Patagonia Northwall Soft Shell Jacket - REVIEW
If you are looking for a jack-of-all trades soft-shell then the Patagonia Northwall Jacket should be on your radar. This is a softshell that can be worn almost as a hardshell. It's weather resistant thanks to the Polartec Power Shield Pro fabric which is also super durable and resistant to abrasions. Most softshells give minimal insulation value but the Patagonia Northwall Jacket has built in wall-to-wall carpeting (so to speak) so it is perfect for cold conditions. The Regulator high-loft grid interior is incredibly plush for maximum warmth while still being breathable. With this one jacket you can get protection from the cold and wet while still being tough and breathable - a great combo.
If that wasn't enough Patagonia has included a new patented feature into the Northwall jacket called the "Touch Point System". This is one cool feature, it is designed to help you reduce the fumbling when you need to tighten things up when the winds begin to howl on the ridge top. Patagonia has embedded cord locks in the hem and hood so that you can easily pull to synch things up, and to release you simply press on the Touch Point system (the grey area) to activate the lock release. This is a much slicker design than the traditional spring locking system that is usually tethered to the garment which you have to fumble with to orientate and then activate.