators’ storied reputation. Right then, lets take a deeper look at one of the best rain jackets on the market.
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Quick Answers in the Patagonia Calcite
Who is the Patagonia Calcite For?
This coat is for shoppers looking for serious protection. With reinforcements in all the right places, the Calcite can hang with summer showers, winter storms, and can well-manage the changing weather that comes with higher altitudes to serve as a great Patagonia rain jacket for adventures deep in the outback.
Looking for something more hardcore? Check out the Patagonia Triolet jacket.
Who is the Patagonia Calcite NOT For?
The Calcite is not a super lightweight summertime raincoat. Although Patagonia went through painstaking lengths to increase breathability, this coat is slightly on the heavier end of the spectrum and would be a bit much for many spring, summer, and early autumn hikes at sea level.
For that, have a look at the Patagonia Houdini instead.
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Join REI Today!The Patagonia Calcite At A Glance
- Price: $299
- Weight: 411 G
- Materials: Recycled Polyester & 2.5 layer Gore-Tex Paclite
The Calcite took durability seriously to solidify its hardcore niche within the industry. This coat isn’t the lightest rain jacket on the market, but every single ounce goes to good use. Hopefully, your mission won’t be accompanied by too many bumps and bruises, but this extremely waterproof raincoat will bounce off scratches and crashes so you can, too!
On our first read of the spec sheet, we were blown away by the 75-D denier rating and two separate layers of Gore-Tex. This makes the jacket more durable than many tent floors! Miraculously, all these heavy-duty protections didn’t result in an extremely heavy coat.
Still, it’s slightly on the heavier end of the raincoat scale, but this coat will be just as comfortable in all four seasons on the mountain. Rain, sleet, snow, or shine, nothing permeates this recycled waterproof membrane.
- Optimised at every corner to function in an alpine environment
- Proves you can have a high-performance jacket without sacrificing sustainability
- Has a chest pocket.
- Fits slightly bulky underneath a large backpack
- Patagonia added two pit zips to help out, but this isn’t the most breathable raincoat on the market
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Patagonia Calcite Jacket Performance and Specs
Patagonia Calcite Jacket – Weight and Packability
Weighing in at 411 Grams and coated with 2.5 layers of heavy-duty Gore-Tex, weight and packability aren’t the Calcite jacket’s biggest strength. You’re bound to find lighter raincoats and smaller packers.
That said, this is Patagonia we’re talking about, so you can still confidently fit this oversized raincoat into carry-on luggage or tuck it inside of lightweight backpacks. Plus, every ounce of this raincoat has a purpose.
The Gore-Tex layers may be many, but that’s precisely what makes this coat great. Most of Patagonia’s raincoats feature only two layers of Gore-Tex security. The Calcite takes things a step further by adding on a third layer born from the Paclite plus line, which serves as some of Gore-Tex’s best water-resistant fabrics.
Embrace the oversized look and feel of this rain shell and you’ll be well on your way. While the Calcite is on the heavy side of the rain jacket scale, its protections are well worth a few extra grams.
Patagonia Calcite Jacket – Windproofing and Water Resistance
These two factors are Calcite’s biggest strengths. We already covered the extra layers of Gore-Tex resistance, and here is where that layer pays dividends. This coat is as water-resistant as any raincoat on the market, and the protections don’t stop if the water starts to freeze. It’s one of the top rain jackets for hiking or just generally keeping dry when it comes to light snow and wet weather.
The key is in the Paclite Plus membrane. In this case, the Plus stands for double, as in an additional lining that really boosts performance. For most coat makers, the Paclite Plus is more than enough to get the job done, but Patagonia didn’t leave anything up to chance when it came to making a top class waterproof jacket.
Just like all of their raincoats, they finished things off with a durable water repellent coating. This layer alone is enough to keep a surprise downpour from seeping in. Combine it with this Gore-Tex and you can stay out in the rain all day long.
The hardshell exterior takes care of the rest to fully create a wind and waterproof coat. You’ll find sealed zippers and dedicated details All the way through the helmet-compatible hood that prove this coat is tough enough.
High quality recycled polyester round out the edges and fill out the outer layer of this coat. Everything works together to beat the wind and rain and help the Calcite serve for four seasons of protection alongside the right kit. When it comes to Patagonia outerwear, this is right up there with the best.
Patagonia Calcite Jacket – Ventilation and Breathability
Being an all-season coat isn’t easy. This rain jacket is chock full of heavy-duty wind and rain protection while trying to keep enough warmth in to survive in alpine environments. That means that this coat may be a bit much for April showers, and doesn’t pack the breathability required to avoid overheating at sea level.
It’s not completely useless in warm weather. Long pit zips and adjustable wrist straps allow you to open up a bit of airflow, and the Paclite Plus’ speciality is allowing sweat to seep out without allowing rain in.
You should know going in that this jacket is a bit heavy for the beachfront. Fall hikers and winter campers don’t seem to mind, and the coat is easy enough to stash in your backpack or across your waistband when the weather’s dry and warm and the pit zips again increases its versatility.
Calcite leaves room for a fleece underneath or a few lightweight layers ready to take over on warmer days, depending on the size purchased. This extra sizing can slightly help breathability as you won’t feel squeezed inside your rain gear.
It’s a powerful wind and rain breaker, so you should expect a bit of stale air to stick around underneath the ultra repellent outer layers.
Patagonia Calcite Jacket – Durability
The biggest indicator of the Calcites Jacket’s incredibly Durability is the 75-D recycled polyester. No, the D doesn’t stand for durability, but the statistic provides a great sign that this coat is built to last.
The D actually stands for Denier, and the fabric’s denier rating points to how thick and strong the fabric is. One strand of silk has 1 Denier, and the scale slowly increases from there. Most raincoats hover around 40D, but adventures facing a few rocks along the way may need a bit more support in each thread.
75-D solidifies this jacket squarely in the climber’s category and certifies this jacket as more durable than some tent flooring. This is a hardcore jacket that can handle quite a few bumps and bruises on your way outside which is why it’s one of the best Patagonia jackets on the market.
- Packs enough waterproofing to stay dry through a storm that lasts all afternoon
- Great attention to detail all the way down to the sealed zippers and hooded visor
- More durable than some tent floorings
- We’d love to see this jacket shave off a few hundred grams of the total weight
- Heavy-duty protections block out the rain, but can keep in a bit too much body heat on warm days
- If you’re not engaging in physical activity, this jacket is slightly too light to serve as a true winter outer layer
Patagonia & The Environment
Hopefully, you’ve heard a thing or two about Patagonia’s legendary approach to sustainability. Each stitching in their high-quality raincoats is fair trade certified and constructed out of recycled materials.
The Calcite Jacket is no different. While some of the Gore-Tex protections are not second hand, the outer polyester is 100% recycled and incredibly durable. That’s good enough for most companies, but these guys have gone out of their way to pick up some trash on their way to the mountaintop.
Patagonia’s relationship with the environment goes far beyond sustainably sourcing its materials. They imposed a 1% tax on themselves to provide support to environmental causes they believe in.
One percent is not enough, but it’s a great start. When you have as much gear changing hands as Patagonia, 1% of each sale quickly adds up to a whole lot of goodness coming to the natural world.
Patagonia Calcite Jacket Comparison
| Jacket | Price (USD) | Weight (Grams) | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patagonia Calcite | 279 | 411 | 2.5L Gore-Tex Paclite Plus |
| Arc’teryx Beta LT Jacket | 450 | 269 | 2.5L Gore-Tex Paclite Plus |
| REI Co-op Powderbound Insulated Jacket | 199 | 369 | Gore-Tex Paclite |
| Outdoor Research Helium II | 94 | 181 | 2.5L Pertex |
| Patagonia Torrentshell | 149 | 394 | 3L H2No |
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Patagonia Calcite Jacket Final Thoughts
Equipped with the Patagonia Calcite, you could have read this entire article in the pouring rain and stayed dry. This raincoat stops at nothing to provide wind and waterproofing at all altitudes, and the end result is a thing of beauty.
After everything we’ve covered today, I can say with confidence that this jacket is absolutely worth it – for the right adventure.
The Calcite is too heavy for the heat of summer and is slightly more raincoat than some adventures might need. If you are prepping to head deep into the backcountry or want to keep moving forward no matter the weather, zip up this rain jacket and get on your feet.
Looking for something heavier weight? Check out the best Patagonia winter jackets instead. You could also opt for the Patagonia Torrentshell Jacket if you’re budget doesn’t quite stretch this far.
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