Patagonia Down Sweater Hoody Evaluation

Backside Line

The Patagonia Down Sweater (males’s / ladies’s) is an absolute basic and long-time favourite of the CleverHiker staff. 

It excels as a flexible, sturdy, and heat jacket that performs nicely on trails simply in addition to it does round city. With 800-fill-down insulation, an adjustable hood, and a comfy tall collar, it retains you heat and cozy throughout reasonable actions or when stationary in cool climate. For us, the Down Sweater was the proper outer layer right down to the mid-20’s.

Its sturdy 20D ripstop nylon exterior and sensible options—just like the zippered hand-warmer pockets and the flexibility to pack right down to the dimensions of a water bottle—make it a strong selection for each out of doors adventures and informal put on. 

Nevertheless, it’s not the lightest or most packable possibility, and its weight is usually a consideration for these searching for an ultralight jacket. Whereas the value level is on the upper aspect, its sturdiness and long-lasting efficiency justify the funding for these in search of a dependable, all-around jacket for cooler situations. 

For those who’re looking for a heat, useful jacket for on a regular basis use and lightweight out of doors actions, the Patagonia Down Sweater Hoody is a prime contender. For extra suggestions, try our information to the very best down jackets.

How We Examined

We’ve been testing this jacket for years, utilizing it for the whole lot from multi-day backpacking journeys within the Rockies to crisp fall climbing classes and on a regular basis put on. The newest model has joined us on high-altitude hikes in Colorado’s Indian Peaks, early-season ski excursions within the Gore Vary, and post-ski après in a few of our favourite resort parking heaps. 

Consolation

Consolation has all the time been a defining characteristic of the Patagonia Down Sweater Hoody, which stays true with the newest model. Each the liner and shell at the moment are created from 100% post-consumer recycled nylon ripstop, sourced from recycled fishing nets. Not solely is that this probably the most environmentally pleasant possibility we examined (no shock there), however the materials is surprisingly smooth and feels nice in opposition to the pores and skin. 

Patagonia has additionally improved the match of the Down Sweater Hoody over time, and the newest model provides the very best match but. Whereas the jacket is barely extra relaxed than among the extra athletic cuts we examined, this added room makes it simpler to layer beneath. There’s loads of house within the chest and shoulder areas, so that you by no means really feel restricted, and mobility isn’t a difficulty. That stated, we did discover the jacket to run a bit on the shorter aspect, and when the hem was cinched, it will generally trip up, which might have an effect on each consolation and heat.

Heat

The jacket is stuffed with a high-quality 5.3 ounces of 800-fill-power down. That is an enchancment to the newest model, as the corporate boasts it added extra fill than earlier fashions. So in the event you had been involved about heat and under-filled baffles, they heard ya.

The windproof shell, form-fitting adjustable hood, adjustable hem, and elastic cuffs all work collectively to retain warmth whereas blocking out the wind. 

Bigger baffles on the hood and torso present further heat the place it’s wanted most, whereas smaller baffles on the arms and sides improve mobility. For us, the Down Sweater provides the proper degree of heat for days above freezing. With correct layering, it may well comfortably deal with temperatures down into the mid-20s.

The primary draw back we’ve encountered throughout testing is that the elastic cuffs are barely free, permitting warmth to flee and chilly air to enter.

The Patagonia Down Sweater Hoody is a flexible, well-insulated jacket that excels in gentle to chill situations. Whereas the cuffs may very well be improved, its total design and considerate options make it a dependable selection for staying heat in quite a lot of out of doors actions.

Weight & Packability

The Down Sweater Hoody is barely heavier than different high-end down jackets, weighing 14.8 ounces (our males’s massive model is available in at 16 ounces). Whereas it’s not ultralight, we discovered it to nonetheless be mild sufficient for backpacking, climbing, or ski touring. If weight is your major concern, a real ultralight possibility could also be extra appropriate. Nevertheless, for many actions, we discovered the Patagonia Down Sweater to be mild sufficient.

Regardless of being barely heavier, the jacket nonetheless packs down compactly and doesn’t take up an excessive amount of house in a backpack. We took it on a number of early-season, low-angle ski excursions, and it match comfortably in a 15L pack with none points.

The Down Sweater Hoody packs into its chest pocket and features a loop for straightforward attachment to a climbing harness or backpack. When packed, the boys’s massive measurement is in regards to the measurement of two Nalgene water bottles aspect by aspect. Whereas it’s not probably the most compact, it’s enough for many customers.

One minor downside is the small chest pocket opening, which makes the packing course of a bit tougher than we’d like. It wasn’t a significant situation, nevertheless it does require slightly extra time and hand power in comparison with some rivals.

Climate Resistance

Down jackets ought to by no means be relied upon as an outer layer in wet situations. Even the best-performing jackets will finally fail in moist climate, as moisture will penetrate the DWR (sturdy water repellent) remedy and attain the down insulation, inflicting it to clump, lose loft, and cease insulating. 

The Patagonia Down Sweater performs moderately nicely, however barely beneath common within the climate resistance class. Patagonia makes use of a non-perfluorinated DWR that works nicely in mild rain or snow, however the 800-fill down is just not a handled “dry down” or “hydrophobic down” that’s generally present in high-end down jackets lately. Because of this as soon as moisture reaches the down, it is going to lose loft and stop to insulate. A easy answer is to layer a rainshell over the jacket if moist climate is predicted.

We examined the Down Sweater in sturdy winds throughout a chilly entrance within the Colorado foothills, and located it offered common to barely above-average wind safety. The hood seals nicely, maintaining out the wind, and the adjustable hem additionally performs nicely. Nevertheless, the cuffs, that are barely massive even for our testers with bigger wrists, and the stitched baffling, each let in excessive winds. This grew to become significantly noticeable when temperatures dropped beneath freezing.

Total, the Patagonia Down Sweater Hoody provides strong climate safety, nevertheless it isn’t fairly constructed for excessive situations. Whereas it performs nicely in gentle to reasonable climate, it’s not a one-size-fits-all answer for harsher environments.

Breathability

Down jackets are sometimes not identified for his or her breathability, as they are typically extra passive insulation than lively. The Down Sweater Hoody performs about common on this space, because of its barely looser match. Not like among the extra form-fitting, athletic-cut jackets we examined, the looser match permits for higher airflow. 

So long as you don’t cinch the hem closed, you’ll be able to anticipate reasonable airflow, which is okay for brief bursts of high-heart-rate exercise. Nevertheless, for longer intervals of intense exercise, you’ll be higher off with an artificial insulation jacket or one with further heat-dumping options like pit zips. In any other case, you’ll be able to anticipate to get a bit sweaty when bundled up.

Ought to You Purchase the Patagonia Down Sweater?

We expect so. The Patagonia Down Sweater Hoody is a superb selection for anybody searching for a flexible, heat, and sturdy jacket for cool-weather actions. It’s good for informal put on, day hikes, tenting, and brief backpacking journeys the place consolation and heat are priorities. Its mixture of 800-fill down insulation, adjustable hood, and wind-resistant design makes it ideally suited for reasonable temperatures and stationary use.

Nevertheless, in the event you’re after an ultralight, extremely packable jacket for lengthy treks or technical climbing, this is probably not the best choice, because it’s a bit heavier and bulkier than some rivals. Whereas the jacket performs nicely in gentle to reasonable climate, it’s not designed for excessive situations or extended publicity to moist situations.

Total, the Patagonia Down Sweater Hoody provides nice worth for these in want of a dependable, on a regular basis down jacket. It’s constructed to final and performs nicely throughout quite a lot of out of doors actions.

What Different Down Jackets Ought to You Take into account?

The Patagonia Down Sweater Hoody tops our checklist of the very best down jackets of the 12 months, but it’s not for everybody. Listed here are some choices that give the down sweater a run for its cash:

Arc’Teryx Cerium Hoody Evaluation: The Cerium Down Hoody supplies a comparable degree of heat to the Down Sweater, however in a lighter, extra packable design. Geared extra towards backcountry use, it provides glorious efficiency and a streamlined match—although it comes with a $70 premium over the Down Sweater.

Rab Microlight Alpine Reivew: The Microlight Alpine is likely one of the few jackets we examined that matches the Down Sweater when it comes to consolation. For those who love the Down Sweater however need a extra technical layer at a greater worth, the Microlight Alpine may very well be precisely what you’re in search of.

Cotopaxi Fuego Hooded Down Jacket: The Patagonia Down Sweater and Cotopaxi Fuego each provide glorious insulation, a light-weight design, and sensible options. Nevertheless, the Fuego edges forward with a lighter weight, barely extra reasonably priced worth, and a extra trendy, standout look.