Patagonia Down Sweater Review

Likes
This jacket is so light, comfortable, and warm that I used is as my go-to jacket every time I headed out in the cold. I packed it with me on a chilly month-long float trip down the Grand Canyon in November and it became an indispensable piece for camping outside for that length of time.

The Patagonia Down Sweater weighs in at 11.3 oz, which is the next lightest jacket after the Mountain Hardwear Nitrous. For only 1.3 ounces more weight, the Down Sweater has the added features of zippered hand pockets and an interior mesh pocket that the jacket can stuff into rather than a separate stuff sack.

It weighs little yet delivers a surprising amount of warmth for its size and packs down small. It is of a weight that layers well in just about any temperature. For cool fall days it works on its own. For really cold winter days it can be combined with other fleece and shell layers. It packs down ridiculously small, which makes it ideal for fast and light backcountry excursions. For skiing, it can cram down in your pack for the climb up. At the top of the run, pull it out as you take off your skins or take a break for lunch. Because it has more baffles than the typical down jacket, it is a little more durable. We find even after crushing it down a bunch, it bounces back reasonably well, whereas many other down jackets we have to baby a little more.

Dislikes
After a lot of use I easily tore a hole in this jacket and was disappointed in its durability. But like everything, it has its tradeoffs. The fabric is light and stuffs easily, which are major pluses of this jacket, but the lightness makes it more fragile. The Down Sweater is made with a recycled polyester material that seems to be slightly less durable than the Pertex Quantum material on The North Face Catalyst or the Ballistic Nylon on the MontBell Alpine Light.

Best Application
This jacket is so light and packable it can be used for any kind of outdoor adventure, from long backpacking trips to clipping on your harness for a multi-pitch climb. It can be used as a mid-layer or an outer layer. It is also stylish enough and comes in many fun colors so it could be your every day winter jacket.

Value
At $200 for the non-hooded version and $250 for the hooded version, the Down Sweater is average in price for a lightweight 800 fill down jacket. Patagonia guarantees their products with a fantastic warranty. I have a friend who sent her Down Sweater back because the zipper started failing, and she got a brand new jacket sent to her. With a quality promise like this, it makes buying an expensive Patagonia product virtually risk-free.

We really like the hooded version of this jacket, which is called the Patagonia Down Sweater Hoody. However, they charge you another $50 for the hood, which at $250 puts you toward the price range of the $300 Mountain Hardwear Sub Zero SL that is a lot more jacket for the money (but for more intense cold weather activities). Or, if you are looking for lightweight warm jacket, synthetic jackets like the Patagonia Nano Puff Pullover or North Face Redpoint Jacket cost $50 less, are much more durable, and will keep you warm if they get wet. The Nano or Redpoint serve a similar function to the Down Sweater but we will much more comfortable about tossing it in the washing machine.

Other Versions
[[Patagonia Down Sweater - Women's
Patagonia Down Sweater Special Edition – Women's
Patagonia Down Sweater Special Edition – Men's
Patagonia Down Sweater Full Zip Hoody – Women's
Patagonia Down Sweater Full Zip Hoody – Men's
Patagonia Down Sweater Vest– Women's
Patagonia Down Sweater Vest– Men's


A big part of Patagonia is the history, manufacturing process, and philosophy behind their gear that is told in Let My People Go Surfing by Yvon Chouinard. Highly recommended reading.

The Footprint Chronicles: Patagonia Down Sweater