At the end of last winter, I accidentally tore my almost-new Columbia down jacket in the wash. It went into the washing machine in one piece but came out with the filling spilling everywhere. I was heartbroken as it was my favorite winter jacket. It had kept me warm through an East Coast winter, and it fit me so well.
You know how hard it is to find a well-fitting jacket when you’re curvy and carry some extra weight around your belly? This one wasn’t bulky or oversized, it fit just right, and that’s rare.
I’m just glad it happened toward the end of winter, so I had some time to find a replacement. But my Columbia down jacket cost $165, so losing it hurt my wallet, too.
Anyway, with my old washing machine in mind, I started looking online for a replacement that would hopefully be easier to care for.
Searching for the right winter jacket
Down jackets are great for Pacific Northwest winters, and I love Columbia’s water-resistant designs and signature heat technology. But even with those features, my old jacket sometimes let water seep in during heavy rain and needed a full drying session afterward. I wanted to try something different rather than deal with the same hassle again.
Besides, I’d already bought two other down jackets from different brands during last year’s Black Friday sales, so another one wasn’t exactly what my wardrobe needed.
This time, I wanted something warm and waterproof, so I wouldn’t have to layer two jackets and feel like I could barely move my arms. I browsed REI and scrolled through Marketplace listings. That’s when I spotted a Columbia 3-in-1 Interchange jacket listed for $20.
The deal was hard to resist, and the design looked good, too! Gloomy PNW days practically beg for a little color and pattern. I’d budgeted around $160 for a jacket like this, so seeing that price nearly made me jump out of my seat.
I messaged the seller, arranged to meet up, and brought the jacket home.
First impression of Columbia 3-in-1 Interchange Jacket
When the seller handed me the jacket, it felt heavy, which made me hopeful about how warm it would be. But getting it home also gave me an immediate lesson in how much space it took up. It fit inside my backpack, but that was pretty much all that fit. There was no room for anything else on the trip home.
So, no, this wasn’t going to be a jacket I could casually squeeze into an already-full bag. But once I got home and took a closer look at the layers and all the ways I could wear them, I remembered what had drawn me to it in the first place: its versatility. I loved how easily I could wear the two layers together or separately.
Columbia 3-in-1 Interchange Jacket Features
The jacket has two layers that zip together. You can unzip them at any time and wear them as separate pieces, or even wear them together without zipping them into each other. That flexibility was one of the main reasons I picked this jacket. I’d never owned one like it, but after years of seeing skiers wear this style, I wanted to give it a try.
The inner fleece jacket has a velvety finish and a gorgeous, slightly shiny blue color. I love it! I’ve been wearing it to events and dinner parties, it looks that good.
The waterproof outer jacket has a leafy floral print, a hood, and an Omni-Heat lining. I haven’t had many chances to wear it on its own yet, though, because Seattle has been unusually dry this year.
Is the jacket travel friendly?
I think so! With my old down jacket, I could either wear it everywhere or pack another jacket for variety. Since I travel light, I usually stuck with the same one. This jacket gives me two different looks without having to pack a separate jacket. Sometimes, just having that choice feels great.
I also like being able to change how I wear it depending on the weather. Rather than committing to one level of warmth when I leave the hotel, I can adjust the layers as the day unfolds.
I’m hoping that flexibility will come in handy on future winter trips. But we haven’t headed into proper winter yet, so I’ll need to see how it handles colder days and rain before calling it my perfect travel jacket.
For now, I’m excited about the possibilities.
What I liked and disliked
I love the jacket’s length and overall design. I’m not sure if this particular print is still available, but you can browse other Columbia Interchange jacket designs.
The fit is a little snug around the bottom. Finding a jacket with enough room for my hips and belly can be a challenge, and that’s one thing I miss about my old down jacket, it fit me so well.
The outer layer’s sleeves are also too long for my arms, even though the jacket is otherwise the right size. It’s not a dealbreaker, but it’s a small frustration I notice whenever I wear it.
Overall thoughts about Columbia 3-in-1 Interchange Jacket
It’s not a lightweight, pack-it-anywhere jacket, but it offers the flexibility to wear the layers separately or together. Both the blue fleece and the leafy-print outer jacket look beautiful, and I’ve found them warm and comfortable to wear.
Whether it becomes my go-to travel jacket is something I’ll figure out with more wear. For now, it’s the one I’m reaching for, and I’m hoping it stays in regular rotation this winter, and for a few more after that.
If my washing machine allows.
