Patagonia Nano Puff Hoody

Summary

My wife loves this jacket!

So in my review of the Mountain Hardwear Zonal Jacket, I mentioned that my wife was allergic to down, but I will mention it again just in case. My wife can't wear down, so I can't either. And this for her, amongst all the alternative jackets we tried, was the best.

Great fit, fantastic hood! And still very warm and packable. The only quarrel I have with it is the elastic cuffs, but she doesn't mind. Great layered under a soft-shell, but it is still tough enough to stand alone. I really like that (unlike the men's version) it is form fitting! It makes her hourglass shape still look great! Despite layering up like the Marshmallow man from Ghostbusters.

As a stand alone, my wife said she can get down to around 30°F, which is good for her because she is a wuss.

Summary

A great non-down insulated piece that won't weigh you down. From backpacking in the Cascades to climbing in the Sierras my Nano Puff is always with me. It has all the features I need and none that I don't.

Does the thought of geese being force-fed to fatten up their livers make you sad? But you still need a great insulated piece that is lightweight like down? AND you expect it to last a long time despite it being prone to abuse from the activities you need it for? Look no further.

The synthetic fill is super lightweight, insulates in a downpour and doesn't add any extra bulk. I like a snugger fit so I can layer this under a shell, thus I wear a size small on my 5'11"/165 lbs frame. There is the perfect amount of features with the two hand warmer and one napoleon pocket that doubles as a stuff pocket for the entire jacket, which has a bungie drawcord that cinches around the waist. The hood is more of an alpine style hood, so it runs very snug and high up on the face, which I happen to like because it fits great under a helmet and keeps my face warm.

I have used this as an outer piece in the warmer seasons and a layering piece when the temps drop. I've even slept in it as a sort of half sleeping bag while on longer trail runs. Surprising to me is its ability to go days on end draped over my non-bathed, sweaty body with out really stinking too bad, a major bonus if your looking for a little romance out on the trail.

All in all I love this piece and haven't found a situation that it doesn't seem to excel in. Oh, except for really cold wind. Cold wind will whip though the seams of this jacket and chill you to the bone if you let it. But you wont because you'll be smart and wear a base- and outer-layer in those conditions.

The last bit of praise I'll toss on the heap is for this jacket's durability. Many times I've scraped my body on branches or granite expecting a tear, rip or at least a thinned out sport of material, but have been amazed to find the jacket looking like it just popped out of the Chinese factory it was made in. I've had for a few seasons now it and it still looks brand spanking new.

P.S. Did I mention the cruelty-free aspect? Look up foie gras production and down fill if you want to know more about that, but be warned it can be pretty sad if you're an animal lover like me.