Patagonia Tres 3-in-1 Parka - Women's Review

The Patagonia Tres is two coats that zip together to create one winter parka, and each layer can handle an array of weather. The lightweight outer shell is Patagonia's H2No waterproof, breathable and windproof stretch-twill. It's 100% polyester, 50% of which is recycled.

The inner layer has about 150 grams (depending on your size) of 700 fill recycled down and wrapped in recycled polyester. When zipped together, the award-winning jacket is ready for winter. Weighing 2.9 lbs, it isn't super lightweight but never feels bulky or heavy on.

Performance Comparison

When you zip the 700 fill recycled down jacket into the 2-layer shell to create the true Tres parka, you've got a warm, windproof, and waterproof package.

Warmth

While the outer shell has two layers and is substantial for a rain jacket, it's not insulated. You need layers to stay warm. It does do an exceptional job of protecting from wind, rain, and snow, though. That protective bubble keeps the weather out, so the inner 700 fill down jacket can do its job of capturing your body's heat. The high-quality down captures heat efficiently while keeping the layer compact and easy to compress. The down coat alone keeps you warm to around the freezing point on a dry day. The jackets are toasty when zipped together. The trim, form-fitting cut keeps most drafts out.

Since the down layer is lighter than other options we tested, the Tres doesn't top the warmth ratings. The outer pockets and hood, both parts of the shell layer, are also uninsulated. Our hands get chilly in the front pockets, even with the down coat zipped in. For freezing days, you'll need a toque and gloves to stay comfortable. The shell's hood is large enough to fit a beanie under, though it can be a snug fit. It's adjustable and a cinch to snug up around your face. We'd love to see a hood included on the inner down jacket to improve warmth overall.

We never felt chilly in the Tres, though we did need to add a beanie under the uninsulated hood for stormy weather.

Many of the jackets we tested include wrist cuffs to keep drafts out. The Tres does not, and we often felt the cold creep in around our forearms. While the mid-thigh cut provides excellent mobility, it also leaves your more of your legs exposed to the elements. If your thighs are often freezing in the winter months, consider a longer parka.

Despite these chinks in the Tres' cold-weather armor, it keeps us smiling in storms from cold and snowy to wet and sloppy. We like it best in moderate winter weather. It's great around Mount Baker and Lake Tahoe, but it's not an Arctic expedition jacket.

The fully waterproof Tres is an excellent shelter from the storm. It blew the competition away in our four-minute shower test.

Weather Resistance

The Tres is the best waterproof winter jacket we tested. If you live in a wet climate, this one's for you. The sporty outer shell is Patagonia's H2No two-layer waterproof stretch-twill with a DWR finish. The polyester fabric is also windproof, stretchy, and breathable. (Though zipping in the down layer cuts down on the breathability.) A storm flap snaps over the zipper makes sure that driving snow or rain doesn't work its way in.

We wore this jacket in the shower for four minutes, and only a few splashes made it in at the chin. That might not sound impressive, but water snuck into the other jackets in a lot of unexpected ways, giving us a deep appreciation for the Tres.

While not waterproof, the down layer has a DWR coating as well. Water beads up and rolls off the polyester fabric, but not for long. It's not the jacket you want downpour, especially since down loses its loft and insulating properties when wet. When we wore both layers together, we have no qualms about hanging out in wet and windy weather. And there are few things we like better than a jacket that can keep us comfy enough to head out in a storm.

We're constantly pulling on one of the Tres' three jacket options.

Comfort

The Tres is comfortable, no small feat for a 3-in-1 jacket weighing 2.9 pounds. Its comfort exists on a spectrum, however. The light and warm down layer rates the highest, followed by the roomy shell. While the Tres isn't heavy or bulky when zipped together, it more of both than the individual layers.

The outer shell is smooth and soft. We like the looser fit and appreciate the fleece lining on the collar. Its pockets are also fleece-lined. It's not enough to keep our hands warm, but it is enough to feel soft and inviting. The unlined hood is highly adjustable, making it easy to keep it out of our line of sight and snug in a storm. The hood requires some futzing to feel comfortable with a beanie underneath. Turning your head makes the whole situation feel tight. You get used to it.

The sleeves have zippers that let you adjust the size of the wrist opening. We appreciate that it lets us tuck the jacket into our cuff or to pull our sleeves over them. All told, the shell is more of a workhorse than a cuddly puppy, and is quite functional. And the excellent weatherproofing certainly provides comfort in nasty weather.

The inner down layer is especially cozy. We often curl up in it at home.

On the other hand, the down layer is so cozy and featherlight that we wear it about half of our waking hours. We get home, pull off the shell, and putz around the house all warm and happy. It's not stuffed with down, and what is there is distributed evenly. There's no marshmallow look or feel to contend with. Form-fitting and flattering, this layer is soft and stylish. It has fleece-lined pockets too.

The shoulders are a little tight, but we rarely cross our arms aggressively enough for it to matter.

The biggest comfort killers are the tight shoulders and lack of insulation in the hood. (We didn't know we wanted cozy hoods until we tried on so many.) While you can always pull on a toboggan (that's Appalachian for beanie) to keep your head warm, you can't make more room in the shoulders. The jacket works in our regular size with a thin sweater or fleece on. If you wear bulky layers often, the shoulders may feel annoyingly tight when you reach above your head. A lot of us have broad shoulders, if you do as well, consider sizing up.

It's also annoying to sit down with much of anything in your front pockets. They pooch out a little, and objects can dig into your belly or thighs. We recommend carrying necessities in the internal chest pocket and leaving the outer two for your hands. Sadly, the inner pocket doesn't fit many phones.

A subtle, sophisticated style and quality fabrics keep you looking polished.

Style

The Tres is the perfect blend of function and fashion. We turn heads left and right in this sporty yet sophisticated jacket. Resting mid-thigh, the outer shell's polyester twill gives the jacket a smooth, clean appearance. The streamlined profile of both layers keeps the combination from looking bulky, and princess seams on the front and back of the shell add a subtle touch of style.

The Tres has two exterior pockets in both the shell and the down layer. Only the down layer has an internal chest pocket as well. The hood is uninsulated.

The form-fitting down layer is eye-catching on its own. The satin matte finish and flattering slim cut are beautiful. Chevron baffling adds visual interest. It's a perfect layer to wear to yoga class, for quick errands around town, or when walking the dog in milder temperatures. Unfortunately, it doesn't have a two-way zipper. You have less room to lunge around town, but the jacket stretches enough that it never bothered us.

We always felt pulled-together when we pulled on the down layer.

The outer layer is looser without the down shell attached, but it drapes nicely and never looks frumpy. If you are on the fence between a puffy women's down jacket or a clean and straightforward style, this model may be perfect, because it offers both! We don't love the pockets on either layer when we sit down. They bunch a bit, and it's not our favorite look. But it's not a deal-breaker.

The Tres' shells is formidable. We had no durability issues during testing and predict that it will last for years to come.

Durability

No branches are going to snag the impenetrable two-layer shell. And we have no reason to doubt the longevity of Patagonia's signature H2No waterproof, windproof and breathable membrane. The down layer's polyester fabric isn't as bombproof, though we don't have any rips to report. It does shed some down, though never an alarming amount during our months of testing.

The zipper that connects the two jackets is sturdy and easy to use. We often skipped the step of snapping the cuffs and collars together, though. It's an annoying task because the loops on the down layer are so small. We could see them ripping out over time, though they aren't essential. The attachment points on the shell are more substantial.

The handwarmer pockets are nicely sized and placed.

Features

The main feature that this award winner has to offer is its versatility. It's a waterproof raincoat, down layer, and a winter jacket — all in one. Each layer has something of its own to offer. Putting the layers together takes a couple of minutes — it's impressively straightforward.

Patagonia's H2No two-layer waterproof fabric is the force behind this extremely waterproof outer shell. It has a fleece-lined collar and two exterior pockets secured by zippers. The outer shell lacks an interior media pocket. Each sleeve of the rain layer has a zip that lets you adjust the cuff size. The outer shell has no insulation in the hood, but it does have pull tabs to cinch it around your head and a tab on the back to pull it up out of your eyes.

The down layer has two exterior fleece-lined pockets with zippers. There's also an interior pocket, but it doesn't fit a smartphone. Since it's not comfortable to sit down with your phone in the hand pockets, this jacket doesn't give you a great place to carry one.

If you need a winter coat, light down layer for shoulder seasons, and a longer, fashionable raincoat, then this parka is a steal. We didn't really, and we wore it so often that is still felt well worth it.

Value

The Tres is a pretty great deal for what you are getting — three highly functional and flattering jackets. It is an investment, one you may not need to make if you already have an incredibly durable and stylish raincoat and comfy light down layer. Still, considering how much each of these layers costs separately, this jacket is an excellent investment for someone in need of all three.

The jacket is Fair Trade Certified. One hundred percent recycled down keeps you warm and 100% recycled polyester holds it all together. The shell is made with 50% recycled polyester. If supporting people and the environment are some of your values, this jacket offers those too.

The Tres prepares you for almost any weather in one fell swoop.

Conclusion