Patagonia Winterfest: Kind of a let-down?

photo from patagonia.com

Well, the once-a-year sale on Patagonia winter gear is ending today and frankly, it was kind of a let-down. I know that for many who visit the Patagonia Community and who have commented here and/or contacted me personally, this is THE sale that gets gearheads geeked up.  But the let-down started with the 30% Off Sale and continued when the Winterfest blew into town with even less to offer than the 30% Off Sale. The company's had such great sales in the past; this one just didn't measure up.

Disappointing--and I only say that because I really like the stuff that Patagonia has been producing (was my blog devoted entirely to the company's products/sales/causes a subtle tip-off?).  I'm going to have to sniff out deals in other places and hopefully my sniffer is working well.  High on my list is the Patagonia Down Sweater Jacket.  I'm going to be eBaying my Patagonia Down Jacket very soon here (anyone interested, btw?) for the versatility of the Down Sweater and I was hoping to snatch up a great deal on the Sweater.  I'm unable wait for the 2012 Winterfest as I have a trip coming up in April and the Sweater is going to be ideal under a good Rain Shadow (which I'm also hoping to find at a great price). 

*Sniff...sniff...

photo from patagonia.com

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.

Introducing...The Pat Com REAL DEAL

We all know that times are tough right now for many people. We also know that Patagonia products are--let's face it--expensive. So what I'm going to try to do here at Patagonia Community is track down some great deals for you on a somewhat regular basis. These might be items that are heavily discounted or items that are slightly discounted but rarely go on sale. Whatever the case, Patagonia Community will be looking to help you save a few bucks.

Also, I'll be on the look-out for some local deals so if you know of a discount or sale at a local Patagonia retailer around you, I'd love to hear from you so that I can post it on the blog (after you grab your bargains, of course). So...

The first Pat Com Real Deal is the classic Patagonia waterproof shell, the Rain Shadow Jacket. This jacket is a staple of Patagonia's outerwear line season after season and is usually one of the few jackets that they'll advertise even in the warmer months.

It is currently available in the sage khaki color here from Zappos.com for $109.50, almost 30% off. As of this posting, they had every size except small. In addition, their website offers multiple pictures of each item, something the Patagonia website often lacks (photo above from Zappos.com). If you've never ordered from Zappos, you're in for a treat. I wrote about them around the time they started carrying Patagonia products. They offer FREE OVERNIGHT SHIPPING on clothing (no minimum purchase!) and I've never had to pay tax on any order from them. In fact even on other items like shoes and accessories, they offer free shipping. On those items they say that it takes 4-5 days, however in my experience I've always gotten those items from them in no more than 2 days. They really offer great service.

So there it is, the first Pat Com Real Deal. Hope it makes your burden lighter and keeps your pocketbook heavier. Look for the Pat Com Real Deal to become a regular feature on Patagonia Community.