Patagonia Women's Nano Puff Bivy Pullover

A staple.

Easily one of my favorite pieces of winter gear.  

I don’t wear it to hike unless it’s really cold, but I take it in my pack on winter hikes because I love to throw it on when I take a break on the trail.  

Fit: I‘m on the cusp between medium and large (damn swimmer shoulders) so I chose a large and the fit is perfect.

I love the hood: It is helmet-compatible, allows for full range of motion and visibility. I can layer it on top of a fleece or my Smartwool Corbet 120 Jacket easily.  

I think it’s supposed to be water resistant. I usually throw a rain shell on top if it starts raining, so I’m not sure about that. Not exactly breathable, but it will stop the wind dead in its tracks. Not moisture wicking, but it has a deep half zipper to dump out heat.  

I‘ve had it for years and treated it with as much meanness and neglect as I could: it still looks new.  

The pockets are a dream on this thing! First, the kangaroo pocket will hold just about anything including... an iPad mini. I kid you not. Then the tunnel handwarmer pocket is awesome because if I have to wear it while hiking, my pack belt can be threaded through that pocket. It prevents frozen belt buckles, it’s pretty cool.  

I once didn’t plan properly for weather changes (never made that mistake again, lol) and this was my only warm garment in low 30s, rain and winds to 35 mph gusts. It keeps me warm enough to not go hypothermic during a three-day trip.  

When I don’t need it, it packs in its own pocket and doubles up as a really comfy pillow.  

The second it starts showing wear, I’ll be getting a backup: I love this thing.