Patagonia Deep Wadeing Jacket & Shells vs. Insulated Jackets
Great lightweight jacket that is very breathable and designed to fit over layers and a vest. Not neccessarily "warm" since it is only a shell, but wind/waterproof, with HUGE chest pockets. It also has those nifty neoprene cuffs. I wear it quite a bit and tend towards layering w/shells as opposed to insulated outer layers. It only takes a trickle, but once that ice cold water hits your pit, any casting-form can be shocked into a tangled mess.
Also as a side note, many of the fancy insulations used in high-tech jackets start to smell like a pot of boiling gym shorts after only a few uses, some in only a few hours. I have quite a bit of high-end camping/mountaineering gear that has the same materials/problems. Most of the outer layers have DWR coatings (durable water repellent) that have a finite lifespan, measured in # of washing cycles. Hence, minimizing the # of washings will preserve the life/funtion of the gear. Wash only when dirty. If the insulating layers that trap oder can be washed seperately, your shell will last longer and require less re-treatment to preserve the DWR finish.
The exception is a class of "soft-shell" material that is rejuvinated by heat. Regular washing AND drying in the dryer is what maintains the waterproofing's effectiveness. I have a couple of soft-shells made by Marmot and Sierra Designs that use these material and really like them. I do not know if the LL Bean soft-shell rain jacket is of a similar type. If so, it would be a medium warm jacket with moderate/good insulating value that could also work well with layers, while weathering repeated washings with no detriment.
A bit more than two cents,
Best Regards,
Bill