Backside Line
The Patagonia Downdrift is a city-ready jacket designed with Patagonia’s sturdy dedication to creating sturdy and sustainably sourced merchandise.
We beloved utilizing the Downdrift for brief hikes, metropolis excursions, and chores across the yard. It’s considered one of our prime males’s winter jacket picks for an informal jacket because of its sturdiness and well-crafted options.
The 600-fill down is sufficient to preserve you heat on most days and is product of down recycled from different merchandise. The sturdy shell withstood scrapes whereas carrying firewood and was sufficient to repel gentle moisture. Made with recycled nylon from fishing nets, this jacket does good whereas wanting good.
This jacket is solidly informal and lacks most of the options of extra technical choices. The boxy match can really feel awkward and restrictive relying on the physique kind, particularly within the shoulders. In our expertise, we felt it ran small and would have sized up.
Whereas we received’t be taking this on any treks, it’s a terrific chore coat or city possibility that boasts Patagonia’s top-tier dedication to sustainability and the surroundings.
How We Examined
The Patagonia Downdrift was examined on blustery days round city once we wanted a classy but heat and comfy jacket. Even taking it on snowshoes and hikes, we had been positive to push the bounds of this jacket to seek out out the place it performs greatest and to ship essentially the most well-rounded and thorough evaluation attainable.
Fast Specs

Patagonia Downdrift Jacket
Greatest Jacket Made with Sustainable Supplies
CleverHiker Ranking:
4.3/5.0
Value:
$329
Weight:
2 lb. 4 oz.
Insulation:
600-fill-power down
Execs
- Trendy
- Sturdy
- Sustainable supplies
- Steel snaps
Cons
- Cumbersome
- Not for backcountry use
Heat
We examined the Downdrift on the chilly icy streets of Anchorage, Alaska, and brief hikes in Chugach State Park. Its 600-fill down was greater than sufficient to maintain us heat in temperatures underneath twenty levels, even with out a mid-layer. Whereas 600 is lower than different jackets we examined, it’s a lot for temporary outings within the chilly and brief winter hikes.
The shorter size of this jacket implies that extra of our physique was uncovered to the chilly in comparison with longer-length jackets like parkas. This was particularly noticeable on windy days once we felt the occasional gust blow up the jacket. The Downdrift supplied greater than sufficient heat for getting throughout city however most likely isn’t your first decide for a backcountry tour.
Climate Resistance
We examined the Downdrift on the chilly icy streets of Anchorage, Alaska, and brief hikes in Chugach State Park. Its 600-fill down was greater than sufficient to maintain us heat in temperatures underneath twenty levels, even with out a mid-layer. Whereas 600 is lower than different jackets we examined, it’s a lot for temporary outings within the chilly and brief winter hikes.
The shorter size of this jacket implies that extra of our physique was uncovered to the chilly in comparison with longer-length jackets like parkas. This was particularly noticeable on windy days once we felt the occasional gust blow up the jacket. The Downdrift supplied greater than sufficient heat for getting throughout city however most likely isn’t your first decide for a backcountry tour.
Consolation & Performance
Retro-inspired, the Downdrift has a basic have a look at house within the brewery or round your native mountain city. Its hip size is wise and trim, and the baffles have the look of a righteous jacket your dad most likely wore within the ’70s. The Downdrift suits solidly within the informal jacket class and is one we attain for when heading out in town.
Nonetheless, we discovered the lower of this jacket considerably puzzling. The brief size of the jacket, whereas good wanting, rides up uncomfortably when carrying a backpack, and any waist strap causes important lumps to kind within the entrance of the jacket. Being tight within the shoulders, barely brief within the arms, and boxy within the physique, the Downdrift could be exhausting to suit appropriately.
We examined our ordinary medium measurement, and whereas enough, it was on the smaller finish of the medium spectrum. Though not snug sufficient for backcountry use, the Downdrift was snug for excursions throughout city.
Options
Probably the most notable characteristic in designing the Downdrift was the selection to make use of sustainable supplies. Patagonia’s dedication to the surroundings is instantly obvious on this jacket and is the jacket of alternative in search of outerwear that does good whereas wanting good. The insulation is product of down recycled from reclaimed merchandise. The shell is constructed with NetPlus, Patagonia’s nylon product of 100-percent recycled fishing nets to assist cut back ocean plastic air pollution.
Twin pockets on the entrance safe objects like gloves and hats whereas a zippered inner pocket retains your telephone secure and dry. Customise the look of the jacket with a detachable hood. Button snaps are a timeless closure system over the zip which can be fashionable and simple to make use of. The hem comes with an elastic cinch that we recognize as a characteristic not generally seen in different informal jackets.
Ought to You Purchase the Patagonia Downdrift?
If sustainability is on the forefront of your decision-making course of for purchasing a jacket, the Downdrift is a superb alternative.
Product of recycled fishing nets and recycled down, Patagonia’s dedication to sustainability shines by this jacket. Nonetheless, for those who’re in search of a performance-oriented piece on your subsequent summit, it’s possible you’ll look elsewhere.
The Downdrift lacks the climate resistance discovered in additional technical jackets and it isn’t packable sufficient to suit right into a backpack simply. Most at house on metropolis streets or working across the yard, the Downdrift is an informal use jacket that provides enough heat for many winter circumstances.
We’ll preserve reaching for this jacket for nights out, carrying firewood and different chores for its sturdiness and basic retro fashion.
What Different Winter Jackets Ought to You Contemplate?
Try our different greatest winter jackets for males or check out the in-depth opinions for fashions which can be most just like the Downdrift:
Patagonia DAS Parka Evaluate: With strong technical efficiency, the DAS Parka provides Patagonia’s identical dedication to sustainability and strong repute additionally discovered within the Downdrift.
The North Face McMurdo Parka Evaluate: In the event you’re in search of one other informal jacket however with excessive climate resistance and heat, the McMurdo is the jacket for you.
Fjallraven Nuuk Parka Evaluate: Stable winter efficiency meets fashion within the Nuuk Parka, providing extra heat and climate resistance than the Downdrift.