Customer Reviews L.L.Bean Waterproof Primaloft Packaway Jacket

I like a lot about this jacket except that it is not warm enough. I wanted it for winter and am finding that it may not be what I hoped for. I love the length (it's a little longer than more typical jackets). It was difficult to choose a color, already having lots of black and blue, but am very happy with the green. If you are between sizes choose the larger size.

I admit it, I am hard to fit, with a 43" bust on a small, but stocky, frame. But for the life of me, I really think ALL outdoor coats should have RAGLAN sleeves for easier fitting and more range of motion, like the down sweaters do and the pathfinder rain jackets did. In order to fit my chest, I have to buy a coat whose set-in sleeves are too big, leaving lots of room for 1970s shoulder padsif only I wanted them. This style/fit issue detracts from the trim look of the rest of the coat. Sigh. PRO: The fabric is really soft and not noisy. The lining is compact, too, which is great. The pockets have a soft fleece lining, and the sleeves have a soft inner cuff. The coat length is nice. Velcro sleeves make for some amount of adjustment. The two outer pockets zip closed and are roomy. CON: The zipper is just one way, and I doubt I will use the little side vent zippers, because they are awkward to reach with the coat on. The pockets are a little low for me. (Cinching the waist helps with this.) Suddenly LL Bean has decided women don't need the chest cell phone pocket, and there's just one pocket inside, which is mesh and does not zip closed. I really miss that vertical zip chest pocket, and for the price of this coat, y'all could have sprung for a couple of inside pockets too! The sleeves are a little long on me, but not bad. Even with these imperfections, I am grateful that you make petite outerwear that comes even close to fitting me. Thank you for that!

This jacket isn't the most figure flattering but it is warm and lightweight. I like that it is flexible and you can move around in it with ease. I am hoping to use it for snowshoeing. I really like the back zippers for flexibility.

I like this coat. It is lightweight but is warm with a sweater under it. The coat is not bulky like older products, and my new coat looks stylish. There are many pockets to store items in like a hat, keys, hand lotion, paper, pens, etc. I recommend this coat to others.

Love this jacket, especially this winter. In Northern Ohio it has been cold, snowy and rainy. The coat is roomy enough for a cozy layer and repels the rain. It is not bulky like a down coat. There are interior cuffs in the sleeves and the hood is not 'in the way' when I am not wearing it. Only wish is a 2 way zipper that I could zip to the top and open the bottom a bit for sitting in the car. Glad I bought this jacket and retired my long down coat! Five stars with a 2 way zipper.

The fit is super flattering (not at all boxy!) and I can tell it'd be fantastic on a cold day - lightweight and soft, but still waterproof and breathable. Unfortunately the colors don't offer any sort of wow factor so I decided to return it. I was going to use this for my ski coat, but it just looks super basic and if I'm going to spend this much $, I want to look fashion forward. If they amp up the colors & trim for a more youthful look, I would totally buy again!

LOVE Primaloft. This jacket is very lightweight and warm but for the cooler temps I like a light layer sweater and It could use a smidge more room in the cut to allow for that extra layer. Love that it goes to the thigh.

I first ordered this coat in a large on recommendation with customer service because I own another packaway jacket in a large and it fits fine. However, I found the large too cumbersome and had a lot of extra room in the torso. Maybe because it is longer than the other packaway jacket, it just fits different. I had to wait for a medium, but let me tell you, now that I have a medium (and it actually fits) this is an amazing coat. First of all, the hood. I live in the Midwest and often have serious wind to deal with. In a 50mph gale force wind, the hood kept my head covered and warm, and the wind did not come in and bother my ears. The hood was not blown off my head. There are these little adjusters so you can make the hood fit your head size and shape. Amazing. Secondly, this coat is waterproof for those days when it is 32 degrees and raining and you want to stay dry. The water just beads up and drips off. Third, I have a curvy figure. Not fat, but I have a waist and then some hips, and this coat accentuates the curves without being tight anywhere. I was nervous about this most of all when switching from a large to a medium. At first it seems like it might be tight, then you zip the coat and everything is just where it should be. Maybe the fabric is slightly stretchy? Anyway, I love it! Only gave 4 out 5 stars because it is rated to -25, and I really don't think so. With a fleece underneath, hood up and cinched, maybe to upper 20's, lower 30's. If you add wind, ehh. I have a heavier waterproof down coat for those days. But I can see this coat getting me through most of the winter days without me looking like a lumpy no shape. I feel good in this coat. I haven't been able to say that about a coat in a long time. I got the blue color and it is lovely. A bit different than the typical navy/black without being too bright. Thank you LLBean!

Warm and folds up nicely. Can fit in a carry on with other items. Jacket fits perfectly.

I really like this jacket. It ticks off so many boxes of what I was looking for: longer length, light weight, warm, water proof, and flattering. I like that I can wear any thickness of fleece under it for extra layering and I'm not restricted. So it's looser but not too loose. I can't give it 5 stars because I think it really could use more zipped pockets. Two are on the outside and there's one on the inside which is actually the space used to pack the jacket into. So that is on the bigger side and anything put into it falls way down and you search inside of the pocket to find it. Also, as with all of LLBean's shirts and jackets, the sleeves are really long for me. I usually roll or fold sleeves up but I let these bunch up. It's ok but doesn't exactly make the jacket "perfect." On the plus side, the sleeves are nicely lined so that my arms are toasty warm and there's a bit of a stretchy cuff on the inside to prevent drafts or precipitation from going up into the sleeve and onto your arm.

It is very fitted, so a bulky under layer would not work. It's light, warm and long enough to cover the hips which is great~! The only thing it lacks are more pockets both inside and out~! Not enough pockets for dog bags, treats, Kleenex, gloves etc. For a very expensive coat I expected more pockets, more like the winter jackets I have worn for years.

This is a remarkably warm jacket for its weight. I bought it to replace a very old LLBean Primaloft jacket which, while very warm, was also bulky and heavy. I was comfortable in gusty temperatures around 30 degrees as long I kept moving. When indoors, I did not overheat. I would add a fleece jacket for colder temperatures and bought a larger size to accommodate it. My only quibbles were the few colors and lack of snap buttons. Would have loved one with purple/red/blue with cool tones (like some of the choices for the Weather Challenger jacket). Still, it will be a great jacket to take along on my frequent trips to the midwest.

I love it, but am returning it, reluctantly, for one reason only: there is no way to close it against wind without zipping the whole thing up. It should have a snap placket over the zipper. I have an LLB jacket I've worn every winter for the past 19 years, and have not been able to replace it with a new one. This would be perfect - if only it had a snap or two. My fingers aren't as nimble as they used to be. Otherwise, it's a nice relaxed fit, great color, feels good on. I'm disappointed.

I love this jacket but it runs very small across the chest and I am not a heavy chested woman. The fit should be a little more relaxed.

I'll preface this by saying I run cold. I always need more layers on than anyone else. So with that said, even with an under layer, sweater, and down vest, I cannot wear this when the temperature goes below 55. And that is pushing it. It IS very comfortable and waterproof. I love how you can adjust the hood and and the waist. I also like how you can fold it up into its pocket (great for taking in your suitcase). I will wear it often just not in the situations I purchased it for. I'll need to keep looking.

Very nice jacket; reasonable "style" to the fit. I think the pit zips are unnecessary and add bulk. I considered returning the jacket because it seemed tight under the arms when driving, but after walking around in it, I decided it was OK. Also, not quite certain of the benefit of the zips in the rear, nor the internal cinch at the waist. On the plus side, it has everything you need in a mid-weight, waterproof jacket. Nice band around the cuffs to keep out the cold, good design on the hood that has a cinch strap in back plus slight reinforcement on the visor portion of the hood that helps keep it out of your eyes. Hand-warmer side pockets and a deeper internal mesh pocket on one side. Water beads well on the fabric, so I assume it will keep you dry in a downpour. I haven't tried to stuff it into its pocket yet, but it's fairly light weight.

It's a nice jacket, it runs kind of big. I would not spend 250 dollars again on a LLbean jacket. If you don't keep the jacket closed it's not warm at all. I feel I would be cold out in 25 degree weather.

I wearied of the puffy coats and wanted something a bit dressier that was also warm. Also wanted a coat that fully covered my bottom, but not too long. This coat is perfect in that regard, I love the length. The pockets are excellent, inside and out. The sleeves have the velcro tabs, which I appreciate because otherwise they would be a little too long. Only improvement I would make is to add two-way zippers. I walk a lot in NYC but am also on the subways daily and the 2-way zip makes a lot of sense for me, or for anyone who drives. I got the blue - such a nice change from black - and would like to see more color options!

I am very pleased with the wicked comfy material. Very true to fit, pockets are a nice surprise, zips easily and compacts quite nicely.

I really like this coat for several reasons. San Francisco just had the coldest weather since the 1950's, and this jacket was amazingly warm, and it kept me dry too. We never drop below the 40's, but as a former New England resident, I am sure it would keep you warm in lower temperatures (but certainly not down to the teens or below.) I love that it is lightweight for travel, and can be stowed into a pocket. The inside pocket is great for glasses, cellphone, my small wallet, etc., so a purse can be left at home. I think it runs small, so if you are between sizes, go up one. The sleeves were a bit long, but not enough to be a problem. The cuffs have 2 different ways to stop wind or wet weather with adjustable velcro straps, and internal dark grey cuffs that are a very soft material. I love the marine blue color, but it looks different from what you see online. However, I love all shades of blue, so that did not bother me. I wish it was not so expensive, and because I needed it for a trip to Europe, I could not wait for the price to go down on sale. Also, I would prefer that the logo not be so prominent on the chest; it could be more discreetly placed.

This coat is extremely lightweight and so warm. Perfect for traveling. I wish it unzipped at bottom to make it more comfortable while driving, but this is the only downside.

I ordered the Cinder colored jacket in S and M. Both of them fit, however, I would have opted for the M just to give myself more room. This jacket is styled very nicely. Tapers at the waist ever so slightly and is a good length and weight. It is a perfect go-to jacket. You can tell it is well made and would protect from the elements. I sadly sent it back though because I can't stand the logo on the chest. It is very chintzy looking for one. But the main reason is I can't stand chest logos... from ANY manufacturer. I feel like I am wearing a badge and the white on the brown just stuck out too much. Maybe if it was a darker brown on the brown, I wouldn't have minded, but it just looked silly. I wish LLBean would place their logo on the hem or the sleeve. I have seen some LLB jackets with the hem logo. Stick with that please! I have read other complaints on logos on the chest, so I wish LLBean would listen to them as I think more product would sell.

Got this jacket yesterday and wore it for a night hike. Kept me warm (almost too warm for 52 degrees - yay for "pit zips" with double zipper pulls! Mesh fabric to cover the pit zip opening keeps the jacket from flapping open). Love the length in front, and the way the length tapers in back to a longer length to cover one's butt). Have not had to use the zippered pleats in the back when sitting. Fabric has a nice "feel" to it, no stitching lines to snag on things, as some of my quilted synthetic jackets have done. Nice fabric for the wrist interior cuffs and external hand warmer pockets. Have not had a chance to test out the waterproofness. "Lightweight, packable, waterproof" got me to buy this bc I'm often in a marine environment. The hood does not block side vision. I would have given it 5 stars IF: 1) the front zipper had a double pull, 2) a secure exterior chest phone pocket (it would be nice to also have a secure interior one too. The zippered pocket for packing this into is rather deep for a phone pocket), and 3) I wish the slot mesh pocket on the inner right was 1-2 inches deeper. (I love pockets - phone, keys, small wallet, and alas reading glasses - so I don't have to carry a purse.) True to size, I got the Petite XS. I'm 5'-1", 103 lbs, with "swimmer's shoulders". I can wear a long sleeve shirt, and a vest under this jacket without any "pulling in the shoulder area" when reaching forward with my arms. Overall very pleased with this jacket..."almost perfect!"

I have a favorite LL Bean jacket that I wear Sept.-May. It is 20 years old and the zipper finally gave out this fall. Over the years, I have purchased 3 jackets from LL Bean in hopes of freshening the look of my beloved jacket but each time the attempt just misses the mark. This jacket has come the closest to replacement value however comes up short in a few categories for me. I knew from previous reviews that this jacket had a one way zipper so I wasn't surprised however I was surprised at how important a 2 way zipper was to my use of the jacket and I desire that feature. Also missing from this jacket was what I call the wind flap, it is a snap cover flap for the zipper. I didn't realize how often I use a couple of snaps to hold my jacket shut for a short outing and with this jacket I have to fully zip it up. My last detractor for a five star rating is that the chest pocket runs the length of the jacket. If I slide my glasses or phone in, they drop down even with the hand pockets. Not a deal breaker but it doesn't function as a chest pocket. The jacket does have great qualities such as being light weight yet still warm in the winter and not too hot in fall and spring, waterproof, zippered pockets, and a great hood. It runs true to size with the allowance for a fleece or sweater underneath. I am happy with my purchase and will wear it as I continue the search for the 5 star replacement to my old favorite jacket!

I've been looking for a coat that is waterproof, lightweight, and warm for fall and early winter. I believe this is is it! Honestly, I haven't worn it yet, as it is August in Indiana, but I love it already. It is long enough to cover my hips completely. It is lightweight, soft, and comfortable. The fabric is something that I haven't seen on LL Bean coats before. It is soft, flexible (not stiff), and quiet. But if you look closely, it has a subtle crepe-like texture which is beautiful! Now for the waterproof feature, I tested this by placing the arm of the coat under running water. The water literally jumps off the coat!!! It doesn't stay on it or soak in at all! The hood is nice and has a visor the will keep the rain off your face without it drooping over your eyes. I also love the soft, fleece, inner cuffs and the little bit of fleece around the neck. These touches give the coat a cozy feel. Now for the things I would love to see improved. I wish it had a 2-way zipper for room when sitting down. It does have two zippers on the sides of the hips near the back that I believe are for this purpose. But they are impossible to zip up and down while wearing, which defeats the purpose of quick up and down zips for getting in and out of the car when running errands, etc. I also think the armpit zippers are unnecessary, but are not noticeable so it doesn't really matter. I got a large petite and the sleeves are are still too long. I am 5 foot 5.5, which I consider average, but I am overweight. What I don't understand about sizing is, people's arms don't grow longer when they gain weight!!! So why do they make the arms longer as the size goes up??? And especially if you buy a petite size! Anyway, a little annoying but I love the features of this coat enough to deal with it so I am keeping it.