Patagonia Stretch Ascent Jacket

I've had my eye on the Patagonia Stretch Ascent Jacket for over a year now.  I had an old Patagonia Dimension Jacket that I loved, but the fact that it was a soft-shell just didn't suit my needs.  The Stretch Ascent is a waterproof hard shell but adds that extra stretch that is so nice to have when engaged in outdoor pursuits or when your gut is just getting big (I, shamefully, fall into that latter category).  I came across this video on YouTube posted by Patagonia about the Stretch Ascent.  I had noticed the nice Riri Aquazip when browsing the Patagonia site and they talk briefly about this feature in the video too.

Patagonia Rain Jackets: What's the best?

Photo of the Patagonia Rain Shadow Jacket from patagonia.com

With all of the rain we've been getting in California lately, I've been thinking about picking up a new rain jacket.  Currently I'm using the Mountain Hardwear Typhoon Jacket that I purchased at REI for half-off a couple of winters ago.  It does the job (Gore-Tex PacLite) but has a lot of flaps and velcro.

I used to own a Patagonia Dimension Jacket and though it was a softshell and I ultimately eBay-ed it because it wasn't waterproof, its simplicity was nice.  That's why I've been considering the Rain Shadow (at the top of the post).  I like its water-resistant zipper in front and the fact that there are no flaps over the center zip or any of the pockets.  Basic, clean rain protection.

Another jacket I've considered is the Patagonia Stretch Ascent.  It's $300 price tag has put the brakes on the idea of actually getting one, but its stretchiness and streamlined design are reminiscent of my old Dimension Jacket.

 Photo from patagonia.com

Then there's the Patagonia Torrentshell which is a nice, basic option (and well-priced too).  I may have to try one of those on when I'm in San Diego this weekend for Christmas.  

 Photo from store.apolisglobal.com

By the way, Apolis (a company I've previously mentioned) is offering the jacket on their website and also has some great "fit shots" if you want to see what it looks like on a real human being.